Marketing Tactics

New York City -- Many retailers surprised with solid January revenue reporting on Thursday, despite snowstorms that raged across the country during the month.

The reports, many of which surpassed Wall Street expectations, offer encouragement that strength in consumer spending is continuing after a merry holiday season.
 
Costco Wholesale Corp, Victoria's Secret parent Limited Brands and teen retailer Wet Seal were among those that beat analyst expectations. Target, however, lagged, behind.

PLANO, Texas -- JCPenney announced the arrival of its exclusive Modern Bride concept in its bridal fine jewelry departments in stores and on jcp.com and modernbride.com. The Modern Bride concept is the result of a collaboration with Conde Nast, publisher of Modern Bride magazine.

Slowly but surely the headwinds Walmart has faced for years in its domestic expansion efforts have begun to diminish to the point where major victories are now being scored. Two examples stood out this week on opposite sides of the country. The highest profile of these is the situation in New York where it may not seem like Walmart won a victory this week, but it did. Walmart’s entry into the city has been the subject of considerable and heated debate for at least five years, but the situation has come to head in recent months.

Walmart broke new ground in its media relations efforts this week when EVP Leslie Dach appeared on Comedy Central’s "The Colbert Report." This appearance on Comedy Central was a potentially high risk move as knows anyone who has ever watched host Stephen Colbert interview guest or laughed as correspondents on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart are able to make interview subjects look foolish without them realizing it. Dach is too sophisticated and articulate to allow that to happen and the purpose of his visit was to elaborate on the company’s healthy food initiative.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Walmart announced that the Walmart Foundation committing more than $750,000 in cash and in-kind donations to support emergency relief efforts in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where an estimated 827 people have been killed and thousands have been left homeless following torrential rains and mudslides. A $400,000 donation from the Walmart Foundation will help purchase critical supplies like water, food, medical supplies and long-term relief efforts.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gap Inc. has announced a series of significant management and organizational changes at Gap brand designed to drive more consistent results in North America and to provide a new and dynamic creative leadership structure that will deliver sustainable global growth. The changes are effective immediately.

New York City -- Teen retailers Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Aeropostale and American Eagle Outfitters will stop reporting monthly sales after Thursday.

Many retail executives say reporting sales from stores open at least a year puts too much focus on short-term results. 
 

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Procter & Gamble and Target have teamed up to offer customers savings on a number of products designed to help them keep those fitness resolutions.