Loyalty Marketing

As retailers try varying ways to attract the interest of shoppers, Stuart Weitzman is launching a totally new kind of digital campaign.

The retailer says it is the first company in the apparel industry to launch what is called a "cinemagraph advertising campaign" on Instagram. Cinemagraphs — still photographs incorporating looping video elements — are increasingly popular as retailers experiment with new visual tricks and gimmicks designed to make consumers stop and take notice.

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts has signed multi-unit store development agreements with two existing franchise groups to develop seven restaurants in Illinois during the next several years. The two franchise groups and their development plans include:

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart is launching the spring “Fight Hunger. Spark Change” campaign, a nationwide initiative inviting the public to take action in the fight against hunger. Working with food companies including Campbell’s, ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Kellogg Company, Kraft, and Unilever, Wal-Mart aims to donate up to $3 million to Feeding America based on customer participation in the #WeSparkChange social media challenge.

Barnes & Noble is trying to attract more educators to its stores by hosting a week of appreciation days in April.

During its Spring Educator Appreciation Days from April 11-19, Barnes & Noble will offer pre-K-12 public, private and homeschool educators and administrators special discounts, events, sweepstakes and giveaways.

Special discount offerings include:

Hingham, Mass. – Talbots Inc. has signed an extension to a long-term agreement to continue receiving private label credit card services from Alliance Data Systems Corp. Talbots operates nearly 500 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Austin, Texas -- Christopher & Banks Corp. has selected Epicor Retail solutions (from Epicor Software Corp.) to streamline operations and support its omnichannel "customer first" strategy.

The retailer plans to leverage a broad solution set that includes Epicor QuantiSense retail business intelligence and analytics and Epicor ShopVisible order management and digital commerce solutions.

Baltimore - Retail was the largest vertical on the Millennial Media mobile advertising platform in 2014, followed by telecommunications and entertainment. According to the Millennial Media Scorecard for Mobile Advertising Reach and Targeting (S.M.A.R.T.) report, retail saw 49% year-over-year growth on the Millennial Media platform in 2014.

Books-A-Million is trying to increase brand loyalty with two new omnichannel marketing campaigns celebrating customers.

During the month of April, the retailer will host Customer Appreciation Month. The campaign kicks off with Educator Week on April 4 and wraps up with Geek Week, which will offer Stars Wars events and comic book giveaways.