Marketing Tactics

Boston -- Walmart narrowly leads the one-stop basket assessment versus Target, according to the latest Kantar Retail basket pricing study, which examines a basket of grocery, HBA, and general merchandise items. Study findings indicate Target’s overall basket is 3.5% more expensive than Walmart’s and Walmart leads in each of the sub-baskets, with the strongest lead in general merchandise.
Notable findings from the study include:

New York -- Lowe’s is looking to put smile on the face of residents who live in the 10 U.S. cities hardest hit by this past winter by giving the areas a makeover. Lowe's said it will deploy Lowe’s "Heroes," or employee volunteers, to visit the "10 Bleakest Cities of 2015" to complete makeover projects that have been neglected or delayed because of extreme winter conditions. Volunteers will complete projects such as painting, landscaping, creating outdoor rooms and adding curb appeal throughout the spring season.

Indianapolis - Simon is bringing back “Lookbook Live,” a joint fashion program in collaboration with Glamour and GQ magazines. Lookbook Live includes print, digital, social media, and live events, for spring and fall 2015.

Irving, Texas -- The Michaels Cos. reported Thursday its net income rose 18% to $157 million in the fourth quarter, up from $133 million in the year-earlier period. But the retailer gave a soft outlook for the year, citing, among other things, unfavorable Canadian exchange rates and the impact of the West Coast port slowdown.
 
Sales for the fourth quarter increased 3.4% to $1.61 billion. Same-store sales increased by 1.4%

Marketing and a strong assortment helped teen retailer Tilly’s report an increase in profits and same store sales in the fourth quarter.

Revenues increased 9.2% from last year to $152.82 million. Analysts expected revenues of $151.43 million. The company said same store sales, which include e-commerce sales, increased 2.9% from the corresponding period in 2013.

Lowe’s has come up with a way to put spring in the step of residents who live in the U.S. cities hardest hit by winter: a makeover.

Lowe's has announced that the company will be deploying Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers to visit the "10 Bleakest Cities of 2015" to complete makeover projects that have been neglected or delayed because of extreme winter conditions. Volunteers will complete projects such as painting, landscaping, creating outdoor rooms and adding curb appeal throughout the spring season.

Walmart vice president of U.S. manufacturing Cindi Marsiglio shared new details about a first-of-its-kind event planned for early July in Northwest Arkansas to advance the retailer’s $250 billion domestic sourcing agenda.

During a fast-paced presentation Thursday morning organized by a group called Doing Business in Bentonville, Marsiglio shared wide-ranging insights regarding the company’s 10 year, $250 billion domestic sourcing commitment unveiled in January 2013.

The Path to Purchase Institute this week bestowed Effie awards to top retailers and brand for their marketing effectiveness.

Winners of the 5th annual Shopper Marketing Effie Awards were celebrated at the Path to Purchase Institute’s 2015 Shopper Marketing Summit. The awards honor work that showcases the best utilization of shopper insights that lead to effective engagements and activations with shoppers along their path to purchase.

Seattle -- Starbucks Corp. stirred up controversy even as it excited shareholders at the company’s annual meeting on Wednesday.