Marketing Tactics

A lot of retailers hold contests, but few discover winners as worthy of recognition as the difference-makers who participated in specialty retailer Christopher & Banks inaugural Amazing Women contest.

The operator of 543 stores recently named the winners of its Amazing Women contest that was launched in April in conjunction with Mother’s Day. More than 1,700 nominations were received in the contest that sought to celebrate the women who raise, cheer on, care for and support future generations.

Swirl Networks, provider of a leading enterprise-class beacon marketing platform, has entered into a strategic relationship with Motorola Solutions. The two companies will work together in the areas of product, sales and services to support iBeacon technology rollouts in large-scale retail environments.

The news follows the recent unveiling of Motorola's MPact Platform for Mobile Marketing, which leverages Swirl to power the beacon marketing capabilities for its indoor locationing platform.

Ikea has partnered with Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to sponsor an in-store program that supports national children's hunger programs.

These programs include giving free meals and snacks to low income children, as well as giving out nutritious easy-to-prepare food for children to take home on weekends, in addition to other programs to meet the needs of hungry children.

New York -- UGG Australia on July 14 will launch an e-commerce site dedicated to its new tween-girls brand, I Heart UGG. The retailer also plans to open two I Heart UGG stores, in Waikiki, Hawaii, and in San Francisco, in early September.

The new line includes footwear, loungewear, accessories and handbags and will be available in the United States, Japan and China.

Moreno Valley, Calif. — National action sports retailer, Tilly’s will open its doors at Moreno Valley Mall on July 1. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for Saturday, July 19. The retailer will occupy 7,148 sq. ft. at the Inland Empire shopping center, which is managed by Spinoso Real Estate Group.

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney has filed an appeal of a June 16 ruling by the New York State Supreme Court that it "tortuously" interfered with Macy’s 2006 contract with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia when Penney entered into its own contract with Martha Stewart in 2011. In the ruling, Justice Jeffrey K. Oing said Macy’s failed to prove that it is entitled to punitive damages.

Toronto – Tim Hortons and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) are launching the new CIBC Tim Hortons Double Double Visa Card, leveraging a two-button technology that allows cardholders to press the CIBC Visa button on the front of the card to pay for their purchases anywhere Visa is accepted. One percent of each dollar spent is converted instantly into Tim Cash rewards, and by touching the Tim Card button, cardholders can then redeem their Tim Cash loyalty points at Tim Hortons locations.

Salt Lake City – Overstock.com now offers free Club O loyalty program memberships to active police officers, full-time firefighters, paramedics and certified emergency medical technicians. Those who qualify for the program can enroll by visiting the first-responders sign-up section on Overstock.

First responders can have their identity verified through the ID.me digital authentication service and relayed to Overstock to receive their free Club O membership. Once individuals sign up, they enter a user name and password to receive benefits.

New York -- Target Corp. on Wednesday requested that customers no longer carry guns in its stores.

The retailer found itself embroiled in controversy when gun-rights activists in Texas and several other states chose Target stores to demonstrate their belief in the right to openly bear arms. In response, the chain came under heavy fire from groups such as "Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense" and others who expressed concern about firearms being carried into an environment where the shoppers are often accompanied by children.

Overstock.com is offering free Club O loyalty program memberships to active police officers, full-time firefighters, paramedics and certified emergency medical technicians.