Marketing Tactics

PITTSBURGH — Dick's Sporting Goods has launched its first-ever winter coat trade-in event.

From Oct. 21 through Oct. 27, customers can donate their gently-worn winter coats at their local Dick's store. Donated coats will then be distributed in the United States to those in need through a partnership with World Vision.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us has extended its free layaway program through Dec. 16. The program, announced in September, was originally slated to end on Oct. 31.

San Francisco -- Pbteen, a division of Williams-Sonoma, plans to open five pop-up stores in the Durham, Cincinnati, Edina, Houston and Miami areas this October and November.

The stores will showcase PBteen’s new holiday gift assortment, including gadgets for guys and girls, fur-inspired bedding and lounge seating, jewelry and beauty storage and accessories.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Target has announced plans to open a new store in Chicago.  The 190,000-sq.-ft. store, to be  located on West Division and North Larrabee Streets, is scheduled to open in October 2013.

To date, Target has announced plans to open 10 Target stores in 2013, including CityTargets in Los Angeles, Portland and San Francisco.

SEATTLE — Another day, another toy list, this time from Amazon.com. The company has launched its 2012 holiday toy list and corresponding web page, where customers can discover hundreds of this year’s most popular and top rated toys, books, video games, electronics, movies, sporting goods and more.

NEW YORK — Macy's is hoping to entice the coveted 13- to 30-year-old market with the launch of its millenial initiative.

CANTON, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchisee Sizzling Donuts, LLC for 16 new restaurants in Salt Lake City, Utah.
 
The first restaurant is planned to open in 2013 and the remainder by 2018.
In February 2012, Sizzling Platter, LLC formed the subsidiary Sizzling Donuts, LLC and signed their first multi-unit agreement with Dunkin' Donuts to develop 11 new restaurants in Denver, Colorado, and eight new restaurants in El Paso, Texas, over the next several years.

A funny thing happened on the way to the department store: luxury goods became accessible to consumers online and at increasingly deeply discounted prices. Thanks to a spate of discount websites offering “flash sales” or exclusive, limited-time offerings, the flash sale phenomenon has revolutionized the way consumers shop, offering an entry into the luxury market at a fraction of the price.