Marketing Tactics

As more shoppers become victims of “porch piracy,” they are changing they way they shop — and receive — online orders.   This message was delivered in a new study from Vivint Smart Home, a smart home services provider in North America. The study, which is based on 2,000 people, explores the far-reaching impact of the porch piracy phenomenon — an issue that has affected 23 million Americans, according to a separate study from Princeton Survey Research Associates International.  

Improving traffic and sales, particularly in the digital channel, helped Target Corp. easily beat third-quarter profit expectations as the discounter raised its year-end outlook.    Target’s profit increased 10.7% to $608 million, or $1.07 cents a share, up from $549 million, or 88 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Adjusted for one-time expenses, it earned $1.04 cents a share, which was better than the 83 cents analysts had expected.  

Sears’ loyal shoppers will have the chance to preview holiday sales at an exclusive shopping event.  

It’s an odd partnership — at least at first glance.   Neiman Marcus has entered into a partnership with Rent the Runway, which lets shoppers rent pricey designer dresses as opposed to buying them (at a luxe store like Neiman Marcus).       

In 2013, to much hype and social media fanfare, Apple introduced the iBeacon into their iOS with release 4.0. Then everything went quiet, mostly because very few applications for the technology exist, and not enough developers understood the unlimited potential of the technology.   

Ikea has brought the horrors of the Syrian civil war home to customers at its flagship in Slependen, Norway.   In a joint fundraising effort, the Swedish home furnishings giant, in partnership with the Norwegian Red Cross, has recreated the small, unfurnished apartment of a Syrian mother and her children in the middle of the store. The space is based on a real-life apartment in Damascus, according to CNN.   

Butler Enterprises has named a Gainesville insider to promote and market its Neighborhoods at Butler project in that Florida college town.   The complex’s new director of marketing, Mary Reichardt, arrives at Butler from the Visit Gainseville-Alachua County Tourism Development Office, where she served as marketing chief. There, she created the county’s first brand strategy to establish awareness across the U.S. and in Europe.   

Macy’s is expanding its off-price concept, Macy’s Backstage, in a pop-up format.   In a test, the department store retailer is placing Backstage pop-ups in 45 existing Macy's stores in time for the holiday shopping season, the Cincinnati Business Journal reported.