Digital Marketing

Indianapolis - Lids Sports Group has upgraded its inventory management system so that the retailer now provides consumers access to companywide inventory in retail stores, as well as its centrally located distribution centers. By implementing this improvement, thousands of styles and teams that were previously only available in stores are now available to fans everywhere.

New York – Barnes & Noble Inc. is launching the #NookReadingStyle sweepstakes, designed to inspire book lovers to share their reading style on their Facebook pages and other social media channels. From March 16-31, participants can enter for a chance to win prizes including Nook e-readers and Barnes & Noble gift cards by completing the sweepstakes entry form on the Nook Facebook page.

Indianapolis – Just in time for the annual college basketball championship tournament, Hhgregg is running an omnichannel “March Markdown” promotion. From March 16 – April 6, customers can enter up to four times per day via Facebook, online, or by sharing the Hhgregg “Acrobatic Dunk Madness” video.

Barnes & Noble is trying to generate excitement around its struggling Nook products with a giveaway tied to social media.

The retailer says the #NOOKReadingStyle Sweepstakes is designed to inspire book lovers to share their reading style on their Facebook pages and other social media channels. Through March 31, participants can enter for a chance to win exciting prizes, including a $500 Gilt E-Gift Card, a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK and 100 $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Cards by completing the sweepstakes entry form on the NOOK Facebook page.

Minneapolis - Retailer participation in freestanding insert (FSI) coupon events and digital coupons distributed on retailer websites benefited from double-digit increases in 2014 compared to 2013. According to data from Marx, a Kantar Media solution, those participation rates were up 11.8% and 16.5%, respectively.

Another online company has entered the physical retail space: Google has opened an in-store shop in Currys PC World, on Tottenham Court Road in London.

York, Pa. – An insurance settlement from a store damaged by fire helped The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. increase net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 to $71.7 million, up 17% from net income of $61.3 million in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Sales grew 3%to $942.6 million from $914.9 million. Top-performing merchandise categories included cold weather and active apparel and home. The company continued its trend of double-digit sales growth in e-commerce in the period. Same-store sales rose 4.3%.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Shoppers interested in purchasing products from women-owned companies will find it easier to do so at Walmart with the introduction of a new logo and related promotional effort. The new initiative launched March 11 will see a unique logo featured on retail packaging of products from women-owned businesses, available both in-store and online.