Marketing Tactics

An iPhone 5 with a $45 unlimited talk, text and data plan is being characterized as an industry game changer by Walmart and its prepaid cell phone service provider Straight Talk Wireless.

NEW YORK — A major renovation may be underway at Lululemon’s flagship store in Manhattan, but the fast growing retailer isn’t missing a beat.

The Vancouver, B.C.-based operator of 201 stores has set up a temporary store at 1142 Third Ave., across from its flagship location to satisfy the New Yorkers’ needs while the four-month renovation is underway.

St. Louis -- Famous Footwear, a division of Brown Shoe Co., said Tuesday it has selected Cincinnati-based Empower MediaMarketing as its media agency of record.

Empower will work with Famous Footwear to reach its target customer, as well as to help drive sales online and in-store.
 
“The landscape of paid, owned and earned media continues to change, and Famous Footwear needs to make sure its marketing efforts are effective and efficient,” said Amy Rose, media manager, Famous Footwear.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Lower in-store traffic at GameStop during the holiday resulted in a decline in same-store sales during the first nine weeks of the company’s fourth quarter.

Total global sales for the nine-week period ended December 29 decreased 4.6%, compared to com 2011 holiday sales period. Comparable store sales decreased 4.4%, with U.S. comps of -3.5% and international comps of -6.4%.

With all of the pre-holiday buzz and widely optimistic sales projections, anything other than a blockbuster 2012 holiday shopping season was bound to be a letdown. Few expected the numbers that came out just before Christmas: Both MasterCard and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) reported that sales for the holiday season at that point were up just 0.7%. This was far below the robust predictions that many analysts and observers made before the shopping season was underway (most often between 3%-6%).

Online prices are now part of Target’s "low price promise" following an adjustment to the three year old price matching program.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said Tuesday it plans to price-match top online retailers year-round, including Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com and Toysrus.com (including Babiesrus.com).

Target stores will also price-match items found on Target.com, the company said.

New York -- Canadian yoga apparel retailer lululemon athletica will open a four-month pop-up location on Third Ave., between 66th and 67th Streets in Manhattan, according to Douglas Elliman's Retail Group.
 
The former site of a Uniqlo pop-up shop, the space is on a block-front shared by Thierry Rabotin, Bare Escentuals, Caché, Canyon Beachwear and Arden B.

The retailer’s flagship, located across the street from the pop-up site, is currently being renovated, and the temporary location will ensure a continued presence.