Social Media

By Michael Zea, president and CEO, U.S., Aimia
 
Amid weaker-than-expected August retail sales, leading retailers are kick-starting their holiday shopping season by wooing existing shoppers through their customer loyalty programs. Retailers are increasing their investment in the traditional transaction-based loyalty efforts because of the proven success of rewarding customers for their purchases.
 

ChapStick has selected Alex Morgan, Olympic gold medalist and member of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, as its latest brand ambassador. Morgan will serve as the first brand spokesperson in more than a decade and will appear in national television and print advertising, set to debut Nov. 4.

The product focus for the start of Morgan’s two-year partnership is ChapStick Hydration Lock. 

Hot Pockets is promoting its revamped sandwich line with the help of supermodel Kate Upton and rapper Snoop Dogg. The pair has teamed up in a parody music video called “You Got What I Eat” — a remix of Biz Markie’s 1989 hit single “Just a Friend (You Got What I Need).”

The music video highlights the brand’s re-launch of its Hot Pockets sandwiches which feature 100% Angus Beef and Hickory Ham, real cheese and buttery seasoned crusts.

The National Retail Federation has retained New York-based digital agency Rain to create digital shorts that launched last week on NRF’s industry campaign site, “This is Retail.”

Interview Day — a series of short, humorous videos — targets recent grads and young adults who are worn out competing for jobs in a challenging economy.

Folgers is leveraging social media for its latest ad campaign, called “The Best Part.” The interactive strategy encourages users of the brand to read and share positive news through social news feeds.

Most retailers now have some sort of social presence, but too often it consists of having an account on popular social media networks and little more. Following are five examples of recent retail social media offerings that leverage social media’s unique ability to engage consumers, improve operations and boost profits.

American Eagle – ‘Rock Your Walk’

A new marketing campaign from Fruit of the Loom called “Start Happy,” includes an innovative LinkedIn component that rewards those who start a new job with free underwear.

The LinkeIn component is called, “Fresh Gigs,” and runs through the month of October and builds on the central premise of the campaign which is that underwear has the ability to influence the entire day, thus the “Start Happy,” tag line.

Denton, Texas — Cencor Realty Services has named Carrie Carter director of marketing for Golden Triangle Mall in Denton, Texas. Carter’s new responsibilities include creating and executing the mall’s marketing, public relations, advertising and social media programs. She will also support the mall’s current renovation through the development of marketing, collateral and presentation materials.