Social Media

While the annual South By Southwest festival was underway in Austin, regional department store operator Belk was connecting with its core customers in the southeast by hosting a festival of its own.

It’s been more than 15 years since they started ringing the death knell for brick-and-mortar retail. And although the Internet shopping base continues to grow, the in-store experience is here to stay. Even the doomsayers have quieted during recent years. There are simply too many things about in-store shopping that the online experience can’t offer.

Specialty online fashion retailer Rue La La is launching a series of themed online boutiques that tie in with the original digital consumer engagement channel – TV.

Rue La La is entering an exclusive partnership with ABC's hit show "Dancing with the Stars” by offering themed online shopping experiences. The first boutique, live at 3 p.m. ET on Monday, March 21, aligns with the premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" and is merchandised for a night of dancing for both men and women.

Harry & David is using social media to bring consumers back to the fun of a childhood Easter egg hunt.

The specialty gourmet gift retailer is hosting a social media giveaway called the “Eggciting Hunt Sweepstakes” through April 15 with hundreds of dollars of gift cards as prizes. Participants register online and then are sent on a hunt for clues to find virtual eggs on Harry & David’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Tanger Outlets is bringing its celebration of spring fashion directly to shoppers.

The Greensboro, North Carolina-based operator of 42 upscale outlet shopping centers with two under construction is releasing its seasonal TangerSTYLE magazine. TangerSTYLE features brands including J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Cole Haan. The magazine is available free at Tanger Outlets locations, as well as online and via the Tanger Outlets mobile app.

Storytelling is an intrinsic part of our daily lives. Movies, books, music, news, religion and art are all imbued with the stories we tell each other–and the stories we tell ourselves.

Even the spaces and places that we work, shop, eat and play are “speaking” to us – and through us – defining our dreams and desires, informing our values, and even shaping the contours of our hidden prejudices and deepest fears.

Retailers who sell Calvin Klein brand apparel are watching sales closely to see how the fashion brand is impacted by a new deal with pop star Justin Bieber that changes how brands engage with celebrities to drive sales.

Bieber has embarked on a world tour for the first time in four years to support his new best-selling album "Purpose" – and help sell Calvin Klein products. That’s good news for retailers because Bieber has lots of fans and the Calvin Klein brand will be deeply woven into live performances and integrated into social media efforts.

Online deal provider Groupon is offering it merchants new digital tools designed to ease the creation and management of marketing campaigns across Web, mobile and tablet devices.

The updates are being provided under the Groupon Merchant brand, a new tablet app that allows users to track and manage their Groupon campaign and more self-service deal options. The goal is to deliver the ability to customize the structure and appearance of Groupon promotions.

Specific new digital Groupon offerings include:

Earlier this month, DSW announced plans to acquire Ebuys Inc. an off-price footwear and accessories e-tailer. This news follows last month’s reports that Hudson’s Bay (the owner of Saks Fifth Avenue and other department store chains) was acquiring Gilt Group.