Marketing Tactics

Washington, D.C. -- A survey released by the National Retail Federation and conducted by BIGInsight found that the average parent will spend $688.62 on back-to-school items this year, compared with $603.63 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $30.3 billion.

NRF cited an increased number of children entering elementary and middle school this fall, as well as necessary back-to-school replenishments after last year’s cutbacks, for the predicted improvements.

By Eileen F. Mitchell, [email protected]

Retailers don’t like the fees they are required to pay Visa and Mastercard, but retailers are willing to charge unwary and unbanked consumers plenty of other fees.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Walmart Canada has invited more than 550 kids and 350 parents to participate in the first-ever Great Big Toy Testing Event. Taking place on July 21, the event gives kids and parents the opportunity to interact with more than 100 toys and will help the retailer determine the top toy list for the 2012 holiday season.

Armonk, N.Y. – In-store sales of women’s clothing are expected to see a 9.2% increase in the third quarter of 2012 versus the year-ago period, according to a just-released IBM analytics-based forecast of U.S. retail sales data. The report predicts a 6.2% increase in sales of children’s clothing and a 5.2% increase in footwear. Men’s clothing, however, is forecast to lag, dropping 6.7%.

MINNEAPOLIS — Fiber One has introduced new snack bars for kids.

Fiber One Chewy bars tout 110 calroies or less and 8 g or less of sugar and do not contain high-fructose corn syrup, Fiber One said. The bars are available in chocolate and strawberry PB&J varieties and are complete with a peanut butter or chocolate-flavored bottom.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion continues to roll out its new brand strategy, this time bringing the program to 269 stores in North Carolina and South Carolina, including its headquarter city of Salisbury, N.C. 

Food Lion's brand strategy offers customers lower prices on 6,000 items throughout the store and access to quality store brand products at lower prices, including the company's my essentials value tier, as well as enhanced produce and an easy and convenient shopping experience, such as faster checkout.

PALO ALTO, Calif. — Macy's has launched a national rollout of Shopkick's location-based rewards application. Customers can now earn rewards, in shopkick’s cross-retail currency of “kicks”, just for walking in to more than 800 Macy’s stores nationwide, and instantly receive exciting exclusive deals and offers.