Marketing Tactics

Cupertino, Calif. – Apple Inc. has reportedly hired Marcela Aguilar, senior global director of marketing communications for Gap Inc., to be its new director of global marketing communications, according to AdAge. Aguilar, who has worked at Gap since 2011, is credited as helping to drive the company’s resurgence in brand awareness, especially among Millennials.

PepsiCo announced its "Purple On!" campaign against bullying. The initiative supports GLAAD's annual Spirit Day, which takes place on Oct. 16. Spirit Day inspires citizens to wear purple to show their stance against bullying, and also to show support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth.

Westwood Village, Calif. — Urban Outfitters has opened side-by-side men’s and women’s stores in Westwood Village, Calif. With a 16,556 sq. ft. storefront, the stores are located in two adjacent historic buildings on Westwood Blvd.

Corte Madera, Calif. – Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc. beat consensus analyst estimates by swinging from a net loss to profit in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, but had smaller-than-expected sales growth.

The upscale home furnishings retailer reported net income of $27.3 million, compared to net loss of $17.8 million during the same period a year earlier.

Philadelphia – Five Below Inc.’s profit  more than doubled to $8.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, from $4.1 million in the same period last year. Its results beat expectations. The chain issued a third-quarter earnings estimate slightly below Wall Street views, while increasing its full-year sales and earnings guidance.

Revenue in the quarter increased 30% to $152.5 million. Same-store sales increased by 3.2%.

During a Special Preview Event, Hank Mullany, president, Toys“R”Us, U.S., discussed steps the company has taken so far this year to prepare for the upcoming holiday season.

The company has bolstered its leadership team, completed inventory clearance event to make way for holiday products and launched a new loyalty program called Rewards“R”Us.

GameStop has teamed up with Alliance Data Systems Corporation (ADS), a leading global data-driven marketing and loyalty programs provider, to deploy a GameStop-branded private label credit card program.

Lewisville, Texas – Consumers are increasingly interested in the BOPIS (buy online, pickup in store) option for making purchases. According to a new survey of 1,992 U.S. adults by custom incentive company Parago, 63% of shoppers BOPIS (buy online, pickup in store) at least a few times a year, but 82% percent would consider doing so to receive a $10 rebate on a $50 item.