Circular Features

Bed Bath & Beyond this month expanded an informational sign program that it first introduced during the holiday season. (See "Bed Bath & Beyond Explains How and Why" in Related Articles.)

SC Johnson's Glade and Pledge, Unilever's Slim-Fast and Dove, and Kimberly-Clark's Kleenex and Huggies are among the brands promoted through an in-store booklet containing more than $45 in coupons. Violators and circular features promote the booklets and specific products.

Rite Aid continues to use fitness expert Denise Austin to promote healthcare products in the January edition of its "Single Check Rebates" catalog. Using a "Get fit" slogan, the retailer offered a $5 store gift card with purchase of $30 in participating products from Dec. 27, 2009, through Jan.

Best Buy unveiled three exclusive laptops under its Blue Label line at the "Consumer Electronics Show" in Las Vegas this month. Provided by category partners Toshiba, Dell and Sony, the "Blue Label 2.0" computers let users wirelessly stream videos and pictures to their televisions.

Staples this month is giving members of its Staples Rewards loyalty program full credit on select purchases.The office supply chain is offering "100% Back" rewards equal to the purchase price of six products: M by Staples writing pads, Zebra Pen Corp.'s Sarasa pens, Bankers Boxes letter- and legal-

Staples is preparing for tax season with "Tax Time 2010" pallet displays that merchandise such products as file folders and tax forms. The chain is also showcasing pallet displays for Intuit's

Target ushered in 2010 with a bold initiative that replaced its trademark seasonal merchandise with economy-sized SKUs and other products more typically found in warehouse clubs -- adding a new twist to the value-focused efforts the retailer conducted in 2009.

In December and January circulars, Target offered store gift cards of:

Hannaford is staging in-store "Football Frenzy" events offering free product samples, sweepstakes and other promotions. The events are taking place from Jan. 2-24 at stores in Massachusetts and New York.

Kohl's entered the new year with a continuation of the savings messages that dominated its marketing activity in 2009.

Sears is using ceiling signs and circular features to promote Kahn Lucas Lancaster's Dollie & Me apparel for girls, which is packaged with matching outfits for dolls.

Pep Boys' "Happy Holiday Shopping" campaign played out on ceiling and stanchion signs near entrances that highlighted "Something for everyone on your list." (See Images at right.) The featured items included gift ideas for spouses (a GPS system), "Grandma" (highway emergency kit), "Grandpa" (truck