Retailer Campaigns

MINNEAPOLIS -- Target's deal with Lady Gaga may have fallen through, but that doesn't mean the retailer has lost its ability to court the music industry. Case in point, the company announced yesterday that it is partnering with GRAMMY and Academy Award-winning singer and actress Jennifer Hudson for the exclusive, deluxe edition of her second studio album, "I Remember Me." The deluxe edition, including four additional new songs and bonus video material, will be available only at Target stores nationwide and on Target.com beginning March 22.

New York City -- Fast-fashion retailer Forever 21 has pledged to donate 100% of its global online sales on March 18 to help the victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. 

All of Forever 21's e-commerce sites -- forever21.com, canada.forever21.com, forever21.com/eu, forever21.com/uk, forever21.co.kr, and forever21.co.jp -- are participating in the initiative.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Lowe's announced that it will donate $1 million to support the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief effort that is assisting victims in Japan. The company said that customers who want to help Lowe's support Japan relief efforts can do so by making a donation on Lowes.com and Lowe’s Canada website, Lowes.ca. Money donated will go to the American Red Cross and the Canadian Red Cross.

NEW YORK — A report released by payment system provider ACI Worldwide found that many retail loyalty programs leave consumers feeling underappreciated and many consumers are enrolled in a program they don’t completely understand.

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. -- Fameco Real Estate, L.P., announced that Sports Clips has signed five new leases in the Philadelphia region as part of its store roll-out campaign.

In December, Sports Clips’ first area store opened at Park East Plaza in Cherry Hill, N.J. It will be followed by store openings at the Nassau Pavilion in Princeton, N.J., The Shoppes at English Village in North Wales, Pa., Providence Town Center in Collegeville, Pa., and at the Marketplace at Neshaminy, in Bensalem, Pa., in 2011. 

Glendale, Calif. -- Nordstrom and Caruso Affiliated jointly announced today an agreement to relocate the Nordstrom full-line store and build a new store at Caruso Affiliated's The Americana at Brand in downtown Glendale, Calif.

The new three-level, 135,000-sq.-ft. is expected to open in fall 2013 and will be part of the expansion of The Americana at Brand. Nordstrom will continue serving customers at its current Glendale Galleria store, located next to The Americana at Brand, until the new store opens.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Sam's Club,  the official supplier of the Kansas City Barbeque Society, is sponsoring its first national BBQ tour and is awarding $400,000 in prize money -- a first for competitive barbeque. 

PITTSBURGH -- National Runner's Month is back this May at Dick's Sporting Goods. As part of its celebration of runners, the company announced that it will be a major sponsor at ten premiere running events in metro cities across the country. In addition, the month-long running celebration will be surrounded by a comprehensive marketing program that includes the announcement of three widely respected running ambassadors, a major charity initiative, social and digital media elements along with running specials and promotions throughout May.

MINNEAPOLIS -- After all the flak it got for its political contributions -- even losing a deal with Lady Gaga over it -- Target this year was still recognized as one of the world's most ethical companies.

Salisbury, N.C. -- Delhaize America said Monday it plans to convert all of its Bloom stores in North and South Carolina to the Food Lion banner, with the exception of one Bloom store in Mauldin, S.C., that will close.

According to a report by Supermarket News, the 15 Bloom locations in the Charlotte and Greenville, S.C., markets will be converted "as quickly as possible."