Marketing Tactics

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Sam's Club announced that it is helping members and non-members prepare for spring celebrations by inviting them to a national "Spring Taste of Sam's Club" sampling event from April 15 to 17.

This complimentary tasting weekend will showcase gourmet finds and crowd favorites at locations nationwide from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, Sam's Club reported.

Cleveland -- Forest City Commercial Management, in partnership with PlaceWise Media, announced Tuesday the launch of the Shoptopia Network.

The art and science of researching how shoppers decide is at a crossroad.  The  shopper insights discipline originally developed when retailers began saying to CPG manufacturers that they have a thorough understanding of behavioral data and its findings, but lack a genuine grasp of how their customers and non-customers think and the “why” that drives that behavior.

With its outdoor underpinnings and Swiss accents, Wenger, in Boulder, Col., is the perfect showcase for the legendary 116-year-old company, which is best known as the maker of the “genuine” Swiss Army Knife. The 3,000-sq.-ft. store, which took top honors in the Association for Retail Environments’ 2011 design awards, is the firm’s first freestanding store in the United States.

CHICAGO ─ Faced with rising food costs, U.S. consumers are turning to the cost savings tactics they’ve mastered over the past few years, according to The NPD Group.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — The philanthropic arm of Sam's Club has committed funds to organizations that promote healthy living.

The Sam's Club Giving Program said it will award more than $2.8 million to prevention and awareness programs — which include YMCA of the USA, Sesame Workshop, Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the OASIS Institute — that emphasize positive lifestyle changes and help reduce such conditions as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and more.

Beachwood, Ohio -- Developers Diversified Realty Corp. said that it earned one MAXI Gold and four MAXI Silver awards for shopping center marketing and management programs at the International Council of Shopping Centers' Fusion Conference in Hollywood, Calif.

In the Sales Promotions and Events category, a MAXI Gold was awarded to the 25 on the 25th event at Deer Park Town Center in Chicago. The center developed a wine-tasting promotion to showcase a local merchant and encourage shoppers to explore the center.

Chicago -- A report released Tuesday by The NPD Group said that U.S. consumers have emerged from the recession with a honed ability to stretch their dollars and, now faced with rising food costs, they are turning to the cost-savings tactics they’ve mastered over the past few years.