Advertising
Ongoing advertising and weekly promotions include preprinted newspaper inserts television, direct mail, e-mail communications, radio, digital advertising, social media, and web promotions. New store grand openings are promoted through a combination of television, radio, direct mail, social media and special newspaper insert offers.
| 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross advertising spending (MM) | $134.9 | $161.2 | $161.2 | $168.5 | $161.8 |
| Gross advertising spending growth | -16.3% | 0.0% | -4.3% | 4.1% | 26.5% |
| Vendor allowances (MM) | $29.9 | $32.4 | $37.0 | $43.1 | $44.4 |
| Vendor allowances growth | -7.7% | -12.4% | -14.2% | -2.9% | 9.4% |
| Net advertising spending (MM) | $105.0 | $128.8 | $124.2 | $125.4 | $117.4 |
| Net advertising spending growth | -18.5% | 3.7% | -1.0% | 6.8% | 34.5% |
| Net advertising spending % of total revenues | 5.4% | 6.0% | 5.3% | 5.1% | 4.7% |
Notes:Vendor allowances represent reimbursements for marketing support to promote a vendor’s products