Digital Marketing

Boston -- The number one reason people choose to shop either in-person or online is convenience and not price, according to the results of a new survey released by Continuum, a global design and innovation consultancy. Continuum's 2012 Service Design Report looked at data from more than 1,000 consumers across the country and uncovered the top reasons they choose whether to shop in-stores or online.

The top reasons respondents say they shop in stores are:
• For convenience (40%);
• They don't trust the quality online (22%);

NEW YORK — Tecate and Tecate Light announced the launch of their national retail program focused on helping U.S. Hispanics 21 and older celebrate their passion for football. The brand equity will place bilingual thematic POS materials with the slogan "A Man Knows How to Choose His Team," cross-merchandise and consumer promotions at off-premise locations across the country between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2013.

St. Louis -- Famous Footwear, a division of Brown Shoe Co., said Tuesday it has selected Cincinnati-based Empower MediaMarketing as its media agency of record.

Empower will work with Famous Footwear to reach its target customer, as well as to help drive sales online and in-store.
 
“The landscape of paid, owned and earned media continues to change, and Famous Footwear needs to make sure its marketing efforts are effective and efficient,” said Amy Rose, media manager, Famous Footwear.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Lower in-store traffic at GameStop during the holiday resulted in a decline in same-store sales during the first nine weeks of the company’s fourth quarter.

Total global sales for the nine-week period ended December 29 decreased 4.6%, compared to com 2011 holiday sales period. Comparable store sales decreased 4.4%, with U.S. comps of -3.5% and international comps of -6.4%.

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Co. announced Monday that, in celebration of the firm’s 50th anniversary, it has launched a new website, Sembler.com.

This is the second major revision to the website since the initial launch in 2002. With technology and social media changes, the new site enables better interaction among The Sembler Co., its clients, vendors, and associates.

By Mike Wehrs

By Raymond Florio, [email protected]

Kansas City-based advertising agency Barkley was hired by Big Lots to help the closeout retailer with a broad range of marketing and brand strategy initiatives.

Barkley will provide Big Lots with full-service advertising and marketing duties including brand strategy, and broadcast, print and in-store executions. Barkley will also partner with Big Lots on web strategy and execution.