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Aug. 8, 2012 3:07pm Julie Gallagher Comments 0 Related MediaGRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer has put a spin on back-to-school marketing this season by challenging contestants to create virtual pinboards on Pinterest. To enter, shoppers must follow Meijer Stores on Pinterest and create a virtual pinboard called “Sharp Looks by (your name).” Next, contestants should express their personal tastes by pinning images from the Meijer Dorm Décor Pinterest board or taking pictures in-store to create their ideal dorm room, including at least eight Meijer products. Two hashtags should be included with every pin: #MeijerDormDecor and #DormDecor. More Meijer news:

Bergen, N.J. -- Vitamin Shoppe Inc. reported Tuesday that net income for the second quarter surged 38.8% to $16.6 million, compared with $12 million in the year-ago period and marking the third straight quarter of profit increases. Revenue rose 13.4% to $245 million, beating Wall Street’s expected $241.8 million in revenue. The company said it is on track to open 52 stores in fiscal 2

After years thinking of online advertising as qualitatively different from regular advertising, could it be that it often works similarly to print advertising? Possibly, if the results of a new study are to be believed. Analytics firm RapidBlue has determined that Google AdWords campaigns tend to increase visits to retail stores. The company, which places sensors in shops to anonymously monitor customer behavior, studied about 4,800 shoppers in Helsinki. The study showed AdWords campaigns increase "both brick-and-mortar retail [visits] and visitor dwell times by double-digit figures," the firm says.

In a recent survey, roughly 15 percent of U.S. retailers said they offer digital gift cards that are truly mobile — i.e., they can be used immediately for a purchase via smartphone. A major growth spurt for mobile gift cards seems to be in the works. In the same survey, 61 percent of retailers said they plan on offering such cards in the next three years. In the near future, it may be time to revisit the term "gift card." Why? Because increasingly, there won't be an actual physical card involved.

New York -- Ralph Lauren Corp. said that its net income rose 5% in its first quarter, but the company forecast a revenue decline in the current quarter and sounded a note of caution about the weak global economy hurting consumer spending. "The outlook for consumer spending and global economic growth remains challenging and we are planning our business accordingly," said CEO Roger Farah. Revenue rose 4% to $1.59 billion, from $1.53 billion. Revenue in Ralph Lauren stores rose 5% to $857 million as the company opened new stores and grew online operations. Same-store sales were up 1%. Revenue

As it looks to grow its number of physical stores, Creve Coeur, Mo.-based Soft Surroundings has formed a strategic partnership with a private equity firm, which now has a majority interest in the largely catalog and internet-based retailer. Los Angeles-based Brentwood Associates has taken between a 50 percent and 60 percent interest in the company in a deal valued between $150 million and $200 million that closed last week, said Tom Wilcher, the chief executive of Soft Surroundings.

Comments 0BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores here said Tuesday it has installed its first onsite large-scale wind turbine at a distribution center in Red Bluff, Calif. The turbine is expected to be operational by the fall. According to Wal-Mart, the wind turbine will provide approximately one megawatt of power, or 15% to 20% of the facility's annual electrical use. It will produce approximately 2.2 million kilowatt hours annually, the company added; and, over the term of the power purchase agreement, it will help Wal-Mart save on energy expenses while providing price certainty for the electricity produced. More Wal-Mart news:

It might be just a case of growing pains. But once more there are indications that Wal-Mart’s new Express format isn’t working out quite as planned. Crain’s Chicago Business reports the retailer made the decision to shutter its 10,0000-sq.-ft. Express store in the West Chatham area of Chicago and has not gone ahead with any additional Express stores in the Chicago area, in spite of previous plans. Wal-Mart’s executives claim the West Chatham store had to be closed because it was cannibalizing sales from a newly opened nearby supercenter. However, according to an

Talbots is expected to unveil new management for the classic women's clothing retailer this week after a finalized buyout of the Hingham, Mass.-based company triggered CEO Trudy Sullivan's resignation. Sycamore Partners expected to complete its purchase of the struggling Talbots last week. The New York private equity firm said it completed its tender offer for the classic women's clothing retailer that expired Thursday night and left Sycamore in control of 83.6 percent of Talbots’ outstanding shares.

Print textbook rental program can help students save up to 70% SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 2012-- (NASDAQ:AMZN)—Amazon.com, Inc. today announced the launch of Amazon Textbook Rental. Now college students can choose from thousands of textbooks to rent for the semester and save up to 70%. To rent a textbook, simply search Amazon.com for the book, select “Rent Now,” choose shipping and payment options, and check out. All textbook rentals are Fulfilled by Amazon and are eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25, and Prime Free Two-Day Shipping. At the end of the rental period, returns are free