Marketing Tactics

Winnipeg, Manitoba — Silver Jeans Co. has announced the opening of a loft concept store at La Plaza Mall in McAllen, Texas, on Sept. 13.

“We put a lot of work into making sure the store environment represents our brand,” said Michael Silver, Silver Jeans’ CEO. The 1,536-sq.-ft. loft will feature digital technology with a mobile point-of-sale system. A 6-ft media wall will display the latest ad campaign and music videos.

New York — Korean fashion designer Boyoung Kim will open her first dedicated boutique on Columbus Avenue, said Faith Hope Consolo, chairman, and Joseph A. Aquino, executive VP of Douglas Elliman’s Retail Group.

William Disbrow and Jim Sampey, former executives with Valpak/Cox Target Media, have joined Sterling Payment Technologies to grow Sterling’s loyalty products and a mobile initiative branded as Perkz.

Disbrow and Sampey were both longtime former executives at Valpak/Cox Target Media who held C-level positions.

Irvine, Calif. -- Photo-sharing site Socialbliss is launching a new social commerce platform called Marketplace. The Socialbliss Marketplace gives users the ability to list their own items for sale and link those pieces to inspiration images already existing on the site. This allows a viral conversation to begin which can lead to an item being sold.

Listing is free and backed by a 20% commission fee structure. Globally shoppable inventory on Socialbliss has hit $4.8 million.

New York -- Households with school-age children (pre-kindergarten through 12th grade) plan a big cut-back in back-to-school spending. Results of the 2013 Brand Keys Back to School Report Card show that there will be a year-over-year decrease of 10% in back-to-school spending, or an average spend this year of just more than $600 per household.

However, not every retailer will experience a decline in back-to-school profits. This year, the eight retailers showing the greatest increase in consumer intent-to-shop were:

1. Amazon

Chesterfield, Mo. -- Taubman Centers announced the opening of Taubman Prestige Oulets, a new fashion outlet center, located in the western-St. Louis suburb of Chesterfield. The opening coincides with Missouri’s Tax-Free Weekend.

NEW YORK — Macy’s continues to focus on its millennial strategy to attract a new generation of customers looking for trend, style and value. The retailer is getting ready to launch two exclusive new brands, Maison Jules and QMack, at 150 stores this month.

The brands' launch is part of an ongoing initiative originally announced in spring 2012 and which saw the retailer introducing or expanding 20 brands for spring 2013.

Parkesburg, Pa. — CVS/Pharmacy recently opened a 7,940-sq.-ft. store at the Parkesburg Shopping Center in Parkesburg, Pa. CVS purchased the business of the location’s previous occupant, Longenecker Pharmacy, an independent, family-owned chain.

The 56,652-sq.-ft. development is exclusively leased and managed by Levin management www.levinmgt.com. The center serves a population of more than 34,600 people within a five-mile radius. Average household income is more than $67,500. Daily traffic count is about 23,800 vehicles.