Marketing Tactics

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Mattel reported a fourth-quarter net sales increase of 5% to $2.26 billion from $2.15 billion for the same period last year.

For the fourth quarter, the company reported net income of $306.5 million, or 87 cents per share, compared with last year's fourth quarter net income of $370.6 million, or $1.07 per share. 

Asheville, N.C. -- Ingles Markets Inc. said Monday that its fiscal first-quarter net income increased 9%. The supermarket chain earned $11.6 million for the quarter ended Dec. 29, up from $10.6 million a year ago.

Revenue rose 2% to $932.8 million, from $918.2 million. Ingles Markets said that weekly customer visits increased 1.4% during the quarter, while the average amount that customers spent was nearly unchanged.

Ingles Markets operates 203 supermarkets in six states in the southeastern U.S.

Walmart’s efforts to gain share in California’s grocery market continued this week with the opening of another Neighborhood Market in San Jose.

The 41,000-sq.-ft. store is Walmart’s second Neighborhood Market in San Jose and third in the San Francisco area and could be a sign of more to come. Since opening it first Neighborhood Market in California last summer, the format has quickly grown to approximately 20 locations. And there are likely more to come as Walmart looks to accelerated expansion of smaller format stores nationwide in the coming years.

LOS ANGELES — A new line of nutrition bars for dogs is on its way to Walmart.

Though the manufacturer, The All American Pet Co., did not mention the retailer by name, it did say that its three SKUs of NutraBars were on their way to "the world's largest retailer" for its first purchase order.

"We can get the retailer, but we can't write the retailer's purchase order," AAPT CEO Barry Schwartz said. "We created the bar and have the capabilities to meet the demand."

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — OfficeMax partnered with Chicago Public Schools and wide receiver Brandon Marshall to surprise 100 local teachers on Thursday with a $100,000 total donation in essential school supplies for their classrooms. 

BURLINGTON, N.J. — Burlington Coat Factory has joined forces with The Foundation for National Institutes of Health (FNIH) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's (NHLBI) The Heart Truth campaign dedicated to raising awareness of heart disease among women.

NEW YORK — Saks has introduced its Saks Love Your Cause Initiative, which will give 5% of all registered purchases to the American Red Cross and select local organizations, during February.

“Saks Fifth Avenue is committed to our local communities. We appreciate our customers’ charitable involvement and look forward to giving back locally for a second year with this exciting and newly implemented national program,” Steve Sadove, chairman and CEO, Saks Inc., said.

TORONTO — The Home Depot Canada has joined other Canadian retailers in complying with the government's planned phase out of the penny.

However, the retailer noted that many Canadians were unaware of the phase-out, and wanted to ensure its customers that it is doing its best to inform them of the change. As of Feb. 4, the penny will no longer be in circulation. 

The Journal of Shopper Research named University of Indiana business professor Raymond Burke as editor.

Toronto -- The Home Depot Canada has joined other Canadian retailers in complying with the government's planned phase out of the penny.

However, the retailer noted that many Canadians were unaware of the phase-out, and wanted to ensure its customers that it is doing its best to inform them of the change. As of Feb. 4, the penny will no longer be in circulation.