Digital Marketing

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

LEXINGTON, Mass. — Stride Rite is giving young girls the ultimate fairy tale experience with special in-store Cinderella shoe fittings and the chance to win a hometown screening of a Disney fairy tale.

New York -- Uniqlo on Friday will open its largest mall store in the world, in Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus, N.J. The two-level, 43,000-sq.-ft. store will serve as the prototype for the Japanese retailer¹s U.S. mall expansion.

The new Uniqlo replaces an Old Navy store and has its own separate entrance to the parking lot as well as a traditional mall entrance. A large LCD monitor display at the mall entrance will feature special interactive games and other content to engage shoppers.