Loyalty Marketing

New York -- A survey released Monday is in line with other reports that consumers do not plan to spend more this year on back-to-school supplies than they did last year. The survey also lists the 10 most popular retail brands for back-to-school purchases.

Target ranks as the most popular retail brand for back-to-school purchases, just ahead of Walmart, in the 21st annual Back-to-School survey by Brand Keys, the New York-based brand loyalty and emotional engagement research consultancy. Macy’s, CVS and Best Buy round out the top five.

Office Depot Inc. is thinking teachers first with an omnichannel component at the core of its back-to-school promotion.

Rockville, Md. - Shifting household dynamics are changing the way Americans shop for groceries, with moms no longer always assuming this role exclusively. According to market research publisher Packaged Facts, the percentage of men who are now the primary shoppers in their households has more than doubled in the past two decades.

San Jose, Calif. – Back-to-school shoppers are doing their homework online before making purchases. According to research from store analytics provider RetailNext, 73% of consumers research online and then buy back-to-school items in the store.

In addition, 32% of college shoppers plan to comparison shop online to make sure they get the best pricing, up from 28% in 2014. More than 31% of K-12 school shoppers will compare prices online, compared with 30% last year.

Other notable findings include:

A unique arrangement between Starbucks and ride-sharing service Lyft should serve as a blueprint for the rest of the retail industry when it comes to developing unconventional partnerships that lead to new growth possibilities.

Rite Aid stores are hoping to attract more back-to-school shoppers with a new assortment of supplies, including affordable electronics and dorm room decor.

“We know that students and parents are looking for a stress-free and seamless transition as summer winds down and the new school year starts,” said Tony Montini, Rite Aid executive vice president of merchandising. “With our 4,600 convenient locations, large assortment of products and great prices, our customers will find everything they need to succeed and stand out this school year.”

Portland, Ore. – Specialty membership-based outdoor retailer The Clymb targets active consumers with an active, content-driven marketing strategy. The Clymb drives people to its e-commerce site with content such as photos of outdoor activities on social networks like Instagram.

Seattle – The sales success of the July 15 Amazon Prime Day sales event did not happen by itself. A new IPSOS survey of 1.005 U.S. consumers commissioned by Cumulus Media/Westwood One has revealed advertising drove significant awareness for Prime Day.