Loyalty Marketing

A new Harris Poll EquiTrend study out this week shows Target, not Walmart, as the Value Retail Brand of the Year. That would be bad enough news for Walmart given the company’s prospects in the United States are closely tied to its reputation for low prices, but this is the second year in a row Target has been named the top Value Retail Brand and the gap with Walmart even widened this year.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1 Imports reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Feb. 26 surged 65% to $57.1 million, from $34.5 million a year earlier.
 
The home décor retailer cited improving sales, cost control efforts and strong merchandise margins for the substantial improvement.

Pier 1 also announced a three-year growth plan that includes investing $200 million of capital into its operations and starting a $100 million share buyback.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Sam's Club announced that it is helping members and non-members prepare for spring celebrations by inviting them to a national "Spring Taste of Sam's Club" sampling event from April 15 to 17.

This complimentary tasting weekend will showcase gourmet finds and crowd favorites at locations nationwide from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m, Sam's Club reported.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market announced that it has relaunched its Design-A-Bag contest, inviting Fresh & Easy customers to design and vote on the grocer's next reusable bag. Customers can submit their original bag designs at www.freshandeasy.com/designabag through May 15. Based on feedback Fresh & Easy has expanded the contest this year to anyone 13 years of age or older in Arizona, California and Nevada.

Cleveland -- Forest City Commercial Management, in partnership with PlaceWise Media, announced Tuesday the launch of the Shoptopia Network.

CHICAGO ─ Faced with rising food costs, U.S. consumers are turning to the cost savings tactics they’ve mastered over the past few years, according to The NPD Group.

Chicago -- A report released Tuesday by The NPD Group said that U.S. consumers have emerged from the recession with a honed ability to stretch their dollars and, now faced with rising food costs, they are turning to the cost-savings tactics they’ve mastered over the past few years.

Target plans to give away one million reusable shopping bags on Sunday, April 17 in line with the release of its weekly ad featuring an assortment of environmentally-friendly products in conjunction with Earth Day on April 22.