Digital Marketing

Kmart promotes fun, fitness, loyalty
Kmart is launching a new social media campaign called “Fit in the Fun” that promotes the enjoyment of healthy activities while also engaging members of its Shop Your Way loyalty program.

The program includes a dedicated Fit in the Fun website as well as a #FitintheFun hashtag campaign. In addition, celebrity fitness instructor Jillian Michaels (who has an established relationship with Kmart) offers online tips and also sells branded merchandise on the new site.
Hudson’s Bay Company acquires Gilt Groupe
Leading department store operator Hudson’s Bay Company confirmed months of speculation and agreed to pay what appears to be a modest sum to acquire online luxury retailer Gilt Groupe.

Hudson’s Bay, which operates 470 department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue and the Off 5th discount format, said it agreed to pay $250 million for Gilt in a deal that will add $500 million to 2016, $40 million in adjusted operating profit by 2017 and countless synergies to leverage the combined companies’ infrastructure and customer databases.

Consumers can join the Twitter brand conversation

A new feature on Twitter will let advertisers engage consumers more directly than ever before.

For many years, Twitter has offered advertisers a service called Promoted Tweets that puts their tweets at the top of users’ content stream with images, videos and/or hashtags encouraging retweets, likes and follows. Now, Twitter is expanding the capability it gives advertisers to directly engage consumers with an offering called “conversational ads.”
Holiday Recap: Top Five Customer-Engaging Omnichannel Campaigns

As we wrap up another holiday season, it’s time to review some of the most innovative and successful omnichannel promotions launched by retailers.

Some of these promotions were brand new, some were updated versions of established favorites. And some directly drove purchases while others built brand awareness and general holiday goodwill. But all five of the selected campaigns engaged customers in ways that should help boost loyalty long after holiday cheer fades.

Harry & David
What will happen in e-commerce during 2016?

Although it still only represents a small percentage of total retail sales, e-commerce is one of the biggest subjects in retail for 2016.

Shipping software provider TrueShip offers the following list of 10 predictions for the direction of e-commerce in the new year.
SIMON SAID

Simon turned to the Internet for its latest development. The shopping center owner creates centers that offer destination shopping and a place for socialization, and now it’s redefining the way the company connects with its millions of shoppers on a daily basis. Simon SAID is a lifestyle-focused digital platform that delivers editorial content on fashion, beauty, design, culture and food. The platform taps influencers, bloggers and retail partners to create original content, which features products from numerous brands sold at Simon centers.
BEACONS BECKON

Beacon technology is remapping how shopping center owners and retailers engage with their customers. PREIT is the latest owner to adopt the beacon-based advertising service, by partnering with Mobiquity Networks, at its premier malls. Earlier this year Macerich announced its expanded partnership with Mobiquity by adding the technology to more of its centers.
New Filters for Hiring CEOs

I remember something a retailer once said to me more than 25 years ago, long before digital mattered. It’s still true today: If the product’s not right, nothing matters. If the product is right, everything matters. That everything now includes staying ahead of the consumer digitally. We’ve gone from a generation that saw technology as a skill to one that doesn’t see it at all — it’s so natural it’s become instinct. This shopper lives in a world where digital doesn’t just define shopping habits — it defines the way shoppers live.
Two key roles filled at eBags as Q4 sales set record

Online accessories retailer eBags continues to build out its senior leadership team with the newest hire filling the roles of CFO and COO.
Lowe’s knows there’s no place like home

On the heels of adding new security features to its Iris connected home device, Lowe’s is further expanding its presence in the connected home market.
Online retailers have happy New Year

All was not quiet on New Year’s Day for online retailers and their customers.

According to Verizon Retail Index data, broadband traffic attributed to e-commerce shopping activity reached new heights over the New Year’s holiday weekend (Jan. 1-3). E-commerce traffic posted highs of 28%, 32% and 36% respectively above average daily levels on those three days – a similar pattern to the prior year. Notably, Sunday posted the highest activity of the season to date which is consistent with a trend identified by Verizon during the 2014 season.
Marsh Supermarkets makes it personal

Marsh Supermarkets, a regional grocer with 73 stores in Indiana and Ohio, needs to know its customers especially well to compete with larger supermarket chains.

To that end, Indianapolis-based Marsh is partnering with targeted marketing software vendor inStream to provide personalized, targeted offers on the front of consumer receipts. InStream drives customer engagement and sales via personalized targeting based on customer-specific purchase data.