Target

Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is about to propose sweeping legislation that would impose a tax on all online purchases in a move aimed at closing states' budget shortfalls. Durbin's bill, dubbed the Main Street Fairness Act, intends to push online retailers to collect state sales tax on items purchased out of state. For more than a decade internet shoppers have enjoyed a sales tax holiday as a result of sales tax moratoriums established in 1998 to foster growth in the digital sales business. But with e-commerce businesses like Amazon.com no longer fledgling entities, and with states' budget deficits growing, imposing an e-commerce sales tax has become a hot-button issue.

Earth Day is right around the corner, and this time of year is always chock-full of environmentally friendly events, such as park clean-ups and tree plantings. However, there are a few local events worth noting that are happening at unlikely locales — large companies.

Endcap touchscreen digital signage displays are now in nearly every Target store in the country thanks to Possible WorldWide's idea to increase in-store sales of video games and accessories. The international marketing agency recommended placing interactive touchscreens on the aisle endcaps in the video games section to allow guests to quickly and easily locate products.

Target is projecting sales from its upcoming Canadian stores to total more than $6 billion by 2017. The company expects to have more than 200 stores in Canada within the next five years to 10 years, with the stores generating about $6.27 billion in U.S. dollars.

Americans like stuff. That’s a given. But it turns out that lots and lots of stuff piled onto shelves or stacked in the middle of store aisles can coax a shopper to buy more.

Target has the strongest consumer brand equity among retail brands, and was named as the 2011 Harris Poll EquiTrend Value Retail Brand of the Year. This is the second consecutive year Target has led the way in the category, with the gap between runner-up Wal-Mart increasing.

An outraged consumer-advocacy group is calling it “the Fukushima of the email industry.” Comparing mere data theft to Japan’s nuclear nightmare is perhaps a bit over the top. But the theft of data from Epsilon, a marketing-services company, has nonetheless caused widespread concern.

Coupons, deals, discounts — however you say it, bargain shopping remains a hot topic. Even with an economy that’s showing signs of recovery, consumers are just too savvy and technologically connected to pay retail prices.

Girl Scout cookies are once again selling in one of the hottest retail formats: pop-up stores. Temporary stores designed to drum up buzz for retailers, they appear for a limited time — say, Girl Scout cookie season — and just as suddenly, disappear again.

Data, data everywhere. No wonder retail marketers are overwhelmed with the volume of data available in today's marketplace. But what to do with it all? With this enormous volume of data comes not only opportunity, but also responsibility. No longer can retailers simply get by on marketing what they want. They must now listen to the voice of the consumer, and market how the consumer wants.