Digital Marketing

Corpus Christi, Texas -- La Palmera shopping center, located in Corpus Christi, Texas, said it has launched a new smart phone application designed for all smart phone platforms, including Android, Blackberry and iPhone.

The new app, in development since September 2010, officially launched with a La Palmera Facebook posting to its 6,600 fans.

Feeling confident that the worst is behind them, most retailers are ready to expand again as they turn their attention from steadying the ship to actively growing their business. That’s the big takeaway from Retail Horizons: Benchmarks for 2010, Forecasts for 2011 report. The annual study, sponsored by KPMG and the National Retail Federation Foundation, is widely acknowledged as the definitive state of the industry report.

In the February issue of Chain Store Age, in our focus on mall-based social media (page 52), we referenced a fourth quarter 2010 study by Alexander Babbage, entitled the “Shopping Center Social Media Benchmark Report.”

Following are more details about the study, which found that “social media tools and networks are making it easier for shopping centers to relay information, interact with customers and generally stay connected.” 

On Feb. 1, Target will begin selling an exclusive edition of Ricky Martin's new album, "Musica Alma Sexo." According to Target's website, this edition has seven exclusive tracks, including two dance mixes, three unreleased songs and solo versions of the hit singles "Lo Mejor De Mi Vida Eres Tu" and "The Best Thing About Me is You." 

This is Martin's first new studio album in six years, and some big names including Natalia Jimenez, Joss Stone, Wisin y Yandel, and Claudia Leitte joined him on the album. 

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is continuing its Community Corner Initiative by showcasing products manufactured by African-American suppliers, in line with Black History Month.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Best Buy announced that it is helping consumers get ready for the Super Bowl by offering deals on Samsung products in stores and online through Feb. 5. 

Best Buy's deals include:

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Kmart announced that it is teaming up with comedian Steve Harvey for its Share the Word campaign celebrating Black History Month. According to the company, this year's installment of the Share the Word program was designed to spotlight the unique bonds found in black communities that have historically driven the progression of African-Americans.

NEW YORK — At a press event in New York on Wednesday, Pacific World and Walmart officially took the wraps off a new eco-friendly beauty line for tweens, aptly named GeoGirl.

The line, which has a suggested retail price between $3.98 and $5.98, is launching exclusively at about 1,250 Walmart stores and on Walmart.com beginning in March. The 69-SKU collection includes makeup for face, lips, cheeks and eyes, as well as skin and body care. A GeoGirl website is slated to launch Feb. 24.