Social Media

Louisville, Ky. – Papa John’s International Inc. is taking its Super Bowl focus off trivial football inflation concerns and on something that matters – free pizza. Customers who place a minimum order of $15 on Papajohns.com using promo code SUPERBOWL between Thursday, Jan. 29 and Sunday, Feb. 1 will receive a free large pizza with up to three toppings on their next order beginning Monday, Feb. 2 through Sunday, February 22.

Now that gasoline is cheaper, the fuel-savings component of retailer loyalty programs isn’t such a powerful draw. So retailers such as Kroger are employing new tactics to keep customers interested.

Cost Plus World Market is giving movie lovers until Feb. 21 to participate in an online contest that should help the Bed Bath & Beyond division build its email database.

The “Movie Lovers Sweepstakes” offers film buffs a chance to win one of four grand prize packages of free movies for a year (two tickets per week for 52 weeks) and a $1,000 World Market gift card by registering with their e-mail addresses and other personal information at worldmarketsweepstakes.com.

The Macy’s Bloomingdale division is pursuing a micro-seasonality promotion opportunity with an Asian-inspired marketing campaign.

The company announced that it will be ringing in the Year of the Ram this Chinese New Year with unique merchandise, special events and cultural presentations from Jan.22 – March 2.

Framingham, Mass. – To celebrate the two-year anniversary of its SmartPay Check-Link mobile and card payment program, convenience chain Cumberland Farms is launching a promotion on its Facebook page Jan. 23-25. To enter, customers must calculate their projected 2015 coffee savings using Cumberland Farms' Coffee Savings Calculator, and post them as a comment on the Cumberland Farms page.

Twenty winners will be announced in the comments and will receive a $20 gift card to their local Cumberland Farms.
 

A big game bonanza is in store for retailers, with television viewership and entertainment related spending expected to hit record levels, according to a National Retail Federation survey.

According to NRF, average viewer spending will reach a survey high of $77.88, up from $68.27 last year, with fans planning to splurge on everything from game day food and new televisions to athletic wear and decorations. Total spending is expected to reach $14.3 billion.

Barnes & Noble Inc. is embarking on a social media-based campaign to inspire more customers to read and promote its Nook e-reader.

The Nook Reading Challenge is a social media-based reading challenge with the goal of inspiring participants to read more and interact with their friends and the book community about what they’re currently reading, the company said.

To participate in the challenge, readers have to commit on their Facebook page to read one or more books between Jan. 24 (National Readathon Day) and Feb. 28 using the hashtag #NOOKReadingChallenge.

Target may have ruffled some feathers in the past with what some considered a lack of plus-size offerings. But the retailer seems to be making up for it now.

Target says it is launching a brand new plus-size line, Ava & Viv, which will be sold both online and in stores starting on Feb. 22.