Loyalty Marketing

Competing with Walmart is nothing new for Target, but what appears to be different this holiday season compared with the last few years is, to borrow a football metaphor, Walmart has eliminated its turnovers and is now showing some signs of momentum.

At least that’s what the retailer told financial analysts gathered in Northwest Arkansas last week for an all-day meeting. 

Stamford, Conn. -- Stein Mart and GE Capital’s Retail Finance business announced Friday the multi-year renewal of the Stein Mart co-branded credit card program.

Plans with the new agreement include launching a private label Stein Mart credit card in early 2012 that will be integrated into the customer loyalty program to drive sales and customer engagement.

There will be no escaping the long arm of Walmart’s marketing efforts this holiday season as the retail reminds shoppers it has the lowest prices on the broadest assortment of merchandise. Chief merchandising office Duncan Mac Naughton is making sure of that, and on Wednesday he outlined all of the ways the company plans to communicate with shoppers in the months ahead.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us announced that through Nov. 5, for every wish list created in-store or online it will donate $1 in Toys"R"Us gift card, up to $50,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In addition, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund, a public charity affiliated with Toys"R"Us Inc., has provided the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a $275,000 grant.

BILLERICA, Mass. and MINNEAPOLIS — Customers looking to get their hands on the new iPhone 4S can trade in their old versions for special trade-in values at more than 1,400 Target stores nationwide. Through a partnership with NextWorth, Target is offering customers locked in trade-in values for old iPhones that can be redeemed when they pick up their new iPhone 4S starting Oct. 14. 

According to NextWorth, old iPhones need only be in good working order to qualify for the values quoted below:

• iPhone 4 (16GB & 32GB): $200

NEW YORK — Uniqlo’s NYC flagship may at first seem out of place amongst its Fifth Avenue neighbors, including luxury brands Tiffany & Co., Bergdorf Goodman, Louis Vuitton and Prada, but the location signifies the brand’s “made for all” mantra and its appeal to customers of all income levels.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Increased localization of shopper marketing efforts at Walmart is now possible via Facebook following the retailer’s announcement that it would create approximately 3,500 store-specific Facebook pages to serve its nearly 9.5 million fans.

Walmart chief marketing officer Stephen Quinn said the move was an example of the company’s ongoing effort to engage with and listen to customers who desired a more localized experience on Facebook.

By Mark Friedman, [email protected]