Marketing Tactics

Sam’s Club is celebrating National Small Business Week in a very big way.

The retailer is launching the Small Business Economic Mobility initiative (SBEM), a five-year investment in small business growth through increased access to capital and borrower education, with grants totaling $13.6 million to eight national nonprofits.

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop said its total revenue fell 5% in the first quarter amid harsh winter weather between Valentine’s Day and Easter in North America.  

The chain’s profit for the quarter, ended March 29, totaled a better-than-expected $8.3 million, compared with from $5.1 million in the year-ago period.

Total revenues were $93.4 million, less than expected, compared to $97.9 million in year-ago period. Revenue was also negatively impacted by fiscal 2014 having a 53rd week, the company said.

Wayfair is leveraging the popularity of HGTV’s hit series “Fixer Upper” by partnering with the stars of the show on upcoming marketing campaign.

The Internet home furnishings retailer says it will feature design tips from Joanna Gaines and Chip Gaines in Wayfair promotions.

Staples is donating the tools and resources necessary to make graduation happen for thousands of students across the country -- and throwing in a little Taylor Swift to boot.

In the South, it’s never too early to talk about football, which is why N.C.-based department store Belk made a big college football announcement this week.

The chain says it will be the title sponsor of the 2015 Belk College Kickoff Game, featuring the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. The game is set to take place at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sept. 3 with a 6 p.m. kickoff.

New York -- Aimee Soft, a Tel Aviv-based software company, has become an affiliate member of The O Alliance, adding a service that helps brands identify products most likely to result in online transactions.

Sears is putting its decades of home improvement knowledge to work once again for military families.

The retailer has launched its eighth annual Heroes at Home campaign with Rebuilding Together to raise funds and assist military families facing hardship by making necessary repairs, improvements or modifications to their homes. The program, which has raised more than $18 million over the past seven years thanks to donations from Shop Your Way members, customers and associates, has funded more than 1,500 home rebuilds.

Macy’s will finally unveil its off-price business model in the fall by opening four new stores in the New York City area under a name that might not be so unfamiliar to loyal customers.