Marketing Tactics

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop has launched two new initiatives to make it easier for customers to live healthier lives.

The company has launched a free, quarterly magazine to help fight childhood obesity and get kids to live healthier lifestyles. Kid Healthy Ideas is a 12-page full-color publication that targets children ages eight to 12 and features health-related educational articles, games and recipes.

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack's sales and earnings fell in the first quarter, as the company struggles to deliver an effective mix or products and services to its customers. 

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is investing more than $12 million in schools in 2012 through its library makeover program, and said it plans to give more than $1 billion for education by the end of 2015.

As part of its 2012 library makeover program, Target will renovate libraries at 32 elementary schools and revisit each of the 118 schools that previously received a Target School Library Makeover to provide additional reading resources for students and teachers.

Washington, D.C. -- Survey results released Tuesday by the National Retail Federation said that consumers are expected to stretch their dollars a little further this Mother’s Day to make sure mom has the perfect day.

According to NRF’s 2012 Mother’s Day consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight, the average person celebrating the holiday is expected to spend $152.52 on gifts, up from $140.73 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $18.6 billion.


WASHINGTON — If NRF's predictions come true, moms will be in for an especially good Mother's Day this year. According to NRF’s 2012 Mother’s Day consumer spending survey conducted by BIGinsight, the average person celebrating the holiday is expected to spend $152.52 on gifts, up from $140.73 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $18.6 billion.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation has named Bill Thorne SVP communications and public affairs. He will join NRF on June 1 to oversee the organization’s industry and public affairs communications strategy, including NRF’s Retail Means Jobs campaign, a multi-million-dollar initiative to demonstrate the power of retail to America’s economy and the career opportunities within the industry. Thorne currently serves as senior director, community affairs at Walmart.  

It’s an intriguing scenario: This summer, a weekend soccer player will enter Adidas’ store in downtown Manhattan to buy a pair of top-of-the-line F50s. He will turn down offers of help and saunter to the right of checkout where four 46-in. touch-screens are stacked. He will tap the play button on a video showing two pros putting the $270 shoe through its paces on the pitch and then removing the digital MiCoach tracking device in the sole and plugging it into a computer to review their performances.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation announced that Bill Thorne has been named senior VP communications and public affairs. He will join NRF on June 1 to oversee the organization’s industry and public affairs communications strategy. Thorne currently serves as senior director Community Affairs at Walmart Corp.