Target, Inc.

In the month of August, there was an overall 2% decline in pages and 5% decline in inserts per market versus 2010.

Lowes was one of the retailers who slowed promotional activity in 2011, by entirely pulling out two weeks of 2-page inserts and by decreasing their page-per-flyer count by an average of 4 pages.

ATLANTA — Canada's importance to the retail industry continues to grow, made evident by the recent news that Office Depot has engaged ShopVisible, a leading provider of on-demand e-commerce, social commerce, and mobile commerce solutions, to launch the retailer’s new Canadian-facing e-commerce site.

Some priceless publicity to cement Target’s image as the cool place to shop came courtesy of The New York Times this week. The newspaper reported on and featured a video on its website of the retailer’s back-to-college efforts, which included chartering busses to ferry thousands of kids to its stores at 66 campuses nationwide.

It was steady as she goes for Target and many other retailers in terms of circular promotional activity in August, according to the last marketing insights from Market Track. There were a few instances where the number of pages per circular increased noticeably even if the number of circulars distributed was fairly consistent. For example, Walmart, Safeway and Best Buy saw the largest increase in pages while Lowe’s, JCPenney and Home Depot were the biggest decliners.

The wheels of justice turn slowly. So slowly in fact that just last week a former adviser to President George W. Bush was stripped of his license to practice law in Washington, D.C. for one year in connection with a fraudulent return scheme perpetuated at Target and other retailers in early 2006.

Fashion newness is all around this fall with interesting merchandising initiatives pitting designers, celebrities and retailers against one another to determine which approach will resonate strongest with consumers.

Target and the Heart of America Foundation unveiled a completely redesigned library to students, teachers and parents at P.S. 299 Thomas Warren Field School last week in New York. Servicemen and women from local police and fire departments were on hand to help put the finishing touches on the space at an event that honored local heroes – Brooklyn police officers and fire fighters. Target presented one police officer and one fire fighter with a “Hero of the Heart Award,” which will serve as a special tribute to their dedication to service and the community. 

New York City -- Aldi is close to making a deal to open its first supermarket in Manhattan, Craine’s New York reported.

The German discount grocer opened its first store in New York City, in Queens, last year. According to Craine’s, Aldi is set to lease space at East River Plaza, located between 116th St. and 119 St. in Harlem. The shopper center already boasts such tenants as Target, Best Buy and the city’s first Costco.

NEW YORK — The third annual Fashion’s Night Out -- created by Vogue editor Anna Wintour -- kicked off on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. Although the shopping extravaganza has spread to more than 100 U.S. cities as well as select cities abroad, its nexus remains in New York City. More than 1,000 Big Apple merchants and designers are participating in the event, which is the kickoff to the city’s Fashion Week industry gathering.

New York City -- The third annual Fashion’s Night Out -- created by Vogue editor Anna Wintour -- is set to kick off on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. Although the shopping extravaganza has spread to more than 100 U.S. cities as well as select cities abroad, its nexus remains in New York City. More than 1,000 Big Apple merchants and designers are participating in the event, which is the kickoff to the city’s Fashion Week industry gathering.