Digital Marketing

By John Lytle, [email protected] and Julien Escribe, [email protected]

ORLANDO — Walmart is kicking off its official start to the holiday season Friday, Sept. 13, with a no-fee layaway program.

TREVOSE, Pa. — E.p.t, creator of the home pregnancy test, is spreading brand awareness via social media, by launching a contest on Twitter for Labor Day, which celebrates moms in labor.

Five grand prize winners will receive a $500 “push present” for giving birth on Labor Day, courtesy of the home pregnancy test brand. 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — GE is leveraging social media as part of its Reimagining Home brand campaign, and holding a contest on its Tumblr page.

The brand is inviting consumers to submit their best cooking failure story to its Cooking Fail Redemption Tumblr page for a chance at redemption at GE’s headquarters, where the winner will re-create the same dish under the guidance of Chef Jeffrey Saad. Saad hosts United Tastes of America on the Cooking Channel. 

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Pepsi is teaming up with MTV to support a performance by pop star Katy Perry at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, from an undisclosed location in Brooklyn Aug. 25. 

Pepsi will also hold a tweet-to-unlock and social voting program where fans can access information and audio samples of two songs from Perry's upcoming album, Prism, available Oct. 22. Participants who tweet #KATYNOW will unlock clues around two of the album's tracks, including the song titles and select lyrics. 

ROCKFORD, Mich. — Wolverine Worldwide has appointed Jodi K. Watson as president of consumer direct, reporting to chairman, CEO and president Blake W. Krueger.  

In her new role, Watson will be responsible for direct-to-consumer operations for the company, including stores and e-commerce.

Watson was most recently the company’s VP of e-commerce, leading Wolverine's global digital strategy. She has served on its retail leadership team since joining the company in 2009.

NEW YORK — Sequential Brands Group, the parent company of Heelys wheeled footwear, plans to overhaul the footwear collection and expand into new product categories, including backpacks and other back-to-school accessories.

PHILADELPHIA — A favorable customer response to product offerings at Urban Outfitters contributed to the retailer’s net income of $76 million for the three months ended July 31.

Total company net sales for the second quarter increased 12% to a record $759 million. Same-store sales, including the company’s direct-to-consumer channel, increased 9%.

Comparable retail segment net sales increased 38% at Free People, 9% at Anthropologie and 5% at Urban Outfitters. Wholesale segment net sales rose 17%.