Marketing Tactics

New York – Following a bitterly cold and stormy January that left many retailers with disappointing monthly sales figures, February’s sales results were generally s bit more encouraging. Chain store sales posted a gain of 2.7% for the fiscal month of February on a year-over-year basis, according to a tally of comparable-store sales compiled by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Secaucus, N.J. -- The Children’s Place Retail Stores Thursday reported lower profit for the fourth-quarter amid intense promotions and severe storms. The retailer also said it is renaming the company.

Net earnings in the fourth quarter, ended Feb.1, fell 18% to $15.7 million, from $19.1 million in the year-ago period, which had an extra week.

Net sales in the quarter totaled $467.5 million, down from $509.2 million in the year-ago period. Same-store sales declined 4.3%.

Columbus, Ohio – DSW Inc. is opening two new stores on March 14. The stores will be located in Schererville, Ind., and Birmingham, Ala.

Customers will be eligible to participate in DSW Rewards, a free loyalty program in which customers earn certificates toward future DSW purchases and receive special member-only offers. Customers can also participate in the Shoe Lover community on Facebook to receive exclusive offers and giveaways.

Duluth, Ga. - NCR has released the NCR Silver subscription-based iPad POS solution aimed at helping small businesses create, run and manage reward programs. Loyalty complements the existing automated email and social marketing functionality in NCR Silver, making it even easier for cafés, shops, restaurants, boutiques, food trucks, and any small business to reward customers for repeat purchases.

New York — Edens has announced the winner of the 2014 Edens Retail Challenge, a nation-wide student competition seeking compelling new retail concepts.

This year’s winner is Joe Cut, a mobile hair salon that brings the haircut directly to the business college student through a mobile store and reservation app. Babson College undergraduates Michael Kliska, Paulina Bosque, Adriana Contreras and Nina Shapiro founded the business, which will primarily service male customers on campuses in the U.S.

Canton, Mass. — Dunkin’ Donuts has signed a multi-unit store development agreement with Sizzling Donuts, an existing franchise group, for 46 new restaurants throughout the greater Sacramento, Calif., metro area and the surrounding cities of Stockton, Modesto, Tracy, Manteca, Placerville and Davis.

Oscar Mayer is giving bacon lovers a reason to wake up early. The brand has unveiled the first-ever iOS device that wakes people up with the smell of bacon. The device, called Wake Up & Smell the Bacon, syncs with the Oscar Mayer Wake Up & Smell the Bacon iPhone app to emit the scent and sound of sizzling bacon when the rooster crows.

Snack manufacturer Mondelez International has entered into a global strategic partnership with Facebook, as the company continues to shift more media spending to digital, especially social and mobile, across the entire consumer journey.

An estimated 3,000 suppliers and Walmart’s top executives are scheduled to participate in the retailers Product Sustainability Expo to be held from April 29 through May 1.

Promotional materials for the event, to be held at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers, Ark., describe it as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate amazing advances in sustainability and to discover emerging opportunities and innovations that represent a new standard in retail.

Just as the winter months draw to a close, SC Johnson's Glade brand announced a line of new spring-inspired scents, which it says will evoke the excitement of the change of seasons.

The Glade Limited Edition Spring Collection consists of five new fragrances: