Marketing Tactics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hallmark Cards has elected Claire Hughes Johnson, VP at Google to the company’s board of directors.

"Claire Hughes Johnson has broad experience in developing innovative new businesses and business models," said Hallmark vice chairman, president and CEO Donald J. Hall Jr. "Her knowledge of the rapidly changing digital space as well as her experience leading global business and product teams will help us as we consider new opportunities and develop strategic plans to expand our business."

Seattle – Starbucks has enacted small increases in the prices of less than one-third of its beverages in select markets. The increases, which average about 1%, affect smaller sizes of brewed coffee, tea, latte and espresso drinks. Larger venti- and grande-sized drinks will not have their prices changed.

Improvements in the housing market that have lifted the fortunes of Home Depot and Lowe’s so far this year extended to leading home goods retailer Bed Bath & Beyond, which reported solid sales growth late Wednesday.

The company produced earnings per share of 93 cents that met analysts’ consensus estimate and fell with the guidance range of 88 cents to 94 cents, on sales that grew 17.8% to slightly more than $2.6 billion. Same store sales rose 3.4% during the first quarter ended June 1, on top of a prior year comp increase of 3%.

Austin, Texas – Digital coupon provider RetailMeNot is expanding into Canada with the launch of its new RetailMeNot.ca site. The site provides Canadian consumers with access to thousands of digital coupons for more than 6,000 retailers doing business in Canada.

DALLAS — 7-Eleven is looking to leverage social media this summer with a limited duration offer designed to generate traffic at the retailer’s more than 10,000 worldwide locations.

The announcement comes on the heels of Dunkin’ Donuts’ decision to focus more on its beverages and Starbucks’ announcement that it would be raising prices on select beverages. 

Atlanta - A Tuesday report by the Atlanta Business Chronicle said that the HoneyBaked Ham Co. of Georgia will expand in the Northeast with 30 new stores over the next five years, and will make its international debut in Japan via a partnership with Toranomon Ham Co. Ltd.

“Demand is growing in the northeast region,” said Molly Kesmodel, VP franchise development at HoneyBaked Ham. “Strategically speaking, we have had a solid year thus far with signed deals in Pennsylvania, Alabama and Georgia."

Office Depot has launched a new rewards program with several loyalty enhancements even as it moves closer to consummating its merger with OfficeMax.

The company’s new program, called simply Office Depot Rewards, is designed to reward shoppers for spending money, sharing information about themselves and recycling. It is a novel approach that is intended to offer a more customized approach to shoppers’ unique behaviors and preferences.

ATLANTA — The HoneyBaked Ham Company is gearing up for aggressive growth in the Northeastern U.S., and plans to sign more franchise deals in areas where demand for the brand is growing.