Retailer Campaigns

Seattle -- Starbucks Coffee Corp. has entered into a joint venture with Tata Global Beverages Limited that will result in the opening of the first-ever Starbucks locations in India. The 50/50 joint venture, called TATA Starbucks Limited, will own and operate Starbucks cafés, which will be branded as Starbucks Coffee “A Tata Alliance.” (Tata Global Beverages is the world’s second largest tea company and Asia’s largest coffee plantation company.)

Walmart opened its second supercenter in Chicago this week, and the only thing missing from the press release announcing the new store was a quote from President Obama praising the company as a job creator.

Instead, Walmart had to settle for some kind words from Chicago mayor and former Obama chief of staff Rohm Emanuel.

JCPenney got a lot of love this week from investors and the media after the company’s senior leadership unveiled a simplified pricing and promotional strategy that sounded an awful lot like another well-known retailer’s success formula.

Bedford, Mass. -- Mobile marketing solution-provider SoundBite Communications announced Thursday it has deployed a new mobile campaign with Westlake Ace Hardware, the largest member of the Ace Hardware Cooperative. Westlake is leveraging SoundBite’s multichannel communications platform and mobile marketing expertise for its Weather the Storm mobile campaign.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart announced that it is expanding its Race Time 2012 program to give fans more accessibility to discounted race tickets, driver appearances and fan events at stores, a greater selection of authentic NASCAR merchandise and a special sponsorship of Bill Elliott at the Coke Zero 400.

NEW YORK— The transformation of JCPenney into America’ favorite store will begin with dramatically simplified pricing strategy and promotional cadence supplemented by an improved product presentation that will allow the 110-year-old company to regain its personality with a new generation of shoppers, according to CEO Ron Johnson.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe's announced that is partnering with Houzz, a social site for home remodeling and design, to offer consumers the chance to win a dream kitchen.

As part of its marketing relationship with Houzz, Lowe's has launched the “Dream Kitchen” sweepstakes, giving customers the chance to win a dream kitchen, valued at $50,000, designed and built by Houzz's top designers and contractors with materials from Lowe's.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe's announced that is partnering with Houzz, a leading social site for home remodeling and design, to offer consumers the chance to win a dream kitchen.

As part of its marketing relationship with Houzz, Lowe's has launched the “Dream Kitchen” sweepstakes, giving customers the chance to win a dream kitchen, valued at $50,000, designed and built by Houzz's top designers and contractors with materials from Lowe's.