Digital Marketing

Retailers are always looking for new ways to reach customers, and the race to get onto Facebook walls and news feeds to increase brand exposure has never been greater.

But instead of shelling out dollars to pay for traditional Facebook ads and online banners, many companies are allowing shoppers to do the grunt work for them in an organic way. One of the latest trends is combining social sharing with gift giving, so consumers can send presents — from gift cards to apparel — to others via Facebook.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif — Struggling specialty retailer PacSun is hoping a new campaign and some re-branding will help turn things around. To rebuild its image, the company has enlisted Juxt Interactive to create an immersive brand experience designed to coincide with the formal unveiling of the retailer’s new “Golden State of Mind” positioning, which includes the website GSOM.com, and is supposed to reflect the fluid, relaxed nature of the Golden State.

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Callaway Golf Company has named Harry Arnett as SVP marketing. In this role, Arnett assumes leadership of the company's global marketing, communications and go-to-market functions.  The announcement was made by Chip Brewer, president and CEO, Callaway Golf.

New York -- School is just ending in some areas of the Northeast, and already the first back-to-school shopping survey has been released. The survey, by online shopping site PriceGrabber, reveals that nearly half (46%) of consumers are planning to spend more this back-to-school shopping season than in 2011. In comparison, only 13% of shoppers planned to spend more last year, and this data was reflected in an overall disappointing back-to-school season for retailers in 2011.

New York  -- Macy’s, Sephora, Michael Kors and Lancome were ranked as Facebook “geniuses” in the second annual L2 Facebook IQ Index, developed in partnership with Buddy Media, a social enterprise software firm.

ST. LOUIS — Save-A-Lot, a wholly owned subsidiary of Supervalu, on Monday launched a national search for a team of two interns to serve as brand ambassadors — or more aptly titled Road Scholars — for its 2012 Fuel Your Family Road Trip campaign.

The winning team will hit the road at the end of July for a four-week tour to 12 U.S. cities to personally bring the brand to consumers and help show people how Save-A-Lot can help families with savings of up to 40%, compared with traditional grocery stores.

NEW YORK — Procter & Gamble, in partnership with Walmart.com, is targeting urban shoppers in New York and Chicago throughout the month of June to offer savings on limited-edition everyday essentials.

Through the promotion — which kicked off in Chicago on Wednesday and launched in New York on Thursday — P&G is bringing to life its “everyday needs delivered for free” message for consumables.

HOUSTON — The Men’s Wearhouse raised prices to preserve margins in the face of weak first quarter demand, but it wasn’t enough to prevent profits from falling short of estimates.

The company reported first quarter earnings per share of 52 cents, below guidance of 53 cents to 54 cents a share provided when the company reported fourth quarter results on March 7. Analysts’ expected the company to earn 55 cents a share.

HOUSTON — The Men’s Wearhouse raised prices to preserve margins in the face of weak first quarter demand, but it wasn’t enough to prevent profits from falling short of estimates.

The company reported first quarter earnings per share of 52 cents, below guidance of 53 cents to 54 cents a share provided when the company reported fourth quarter results on March 7. Analysts’ expected the company to earn 55 cents a share.

Spending on Father’s Day is projected to total $12.7 billion this year, and Walmart should get a decent portion of that total given its strength in top gift giving categories.

The Nation Retail Federation forecast this week that average spending per person for Father’s Day would increase 10% to $117 per person from $106 last year, further narrowing the gap with Mother’s Day when spending per person averaged $152.