Loyalty Marketing

New York City -- A report released Thursday by Bloomberg said that consumer confidence in the United States slumped last week to the second-lowest level on record.

The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index dropped to minus 53 in the period ended Sept. 25 from minus 52.1 the prior week. Similar readings were reached three times in the first half of 2009 and surpassed only by all-time lows of minus 54 plumbed in November 2008 and again in January 2009.

MORRISVILLE, N.C. — Macy’s and  JCPenney rank as the nation’s top “local” advertisers, according to a new report from RSR Research. The study, “The Local Approach: The State of Localized Advertising in Retail,” finds most major retailers are missing huge opportunities to drive store traffic through localized digital advertising campaigns.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Winn-Dixie on Wednesday expanded its Fuelperks! rewards program throughout central Florida, incorporating 62 Winn-Dixie stores in Orlando and Daytona, Fla., areas into the program.

As part of the program, the Winn-Dixie customer reward card has been redesigned to include a magnetic stripe on the back, similar to a debit or credit card.

Morrisville, N.C. -- Macy’s and  J.C. Penney Co. rank as the nation’s top “local” advertisers, according to a new report from RSR Research. The study, “The Local Approach: The State of Localized Advertising in Retail,” finds most major retailers are missing huge opportunities to drive store traffic through localized digital advertising campaigns.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — New research from Nielsen shows consumers will be practical and focused on value during the upcoming holiday season, which bodes well for Target as one on the nation’s leading toy retailers and top destination for gift givers.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Ikea announced that on Oct. 1, its U.S. stores will give away free tree seedlings through its partnership with American Forests. Ikea has been partnering with American Forests since 1998, and through their "Plant a Tree" campaign, they have raised $1.9 million dollars to plant 1.9 million trees.

September may seem a bit early to put out a holiday toy list, considering most consumers just finished spending for back-to-school and still have Halloween to think about, but garnering media attention is important. Many retailers who have a hand in toy retailing will put out some sort of toy list, and Walmart is among them. However if it continues the trend of last year, Walmart won't release its list until early November, which is more in line with when consumers begin thinking about holiday shopping.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corp., a provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced it has signed a new long-term agreement to provide private label and co-branded credit-card services for Marathon Petroleum Corp., Findlay, Ohio.