Marketing Tactics

MINNEAPOLIS — Target shoppers have a new incentive for joining the retailer's REDcard Rewards loyalty program: free shipping on Target.com. In addition, for the first time Target Debit Cards can be used on Target.com, the company said.

Walmart EVP merchandising Duncan Mac Naughton spoke at two events this week in Northwest Arkansas, and he said essentially the same thing on both occasions. Two weeks earlier during a supplier summit event at the retailer’s home office, he said basically the same thing, according to those in attendance. And the comments at the supplier summit were essentially the same as those shared with members of the financial community during a mid-October analysts’ meeting or back in August.

New York City -- Apple on Friday unveiled a new glass entrance for its store on New York City's Fifth Avenue.

The original 32-ft. glass cube previously used 90 panes of glass. The new design has a more sleeker, slimmed-down look and features 15 larger, seamless panes. Apple also updated the plaza outside the store.

The total project cost Apple a reported $6.7 million.
 

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion announced that this year's fundraising campaign to benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals totaled $4.2 million.

This year's donation represents a 43% increase over last year, Food Lion said. The supermarket chain, which has supported CMN Hospitals since 1991, has raised more than $40 million for the organization.

San Francisco -- Willams-Sonoma’s PBteen brand will open its first-ever pop-up store in Natick Mall, Natick, Mass., Nov. 4.

DALLAS — The Army & Air Force Exchange Service announced that it is offering several Black Friday deals for military members and their families.

Among the deals being offered are Sony 55" LCD TVs for just $899, HP Pavilion G6 Notebooks for $279, 50% off regularly priced ladies apparel from Izod, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and others as well as an Xbox 360 4GB gaming systems with built-in Wi-Fi console for just $99. Additionally, all Coach handbags (both in-store and online at shopmyexchange.com) will be 25%off from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Nashville, Tenn. -- Kirkland's Inc. raised its third-quarter earnings outlook Thursday after total revenue rose because of store expansion.

Total revenue rose 4.7% to $97.1 million in the August-to-October period. Same-store sales fell 3.6%.

The home-decor store said it now expects earnings of 3 cents to 5 cents per share, up from its previous prediction of a quarterly loss.

Economists may be feeling good after a government report that showed third-quarter GDP grew at 2.5%, but try telling millions of Americans who shop at Walmart stores at 12:01 a.m. on the first of the month that the nation is no longer in a recession.