Digital Marketing

New York -- Smartphone and Internet users actively seek out and prefer to engage with mobile-friendly sites, but such sites must meet certain expectations in order to convert users from visitors to consumers, according to a Google study conducted by independent market research firms Sterling Research and SmithGeiger.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Grocer Safeway Inc. said Tuesday it has extended its corporate social responsibility commitment with the introduction of a new program it calls Heart of Safeway Pledge, which encourages consumers and communities to be more conservative and socially responsible.

Los Angeles -- Survey results released Tuesday by online shopping site PriceGrabber found that 88% of shoppers plan to research their holiday gift purchases in advance to find the best deals.

Of those, 38% plan to spend three to six hours researching holiday gift purchases, 29% plan to spend up to two hours, 19% said they plan to spend over 10 hours and 14% indicated between seven and 10 hours.

Washington, D.C. -- Shop.org’s holiday 2012 online sales forecast, released Tuesday, expects sales to grow 12% over last holiday season to as much as $96 billion. Last year, according to the Dept. of Commerce, e-commerce sales grew 15% during the months of November and December.

NEW YORK — Hess toy truck commercials are something most East Coast residents can remember from their childhood. Until now, however, the special holiday toys were only available at Hess stations.

Now people all over can get their hands on a Hess truck now that the company is offering them online via www.hesstoytruck.com. Preordering is available online starting Nov. 1.

NEW YORK — Hess toy truck commercials are something most East Coast residents can remember from their childhood. Until now, however, the special holiday toys were only available at Hess stations.

Now people all over can get their hands on a Hess truck now that the company is offering them online via www.hesstoytruck.com. Preordering is available online starting Nov. 1.

New York -- Research released Monday by Citigroup and published by Wall Street Journal’s MarketWatch found that digital sales for the holiday 2012 shopping season are expected to increase at least 20%, thanks to two additional shopping days and amped-up retail marketing efforts.

Chicago -- An online grocery delivery service is launching "virtual grocery stores" at commuter rail stations across the country.

Peapod.com, owned by the U.S. subsidiary of Dutch supermarket operator Royal Ahold, announced it would launch more than 100 of the virtual grocery stores at commuter rail stations in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, New Jersey and Connecticut. Commuters in the markets Peapod serves spend an hour in transit to and from work each day, according to Census data.

Lawrenceville, Ga. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group announced its Discover Mills outlet mall destination in Lawrenceville (Atlanta), Ga., will be renamed Sugarloaf Mills.

The new brand links the center with Sugarloaf Parkway, where it is situated. New exterior signage, website, brochures and other promotional materials will reflect the new name starting in October.
 

Build-A-Bear Workshop has gone high-tech. The company has debuted a new store design that combines its signature hands-on bear-making experience with innovative technology that’s right in line with today’s digitally savvy kids. The new format, which premiered in Build-A-Bear Workshop’s renovated location at West County Center, St. Louis, also provides more interactive options to keep shoppers coming back.