Marketing Tactics

Boston – College students most frequently eat snack foods in the afternoon and are frequently replacing meals with snacks. A new study from marketing agency Fluent shows that 75% of college students replace meals with snacks and afternoon snacking is three times more popular than morning or late night snacking.

Other notable findings of the survey college students age 18-25 include:

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples announced a new price match policy that the company said ensures customers pay the lowest price – both in stores and online. Staples said it will price match items sold and shipped by Amazon.com or any retailer who sells products in both retail stores and online under the same brand.

Following a successful launch in China earlier this year, Hershey is ready to introduce its first new brand to the U.S. market in three decades.

Indianapolis – Hhgregg opened a new store in Huntsville, Ala., on Oct. 10. The new store replaces a previous location at a different address.

"We are excited to introduce a new, modern store to our customers in Huntsville," said Jeff Pearson, senior VP of marketing for Hhgregg. "We hope that residents will take advantage of special sale pricing on a wide variety of appliances, electronics, furniture and much more."

Winnipeg, Manitoba -- Canadian denim company Silver Jeans Co. said it will open its "loft" concept store at Glendale Galleria on Nov. 2 in Glendale, Calif.

"We put a lot of work into making sure the store environment represents our brand," says Michael Silver, CEO, Silver Jeans Co. “We've created an environment that has a comfortable modern feeling but also lets our guests know that we're a historic brand with a rich 92-year history."

New York -- The Bon-Ton Stores has signed a lease with Rouse Properties for a new Herberger’s store at Cache Valley Mall in Logan, Utah — its first in the state. 

The company expects to begin remodeling the 62,000-sq.-ft. facility in early spring 2014 and to be completed in the second half of 2014.

San Bruno, Calif. -- Over 35% of respondents received no formal training, and 28% were asked to read a manual or a handbook, according to a recent study of retail store associates by Qumu, a provider of secure multimedia content management and delivery solutions. The survey also revealed that retail employees are looking for improved executive communication to provide them with a greater understanding of company strategy (57%), more connectedness to the company community (47%), and understanding of activity in other stores (46%).