Loyalty Marketing

The nearly 1,000 stores Gap Inc. operates under various nameplates that will be open on Thanksgiving are the latest indication of the extreme measures required of retailers to grow holiday sales during challenging and intensively competitive times.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway has announced its stores raised $14.5 million in October for breast cancer research. The company thanked its customers and employees for their commitment to finding a cure for the most common form of cancer for women.

"We continue to be humbled by the generosity of our customers and the commitment our employees have for the cause," said Larree Renda, EVP Safeway and chair of the Safeway Foundation. "This kind of fundraising outcome will have a real and measurable impact on the science of finding a cure."

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — As Veterans Day approaches, CVS/pharmacy is reminding all Americans, including veterans, military service members and their families, about the importance of getting a flu shot for protection against the flu.

In addition, to honor military heroes, CVS/pharmacy will donate $3 to the USO for every flu shot given at CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic during the week of Veterans Day, Nov. 6 to 12, up to $50,000.

Atlanta -- Mobile commerce enabler Firethorn Mobile Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., and Brookstone announced Brookstone as its latest retail partner for its Swagg mobile application, which provides shoppers with mobile access to purchase digital gift cards. Mobile shoppers also can receive special offers and manage customer loyalty programs through the app. 

Target reported a 3.3% same-store sales increase for October and a similar figure could be in order for November as the company again provided guidance calling for a low-to-mid single-digit increase.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Members of the military can enjoy savings at Sam's Club with the introduction of a new membership offering.

The retailer said that when military personnel — including those active or retired, their spouses and civilian military employees — join or renew as an advantage member or advantage plus member, the company will provide them with a $15 Sam's Club gift card to each primary membership.

Proof of military identification is required and the offer cannot be combined with any other membership offers, Sam's Club noted.

By Bryon Morrison, president/Wireless Practice, The Marketing Arm

Can you hear that noise? It is the melodious sound of sleigh bells, phones, and cash registers ringing. The holiday shopping season is almost here and strategies incorporating mobile marketing can expand your database, reaffirm customer loyalty, and usher in new multichannel techniques to make the most of this holiday season — but only if you get your plan into action right now.

Holiday marketing strategy and the current environment

Target is out with a beast of a holiday toy catalog that weigha in at 52 glossy pages that employs a variety of incentives to promote sales in advance of Thanksgiving weekend. Nothing unusual about that or the fact that the publication features all sorts of cool products and high quality photography that is sure to have kids drooling if parents make the mistake of leaving the thing lying around.