24/7: The NACS Blog http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/24-7/Lists/Posts/AllPosts.aspx RSS feed providing the latest posts to the NACS Blog. National Association of Convenience Stores Chris Blasinsky, Managing Editor, Communications Brendan Moyer, Director, Internet Strategy & Development Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:24:18 GMT Windows SharePoint Services V3 RSS Generator 60 24/7: The NACS Blog: Posts http://www.nacsonline.com/SiteCollectionImages/NACSOnline/logo.gif http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/24-7/Lists/Posts/AllPosts.aspx How Sweet It Isn’t... http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/24-7/Lists/Posts/ViewPost.aspx?ID=254 Body:
Sometimes what seems like a harmless promotion can in fact turn out to be a really bad idea. Just ask a New Hampshire Walgreens — the store is in the hot seat for holding a promotion where prescription pill bottles full of candy were handed out to children. Parents expressed immediate concern at the implications on the future behavior of their kids with regards to medicine. One mother told reporters: “I don’t think that’s a smart idea because kids are gonna look at the bottles and think there’s candy in them.”
Category: Best Practices;Branding
Published: 8/25/2010 2:38 PM
Blog Summary: New Hampshire pharmacy finds out the hard way that an innocent promotion can turn out to be a PR nightmare.
Content Subject: Marketing/Merchandising
]]> czuazua Best Practices;Branding Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:39:36 GMT http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/24-7/Lists/Posts/ViewPost.aspx?ID=254 Up, Up, and Away! http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/24-7/Lists/Posts/ViewPost.aspx?ID=253 Body:

How can your marketing plan reach for the sky? Check out Quick Chek’s latest marketing promotion. Not only does the New Jersey-based retailer get a great deal of publicity from the local and national media about the event, which has grown into the largest summer hot air balloon and music festival in North America, it also provides a great launch pad for other marketing initiatives and partnerships. For example, this year, Quick Chek partnered with PNC and Volkswagen to provide a VIP package for the festival to heighten the appeal of attending.

“Hannah Montana” star Emily Osment, Air Supply, George Thorogood and the Destroyers and Rick Springfield provided the musical entertainment, lending the event some star power.

Read more about promoting your brand through community events in the August 2009 NACS Magazine feature, “Solid Gold.”

Category: Merchandising
Published: 8/2/2010 2:12 PM
Blog Summary: The 28th Annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning promotes community involvement and brand awareness for the c-store chain.
Content Subject: Marketing/Merchandising
]]> czuazua Merchandising Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:14:38 GMT http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/24-7/Lists/Posts/ViewPost.aspx?ID=253 A Work of (Pretzel) Art http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/24-7/Lists/Posts/ViewPost.aspx?ID=252 Body:

Could you create a work of art with a snack food? For the winner of the second annual Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzel Coaster Build-off Contest, the answer was a definite yes. The challenge: using hot glue, pretzels and a little ingenuity, build a model of the world’s tallest and first floorless dive coaster. As you can see from the picture below, this was a serious challenge! The winner, Jennifer Westcott, was rated on the detailing, accuracy and overall presentation.

The grand prize included a four-pack of two-year, 2-Park passes for Busch Gardens and Water Country USA and a year’s supply of Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, with a total estimated retail value of more than $1,200. Talk about promoting a product with a little community outreach, a lot of creativity and some innovative marketing!

Category: Best Practices;Merchandising
Published: 7/27/2010 3:17 PM
Blog Summary: Snyder’s announces the winner of its Pretzel Coaster Build-Off.
]]> czuazua Best Practices;Merchandising Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:16:58 GMT http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/24-7/Lists/Posts/ViewPost.aspx?ID=252 Friend A Pickle! http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/24-7/Lists/Posts/ViewPost.aspx?ID=251 Body:

In an effort to provide a forum for pickle-lovers everywhere to unite, Van Holten Pickles has set up shop in the social media world. Pickle-in-a-Pouch, promoted by its mascot, Steve B. Pickle, is the star of Van Holten’s new Facebook and Twitter pages. And it’s not bad timing – the pickle is reportedly having something of a comeback with consumers.

Visit the NACS Facebook and Twitter pages for news on NACS and the c-store industry.

For more coverage on social media, read check out “World Wide Networking” In NACS Magazine.

Category: Branding
Published: 7/27/2010 2:52 PM
Blog Summary: Van Holten Pickles launches their newest product using social media as a launching point.
Content Subject: Marketing/Merchandising
]]> czuazua Branding Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:54:00 GMT http://www.nacsonline.com/NACS/News/24-7/Lists/Posts/ViewPost.aspx?ID=251