Loyalty Marketing

DALLAS — 7-Eleven is looking to leverage social media this summer with a limited duration offer designed to generate traffic at the retailer’s more than 10,000 worldwide locations.

The announcement comes on the heels of Dunkin’ Donuts’ decision to focus more on its beverages and Starbucks’ announcement that it would be raising prices on select beverages. 

St. Louis and Columbus, Ohio, are ground zero for a new initiative from News America Marketing that blends e-commerce with the traditional free-standing insert.

LOS ANGELES — Specialty sporting goods retailer Sports Chalet is sticking to an innovative plan that helps retain existing customers while enhancing its brand awareness. The retailer is inviting certified Scuba divers to participate in its Treasure Hunt dive for the fourth consecutive year. 

Los Angeles - Sport Chalet said Tuesday it has launched its fourth-consecutive Treasure Hunt dive, which invites certified scuba divers to participate by diving to find six sunken treasure bars hidden in diving locations off the northern and southern California coasts and in a special marine destination in Arizona.

From June 25 to 18, Sport Chalet will release one clue every Tuesday and Thursday to help divers identify the secret locations of the six gold-painted treasure bars; clues will be posted online and in all participating Sport Chalet retail stores.

FORT WORTH — One doesn’t normally associate social media with Dickies, but the global workwear maker is teaming up with pitcher R. A. Dickey to launch a contest on Facebook and using the social media site to extend its reach.

The contest, called Built to Work, recognizes the dedication and contributions of blue-collar workers from all walks of life — that is, the target consumer which Dickies aims to outfit with its apparel. 

Clearwater, Fla. – Multichannel retailer/product marketer As Seen On TV is taking advantage of the burgeoning crowd-funding trend to let its customers help decide what new products will be available for sale. Partnering with crowd-funding software provider Launcht Inc., As Seen On TV will allow inventors to upload video, images, design specifications and marketing strategies relating to their product ideas onto its e-commerce site. Customers will then be able to comment on, review and make prepurchases of products.

Office Depot has launched a new rewards program with several loyalty enhancements even as it moves closer to consummating its merger with OfficeMax.

The company’s new program, called simply Office Depot Rewards, is designed to reward shoppers for spending money, sharing information about themselves and recycling. It is a novel approach that is intended to offer a more customized approach to shoppers’ unique behaviors and preferences.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — School may be out for summer, but Staples has already released its top product picks for the 2013 back-to-school shopping season. 

“School supplies need to reflect students’ individual styles, and we are excited by this year’s amazing selection, all at great values,” said Alison Corcoran, SVP, stores and online marketing. “Staples makes it easy to find everything on your list for less this back-to-school season.”