Marketing Tactics

Cumberland Farms, a convenience store fixture in New England and central Florida for half a century, once fielded more than 1,000 stores. But, it has slimmed down to 600 locations as it transforms itself from a strip-center and gas station dairy store to a chain of freestanding, modern C-stores providing an array of food service options and gasoline.

Deborah Butler’s vision to remake her family’s Gainesville, Florida, retail complex into a unique, local phenomenon got a little clearer this week.   Butler has put noted local chef and restaurateur Bert Gill in charge of curating the dining establishments at the Stengel Field Food Hall at Butler Town Center, scheduled to open in 2018. It takes its name from the aviation school run on the site in the 1940s and ‘50s by pioneering pilot Carl Stengel.  

Vitamin Shoppe missed profit expectations for its first quarter, amid challenges with its Nutri-Force contact manufacturing division.    Vitamin Shoppe posted net income of $8.0 million for the quarter ended April 1, compared to $14.8 million in the same period last year.  Reported fully diluted earnings per share were $0.35 in first quarter 2017, compared to $0.59 in first quarter 2016.    

The Retail Design Institute’s most prestigious event is returning to New York.    The Institute will hold its 46th Annual Design Awards Gala & Fundraiser at Current at Chelsea Piers, overlooking the Hudson River and Chelsea Piers marina, on May 24, 2017, from 6-9 p.m. The event will celebrate Best in Class Design projects from around the world, and also the winner of the coveted Store of the Year award. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Institute's 2017 Student Design Competition Prize Fund.  

One hotel chain is putting a new spin on room service.   Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham is partnering with Peapod and Instacart on a new grocery delivery pilot. Targeting the many travelers who are eager to keep a few “staples” in their hotel room, but struggle to hunt down the closest grocery store in an unfamiliar city, Hawthorn Suites is piloting a program that delivers groceries directly to guests’ doors.  

A formerly troubled center in an affluent community south of Los Angeles has capped off an 18-month, $17 million renovation.   Just two years ago, The Vestar-owned Peninsula Center in Rolling Hills Estates was plagued by several vacancies and an image not in keeping with standards in the community, which has a median household income of $144,000.   Today Orchard Supply Hardware and Ulta Beauty occupy the made-over center, along with new dining options Chipotle and The Habit Burger Grill.  

The nation’s largest retailer is introducing special financing for its credit cards that comes with an appealing hook.    The new offer provides no-interest financing plans for the Walmart Credit Card and the Walmart Mastercard Credit Card, with plans extending across either six months or 12 months on purchases. Similar to most plans, customers don’t pay any interest during the promotional period. But the Walmart offer is different from most others in that the interest also does not accrue during the promotional period.