Retailer Campaigns

NEW YORK — Macy’s is getting help from singer, songwriter and dancer Usher in curating the concept, music and design of the 37th annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks. The retailer’s fireworks spectacular is the nation’ largest patriotic pyrotechnic display.

Princeton – A substantially higher percentage of Americans (60%) would rather save money than spend it (37%), according to a new Gallup poll. Consumer show little difference in these preferences according to demographic categories such as age, gender, education and political party.

Los Angeles -- Bebe Stores, Inc. is naming Keith Keegan as senior VP of marketing, effective May 13. Keegan will be in charge of all aspects of marketing and branding across all Bebe brands and report to CEO Steve Birkhold.

Previously, Keegan has worked for Abercrombie and Fitch, Limited, and Express and most recently served as VP of marketing and creative director for American Eagle and the Aerie brand.

LOS ANGELES — Bebe has appointed former Limited executive Keith Keegan as SVP of marketing. In his new role, Keegan will lead all aspects of marketing and branding across all channels of the business. He will report to CEO Steve Birkhold.

Bentonville, Ark. — Walmart and its philanthropic arm, the Walmart Foundation, were busy working alongside notable food companies in April, as part of the corporation’s Fighting Hunger Together Initiative. 

Between April 1 and April 30, more than 443,000 votes were cast for the more than 300 eligible Feeding America food banks and partner agencies as part of the campaign, which fights hunger in local communities. 

Central Garden & Pet's CEO is not settling for the company's margins and bottom line results, despite reporting second-quarter net sales of $498.2 million, a 7% increase over the comparable fiscal 2012 period.

The company's net income for the second quarter ended March 30 was $22.2 million, compared with net income of $21.6 million in the second quarter of 2012. 

Walmart continues its superhero streak and courting comic book fans onto its website via social media — this time the superhero in question is Marvel’s billionaire badboy and Iron Man alter ego Tony Stark. 

The discount retailer posted a photo of Iron Man 3 to its Facebook page Monday, April 29, emblazoned with a burst bearing the Walmart logo and urging fans to ‘Preorder Now,’ even though the film did not release in theaters until Friday, May 3. 

Buffalo, N.Y. -- Buffalo, the second largest city in New York, has become the first market in which a majority of Rite Aid's stores have been converted to the Wellness format, the retail pharmacy chain announced Wednesday.

Research from DeWalt found that 650 out of 1,000 pros were aware of DeWalt mechanic tools. That's pretty good awareness. But DeWalt didn't have mechanics tools at the time of the survey.

It does now. And a partnership with Sears is bringing DeWalt wrenches, ratchets, sockets and mechanics tool sets online and in Sears stores in time for Father's Day.

DeWalt and Sears executives announced the news during a presentation at the National Hardware Show here at the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

OMAHA, Neb. — Sergeant's Pet Care Products, an Omaha, Neb.-based manufacturer of pet products, engaged shoppers while promoting good oral hygiene for pets with its national Sentry Petrodex Superstar Smiles photo contest, sponsored by the company’s Sentry Petrodex dental brand.

Three-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever Flash took the top prize.