GM PROMOTIONS ARE HEADED OUTDOORS

JOEL ELSON

As Memorial Day draws closer, supermarket retailers have put their outdoor furniture and cookout promotions into high gear, devoting extensive space to these seasonal categories in their weekly circulars and print ads.

Seasonal general merchandise was given double-page treatment in circulars by Pathmark Stores, Carteret, N.J. The chain featured a wide range of outdoor furniture, including lounge chairs at $29.99; folding sand chairs, $9.99; resin stack tables; $2.99; patio chair cushions, $2.99; 10 by 10 fabric gazebos, $39.99; and a four-piece children's patio set, $39.99.

The ShopRite retail co-op, supplied by Wakefern Food Corp., Elizabeth, N.J., promoted "Back Yard Buys" in its circulars. The co-op offered a resin patio set for $29.99 and resin stacking lounges for $36.99.

Randall's Food Markets, Houston, ran a promotion on film, photoprocessing and seasonal outdoor items linked to the use of customer-club cards. Customers presenting the card could take advantage of one-hour photo-developing specials, including 12 exposures for $2.97, 24 exposures for $5.97, or 36 for $7.97. Max Flash single-use cameras were priced at $8.49. Four-packs of Kodak Gold film were offered at $7.99 for 100 speed and $8.49 for 200 speed.

Laneco Food Lane Supermarkets, Easton, Pa., brought out seasonal department specials, including grills and numerous outdoor furniture items. Five-piece wrought-iron patio sets were priced at $219.99, while three-piece sets were $99.99. The retailer also featured a Victorian park bench, made of cast iron, selling for $59.99

Carr Gottstein Foods, Anchorage, Alaska, highlighted typical seasonal items, but also added some more unique twists. The company's Memorial Day promotion was also dependent on use of its Carrs Plus Price Club Card. Included in the retailer's ads were a small 10-inch by 14-inch gas grill, $16.99; a black enamel grill, $36.99; the Fiesta 240-square-inch gas barbecue grill, $129.99; and a 7-pound bag of Fiesta lava rocks, $4.99.

Creative additions to the retailer's outdoor promotion included Huffy 10-inch red tricycles, priced at $29.99; Sailin' Away Mickey 10-inch tricycles, marked $39.99; and men's and women's walkers or joggers, selling for $9.99.