Marketing Tactics

Reston, Va. -- Survey results released Monday by ComScore showed that approximately 6.2% of 14 million mobile phone users have scanned a quick response or bar code on their mobile device.

Among 14,452 users surveyed in that have scanned a QR or bar code, 58% of them scanned a code at home, while 39.4% and 24.5% of respondents have scanned codes at a retail store or grocery store, respectively. As far as what they scanned, 49.4% said they scanned a QR or bar code found in a newspaper or magazine, while 35.3% scanned product packaging.

New York City -- Gap’s Old Navy unit will roll out more than 1,000 sports-oriented store-within-stores on Tuesday, selling branded goods of more than 70 Division I schools, as well as National Football League teams.

The Super Fan Nation in-store concepts are being launched with a seven-figure marketing campaign that will include advertising at college stadiums and arenas, in-store appearances by college bands, cheerleaders and mascots, and a 10-day national television advertising campaign.

Target has a lot of things going right for it right now with some decent sales momentum and a mix of current and long term initiatives to drive growth. Even so, Target is in the same boat as other retailers who are posting solid profits, but doing so in an uncertain economic climate where fragile consumer confidence makes it hard to get to aggressive when it comes to forecasting future performance.

LONDON — Real customers from Walmart's Asda division will be a part of Dove's billboard advertising campaign. 

Ten models were chosen as the winners of a competition that ran through Asda earlier this year. Winners were treated to a makeover, colour consultation and professional hair styling before they stepped in front of the camera. George, Asda's clothing division, provided the attire for the shoot. 

New York City -- Monday, Aug. 15, is the deadline to complete the Chain Store Age/Forest City/Alexander Babbage social media survey, designed to find out what retailers nationwide are doing in terms of social, mobile and other digital media initiatives.

By completing the survey, you will automatically be entered to win a free iPad! Results of the survey will be published in the October issue of Chain Store Age.

Click here to take the survey.

New York City -- Marketing technology company SpyderLynk and Momentum Worldwide announced Friday that Office Depot has launched a national back-to-school mobile campaign that was developed by Momentum, using SpyderLynk’s 2D mobile barcode SnapTag technology.

The campaign offers back-to-school shoppers the opportunity to save through in-store mobile gift card giveaways and other discounts.

LOS ANGELES — Kroger banners Ralphs and Food 4 Less have both announced fundraising campaigns to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliates in California. 

Customers and associates at both stores can support their local Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliate by donating their spare change in collection canisters located at the checkstands in their neighborhood Ralphs of Food 4 Less Supermarket.The Komen fundraising camSupaign will run through Nov. 5, 2011.

CHICAGO — The first CityTarget in downtown Chicago won’t open until next summer and already the store is assured of healthy lunch and dinner time traffic thanks to the addition of a Pret A Manger restaurant.

 For those who don’t speak French, Pret A Manger means “ready to eat,” and serves as a reference to the restaurant’s offering of such fresh and preservative free food as sandwiches, soups, salads and coffee. Regulars refer to the restaurant simply as Pret.