Marketing Tactics

Walmart is among a group of pharmacy retailers working on an educational initiative with the U.S. department of Health and Human Services.

As part of a partnership with HHS, Walmart and Sam’s Club are providing information online to help educate Medicare recipients about the range of tax-payer funded “free” services available to them under the Affordable Care Act.

MINNEAPOLIS — Wheaties is saluting two Olympic gold medalists by touting them on limited-edition boxes of the cereal.

The brand officially unveiled the boxes featuring swimmer Michael Phelps and professional beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor.

"Michael Phelps and Misty May-Treanor have inspired others to get out and achieve their own personal best," said Jim Wilson, Wheaties marketing. "Wheaties is proud to honor them and to fuel athletes everywhere."
 

Sam’s Club is temporarily suspending is membership fee this weekend to engage in Texas’ tax-free holiday and promote new member sign ups.

The tax-free holiday for back-to-school products begins today and runs through Sunday. Texas is home to 74 of Sam’s 613 U.S. clubs, and during the same three-day period Sam’s will allow non-members to shop its clubs.

Ol’ Roy has new company on the shelves in Walmart’s pet department, as the retailer looks to capitalize on growth in high quality segments of the dog food category.

HERSHEY, Pa. and SAN FRANCISCO — The Hershey Company recently partnered with the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Calif. to provide students with a hands-on package-design opportunity. Students were asked to create a customized heart box design for Hershey's Pot of Gold chocolates to help give the collection a contemporary, fresh look for the 2013 Valentine's Day season.

When the days grow shorter and the air starts to turn chilly, retail companies prepare for their hottest time of year. As they get ready for the holiday season, retailers will do well to keep three additional factors in mind:

u Adjust for the presidential election. Typically, retailers market heavily in October and early November to drive store foot traffic as the holidays begin. Early marketing efforts, however, will not go as far this holiday season.

Friday promises to be a big day in Wasilla, Alaska, as the town receives the distinction of being the location of the 5,000th AutoZone store.

A presentation and ribbon cutting ceremony to be held Friday afternoon will be attended by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright along with the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Retailers looking to add sparkle to this year’s Christmas season may want to take a new look at their gift card programs. Last year, more than half of consumers bought at least one gift card for the holidays, according to a report from First Data Corp., an Atlanta-based e-commerce processor.

Indeed, consumers seem to be taking more of a shine than ever to these types of spending vehicles.