Coupons/ Rebates/ Pricing

Home décor retailer Pier 1 Imports swung to a loss in its first quarter amid heavy promotions caused by weak sales.   The chain reported a loss of $6 million for the quarter ended May 28, compared to net income of $6.9 million in the year-ago period.   Revenue fell 4.2% to $418.4 million in the quarter, also less than expected. Same-store sales were down 2.5%.  

Parents are increasing their back-to-school budgets, although overall spending is stagnant compared to recent years.   According to a new survey of 1,830 U.S. parents of elementary through college students by Mintel, 52% of respondents plan to spend more on back-to-school (BTS) shopping than in 2015. Only 4% plan to spend less, with 44% planning to spend the same. However, overall planned BTS spending dropped to $68 billion in 2015 after ranging from $73 - $76 billion annually from 2010-2014.  

You only get one chance to make a first impression, and retailers are applying this truism to their email marketing efforts.   According to a survey of 150 retail clients by email marketing technology provider Campaigner, 39% of respondents say that the first email content new subscribers see from their brand is a thank-you-for-subscribing message. This approach seems to be working, as almost 50% of respondents report that 21% or more of new subscribers engage with such welcome emails.  

Paperless coupons are supposed to easy, and Walgreens is doing its best to make them that way.   Walgreens customers now have the ability to redeem digital coupons from Walgreens and manufacturers for online purchases, as well as in-store purchases. Additionally, offers can now be “clipped” on product detail pages and in search results on Walgreens.com, and through the Walgreens mobile app.  

There are four main channels consumers use to initiate an online purchase, and each one results in a different experience.  

Hispanic shoppers enjoy grocery shopping significantly more than the average U.S. consumer, in part, because they consider the experience a social endeavor, according to a new study from Acosta Sales & Marketing and Univision, “The Why? Behind the Buy U.S. Hispanic Shopper Study.”  

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is publicly supporting a tax reform proposal released today by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas.  

Many kids are just starting their summer vacations, but back-to-school shopping is well underway.