Marketing Tactics

The Woodlands, Texas – Conn’s more than doubled its consolidated net income in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the same period in the prior year, growing to about $24.4 million from $11.8 million. Total net sales increased a healthy 51%, to $310.9 million from $206.4 million.

With the holiday shopping season underway and many retailers bracing for stiff competition, Kohl’s plans on keeping its doors open for more than 100 hours, from 6 a.m. Friday, Dec. 20 through 6 p.m. Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24.

Although the strategy is familiar to retailers such as Toys “R” Us, it is a first for Kohl’s. The move comes following a comparable-store sales increase of 0.9% for the second-quarter which fell short of Wall Street estimates.

New York -- Impact Architectural Signs completed a street-level, storefront signage project for Tiffany's in Chicago that served as a fall seasonal promotion to help sell upscale watches. The Michigan Avenue retailer used vinyl window graphics in which gold vinyl film was used to suggest a clock face.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. – Kohl’s will keep its doors open for more than 100 hours straight, beginning at 6 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 20 through 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24. Kohl’s is also offering free gift boxes and a “no questions asked” returns policy that offers full refunds and exchanges for purchases made with a receipt or on a Kohl’s charge card.

Walmart chief marketing and merchandising officer Duncan Mac Naughton told investors during an October meeting that the retailer would have the largest share of voice during the holiday season and that was certainly evident during November, according to data released this week from Kantar Media Ad Intelligence and Placed.

Philadelphia -- Five Below reported that its net sales increased by 27.9% to $110.7 million, from $86.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Same-store sales rose 9.0%.

Net income was $1.7 million compared to $0.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012.

Black Friday came early for Rakuten.com Shopping. The online marketplace saw a huge jump in visits to the site, consumer sales and conversion on and leading up to the biggest shopping day of the year.

Rakuten.com Shopping reported a rise in consumer sales and traffic beginning the Monday before the big sale days, with a spike on Thanksgiving Day and a crescendo at 10 a.m. PST on Black Friday.

Unprecedented shopper traffic was seen at Target on Black Friday, according to president, CEO and chairman, Gregg Steinhafel, who also said the retailer provided exceptional service without offering much insight into sales.