Marketing Tactics

NEW YORK — Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th is opening its third store in metropolitan Atlanta, but the 28,000-sq.-ft. space at the Outlet Shoppes of Atlanta at Woodstock will be the first modeled after the company’s “luxury-in-a-loft” design.

While Best Buy is still the world’s largest consumer electronics chain, it’s no secret that the brand faces big questions about store size, format, and long-term viability in an evolving brick-and-mortar retail landscape. I found the recent announcement that Microsoft and Best Buy had reached an agreement to roll out dedicated Windows “stores” in 600 Best Buy locations across North America this summer to be somewhat surprising, but certainly in line with the needs of both companies.

SAN FRANCISCO — Banana Republic has been named the formal attire supplier for Oracle Team USA as it defends its title at the 34th America's Cup in San Francisco Bay in Sept.

New Orleans -- Smoothie King Franchises is targeting the Jacksonville, Fla., metro area to kick off a major expansion calling for 1,000 new franchised and corporate locations over the next five years.

With seven stores in Jacksonville, the company plans to add 10 new locations there over the next three years.

To fuel the national expansion drive, Smoothie King is offering candidates 40% off of its initial franchise fee for the first 40 agreements of 2013 — a savings of $10,000.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS and the Boston Red Sox teamed up at Fenway Park to hold a special batting camp for veterans from across New England. The event celebrated the Fourth of July and honored disabled military veterans.

Draper, Utah -- Online eyewear retailer Glasses.com is releasing a 3D app for the iPad platform that allows customers to virtually try on glasses using a 180-degree 3D representation of their face. Proprietary facial modeling technology allows users to reproduce their face on an iPad screen and reposition glasses, as well as compare different glasses in a side-by-side view. A built-in “share” feature lets customers send virtual views to family and friends and receive tallied votes on their opinions.

FT. LAUDERDALE — National retail brand builder Zimmerman Advertising has shaken up its leadership team. It appointed former Papa John's International CMO Andrew Varga to agency president and promoted its current president Pat Patregnani to CEO. 

New York -- Australian swimwear brand Seafolly will open its first U.S. freestanding store in October, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

The company will open a 1,800-sq.-ft. location in Fashion Island mall, in Newport Beach, Calif. Seafolly has been selling its goods at select stores in the United States for about five years. It also does an exclusive line for Nordstrom, the report said.