Marketing

To be successful, growth strategies must go beyond theoretical strategic platitudes, proprietary consumer and shopper insights, robust analytics, and innovative growth platforms; they ultimately must be measurable. To be successful in today’s fast changing world, CPG companies and retailers need to be able to quickly confirm that their strategies are working and, if they are not, quickly regroup and adapt. Strategies today need to be living, evolving blueprints that are continually tested, measured, and reinvented.

IRVING, Texas — Hostess Brands has appointed Gregory Rayburn as president and CEO. He also was named to the company’s board of directors. Rayburn replaces Brian Driscoll, whose resignation was effective March 9.

As CEO, Rayburn will oversee the company’s reorganization under Chapter 11 as well as overall corporate strategy and ongoing negotiations with the company’s unions. He joined Hostess last month as the company’s chief restructuring officer.

NEW YORK — Ann Inc.'s net income for its fiscal fourth quarter dropped to $2.2 million from $8 million in the year-ago period, hurt by heavy promotions at namesake stores.

Sales increased to $566.7 million, from $515.3 million, and same-store sales for fourth quarter rose 5.3%.

By brand, same-store sales plummeted 10.9% at namesake stores, but rose 8.1% at Loft stores. Strength in the online channel boosted overall same-store results.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports Inc. reported Friday that profit for the quarter ended Jan. 28 jumped 27% to $15.8 million, compared with $12.5 million in the year-ago period.
 
Revenue increased 10% to $190.7 million from $173.2 million, missing Wall Street’s expected $192.2 million in revenue. Same-store sales rose 7.2%.

For the full year, Hibbett reported net income of $59.1 million, up from $46.4 million last year. Revenue rose to $732.6 million, from $665 million.

Everett, Wash. -- Teen retailer Zumiez Inc. reported Thursday that profit for the fourth quarter increased 24.9% to $18.7 million, from $15 million a year earlier, boosted by better margins.

Revenue rose 18% to $183.9 million, edging Wall Street’s expected $183 million in revenue.

The company has now surpassed analyst estimates for four quarters in a row.
 

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co. said Friday it has named Stephen Gillett as executive VP and president of Best Buy Digital and Global Business Services, effective March 14.

Gillett was previously executive VP Digital Ventures, and chief information officer at Starbucks, charged with leading the company’s efforts to enhance the overall global business operations and improve the customer experience through the use of innovative technology and digital experiences worldwide.

Dallas -- Neiman Marcus Group said Friday it has opened its 42nd store, a full-line department store in Walnut Creek, Calif. The opening of the store makes California the retailer’s third largest market, behind Texas and Florida.

Neiman Marcus Walnut Creek features 85,870 sq. ft. of dedicated specialty retail space, personal shopping areas for men and women, cosmetics treatment rooms, an NM Café and a special events room.
 

New York City -- Ann Inc. reported Friday that net income for its fiscal fourth quarter dropped to $2.2 million from $8 million in the year-ago period, hurt by heavy promotions at namesake stores.

Sales increased to $566.7 million, from $515.3 million, and same-store sales for fourth quarter rose 5.3%.

By brand, same-store sales plummeted 10.9% at namesake stores, but rose 8.1% at Loft stores. Strength in the online channel boosted overall same-store results.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fresh & Easy Tuesday made its Sacramento, Calif. debut with the opening of two new stores in the region. The retailer plans to open five new stores in the Sacramento area this month.

Why has Google arguably become the most popular advertising platform on the planet, attracting a whopping $36.5 billion in ad spending in 2011?  And why has Facebook, with an expected IPO valuation of around $100 billion, become such a juggernaut in digital marketing?

The short answer is both Internet platforms combine huge audiences and some capacity to understand individual preferences (based on online behavior and conversation) in order to help brands engage the right consumers with more relevant advertising content and dialogues.