Marketing Tactics

Brisbane, Calif. -- Bebe Stores Inc. reported a loss of $11.2 million in its third quarter, citing port delays and prolonged cold weather that also created pressure on sales.

Net sales for the quarter, ended April 30, increased 4.1% to $92.7 million, as compared to $89.0 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales increased 1.2%.

New York - Macy's will once again run its "American Icons” omnichannel promotion, from May 13 – July 4. The campaign will kick off with #AmericanSelfie, a social media initiative inspiring customers to share photos of what America means to them.

Tyler, Texas – Millennials are gaining buying power, and a substantial shift to Millennials in the retail marketplace will occur by 2020. For 152-store supermarket retailer Brookshire Grocery Co., the time to start reacting to this developing change is now.

“We needed to figure out how to market to this customer base and make it relevant to them,” said John D’Anna, senior VP and CIO of Brookshire Grocery.

Dick's Sporting Goods is targeting fitness-minded women with an all-new video campaign.

The retailer has begun airing eight 15-second commercial spots and one 60-second spot on sites such as Hulu, ESPN and ESPNW, and on May 15, the commercials will debut on TV. The company says these ads are the first to target women specifically under Dick's Sporting Goods’ broader “Who Will You Be?” campaign, which launched in March.

Hhgregg is partnering with Maytag once again on an omnichannel giveaway that honors everyday American heroes.

The retailer and appliance-maker will honor 10 deserving Americans who have had a profound impact on their community. Each hero will receive a free Maytag appliance and an Hhgregg gift card to thank them for their commitment. Additionally, hhgregg and Maytag brand are giving away appliances every day in May at hhgregg.com.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market on Wednesday announced plans to debut a new store format targeted at millenials. The company said the stores are expected to begin opening next year, and the expansion will be “fairly rapid.” It did not reveal the name of the new banner.

Spring is in full swing, and PetSmart wants its customers to celebrate new beginnings by adopting a new pet.

The retailer will be hosting a national adoption weekend between May 15 and May 17 at all PetSmart stores. More than 3,000 animal welfare organizations will be on-site at all 1,400 PetSmart stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to help customers find the perfect furry companion.

New York -- An early Easter that drew shoppers into stores in March and slowing economic growth helped cut into retailers’ April sales results.

At Costco Wholesale Corp., April same-store sales were flat, slightly below analysts’ estimates, primarily due to the strong U.S. dollar and lower gas prices. Sales at U.S. stores increased 2% for the four weeks ended May 3. Internationally, sales fell 4%.  

Total revenue inched up 2% to $8.75 billion.