Marketing Tactics

QUINCY, Mass., and PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop customers in New England and the New York Metro area helped the retailer give back more than $22 million in 2011 into the hundreds of communities in which they operate.

ATLANTA — The Martha Stewart brand continues to resonate with consumers, which is why it is no suprise that The Home Depot has extended its agreement with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia to offer Martha Stewart Living branded products at its 2,000-plus stores through March 2016.

The agreement also calls for an expansion of products offered. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — In the wake of tornadoes that hit communities in Kentucky on Friday, retail pharmacy chain Rite Aid has donated to a local Red Cross chapter to assist victims.

The company said Sunday that the Rite Aid Foundation, its philanthropic arm, had donated $15,000 to the Bluegrass chapter of the American Red Cross. The foundation also will provide supplies and items to assist with disaster relief efforts. Eli Lilly Foundation also pledged to donate $100,000 to the Red Cross.

PITTSBURGH — Dick’s Sporting Goods plans to open three new stores in three states on March 7.

A new store in St. George, Utah, will open simultaneously with new locations in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Boardman, Ohio. Giveaways and special events will accompany each opening.

The St. George, Utah, store, the retailer’s third in the state, is located at Red Rock Commons shopping center. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., store joins 17 other Dick’s stores in the state and will be located at the Regions Bank Plaza.

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods said Monday that it will open three new stores in three states on March 7.

A new store in St. George, Utah, will open simultaneously with new locations in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Boardman, Ohio. Giveaways and special events will accompany each opening.

The St. George, Utah, store, the retailer’s third in the state, is located at Red Rock Commons shopping center. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., store joins 17 other Dick’s stores in the state and will be located at the Regions Bank Plaza.

Las Vegas -- Internet retailer GRB Holdings on Monday announced the launch of two new e-commerce websites: GreenThumbDecor.com and SilverGroupMall.com/SG1277.

Northridge, Calif. -- Two new restaurants will join the tenant lineup at Northridge Fashion Center, located in Northride, Calif. The center will also add an outdoor amphitheater.

Scheduled to open late in fall 2012, Yard House and Elephant Bar will join the center's restaurant row, which already features California Pizza Kitchen, Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill, Claim Jumper and Romano's Macaroni Grill.

New York — Stop & Shop announced that its New England and New York Metro divisions and its customers were able to give back more than $22 million in 2011 into the hundreds of communities in which they operate.

The Center for Retail Excellence at the University of Arkansas’ Sam M. Walton College of Business is scheduled to hold its second annual SHOP conference on May 1 with Walmart’s head of global consumer insights recently confirmed as a guest speaker.

PLANO, Texas — JCPenney is looking to make its department store a destination for more than just shopping, and has named a new executive to help lead the charge. Assuming the role of EVP, The Square is Laurie Beja Miller, who will oversee the company's new center core strategy that will serve as a gathering place with ongoing attractions and services, JCPenney announced. Miller will join JCPenney on April 1, and report to CEO Ron Johnson.