Marketing Tactics

San Diego -- Target Corp. is suing a pro-gay marriage group to get it to stop canvassing outside its San Diego County stores, alleging the group’s activists are driving away customers, the Associated Press said.

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Safeway Inc. announced that it was recognized this week by the Association of Fundraising Professionals with the organization's 2011 Freeman Philanthropic Services Award for Outstanding Corporation.

CLEVELAND — American Greetings is making kids' birthday cards extra special with its Surprise Inside line.

Each Surprise Inside card features a surprise gift pouch inside that the child can open to reveal a small toy that coordinates with the card's theme, the company said. A sticker reveals to the sender what the secret gift will be.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- Staples, which in February announced plans to positioned itself as a leader in technology, is now looking to become a leader in tablet computers.

GRAPEVINE, Texas -- The Nintendo 3DS is drawing quite a buzz, and GameStop announced that it will host events at more than 3,000 of its U.S. stores around the launch of the highly anticipated gaming device.

The company is opening its stores early on March 27, the day the Nintendo 3DS becomes available. GameStop reported that 800 stores nationwide will open at 12:01 a.m. and more than 2,400 stores will open early at 9 a.m.

New York City -- Save Mart Supermarkets saved more than $8,000 on a high-efficiency LED lighting retrofit of store in Ripon, Calif., through a partnership with the EnergySmart Jobs program.

Save Mart is distinguished as one of the first participants in the federally-funded program, which is an initiative of Energy Upgrade California and is administered by PECI, San Francisco. It focuses on creating new jobs through the implementation of energy-saving upgrades that help commercial retailers lower their operating costs.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.  -- Kenmore announced that it has launched an online reality series, "So You Wanna Be a Designer."

For six weeks the reality show will stream live on Kenmore's Facebook page to show budding designers at work, making their dreams a reality. Through the series, contestants will learn how to navigate the barriers of entering the design world: how to create and launch a brand, and how to price, present and promote designs successfully, among other things.

NEW YORK -- Barnes & Noble has announced a partnership with Nickelodeon that will bring the first-ever digital books from the number-one entertainment brand for kids. The books will feature such Nickelodeon characters as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer available in digital format through the Nook Color Reader’s Tablet (www.nookcolor.com) and the free Nook Kids for iPad application (www.nookkids.com/ipad and www.itunes.com/appstore).