Marketing Tactics

New York -- Tesco Plc plans to bring its value-priced F&F clothing format to the United States, opening seven stores on the East Coast this year with its U.S. franchise partner, Retail Group of America. The move comes some six months after Tesco sold off its struggling American supermarket operation, Fresh & Easy, to Ron Burkle's Yucaipa investment company.

Digital savings provider RetailMeNot will put the geo-fencing capabilities of its mobile coupon app to the test this Saturday at the University of Texas.

Banana Republic has teamed up with designer Roland Mouret to launch the Roland Mouret for Banana Republic Collection — a limited-edition collection that uses Banana Republic's signature Sloan contour stretch fabric.

Mouret is best known for his feminine, hourglass fitted dresses.

For the second consecutive year, 99 Cents Only Stores will be sponsoring Big Bunny's Spring Fling at the Los Angeles Zoo, which will be taking place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, April 18, through Easter Sunday, April 20.

99ers will be handing out goodies to all zoo guests. The Big Bunny's Spring Fling weekend entertainment will include bunny-related crafts, an Eggucation Station and photo opportunities along with a chance to pet a bunny.

Founded in 2007, Julep is a fast-growing omnichannel beauty brand that takes a social approach to product development. The brand, which is perhaps best known for its monthly beauty box delivery program, has raised $30 million in Series C financing.

New investors Azure Capital, Madrona Venture Group and Altimeter Capital, as well as existing investors Andreessen Horowitz and Maveron, participated in the round. The new investment brings Julep's total venture funding to $56 million.

HSN recognized the ExactTarget Marketing Cloud from salesforce.com (CRM) as its “Strategic Digital Alliance” partner for the year for transforming the company’s digital marketing program. The company was honored at HSN’s 4th annual awards gala in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Zippo brand is familiar to anyone who has ever smoked and apparently there is enough equity in the name to support two stores inside Las Vegas casinos.
 
The zippo brand is synonymous with those old fashioned lighters that required users to refill with liquid fuel and occasionally replace the flint.  Not anymore, at least according to Zippo executives, who contend Zippo has made the transition to that of a lifestyle brand while its traditional lighters enjoy enduring popularity.
 

Warmer spring weather spurred continued consumer spending and activity this March. According to the National Retail Federation, March retail sales, which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 0.8% adjusted month-to-month and 1.6% unadjusted year-over-year.