Mass Merchant

Walmart turned to Facebook to spread awareness of hunger with an innovative initiative to determine how $1.5 million in grant money will be divvied up among 100 U.S. cities, but the social media effort is ending soon and Walmart is encouraging last minute “likes” as the New Years Day deadline approaches.

Looking for insight into promotional efforts at Walmart and other retailers? Check out the new series of reports from ECRM at a newly launched website at www.promotionalreflections.com.

The folks in the electronics and entertainment area at Walmart had to be smiling this week at Best Buy’s admission that it lost market share to discounters during the third quarter. The share loss resulted in a 5% same-store sales decline at U.S. stores that was well below guidance that called for flat to modest growth. Earnings per share of 54 cents were well below consensus estimates of 60 cents and full-year guidance was reduced to a range of $3.20 to $3.40 from a range of $3.55 to $3.70.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - As its latest Facebook campaign for hunger relief draws to a close, Walmart is encouraging last-minute "likes" that will help determine which of 100 U.S. cities will receive $1.5 million in grants. The "Fighting Hunger Together" Facebook campaign will end at 12 a.m. on Jan. 1 and is part of the company's $2 billion commitment to help fight hunger through 2015.

The word competition gets tossed around a lot in the retail industry as operators talk about market positioning -- who they do and don’t compete with. Oftentimes, companies will refer to direct competitors, but one thing about Walmart is that it has always tended to take the broad view of competition in that any company, no matter how small, who sold anything offered at Walmart was viewed as a competitor.

QUINCY, Mass. - Retailer Work 'N Gear announced that it has teamed up with Sears and Kmart to launch America's first "store-within-a store" concept for healthcare fashions in select locations in six markets.

Called "Scrubology", the retail concept feature approximately 600 to 1,500 sq. ft. of space within Sears and Kmart stores, dedicated to the uniform needs of professionals who work as doctors, nurses, veterinarians, lab technicians and more.

According to a new survey from customer intelligence firm, Market Force Information, The Children's Place is consumers' top pick for young children's (10 and younger) apparel when the votes are indexed for the number of stores. The Children's Place earned 17% of the votes, while Gymboree ranked second (13%), and Kohl's and Carter's tied for third with 12%. For children 11 and older, Aeropostale was ranked favorite retailer with 17% of the votes, followed closely by Kohl's (16%) and then Old Navy (10%).

New York City -- Centro NP Residual Holding LLC said Friday it has sold a portion of its interest in 25 shopping centers and formed a joint venture with Inland American CP Investment, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Inland American Real Estate Trust.

The new joint venture has secured $310 million of term loans with J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs, which mature in 10 years and are secured by assets within the joint venture.