Marketing Tactics

As more retail promotions migrate online, RetailMeNot has introduced two new products poised to disrupt the traditional print circular.

The new offerings are branded as RetailMeNot Circulars and RetailMeNot Showcase and are part of the company’s portfolio of solutions designed to help retailers and brands increase sales and grow awareness.

Leading accessories retailer Claire’s plans to open 100 of its distinctive branded shops with thousands of products within Toys “R” Us stores worldwide by year end and alluded to the possibility of more locations to come.

Shopko plans to unveil the results of a partial store remodeling project in all of its 133 Shopko stores Sept. 18.

The remodel includes the removal of the stores' large glass jewelry cabinets to make shopping in the jewelry department more convenient and accessible to consumers. Customers will no longer have to wait for a store associate to unlock and remove jewelry items, but will be able to easily see, touch and try on jewelry pieces.

Firearm safety is taken seriously at outdoor retailer Gander Mountain where the company is giving away 50,000 trigger locks in a unique promotion.

The trigger lock giveaway is a significant commitment, considering the devices retail for $9.99, but the cost of goods could be more than offset by an increase in traffic ahead of the fall hunting season. The trigger lock giveaway begins this Friday September 17 and runs for three days to coincide with what the company is calling its biggest hunting sale of the year.

Brooklyn, N.Y. -- Home furnishings retailer West Elm will make its Michigan debut when it opens a store in downtown Birmingham, on Oct. 2.

The 15,000-sq.-ft. plus store will feature a curated selection of products made in Michigan, part of West Elm’s Local initiative. The initiative, launched this year, taps into local entrepreneurship by empowering the teams in West Elm stores to find area makers and designers, building and nurturing a creative network that celebrates craftspeople and differentiates the brand with regional assortments.  

New research from an organization called the Luxury Institute found that half the executives in a recent survey are spending at least 30% of their marketing budget on digital methods with an even larger percentage concerned it isn’t enough.

Just as retailers like Walmart and Target unveil their top toy lists ahead of the holiday shopping season, Toys“R”Us has revealed its 2014 Holiday Hot Toy List. The annual list of 36 items is determined by Toys“R”Us play experts and packed with a wide range of brand new toys and games.

Target has entered the “top toy” fray with a list filled with familiar brands, exclusive offering and boutique products designed to inspire creative play and reinforce Target’s differentiation.