Marketing Tactics

Westlake Village, Calif. – Guitar Center is opening a Serato-branded digital music area in its Brooklyn, N.Y., store on Oct. 24. The 2,500-sq.-ft. area provides a space for DJs and producers to demo and buy Serato products.

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods opens a new store in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Nov. 1. The Corpus Christi location will be the retailer's 21st store in the state of Texas and its 549th nationwide.

"We look forward to opening our new Dick’s Sporting Goods in Corpus Christi, becoming part of the community and serving athletes of all ages by providing them the equipment they need to excel." said Lauren Hobart, senior VP and chief marketing officer, Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Los Angeles – Almost seven-in-10 (66%) shoppers feel retailers will offer better prices and discounts this year due to the current state of the economy. The new Winter Holiday Shopping Survey from PriceGrabber also shows that 21% of holiday shoppers said they started saving money before June, while the majority of survey respondents plan to start shopping for the holidays in October and November.

Columbus, Ohio – Big Lots has named Andrew Stein as senior VP, chief customer officer. Prior to Big Lots, Stein was a marketing executive at Kmart, where he served a number of roles leading up to his appointment as chief marketing officer in August 2011. Stein’s appointment is in line with Big Lots’ intent to expand its digital presence.

New York – Tiffany & Co. is relaunching its Tiffany.com e-commerce site. The site includes enhanced zoom capabilities and several expanded sections.

Blue Book, the company’s collection of couture jewels, is showcased with scenes from the Tiffany Workshop where they are created, as well as an expanded engagement section with a gemologist’s video and review of Tiffany’s quality standards.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is enlisting Jonna Mendez, a former CIA officer and mom who will serve as a “Kids’ Gift Detective.” Inspired by her years of CIA experience, Mendez will offer online tips and techniques via a video series at ABullseyeView.com where she works with popular mom bloggers.

In addition, Target will offer a dedicated kids’ gifts page on its website and will launch a digital gift catalog in early November.

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods is opening a new store in Osage Beach, Mo., on Nov. 1. The Osage beach location will be the retailer's 12th store in the state of Missouri and its 551st nationwide.

“We look forward to opening our new Dick's Sporting Goods in Osage Beach, becoming part of the community and serving athletes of all ages by providing them the equipment they need to excel," said Lauren Hobart, senior VP & chief marketing officer, Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Wayne, N.J. -- Toys “R” Us 2013 holiday marketing plans include  a new TV campaign that will feature a group of real-life children from local New York charities who think they’re going on a field trip, but actually are going to a Toys “R” Us store where they are given free rein.

Featured at the end of each TV commercial and throughout many of the company’s print and online marketing vehicles, is the hashtag, #WishinAccomplished.
 

Watters Creek, in Allen, Texas, began life in a 2005 focus group with two-dozen women from Allen.

Organized by the property’s developer Trademark Property Co., the focus group asked participants what they would like to see in this new mixed-use center. What should it offer? What should it look like? What do you need in Allen, Texas?

Guitar Center is preparing to unveil a new Serato-branded digital music area in its Brooklyn store location at an all-day red carpet event open to the public on Oct. 24. The new Serato-branded digital music area will offer DJs and aspiring music producers a place to try out the latest products.

The launch coincides with the expansion of Guitar Center's Music Mentor program, which offers customers free lessons and instruction for top DJ and digital music products, as well as the completion of an extensive renovation to the Brooklyn, N.Y., store on Flatbush Avenue.