Loyalty Marketing

In the wake of Amazon’s Prime Day hype, J.C. Penney is eager to drive momentum among its own online shoppers.    The department store retailer is getting ready to host its own online-only shopping event, “Penney Palooza.” The second annual two-day sale, which is set to run July 11-12, will feature “48 hours of non-stop savings,” according to the retailer.   

Days before Prime Day commences, Amazon is upping the ante once again.   Starting Wednesday, July 5, Alexa shoppers will have access to more than 100 exclusive deals on Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Amazon Tap, Fire TV or compatible Fire tablets. Voice shoppers will also get first dibs on select Prime Day deals on July 10, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. PST — two hours before the general public, according to Amazon.  

Click-and-collect boxed-meal delivery services are encouraging more customers to make online grocery shopping part of their weekly routine.    Currently, 97% of all consumer-packaged goods (CPG) dollars are still being spent in brick-and-mortar retail stores. However, the popularity of click and collect boxed-meal delivery services has 28% of shoppers purchasing groceries online regularly.  

Hoping to woo electronics shoppers away from Amazon’s Prime Day, Newegg is planning its own shopping extravaganza.   For the third year, the electronics e-retailer will hold its annual "FantasTech" sale. The three-day event, which kicks off on July 11, will feature will offer “deep discounts” on hundreds of products across all tech product categories.   

Mark Tritton, Target’s executive VP and chief merchandising officer, discussed the retailer's new exclusive brands in a posting on the company's corporate website. Here are some key excerpts:    What’s the inspiration behind these new brands?

Sur La Table is inviting shoppers to its version of Black Friday in July.   Replacing multiple smaller weekend sales that typically run throughout the month, the kitchenware retailer is introducing a one-day shopping event called “Lime Day.” The sale, which is set to launch on July 10, will feature more than 300 lime-themed items on sale for up to 75% off.   

Amazon has brought the saying, “Christmas in July” to life with its Prime Day global shopping extravaganza and this year's event promises to be bigger than ever.   

Regional supermarket operator Shnucks is the latest grocer to offer customers same-day delivery.

To be competitive, retailers must have a strong digital marketing strategy to be seen and heard, attract new customers, and build stronger relationships with existing ones. Spending on digital advertising is on the rise. In 2017, U.S. digital advertising is on pace to surpass expenditures on TV ads. Globally, more than 40% of media advertising budgets in certain markets are devoted to digital marketing, according to media company Magna.  

Plenty of consumers will be shopping for deals over Independence Day— and they plan to use social media to find them.   Forty-three percent of consumers plan to shop for deals on Independence Day, according to a survey by ChargeItSpot. When asked what resource they will use to hunt down deals and sales, the majority of respondents (37%) said social media, followed by online deal sites (17%) and mobile coupon apps (17%) – meaning in-store shoppers are finding their deals online.