Marketing Tactics

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Kellogg's has teamed up with Scholastic as well as actor and children's book author Taye Diggs to promote childhood literacy and the importance of having books in the home. 

In a public service announcement, Diggs explains how U.S. families can help give kids great starts with great stories by placing 200,000 books into home libraries, schools and local communities.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears continues focusing on its Shop Your Way loyalty program, following second quarter results for the period ended Aug. 3. Members can increase their reward points by linking up to three eligible Visa credit and debit cards to their accounts.

Members can use their linked cards at any number of Reward Partner merchants, such as Burger King, Popeyes, Louisiana Kitchen, Picture People, Public Storage and 1-800-Flowers.com.

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — M&M’s is no stranger to the NASCAR circuit, but the official chocolate of NASCAR is giving fans the chance to race around the same track as the pros at the Atlanta Motor Speedway during an exclusive event dubbed the M&M'S 500.

On Monday, Sept. 2, M&M'S will invite fans to drive their own vehicle two full laps around the storied mile and a half track. Following their rides, fans can have their vehicles photographed at the track.

Canton, Mass. -- Big and tall men’s apparel retailer Destination XL Group recorded a $1.6 million loss in the second quarter, compared with a profit of  $1.2 million in the year-ago period.  Sales dipped 3% to $97.6 million from $100.5 million, and same-store sales rose 6.9%.

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix Super Markets on Friday announced it will enter the Winston-Salem market and add a third location in Mecklenburg

The Winston-Salem store will measure 49,000 sq. ft. and is slated to open in 2015. The Cornelius store, located in Mecklenburg County, will also encompass 49,000 sq. ft. and will feature a drive-thru pharmacy. Opening is planned for late 2014.

Publix continues to aggressively look for additional locations throughout the state of North Carolina, the grocer said.

Chesterfield, Mo. — Simon Property Group has announced the opening of Phase I of St. Louis Premium Outlets in Chesterfield, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis.

The 350,000-sq.-ft. Phase I features 90 outlets and is 100% leased. Designer and name branded outlet shops include Armani, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Nike, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and Under Armour.

The center is a joint venture between Simon Property Group and Woodmont Outlets, an affiliate of The Woodmont Company, a retail shopping center developer and operator.

New York — eShave, the Long Island City-based shaving products and services company, has leased its first Upper East Side storefront at 1025 Third Avenue between 60th and 61st Streets. The space is across the street from Bloomingdale’s.

Winick Realty Group represented eShave in the transaction, while the landlord, Mall Properties, was represented in-house.
 

By Kathy Gersch, VP at Kotter International [email protected]

The National Retail Federation definition of September 2013 shifts the month one week later in the calendar when compared to 2012. This shift introduces a significant cooler bias in the forecast. Therefore, while the nation on a year-on-year basis trends cooler, most of that will be due to a calendar shift and not a change in the weather. Conditions are expected to be similar to 2012 when the shift is removed.

Russell Athletic brand deployed its brand ambassador and Washington wide receiver Pierre Garcon to three Washington, D.C.-area high schools. Garcon delivered Russell Athletic uniforms to the school's respective football teams.

The teams selected were from Thomas Jefferson (Alexandra, Va.), Theodore Roosevelt (Washington, D.C.) and Springbrook (Silver Spring, Md.).