Marketing Tactics

Appliance, electronics and furniture retailer Hhgregg is getting a makeover. The brand transformation will encompass all customer touchpoints, including its 228 store locations and online presence. The first phase of hhgregg’s brand transformation launches this week.

Skechers was not always a brand one associates with running, but times are changing. The brand’s performance division has signed long-distance runner Kara Goucher to its Performance Elite Team.

The multi-year agreement names Skechers Performance Division as Goucher’s official footwear sponsor and will feature the world-class female runner in global marketing and advertising campaigns.

New York -- Consumers have “no regrets” when it comes to dropping national food, beverage and household brand names from their shopping lists. In fact, nine-in-10 shoppers stick to store brands. Those are among the findings of a new survey Deloitte.

According to Deloitte’s American Pantry Study, 88% respondents say they have found several store brands that are just as good as national brands and that allow them to feel as though they are saving money without giving up anything.
 

Coca-Cola is enhancing its Coca-Cola Freestyle app. Beginning this month, an enhanced “Create Your Own Mix” feature will allow users to choose from more than 100 drink options to create a customized beverage that they can then pour from dispensers at participating outlets by connecting their smartphones to them.

The app is free for Android and iOS devices.

Frito-Lay North America has announced the winners of its "Create to Celebrate" Black History Month art contest, which invited consumers to submit an original piece of art celebrating African American achievement in Black History.

To celebrate, Frito-Lay will donate $20,000 to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). The donation, which will help support the future educational needs of artists and students across the nation, was driven by thousands of consumer votes.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- On Wednesday, nearly 54 years after its founding in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Domino's Pizza will open the doors to its 11,000th store, in Brantford, Ontario.

"Domino's international growth continues to expand, and I think it is special that we reached this milestone in Canada, the country where the international growth started,” said Mike Schlater, Domino's Pizza of Canada master franchisee. “I am proud to continue serving this community by bringing the 11,000th store to Brantford."
 

San Francisco -- Intel Corp. said it has hired senior Staples executive Steven Fund to oversee its global marketing, effective June 2. He will be responsible for marketing strategy, communications, social media and advertising duties.

"As our industry and our business is changing, we need to change the way we develop, build, and market our products, and Steve is going to be a key asset for us as we move forward," CEO Brian Krzanich said in a statement on Monday.

Technology is no longer the sole province of “IT geeks,” or even marketers and finance executives — it is also now a focal point of such operational departments as store planning, energy management, construction management and real estate.

In recognition of the huge impact technology is having on store operations, SPECS 2014 held a series of hands-on tech boot camps, with the first one devoted to design, development and facilities, the second to operational technology, and the third to social media trends and tools.