Marketing Tactics

St. Louis -- Build-A-Bear Workshop shrunk its net loss in the third quarter of fiscal 2013 to $1.4 million from $4.3 million in the same quarter a year earlier. The company announced that it expects to close an additional 10 to 25 stores in fiscal 2013 and 2014 and, along with opportunistic store openings, expects to reach a store count of approximately 250 stores in North America.

Consolidated net retail sales were $83.6 million while operating 31 fewer stores compared to $84.3 million in the fiscal 2012 third quarter, a decrease of 0.9%.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Samsung Electronics Canada is opening 90 new format Samsung Experience Shops  in partnership with Best Buy Canada and Future Shop.  
 
The company plans to expand its Canadian retail footprint with the opening of two freestanding Samsung Experience Stores, one in Edmonton, Alberta, and the other Richmond, B.C. All retail locations are scheduled to open by spring 2014.

Queens, N.Y. — The Fresh Meadows neighborhood in Queens is getting an Unleashed by Petco store. The new store will begin its grand opening celebrations Saturday, Nov. 9 and continue the celebrations over two more weekends.

The Fresh Meadows Unleashed buy Petco will host several community gatherings throughout the year. There will be adoption events aiming to unite the area’s shelter pets with forever homes, Pug-a-Palooza, local dog meet-ups, contests and social gatherings.

New York – Grocery discounter Aldi has been ranked the world’s “simplest” brand, with simplicity defined as a clarity of purpose that enables employee innovation and customer service. According to the annual 2013 Global Brand Simplicity Index from strategic marketing firm Siegel & Gale, Amazon.com is ranked second, followed by Google, which came out on top this year. The report is based on a study of 10,000 consumers in seven countries,

New York – Although dads are making inroads, moms still dominate purchase decisions in most U.S, households. According to a September 2013 survey by Child's Play Communications, moms remain the major household purchasing decision maker in about 80% of families.

Other notable findings include:

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is making a big online push for the holidays, including expanding its in-store pick-up program for products ordered online to all of its U.S. stores by Nov. 1 (the service is now available in about half of the chain’s locations). And for the first time, Target will promote the concept of Cyber Week, with an ad campaign Dec. 1 through Dec. 3 that focuses on Cyber Week deals including Cyber Monday.

Colgate-Palmolive announced that during the third quarter, new product launches in the United States contributed to volume growth across categories and market share gains were seen in categories such as manual toothbrushes, powered toothbrushes, mouthwash and body washes.

Despite the challenging economic landscape and a decrease in firearms sales, Cabela’s comparable store sales for the third quarter ended Sept. 28 increased 3.9% — the company’s eighth consecutive quarter of comp store sales increases. Excluding firearms, comparable store sales increased 5.3%.

Arkansas is home to some fine barbeque establishments, but Sam’s Club home state was shut out last week when the top prizes were handed out in the retailer’s third annual National BBQ Tour.

The Walmart Foundation gave $2.5 million to Share Our Strength to help the hunger relief organization educate people about eating healthy on a budget.