Marketing Tactics

Toys "R"Usenhanced its layaway program by dropping some fees and Walmart quickly responded.

Toys "R" Us dropped the $5 service fee and minimum purchase requirement from its layaway program in a bid to capture sales of those who begin their holiday shopping early.The company said it changed the rules for its layaway program, instituted in 2009, to waive the $5 upfront service fee and eliminate the minimum purchase requirement for all orders created in stores through October 31.

Austin, Texas -- A survey released Friday by coupon site RetailMeNot found that coupon use for back-to-school shopping surged this year, particularly for retailers selling books, school supplies and apparel.

According to RetailMeNot, which measured coupon usage during the July 1 to Aug. 20 selling period, as compared with the prior three months, the average daily coupon clicks increased more than 130% for book retailers, more than 40% for merchants selling back-to-school supplies and more than 30% for stores selling apparel and shoes.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu has launched a new, single-size version of its Java Delight brand of premium coffee.

Philadelphia -- Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based Fameco Real Estate said that it represented Ulta Beauty in a 13,647-sq.-ft. lease at 1619 Walnut Street, the former Westinghouse studio, developed by Vesper Property Group and located in Center City, Philadelphia.

The lease marks Ulta’s first retail location in Center City. It will open a three-level store much like its other signature urban store in Chicago.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has partnered with music star P!nk for an exclusive edition of her sixth studio album “The Truth About Love.” The deluxe edition of the album features four additional tracks and will be offered exclusively at Target stores nationwide beginning Sept. 18. Fans can now pre-order the deluxe edition at Target.com.

Spice maker McCormick & Company has opened its first retail destination, McCormick’s World of Flavor, in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor area. Designed as a brand showcase, the store houses McCormick's full range of flavorings, seasonings and other products, including its Old Bay and Grill Mates lines.

FORT WORTH, Texas and SAN DIEGO — RadioShack has partnered with Cricket Communications to offer a line of no-contract wireless phones at its stores nationwide.

The RadioShack no-contract wireless line-up will include some of the hottest smartphones on the market as well as a well-equipped feature phone, offering all the connectivity, productivity and entertainment consumers are looking for in a mobile device, the company said.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores said Tuesday it has lowered its holiday layaway fee from $15 to $5, saying that the move is in response to customer feedback.

Customers may begin to open layaway accounts under the new fee arrangement on Sept. 15, and it runs through Dec. 14.

According to Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer, Walmart U.S., “this is a direct response to feedback we received since announcing this year's Holiday Layaway program. [It] makes Walmart more competitive in the marketplace.”