Marketing Tactics

Buoyed by strong holiday sales, Express reported impressive results for its fourth quarter as the company’s turnaround remained on track. The chain issued an upbeat earnings forecast for the full year.

The specialty retailer reported better-than-expected net income of $56.1 million, or 67 cents per share compared to $41.8 million, or 49 cents per share, in the year-ago period.

Amazon will be promoting its growing portfolio of original content available to Prime members on 20,000 movies screens after reaching a multi-year agreement with National CineMedia.

Photo: Frankie Grande, Rachel Smith, and Lyndsey Rodrigues host Style Code Live, Amazon's first, daily live show.

Whole Foods Market has partnered with national solar providers NRG and SolarCity to substantially increase the number of rooftop solar units on the company’s U.S. stores.

The retailer aims to install up to 100 additional solar rooftop units on its stores. If the goal is reached, the project has potential to be among the 25 largest commercial rooftop solar installations in the country.

Customers responded favorably to holiday promotions at Pier 1 during the fourth quarter and the retailer is poised for an even better spring now that it plans a return to TV advertising.

It wasn’t all that long ago that the industry was embroiled in the “bricks versus clicks” debate. On one side were the traditionalists, who were sure that online shopping would never really catch on (much less ever occur on a phone). On the other side were the true believers, who had stores going the way of the dinosaur in no time flat.

Starbucks is giving customers a front-row seat on the famed Las Vegas Strip.

The coffee giant has opened a 3,200-sq.-ft. location in Grand Bazaar Shops at Bally’s Casino complex. The store is unusual in that, instead of the typical tables with chairs, it offers theatrical stadium seating (for 30 to 40 people) in the center of the store and surrounding bench seating.

Lululemon athletica and Athleta, a subsidiary of Gap Inc., are not new concepts. But they are part of one of fashion’s hottest trends: “athleisure.”

Specializing in trendy activewear designed for the gym and beyond, athleisure concepts are finding their way into all kinds of shopping destinations — giving lululemon and Athleta increasing competition. Here’s a rundown of some other retailers currently in the game: