Marketing Tactics

Barneys New York has launched an iPad app that offers consumers improved shopping functionality as well as relevant and exclusive content.

New functions on the app include a Personal Shopping scheduling tool, which Barneys touts as the first of its kind for a luxury retailer. Created in partnership with mobile development and design firm Fueled, the app is now available for complimentary download through the Apple iTunes store.

Mars Chocolate has rolled out the M-Ball, a peanut M&M's-shaped twist on the traditional soccer ball. The vibrant ball started making the rounds in the United States on April 15, and it comes at a time when soccer fandom is reaching an all-time high, the company said.

Leading Midwestern retailer Shopko has reopened its garden centers and has reiterated its commitment to environmental sustainability as the world marks this year’s Earth Day.

Kroger is inviting customers to celebrate Earth Day by looking to the sea — and to the future of seafood — through a video series designed to inform customers about the company's work to source sustainable seafood.

"We know that our customers value our commitment to sourcing sustainable seafood," said Suzanne Lindsay-Walker, Kroger's director of sustainability. "We continue to work with fisheries and our supplier partners to ensure that Kroger's seafood is fresh, delicious and available for future generations."

Mountain View, Calif. – Google is reportedly piloting a service known as In-Store Attribution Transaction Reporting in AdWords that lets retailers compare how their AdWords Internet search campaigns affect in-store sales. According to the Wall Street Journal, the service matches data from anonymous tracking cookies to in-store sales data provided by technology providers including DataLogix, Acxiom, LiveRamp, and Epsilon.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market claimed the honor for best brand on Pinterest at the Shorty (the Shorties) Awards on April 7. The Shorties are an annual awards event that honors the best short-form content creators on Twitter and on other social media sites.

Whole Foods Market joined Pinterest in 2011, and currently has 180,000 followers.

Ann Arbor, Mich. - Domino's Pizza is integrating Google Wallet with its Android ordering app. Domino's customers who have an Android device can now pay for their online orders using Google's digital wallet.

Domino's customers who place an online order of $10 or more using the Android ordering app and pay by selecting the "Buy with Google" button at checkout will receive a free order of Domino's new specialty chicken, now through June 15.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. - Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc. has remodeled a Sears Hometown store in Helena, Mont. The store now has a fresh look.

Los Angeles — Brooke Lauter and Nadene Gallagher, two Southern California marketing executives known for creating successful branding and marketing solutions for corporate and entrepreneurial clients, have joined forces to form Lauter + Gallagher.  

Lynchburg, Va. — Five Below has signed a 7,732-sq.-ft. lease at Wards Crossing West shopping center in Lynchburg, Va. It will be Five Below’s first store in the Lynchburg trade area.

Divaris Real Estate’s Richmond office represented Five Below in the transaction. DRE is the exclusive representative for Five Below in southwest Virginia.