Marketing Tactics

PLEASANTON, Calif. — In effort to further its commitment to sustainability, Safeway's brand Softly bath and facial tissue and Ultra Thirsty paper towels are now certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Rainforest Alliance. 

Safeway's paper products earned the FSC seal by being produced from fiber sourced from suppliers who have been independently certified to follow the strictest standards in sustainable, ethical forestry management and production chain controls. 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Mass merchandiser Sam's Club has made a deal with the pregnancy and parenting brand of an author who has signed on to write articles in its in-store magazine.

Las Vegas -- Digital gift card solution-provider Transaction Wireless said Tuesday that Applebee’s expanded its offering with the Transaction Wireless platform to provide its sports fans with personalized digital gift cards as part of its “Catch the Game” invite application on Facebook.

The app is timed to launch in concert with the March Madness NCAA basketball series. Basketball fans visit the Applebee’s Facebook page and schedule a viewing party at any Applebee's location to invite family and friends to attend.

Boston -- Wifarer said Tuesday that it has partnered with Boston’s Prudential Center to deliver promotions and deals to customers based on their location inside the shopping center, as well as to provide insights into visitor traffic and venue usage.

Wifarer’s indoor positioning technology uses a venue’s WiFi infrastructure to pinpoint the inside location of a user’s smartphone within four and a half feet and without burdening large venues with extraneous hardware, infrastructure or extra WiFi needs.

Lawrenceville, Ga. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and its real estate platform The Mills announced that a newly expanded 20,000-sq.-ft. Forever 21 will open at its value retail destination Discover Mills, located in Atlanta.

The enlarged Forever 21 is slated to open summer 2012 near Entry 5 across from Nike Factory Store.

“An expanded and relocated Forever 21 enhances our value retail mix and the overall shopping experience at Discover Mills,” said Karl Woodard, general manager of Discover Mills.

Northridge, Calif. -- Chicago-based General Growth Properties announced that Brooke Whitebread has been named general manager of its Northridge Fashion Center property, located in Northridge, Calif.

Whitebread will oversee coordination and implementation of strategic advertising, public relations, budgeting, retailer relations and special events.

Whitebread comes from a GGP-owned center, Fashion Place in Salt Lake City, Utah where she developed and executed strategic marketing plans. 
 

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club is stepping up its efforts to fight hunger by joining with with two Nashville recording stars, General Mills, key food suppliers and the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief charity, Feeding America, in a nationwide program to help Feeding America secure up to one million meals for local food banks to fulfill critical springtime shortages.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Celebriy Chef Curtis Stone will debut his Kitchen Solutions line March 16 to 17 on HSN. Stone will appear live on HSN during a special one-hour preview at 1 p.m. (EDT) on March 16 and throughout the day on March 17 as part of the multi-channel retailer's "24 Hour HSN Cooks Event."  

New York City -- Barnes & Noble Inc. said Monday that it plans to expand an in-store pilot boutique from its current 10 units to 25.

The 200-sq.-ft. Penguin store-in-stores sell Penguin book titles and merchandise; the Penguin banner is owned by Pearson PLC.

“The sales have been incremental rather than cannibalizing Penguin sales elsewhere in the store because it’s a different experience,” John Makinson, CEO of Pearson PLC’s Penguin Group, told the Wall Street Journal.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts announced Monday the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with QSR Services for nine new restaurants in Omaha and Lincoln, Neb.

The first restaurant is planned to open in 2013, and the remainder by 2017.

"We are excited to expand Dunkin' Donuts' presence in Omaha and Lincoln and play an important role in the daily lives of people who live, work and visit here," said Bryce Bares, president, QSR Services.