Marketing Tactics

QUINCY, Mass., and PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop customers in New England and the New York Metro area helped the retailer give back more than $22 million in 2011 into the hundreds of communities in which they operate.

Northridge, Calif. -- Two new restaurants will join the tenant lineup at Northridge Fashion Center, located in Northride, Calif. The center will also add an outdoor amphitheater.

Scheduled to open late in fall 2012, Yard House and Elephant Bar will join the center's restaurant row, which already features California Pizza Kitchen, Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill, Claim Jumper and Romano's Macaroni Grill.

ATLANTA — The Martha Stewart brand continues to resonate with consumers, which is why it is no suprise that The Home Depot has extended its agreement with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to offer Martha Stewart Living branded products at its 2,000-plus stores through March 2016.

The agreement also calls for an expansion of products offered. 

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney is looking to make its department store a destination for more than just shopping, and has named a new executive to help lead the charge. Assuming the role of EVP, The Square is Laurie Beja Miller, who will oversee the company's new center core strategy that will serve as a gathering place with ongoing attractions and services, JCPenney announced. Miller will join JCPenney on April 1, and report to CEO Ron Johnson. 

By Kyle Priest, [email protected]

Pinch yourself: We really do live in a real world where sometimes you just need to touch stuff.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1 Imports Inc. said that its total revenue for the fourth quarter, ended Feb. 25, increased a better-than-expected 11.8% to $477 million. Same-store sales rose 10.3%.

The chain said total revenue for the fiscal year ended Feb. 25 climbed 9.8% to $1.53 billion.

The home décor retailer is upbeat about its first-quarter prospects.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascenta Retail Group Inc., whose brands include Dressbarn, Maurices, and Justice, said its fiscal second-quarter profit rose 50% on higher sales. The company raised its earnings forecast for the current fiscal year.

Ascena said that during the quarter ended Jan. 28 it earned $63.7 million, compared with $42.5 million in the same period a year before.

Revenue during the quarter rose 15% to $862 million. E-commerce sales jumped 61% to $52 million in the quarter.