Social Media

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  — Catalogs.com has launched Dynalog, a new dynamic digital catalog solution that enables retailers to create interactive e-catalogs that are optimized for Web and mobile devices. The solution does not use PDFs or shrink down existing catalogs into digital format, but allows retailers to develop, customize and launch customized digital catalogs within 30 minutes.

Canton, Mass. — Dunkin’ Donuts is launching a Valentine’s Day marketing campaign that includes the Zoosk dating site as well as Twitter. On Feb. 13 and 14, people who register at Zoosk will have the chance to win a $5 Dunkin’ Donuts mGift.

Grand Rapids, Mich. – Meijer is launching a major initiative to upgrade its fashion offerings. The omnichannel initiative includes regional advertising in national fashion magazines, the distribution of a spring Look Book, and the use of social media, including Instagram, as well as a new website, meijerstyle.com.

Meijer’s style team is led by Lynn Hempe, the retailer's group VP of softlines, and includes her buying team and input from fashion advisor, Mariana Keros,

Indianapolis – Hhgregg has promoted Kevin Lyons to senior VP e-commerce. Lyons joined Hhgregg in May 2013 as VP e-commerce, and has since led the e-commerce team’s creation of an online development and promotional strategy.

Kevin Lyons to senior VP e-commerce. Lyons joined Hhgregg in May 2013 as VP e-commerce, and has since lead the e-commerce team’s creation of an ambitious online development and promotional strategy.

Meijer has upgraded its fashion offering to challenge national retailers in the apparel and accessories space.

The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer touts itself as a pioneer of the one-stop shopping concept, but it said in a release that it is best known for its produce and meat departments. The company, therefore, has taken steps to upgrade its fashion offerings, not only by stocking a variety of on-trend merchandise, but also creating a dedicated fashion website and launching a social media initiative to promote their upgraded apparel and accessories category.

Chicago -- Retail CFOs are feeling more confident about the state of the consumer, forecast a 5.1% increase in total sales and a 4.8% increase in same-store sales this year, according to a new BDO USA survey. The finding marks a significant increase from the number expressing similar sentiments last year.

In the study,  a majority (63%) of CFOs indicate that they include online sales in their comparable sales projections, suggesting that some of this expected growth and optimism may be linked to the exploding popularity of e-commerce.

Charlotte, N.C. - Belk has partnered with HelloWorld, Inc. (formerly ePrize) to create a campaign that allows consumers to submit a photo and brief description of a couple's love story for a chance to win a $20,000 event, like a wedding, and a private concert with singer Edwin McCain.

It’s no secret that today’s teens and twenty-somethings have grown up on social media and see it as an extension of their everyday lives. But retailers who think they can just display a bunch of wares on a social media page and attract Millennial shoppers are sadly mistaken. A panel of five exceptionally bright and well-spoken Millennial consumers ages 16-21 (all offspring of prominent retail IT figures) at the recent Retail ROI “Super Saturday” event in New York gave some frank insight into how Millennials view social media.