Marketing Tactics

Chain Store Age is conducting a brief survey designed to take retailers' "new" media temperature. Together with shopping center owner Forest City Enterprises and research firm Alexander Babbage, Chain Store Age is surveying our retail readership to find out what retailers nationwide are doing in terms of social, mobile and other digital media initiatives.

Newark, Calif. -- NewPark Mall, in Newark, Calif., has opened an in-house cultural arts center, the NewPark Mall Cultural Corner.

The just-opened cultural center, located on the lower level near Sears, provides exhibit space for the work of local artisans, including painters, sculptors, photographers and digital artists.

NewPark Mall is anchored by Macy's, Sears, J.C. Penney, Target and Burlington Coat Factory. It is owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Chicago.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu president and CEO Craig Herkert on Tuesday spoke of the company’s “hyper-local retailing” concept during a conference call with analysts and reported by Retailing Today.

Supervalu’s commitment to growing its Save-A-Lot discount banner and its participation in First Lady Michelle Obama’s Partnership for a Healthier America campaign were other significant programs Herkert believes will help differentiate the grocer enough to drive trips and increase consumer loyalty.

Seattle -- AccessVia announced Tuesday that Casual Male DXL is printing color shelf-edge product signs using AccessVia Web dSignShop.

Signs are printed in the store on an as-needed basis, allowing the retailer to produce full-color sign designs immediately on-site.

New York City -- Chain Store Age is conducting a brief survey designed to take retailers’ “new” media temperature. Together with shopping center owner Forest City Enterprises and research firm Alexander Babbage, Chain Store Age is surveying our retail readership to find out what retailers nationwide are doing in terms of social, mobile and other digital media initiatives.

NEW YORK — Mike Boylson, formerly EVP and CMO of JCPenney, has traded retailing for baseball. The 32-year JCPenney veteran, who officially stepped down from the company on July 1, and a friend are opening a franchise of D-Bat, a baseball and softball training academy, Advertising Age reported. The facility is due to open this fall.

AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market announced that it has launched the Whole Kids Foundation, a charitable organization that will provide children with access to healthy food choices through partnerships with schools, educators and organizations.

Target shoppers at a store in Van Nuys, Calif. were surprised, and briefly inconvenienced, when a flash mob assembled by season nine American Idol contestant Todrick Hall took over the front end of the store and blocked access to check-out stands.

Here’s a good idea for retailers looking to bring a sense of newness and a treasure hunt atmosphere to stores. Sign exclusive agreements with known and emerging designers or upscale brands during limited duration merchandising events as a means to achieve differentiation. Sound familiar?

Target pursued this concept more than a decade ago with general merchandise and earlier this year observed the 5th anniversary of the Go International designer program with a collection of products from past designers.

Target and Macy’s get the nod from Citigroup retail analyst Deb Weinswig as top picks to fare well this back-to-school season. In contrast to last week’s NRF survey, which forecasts a slight decline in spending, Weinswig is of the opinion that this year broadline and drug retailers will have their strongest seasonal performance since 2006 thanks to new fashion trends, a favorable weather outlook, inflation and high-end consumer demand.