Marketing Tactics

The Walmart Foundation is investing in job training efforts in Florida by giving more than $1 million in grants to 21 nonprofits across the state.

"Through these grants, more than 20 deserving nonprofit organizations will be able to continue funding vital local programs across the state,” said Senate President Andy Gardiner. “Thanks to Walmart and the Walmart Foundation for recognizing the impact these programs have on so many lives. We appreciate their continued investment in communities throughout Florida."

New marketing efforts at Express appear to be resonating with customers, as the retailer posted a strong first quarter performance.

ULTA Beauty is that rare breed of retailer capable of exceeding ever loftier growth expectations and it did so again with the release of first quarter results on May 28.

ULTA reported that net sales increased 21.6% to $868.1 million from $713.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Same store sales increased 11.4% compared to an increase of 8.7% in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The 11.4% same store sales increase was driven by 7.2% growth in transactions and 4.2% growth in average ticket. 

The Walmart shareholders meeting is next week and while the event is great for the retailer’s associates, suppliers looking for deeper insight into new priorities and key initiatives will be better served by attending a more content rich event the following week.

That’s when the Center for Retailing Excellence in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas plans to hold its annual Emerging Trends in Retail conference. The event, scheduled for Thursday, June 11, is especially noteworthy for several reasons this year.

Los Angeles - Forever 21 Inc.’s social strategy has always been to mix compelling and creative branding with the ability to directly purchase items. Working with Philadelphia-based visual social media marketing company Curalate, the fast-fashion retailer has taken that strategy to new heights by allowing customers to buy goods from its Instagram page.

“Curalate helped us turn what was a purely branding tool into a revenue driver,” said Mario Moreno, global social media manager marketing, Forever 21, Los Angeles.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Domino's Pizza has announced several key internal leadership appointments and promotions, including naming Joe Jordan, 41, as VP and chief marketing officer.

Jordan has been with Domino's since 2011 when he began serving as the VP of marketing innovation. Most recently, Jordan was VP of field marketing where he spearheaded the realignment of interdisciplinary resources to better support franchisees at the local level. Prior to Domino's, he held marketing roles at Accenture, Philips, Unilever and PepsiCo Inc.

Atlanta - The Home Depot Inc. will host its third annual Hurricane Preparedness Workshops on May 30. The one-day event, held in nearly 700 stores from the Gulf Coast to New England, will help prepare residents in storm-prone regions ahead of hurricane season, which begins June 1.

The free workshops will be held 10-11:30 a.m. local time and cover storm readiness topics including understanding hurricane alerts and categories, creating a storm survival kit, choosing a generator, weathering a hurricane safely and repairing a home after a storm has passed.

“A name badge stating a sales associates’ name, title and area of expertise is a personalized introduction to the customer, one that the survey clearly establishes as a pathway to developing better customer relations with the retailer, as well as generating more sales and frequent visits,” says Marla Kott, CEO of Imprint Plus.

The Kroger Co. is teaming up with the USO on a new customer engagement campaign to raise money for military veterans and their families.

Customers and associates of Kroger Co. stores (including Ralph's, Food 4 Less and other divisions) will be able to show their support through July 21 by donating their spare change in specially-marked coin boxes at the check stands in all Ralphs supermarkets. One-hundred percent of all donations will go to the USO. But new this year is a digital marketing element in which veterans tell their stories on honoringourheroes.com.

With the athleisure trend still generating big sales, Sports Authority has teamed up with Hanesbrands' Champion Athleticwear to launch Champion GEAR.

The new collection, available exclusively at Sports Authority locations nationwide and sportsauthority.com, is a premium line of performance and lifestyle apparel features seamless construction and quick-drying Champion Vapor Technology for comfortable, distraction-free workouts.