Marketing Tactics

ITASCA, Ill. — Supervalu's Jewel-Osco banner will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with its 5th Annual “Sabor de la Herencia Hispana” signature VIP reception on Sept. 27 at the National Museum of Mexican Art, the retailer announced Monday.

Armonk, N.Y. -- Study results released Tuesday by IBM revealed that while U.S. consumers shopped this July and August, they were not buying clothes and notebooks for their children but rather items for the home.

According to IBM’s findings, the biggest retail gains this back-to-school shopping season came from home goods purchases which increased 30% in July and more than 25% in August over their respective months in 2012.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — The CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare program, which boasts more than 70 million active members, now gives shoppers the ability to earn bigger rewards on most purchases during the peak fall and winter shopping season.

From Sept. 16 through Dec. 15, ExtraCare members can double their quarterly ExtraBucks Rewards by choosing to participate.

ITASCA, Ill. — Jewel-Osco on Friday announced that the company is observing Hunger Action Month this September with an aggressive campaign to raise food and funds for food banks and food pantries in the retailer's service area.

RH is the new name for familiar home goods retailer Restoration Hardware.

The company said the switch to the RH acronym positions the brand to curate a lifestyle beyond the four walls of the home which is reflective of the current positioning and future direction of the luxury home goods brand.

Corte Madera, Calif. -- Restoration Hardware announced Monday it has rebranded the company as RH, in a move to better position itself as a multichannel operation.

According to RH creator Gary Friedman: "Today's RH is a far cry from the hardware and nostalgic discovery item based business it once was.  … The new branding positions us for the future and reflects our belief that we can curate a lifestyle beyond the four walls of the home."

BETHEL, Conn. — Duracell has tapped National Football League All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis for the brand's Trust Your Power program, which aims to encourage fans to follow their dreams.

MEMPHIS — Fred's on Friday launched a holiday layaway plan featuring no fees and a down payment of only $1.

"Fred’s realizes that the current economy presents difficult challenges to its customers and Fred's wants to offer as much assistance as it can," Fred's SVP sales and marketing Dave Mueller said. "That’s why we came up with a layaway plan that — with just one dollar down and absolutely no fees — is unlike any others and will stretch shoppers’ dollars during a time when it will be most welcome."