Marketing Tactics

SAN DIEGO — Online fresh flowers retailer ProFlowers is launching a ProFlowers-branded store on eBay, extending its online reach.

The new ProFlowers eBay storefront features a broad assortment of fresh flowers, plants and product bundles including vases and chocolates, much like its existing online e-commerce site. Its eBay store also prominently features a “Deal of the Week” specially priced bouquet and vase.

Canton, Mass. -- Destination XL Group on May 5 launched a national advertising campaign designed to draw attention to the many challenges men who wear extra large sizes face when shopping for clothes and position Destination XO stores as the one-stop-shopping solution for the style needs of this underserved consumer.

New York -- Modell’s Sporting Goods will celebrate the grand opening of its store in Arlington, Va., on May 9.
   
The store is located in Pentagon Centre. With its opening, Modell’s will have a total of 154 storefronts.
 
“We are thrilled to have our 18th store in the Virginia-Maryland area,” said Modell’s president and CEO Mitchell Modell. “We look forward to becoming a stronghold in our new community and getting them everything they need for the summer.”
 

Mississauga, Ontario -- Target announced the soft opening dates for 24 locations in Western Canada, with 22 stores opening on May 7 and two  opening on May 14.

The openings, which include stores in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba, follow the opening of 24 stores across Ontario. As previously announced, Target plans to open 124 stores across Canada throughout 2013.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Monday that it has launched a new TV and digital ad campaign designed to demonstrate what the retailer describes as “The Real Walmart.”

The campaign also includes a dedicated website – therealwalmart.com – demonstrating how consumers rely on Walmart to save money, on the company’s career opportunities, and detailing how it creates efficiencies and works directly with manufacturers to help deliver low prices.

By Rana K. Williamson, PhD, Better Merchant Accounts

By Greg Caster, managing director, Accenture Retail

Most incoming CEO’s put together a ‘100-day plan’ as they embark on the new role. In the case of Mr. Ullman, it is his second 100-day plan at J.C. Penney. But the world and company is very different from December 2004 when he wrote his first plan, and this one will be written in the knowledge that he is the interim CEO for a company in crisis.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Unilever’s Dove has announced the launch of a new initiative, “Let’s Make Girls Unstoppable,” as part of its commitment to reach 15 million girls by 2015 with self-esteem programming.

SAN DIEGO — Petco's National Adoption Weekend coincides with Mother's Day, and to honor mom on her special day, the retailer is showcasing moms who have adopted or fostered a pet in need while trying to find homes for pets in shelters.

Petco will hold adoption events nationwide from Saturday, May 11 through Sunday, May 12. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet pets in need of homes, speak with local adoption groups about fostering and learn how to properly care for a new pet's physical, mental, social and emotional needs.

PLANO, Texas — Ruffles potato chips, one of the flagship brand's from PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division, has launched a new Ultimate Tangy Honey Mustard flavor potato chip alongside a comical marketing campaign in television, cinema and digital inspired by 1970s grindhouse-style action movies.