Marketing

By Jackie Sloane

Earlier than ever opening hours over the holiday weekend placed unprecedented demands on store associates. Whether full time workers or among the hundreds of thousands of seasonal employees whose services are required to cope with the peak demands of the holidays, one thing is clear. Energy and attitude can amount to retailers’ “engagement advantage,” arguably the most crucial differentiating factor when it comes to influencing purchase decisions, sales and long-term loyalty.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target will donate $5 million to local schools nationwide as part of the company's commitment to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015.

Casey Carl is Target’s new president of multichannel with responsibility for the retailer’s website. In his new role, Carl will oversee Target’s digital platforms including mobile, social and Target.com and also will retain his prior responsibilities as SVP merchandising for entertainment, toys, sporting goods and electronics.

Few vehicles on the NASCAR circuit look as good or are as identifiable on the track as the No. 42 Target Chevrolet with its red-and-white color scheme and distinctive Bullseye logo adorning the hood. Unfortunately for Target, style doesn’t count for anything in auto racing and driver Juan Pablo Montoya failed to win a race this year.

Charlotte, N.C. — Harris Teeter will open a 61,000-sq.-ft. store in Baltimore, making it the chain's first in the city and seventh in Maryland.

The store, which will be located in the McHenry Row neighborhood of Baltimore, opens its doors on Dec. 7. The supermarket places strong emphasis on fresh foods, items-to-go and perishable items, Harris Teeter said.

The chain also is applying for LEED certification for the location, noting the supermarket will include electric vehicle charging stations and an integrated refrigeration.

By Ian Lifshitz, Rainforest Realities

New York City -- Family Dollar hasn’t faced much community opposition during an ambitious decade-long expansion program that has left the company with roughly 7,000 stores in 45 states. However, there is a first time for everything and residents in the North Carolina community of Carrboro are pushing back against the retailer’s efforts to open a new store.

New York City -- Retail sales broke records during the Thanksgiving weekend, climbing 16%, according to a survey by BIGresearch for the National Retail Federation.  Shoppers spent $52.4 billion, up from $45 billion last year.

A record 225 million shoppers visited stores and malls over the Black Friday weekend, up from 212 million last year. Shoppers on average spent $398.62, up from $365.34 last year, the NRF said.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target merchandising executive Casey Carl was given added responsibilities for the retailer’s online businesses, following a series of snafus related to an August relaunch that resulted in the departure of former online president Steve Eastman.

Carl will serve as president of multichannel with responsibility for Target’s digital platforms including mobile, social and Target.com, while retaining his prior responsibilities as SVP merchandising for entertainment, toys, sporting goods and electronics.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens will reward 1 million customers at its stores nationwide on Thanksgiving Day with a free one-day Redbox DVD rental, the drug store chain announced.

The DVD rental, which will be given to the first 130 customers (not including prescription purchases) at the chain's more than 7,700 locations, will be valid at all Walgreens Redbox locations from Thanksgiving Day through Dec. 24.