Digital Marketing

Camp Hill, Pa. -- Rite Aid is launching a loyalty program for consumers 65 and up. The new program is the latest extension of the chain’s customer loyalty program wellness+.

New York -- Walmart had the top online retail site for back-to-school shoppers last week, according to sales data and analysis from Experian Marketing Services (EMS). Rounding out the top five: J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Office Max and Sears. 

Experian noted that brick and mortar stores are getting the majority of search traffic to date. The company also said that offers in subject lines were present on 37% of back- to-school email, and generated 57% of total email revenue in 2012. 

New York -- Consumers continue to hold tight to their purse strings and will rely heavily on online and mobile channels while they shop, according to Deloitte’s annual “Back-to-School” and “Back-to-College” surveys. 

Shoppers are far more optimistic about the economy than this time last year. Nearly four in 10 (37%) are more confident in the economy’s prospects, compared with just one-quarter (26%) a year ago. 

By combining offers with other retailers or entities, retailers can avoid being victimized by the “adverse selection” of consumers who simply look for the largest discount they can find at a given time, Alex Rampell, CEO and co-founder of offer-based payment platform TrialPay, told attendees at the recent Retailer Roundtable event sponsored by digital gifting platform CashStar.

“Offering a massive discount just gets people to go elsewhere for a bigger discount,” said Rampell. “Those consumers do not develop into loyal customers.”

New York — Nearly 70% (68%) of consumers plan to spend up to $500 this back-to-school shopping season compared with 63% in 2012 and 48% in 2011, according to a new spending forecast from e-commerce platform provider PriceGrabber.  Additionally, 17% of respondents plan to spend between $500 and $1,000, and 15% of shoppers said they have no back-to-school shopping budget this year. Conducted from June 17 to July 8, 2013, the survey includes responses from 2,191 U.S. online shopping consumers.

LOS ANGELES — With the back-to-school season well underway, a new spending forecast from e-commerce platform provider PriceGrabber conflicts with other recent studies and highlights the danger of placing much credence in what shoppers say about their spending intentions.

NEW YORK — Nickelodeon has promoted Pamela Kaufman to the expanded role of CMO and president of the company’s consumer products. She will report to Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon Group.  

In her new role, Kaufman will oversee Nickelodeon's domestic consumer products business, encompassing merchandising and licensing for properties which include SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s is continuing its partnerships with the American Cancer Society and the Southeast Wisconsin affiliate of Susan G. Komen. To that end, the retailer and its philanthropic platform, Kohl’s Cares, have donated $1.7 million to support and expand education and patient-assistance programs.