Marketing Tactics

Shares of Target are on sale. After beginning the year slightly above the $60 mark, it has been a steady slide downward for the first five months of this year, and now shares regularly trade below $50.

Target and Walmart remain in what is essentially a dead heat as far as prices on food and consumables are concerned, according to the most recent study of prices in Dallas and Chicago conducted by Credit Suisse. The firm looked at a basket of 60 items across the two markets, as it does every month, and in keeping with prior comparisons, the data for April showed Target lagged Walmart by 3.4% in Chicago and 4.6% in Dallas.

WASHINGTON — Ongoing economic challenges and high gas prices won’t put a dent in shoppers spending intentions this Father’s Day, according to new research from the National Retail Federation.

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods announced Tuesday that it will celebrate the grand opening of its tenth Alabama store, which opened at Jubilee Square in Daphne, Ala.

The chain’s celebration, spanning June 3-5, will feature appearances by college and professional football players and a professional bass angler, as well as a variety of giveaways.
 

Philadelphia -- Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust announced Tuesday that it has launched a free interactive application, available for its 40 shopping malls around the country.

Initially designed for Apple’s iPhone, the app will soon be available for the Android and Blackberry, according to PREIT.

New York City -- The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT) has announced the Outstanding Specialty Food Retailers of 2011. The winners are: Central Market, Austin, Texas; Fromagination, Madison, Wisc.; Olives Gourmet Grocer, Long Beach, Calif.; The Cheese Iron, Portland, Maine; The Fresh Market, Greensboro, N.C.; and ZZest Market & Café, Rochester, Minn.

New York City -- The Tommy Hilfiger Group said Friday that it will begin selling men's clothing in 90 locations of The Bay, a Canadian department store.

Gary Sheinbaum, CEO of Tommy Hilfiger North America, said Canada's "robust economy and increasingly discerning fashion consumers" influenced the decision.

The company described the setup as a "shop-in-shop," encompassing about 500 sq. ft. The shop will open by November.

The company has a similar set-up in the United States with Macy’s.

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Panasonic Corporation of North America has appointed Betty Noonan to lead its marketing and branding functions. Noonan, who was most recently VP and director of Kodak's worldwide consumer marketing operations, will be responsible for integrating the company's marketing and enhancing the Panasonic brand.  

Walmart took prices up in April, and the average gap with competitors narrowed to 16.8% from 17.8% the prior month, according to the most recent monthly survey of prices conducted in the Dallas and Chicago markets by Credit Suisse. The firm also found that Walmart has been among the most aggressive in terms of passing through inflation to customers. During the past three months, Walmart’s prices on the 60 food, health and beauty and household items the firm tracks each month increased 2% during the past three months and over the past year prices have risen by 3.6%.

Walmart has pledged $1 million in relief efforts to help the tornado victims in Joplin, Mo. It also is working to direct truckloads of water, food and other basic items to Joplin.

The company reported that its Joplin store number 59 was able to implement its severe weather safety plan and help save hundreds of lives. However, the Walmart store near Rangeline Road was significantly damaged, as the company reported the tornado went through the building causing some injuries and fatalities.