Marketing Tactics

The 2014 holiday shopping season will be characterized by cautious spending, while economic realities create one of two American holiday shoppers — survivalists and selectionists — according to a new report released Tuesday from PricewaterhouseCoopers U.S. and Strategy, titled "2014 Holiday Outlook: Top trends, consumer behaviors and implications for retailers."

With average in-store purchases exceeding online sales by two and three times, popular online-only retailers, including Birchbox, Piperlime, Bonobos and Blank Label are continuing their expansion into physical storefronts, further accelerating the trend of online retail concepts expanding their omnichannel sales strategy to include physical locations.

Newegg has opened a high-tech warehouse and shipping today in Indianapolis. The leading technology e-retailer estimates that the new warehouse will allow 45 million people in the Midwestern U.S. to get their orders faster.

In addition to Indiana, customers in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin and West Virginia will see the greatest benefit, with noticeably shorter delivery times.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. - Kohl’s Department Stores is launching a new omnichannel loyalty program called Yes2You Rewards in stores and online nationwide. The program is designed to offer personalized “incentives and surprises,” as well as points for every in-store and online purchase.

The makers of Jimmy Dean products have launched Sunniest Day of the Year — a one-day campaign advertising the brand’s new lunch and dinner offerings. The Jimmy Dean brand Sun character is traveling across the US and documenting every step of his adventure on social media.

In addition to the robust digital content, the Sunniest Day of the Year also includes a national television advertising integration with a guest appearance by the Sun, the launch of a custom microsite (www.sunniestday.com) to track the cross-country journey and a national consumer sweepstakes.

Walgreens is conducting a developer contest to encourage integration of its Balance Rewards application program interface (API), which allows users of other apps to earn Balance Rewards loyalty program points for making healthy choices. Rewards points can be redeemed for merchandise in-store or online.
 

Dollar General’s new Fast Way to Save program, which runs from now through Nov. 15, uses the retailer’s new DG Digital Coupon platform powered by Coupons.com to offer its customers more than 100 in additional digital coupon savings.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. - Dollar General’s new Fast Way to Save program is now available in stores and online through Nov. 15. The program utilizes Dollar General’s new DG Digital Coupon platform powered by Coupons.com and offers an additional $100 in digital coupon discounts to Dollar General customers.