Marketing Tactics

Torrance, Calif. -- Sanrio, the global lifestyle brand best known for pop icon Hello Kitty, and Universal Parks & Resorts have announced their partnership to develop Hello Kitty interactive retail experience shops scheduled to open later this year at Universal Orlando Resort and in the future at Universal Studios Hollywood.

A new NRF survey reports that Father's Day spending this year is expected to reach $12.7 billion.

Retailers have a new way to drive sales thanks to a mobile-friendly upgrade to RetailMeNot’s popular app.

RetailMeNot, operator of the nation’s largest digital offers marketplace with more than 18 million unique monthly users, introduced the first version of a new “products” section on its app that features popular items.

The new product functionality offers a deep link to retailers’ mobile optimized sites, providing a way to help retailers market specific products in addition to the other promotional capabilities offered by RetailMeNot.

Orlando, Fla. – “Breaking bread” is the tradition of mixing socialization with eating, and Olive Garden is taking the concept to a new, virtual level. To promote its new breadstick sandwiches, Olive Garden is launching the “Breadsticks Nation” sweepstakes, powered by social engagement technology from HelloWorld.

EXETER, N.H. -- Bauer Hockey announced today that it will open its second retail store, in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Bloomington location is the second to be announced by Bauer Hockey, with the first-ever store expected to open in Burlington, Massachusetts, this summer.

PetSmart is enlisting the help of a cat-loving celebrity to launch a new kind of social media campaign.

The retailer has teamed up with actress Mayim Bialik to celebrate cat ownership and encourage cat adoption. Mayim, a longtime cat lover who is very passionate about adoption, has an adopted cat named Frances, a once feral cat that was deserving of a forever home. 

Canton, Mass. - Dunkin' Donuts has launched its newest mobile payment option, integrating Visa Checkout with its e-commerce site and mobile app as a way to purchase and reload virtual Dunkin' Donuts cards. As part of a new, co-branded campaign titled "Get Stuff Dunkin'," the two companies are offering a special $10 bonus when they load at least $25 on a new or existing Dunkin' Donuts card using Visa Checkout.

Jewelry and accessories retailer Charming Charlie has opened its largest store yet, a three-level, 16,000-sq.-ft. flagship on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. Designed in partnership with Callison Architects, Seattle, the store features a two-story, 30-foot tall glass façade and 20-ft. tall double doors in the brand's signature vibrant pink lacquer.