Retailer Campaigns

Rising commodity costs and expense pressures prompted Hershey to announce an 8% increase in wholesale prices as it looks to maintain profitability in 2014 and beyond.

Newegg has kicked off its back-to-school campaign for 2014, which features special deals, promotions and sweepstakes designed to help equip students for the upcoming school year.

Each week of the campaign focuses on a specific theme, highlighting sales on related products and rewarding Newegg customers with special deals through Twitter and Facebook.

J.C. Penney’s back-to-school marketing campaign aims to celebrate self-expression the way it’s done nowadays: with selfies.

Customers are invited to visit the retailer’s back-to-school online hub, jcpenney.com/bts, where they can create a personalized emoji that resembles them. Users can customize their emoji with accessories and hairstyles and post it side-by-side with their selfie, to share with friends as well as on J.C. Penny’s "Express Yourselfie" online gallery.

Heineken Light’s most recent ad campaign, "Best Tasting Light Beer," features three-time Emmy award-winner and Tony award-winner and host Neil Patrick Harris.  

The reformulated Heineken Light recipe still contains just 99 calories but now includes cascade hops, commonly used in IPAs to create a fuller flavor, crisper aftertaste and a clean finish, the company said.

San Francisco -- Search ad spend increased 25% year-over-year and 2% quarter-over-quarter, according to Kenshoo, a leader in predictive media optimization technology.

Among the key findings in the research:

• Search click-through rate increased 26%, driving a 15% increase in clicks year-over-year;

• Social ad spend increased 51% year-over-year and 21% quarter-over-quarter; and

• Social impressions increased 13% year-over-year.

Dallas -- J.C. Penney Company announced the launch of a new back-to-school marketing campaign that celebrates self-expression, showing how the perfect fit inspires kids to stand out and feel one-of-a-kind. The campaign kicks off today with two television spots, "Stand Out" and "My Fit," as well as a Hispanic marketing spot.

Denham Springs, La. — Belk will open a 75,000-sq.-ft. store in Denham Springs, Louisiana, near Baton Rouge, that will become the first department store anchor at the regional lifestyle center at Juban Crossing. The grand opening is slated for October 15.

The new, $7-million store will feature the latest retail design and décor for the Charlotte, North Carolina chain.

New York -- J.C. Penney has teamed up with NBC’s “Today Show” to display five mannequins created in the image of real Americans in the windows of its store in Manhattan. The mannequins, which include a model of woman in a wheelchair and a male double-leg amputee, were made by Fusion Specialties, Broomfield, Colorado.

Seattle – Starbucks opens its first store in Colombia on July 16. The three-story location in the capital city of Bogota is the first of 50 stores Starbucks plans to open in Colombia by 2019.

Staples has officially launched the 2014 back-to-school season with its Make More Happen for Less promotion, which offers customers three ways to save on products.

“This year, Staples will Make More Happen for Less with guaranteed savings and exciting products not found anywhere else,” said Demos Parneros, president of North American stores and online, Staples. “Our 110% Price Match Guarantee, Staples Less List and Weekly Hot Deals let customers find everything they need to succeed in school — at great prices.”