Retailer Campaigns

HAMPSTEAD, Md. — JoS. A. Bank customers did not respond as favorably to some of the company's marketing campaigns as they did in the prior year leading to a total sales decline of approximately 11% in the second quarter ended Aug. 3.

The company expects earnings for the quarter to be approximately $0.49 to $0.53 per diluted share, compared with $0.83 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2012.

Chantilly, Va. – Operators of franchises are actively involved in the local online and social media presence of their franchise businesses, often funding and controlling digital marketing activities at the local level. A new report from BIA/Kelsey, Local Commerce Monitor Wave 17 (LCM), shows that franchises estimated their franchisors covered, on average, 43% of the online presence costs of their individual businesses, for things like website development, landing pages, enhanced listings and online video

Los Angeles — Self-proclaimed beauty and fashion junky, Jennifer Geisman, creator of Beautygrl.com, has begun writing a new fashion and lifestyle blog, “Fearless Fashionista,” for four Southern California retail centers, owned and managed by General Growth Properties.

The centers include Galleria at Tyler, Glendale Galleria, Northridge Fashion Center and Otay Ranch Town Center. The blog is available at each center’s website.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts announced the signing of a multi-unit store development agreement with existing franchise group Travel Mart for seven new restaurants in La Crosse and Eau Claire, Wis.

The first restaurant is planned to open in 2014 and the remainder by 2020.

Sandpoint, Idaho -- Coldwater Creek announced the appointment of Deborah Cavanagh as senior VP and CMO, effective Sept. 16.

Cavanagh, who arrives Coldwater Creek from Loft where she was senior VP brand marketing, led the repositioning of Loft as a differentiated brand from Ann Taylor. She will lead Coldwater Creek's multi-channel brand marketing and creative services.

Seattle -- REI announced plans to open a store in Knoxville, Tenn., in fall 2014.

The 23,500-sq.-ft. store, at Papermill Plaza, will include a bike shop that provides expert assembly and repair services, and a community space to host outdoor-related classes, presentations and events.

Indianapolis – H.H. Gregg is opening a new store in Bloomington, Ind. on Aug. 15. The new location at 240 North Gates Street will replace the previous location at 606 West Gourley Pike.

Disappointing second quarter sales at Macy’s prompted the nation’s leading department store operator to temper its outlook for the remainder of the year, heightening concerns about the health of the consumer just as other major retailers are due to report financial results in the weeks ahead.

Sales declined 0.8% to slightly more than $6 billion and same store sales fell by a similar amount during the second quarter period ended August 3. Profits increased 7.5% to 72 cents from 67 cents, but that figure was six cents less that analysts forecast.

Deborah Cavanagh has joined women’s specialty retailer Coldwater Creek as SVP and chief marketing officer after serving in a similar capacity at the LOFT division of Ann Taylor.

Cavanagh will join the company September 16 and lead multi-channel brand marketing and creative services, reporting directly to Coldwater Creek president and CEO Jill Dean. Her appointment follows the release of disappointing first quarter results that saw same store sales at the operator of 347 stores decline 10.5%

Denver -- Thirty-one percent of survey respondents said they won't be shopping for any back-to-school products at all, up from 27.7% last year, according to research published by The Integer Group. The results were in the latest issue of “The Checkout, an ongoing shopper behavior study conducted by Integer and M/A/R/C Research.

With fewer people shopping, certain channels will see a drop in traffic. Integer predicts that mass, clothing, and drug will take the largest hit, losing 2.3%, 3.2%, and 5.5% of shoppers this year compared to last.