Media Advertising

As media companies increasingly look for ways to boost profitability, the New York Times is leveraging its brand recognition by launching an overhaul of the New York Times Store.

The store is the online destination for shoppers seeking New York Times branded merchandise. But the new store will also sell personalized products that are curated for and recommended to each individual shopper, in addition to bestsellers like classic photography, newspaper reprints, sports memorabilia and books, as well as a wide selection of autographed and historical items.

Walmart is supporting a trio of professional anglers on the competitive fishing circuit this year in an ongoing effort to align itself with sport that resonates with the retailer’s core customers.

The roster of talent Walmart is supporting this year includes 16 year Walmart FLW Tour veteran Mark Rose, 18 year veteran David Dudley and newcomer Nicole Jacobs.

By Jim Singer, A.T. Kearney, and Ryan Mathews, Black Monk Consulting

Helping small business owners and consumers achieve peak performance is the premise behind a new branding initiative at Office Depot called, “Gear Up For Great.”

Retailers will hear a lot about innovation at the National Retail Federation convention this year, but the most innovative thing many will see is the trade group’s latest effort to elevate the industry’s profile.

Ace Hardware is set to launch a “Free Store Pickup” program this April and has chosen PGA tour player Hunter Mahan to serve as pitchman for the omnichannel initiative.

The deal with six-time winner Mahan marks the first time the nation’s largest hardware cooperative has teamed with a professional athlete on an endorsement deal.

Americans’ appetite for e-commerce grew again in 2014 with holiday sales slightly exceeding an optimistic forecast by digital measurement firm comScore.

Total desktop online sales for the entire November through December holiday season advanced 15 percent to $53.3 billion, comScore said. Cyber Monday retained its crown as the highest volume day with e-commerce spending of more than $2 billion.

Brawny paper towels are known for being tough, but now the brand is standing strong with wounded service members in need of help.

Georgia-Pacific, the maker of Brawny, announced it has raised $2 million for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) following its third year of partnering together. WWP is a national organization dedicated to honoring and empowering wounded service members transitioning back to civilian life through unique, direct programs and services.