Marketing Tactics

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings announced it is now offering digital local ads available on its sites searslocalad.com and kmartlocalad.com. The new ads provide customers with prices and offers from their very own local Sears or Kmart stores, real-time stock checks and access to ads 24 hours a day.

NEW YORK — Despite concerns about the economy and rising household expenses, nearly 3-out-of-5 consumers (59%) will put aside economic worries and spend the same or more this holiday season, according to Deloitte’s 26th annual survey of holiday spending intentions and trends. While this is a slight decline from 2010, it represents an eight percentage point increase from 2009.

Pittsburgh -- Dick’s Sporting Goods announced it is opening five stores this week.

The retailer will be opening stores at Fort Smith Pavilion, Fort Smith, Ark.; Springbrook Prairie Pavilion, Naperville, Ill.; Indian Mound Mall, Heath, Ohio; The Shops at Stonewall, Gainesville, Va.; and Lisbon Landing, Lisbon, Conn.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys“R”Us announced it will once again offer 10% back on purchases made by new and current members of its loyalty program, Rewards“R”Us, this holiday season. Beginning Sunday, Oct. 30 through Christmas Eve, Rewards“R”Us members can earn 10% back in “R”Us Dollars for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases. “R”Us Dollars earned will be delivered to members via e-mail in January and can be used toward savings on future in-store purchases, the company said.

Issaquah, Wash. — Costco Wholesale's donations to a Washington state voter initiative that would legalize liquor sales by private retailers have broken state records, according to published reports.

WAYNE, N.J. — The Toys"R"Us Children's Fund announced it will award $1 million in grants to 54 nonprofit organizations supporting children in the state of New Jersey. The grants will be distributed to the selected charities by Dec. 31 through the Fund's statewide giving initiative, which launched in March. According to the company, the grants will help to alleviate economic challenges and sustain organizations that favorably impact children across New Jersey, where both the Fund and Toys"R"Us Inc. are headquartered.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us will again give its loyalty rewards members 10% back on holiday purchases.

The offer, whereby members of the chain’s rewards club get 10% back in “R Us” dollars for each dollar spent on qualifying purchases, is available from Oct. 30 through Christmas Eve. The promotional dollars will be sent to customers via email in January and can be used on future in-store purchases.

NEW YORK — Macy's announced that this week it will debut the new Giambattista Valli collection, the fourth in the retailer's series of limited-edition, designer capsules created exclusively for its Impulse department. 

Valli's first-ever collaboration will bring ultra-feminine, jet-set style to the affordable fashion arena for the holiday season, Macy's said. Giambattista Valli for Impulse only at Macy's" will be sold in approximately 225 Macy's stores nationwide and on macys.com/impulse beginning Oct. 26.