Marketing Tactics

By Ian Lifshitz, Rainforest Realities

All those flat screens televisions sticking out of shopping carts in the aisles of Target stores early Friday morning were no optical illusion.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens will reward 1 million customers at its stores nationwide on Thanksgiving Day with a free one-day Redbox DVD rental, the drug store chain announced.

The DVD rental, which will be given to the first 130 customers (not including prescription purchases) at the chain's more than 7,700 locations, will be valid at all Walgreens Redbox locations from Thanksgiving Day through Dec. 24.

Glimcher Realty Trust, based in Columbus, Ohio, is launching its Sensitive Santa program again this year, a sensory-friendly event that caters to children with autism.

With approximately three to six children out of every 1,000 diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it can be difficult for families of children with autism to enjoy some of the holiday celebrations and traditions most people take for granted, including simple things like sitting on Santa’s lap in a busy shopping mall.

Reston, Va. -- For the first 20 days of November, comScore reported that online spending rose 14% to $9.7 billion. The company forecast that online sales for the full November through December period would increase 15% to a total of $37.6 billion.

Niwot, Colo. -- Casual footwear-retailer Crocs debuted its new concept store, with locations in Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn.; Barton Creek, Austin, Tex.; and Streets at Southpoint, Durham, N.C.

New York City -- Heading into the holiday season it was widely expected that online sales would enjoy another year of double-digit growth, and now new data from the online measurement firm comScore confirms those earlier expectations.

Voorhees, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust announced that Fusion Performing Arts Center has opened at Voorhees Town Center, located in Voorhees, N.J.

The new 6,346-sq.-ft. center, which features such events as dance workshops, theater productions and local band performances, is located on the lower level across from Tilt Studio.