Retailer Campaigns

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.

Lowe’s is teaming up with a key supplier to engage a new generation of shoppers with a multifaceted initiative that involves in-store and social media elements.

Tool manufacturer Dremel will be offering a series of in-store clinics at Lowe's to help families design and build a race-worthy Pinewood Derby Car. With the help of Dremel tools and accessories, participants will learn how to create a winning derby car without an elaborate set of tools.

Target shoppers looking for the next big thing in fashion are in for a splash of color and bold prints from the retailer’s next design partner.

Target has announced it is collaborating with American resort wear brand Lilly Pulitzer on a limited-edition collection featuring 15 exclusive prints, which are original works of art.

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.

Plano, Texas  -- J.C. Penney is reflecting in a post-holiday glow and feeling bullish about its business going forward after reporting a 3.7% increase in same-store sales during the holidays (the nine week period from November through December). The retailer also said that it expects its fourth-quarter comparable sales will be at the top end of its forecast range of a 2% to 4% gain.

Merrimack, N.H. - Brookstone is unveiling its "I Launched at Brookstone!" marketing campaign to promote new homegrown products, introduce the new tech products from startup companies, and meet startup companies looking for a way to bring their products to market. Brookstone is able to develop and market startup products with in-house design, packaging, marketing, retail, e-commerce and wholesale teams

A 3.7% same store sales increase during the holidays has JCPenney feeling good about the continued growth of its business.

The retailer said same store sales during the nine week period from November through December increase 3.7%. That figure was on top of a 3.1% gain during the same period the prior year and was toward the high end of the company’s guidance range which envisioned comp growth of two percent to four percent.

Camp Hill, Penn. - Rite Aid is ringing in the New Year by offering members of its wellness+ loyalty program the opportunity to receive lifestyle and entertainment rewards for every $50 spent in stores on participating products through Jan. 24. To participate in a promotion Rite Aid is calling “Happy You Year,” members of the wellness+ loyalty program can look for the red "Buy & Earn" symbol on store shelves. 

Lebanon, Tenn. – Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is taking a decidedly new-fangled approach to promotion. The casual dining chain has enlisted Nashville-based advertising agency Redpepper to create a holiday-themed social marketing campaign.   The promotion targets a younger, more social demographic with Facebook posts. Some posts in the campaign have received more than 10,000 interactions.

It remains to be seen how Big Lots performed this holiday season, but the closeout retailer’s catchy and original television advertising drew accolades from industry experts.

In a recent piece in Ad Age, Big Lot’s holiday campaign “Nailed It” was singled out by writer Ken Wheaton as the top campaign of the season.