Marketing Tactics

PHOENIX and MIAMI — Visitors to Walmart this fall have the opportunity to learn about Straight Talk Wirelsss and support the Make-A-Wish foundation in the process.

The company announced that for every shopper who participates in a demonstration of a Straight Talk Wireless Android smart phone. it will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, with the ultimate goal of $1,000,000. The event will take place over four consecutive Saturdays starting September 22, 2012 at over 3,000 participating Walmarts under the banner "One Minute One Million."

And the award for most effective use of social media in the pet category goes to…

Global pet care leader Nestle Purina has created a new national contest called "The Friskies" with a $15,000 grand prize that is sure to set off a new round of online cat videos.

According to the company, many great art forms have awards for the best new work created each year. Films have the Oscars, TV shows have the Emmys and now Internet cat videos have The Friskies.

The overall drop in number of circulars continued this month, with a six percent decrease in the number of inserts being released to the market among selected retailers.  

The overall number of pages per market remained the same with a marginal increase compared to previous year. Walmart had the largest increase in pages per market with a larger focus on “Back to School” with 5 circulars with a prominent “Back to School” theme.  

New York -- Toys “R” Us’ holiday 2012 plans include a “hot toy” reservation program, free and expanded layaway services and offering more exclusive toys from branded manufacturers along with more proprietary products. The nation’s largest specialty toy retailer also will open 150 to 200 temporary locations for the holidays under the Toys “R” Us Express banner.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. is celebrating the 35th anniversary of Gap Foundation at a special gathering at the company's San Francisco headquarters on Sept. 13.

“We’re proud to celebrate 35 years of Gap Inc. employees fulfilling the promise made by Doris and Don Fisher to ‘do more than sell clothes,’” said Bobbi Silten, president of Gap Foundation. “It’s an exciting milestone for everyone involved with the company.”

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is launching a six-month, nationwide health-and-wellness campaign to mark its 50 years of operation, the retail pharmacy chain said Wednesday.

RA50, as the new campaign is called, began Wednesday near the company's headquarters in Camp Hill, Pa., and will move on to the Pennsylvania state capital of Harrisburg Thursday through Saturday. Afterward, it will move on to Baltimore; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Scranton, Pa.; Cleveland; Detroit; Portland, Ore.; Los Angeles; Atlanta; Norfolk, Va.; and New York.

Atlanta -- First Data Corp. reported Wednesday that consumers responded well to back-to-school and summer clearance sales in August, prompting an increase in August same-store consumer spending by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks at U.S. merchant locations.