Coupons/ Rebates/ Pricing

New York City -- A report released Wednesday by Capital Business Credit said that importers who sell to America's major retailers are preparing for a significant uptick in consumer spending this spring and summer.

Boston -- Wifarer said Tuesday that it has partnered with Boston’s Prudential Center to deliver promotions and deals to customers based on their location inside the shopping center, as well as to provide insights into visitor traffic and venue usage.

Wifarer’s indoor positioning technology uses a venue’s WiFi infrastructure to pinpoint the inside location of a user’s smartphone within four and a half feet and without burdening large venues with extraneous hardware, infrastructure or extra WiFi needs.

NEW YORK — Ann Inc.'s net income for its fiscal fourth quarter dropped to $2.2 million from $8 million in the year-ago period, hurt by heavy promotions at namesake stores.

Sales increased to $566.7 million, from $515.3 million, and same-store sales for fourth quarter rose 5.3%.

By brand, same-store sales plummeted 10.9% at namesake stores, but rose 8.1% at Loft stores. Strength in the online channel boosted overall same-store results.

Seattle -- A report by Bloomberg said that Nordstrom Inc. will introduce an ongoing free shipping program for all purchases made at its department stores starting next week.

The program was unveiled just months after Nordstrom introduced standard free shipping and returns on its online orders. It was the first department store chain to do so.

Los Angeles -- Guess Inc. has grabbed onto the Pinterest social media tool to launch a new contest for its customer base.

The “Color Me Inspired” contest, for which Guess collaborated with four style bloggers, invites the Pinterest community to showcase how color inspires them for a chance to win a pair of color-coated denim from the Guess spring collection.

The one-week Pinterest campaign kicked off on March 8.
 

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart Inc. reported Thursday that its net income fell to $5.7 million for the fiscal fourth quarter, down from $18.8 million last year. The chain said it was returning to its strategy of emphasizing everyday low prices after heavy coupon promotions took a toll on the retailer's financial performance during the past year.

Revenue for the quarter ended Jan. 28 was down nearly 3% to $328.1 million, from $336.7 million. Same-store sales were down 2.2%.

SECAUCUS, N.J. — The Children's Place Retail Stores is the latest retailer to report fourth-quarter sales that were negatively impacted by the unseasonably warm weather this winter. The company said that comparable-store sales for the quarter declined 2.7%, and net sales were up only slightly (0.9%) to $457.5 million from $453.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2010. 

Children's Place also reported a drop in income from continuing operations after tax from $32.7 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, to $24.2 million, or 97 cents per diluted share.

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Tuesday announced the availability of an exclusive new offering for customers that check in at any Walgreens store nationwide through Foursquare.

The drugstore chain said customers that check in via Foursquare instantly will receive a unique scannable coupon via their smartphone, which is redeemable in the store and does not require texting, reply or other steps.


New York City -- A study released Thursday by WSL/Strategic Retail found that 52% of Americans are struggling to afford the necessities, and for many even that is a stretch.

The “How America Shops MegaTrends report, Moving On 2012,” revealed among its significant findings that the youth market, 18-34 year olds, has the highest percent of those who do not have enough money to cover their basic needs, with close to a quarter (24%) in financial turmoil.

Arlington, Va. -- A new study released by the Consumer Electronics Association found that more consumers are using their mobile devices for online transactions.

The "Mobile Commerce -- Reinventing the Way Consumers Shop" study found that 37% of mobile device owners are engaging in some form of commerce from their device. This could mean making a purchase, redeeming a coupon or gift card or searching for a coupon.