Marketing Tactics

By Mark Ledbetter, [email protected]

There's a season for everything, and that's no less true for retailers. Merchants have historically enjoyed a central position in the retail universe, driving everything from pricing to availability. How quickly things have changed. Today, try telling a 19-year-old that she can't get a discount on the slightly frayed jeans she found on the discount rack. She'll buy a similar pair online and Tweet about it so fast, it will make your head spin!

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores reported a net sales increase of 17.7% to $2.89 billion for its second quarter. Net income per diluted share for the quarter increased 5.2% to $1.21.

NEW YORK — Macy's has launched a new contest to find America's best griller. Customers can enter the "Macy's Great American Grilling Guru" contest via Facebook.com/macys from April 9 through April 27. Six finalists will be pitted against each other in a "Sizzle Showdown" on June 8 in Atlanta. One winner will earn the coveted title of America's Greatest Grilling Guru and receive the grand prize: $10,000 and a trip to Macy's 4th of July Fireworks in New York City. 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings has launched a new business unit that will focus on the development of entertainment-driven fashion and lifestyle brands. The unit, called Shop Your Way brands, will be lead by Bernt Ullmann and his team from Star Branding, whose partners include Tommy Hilfiger, Andy Hilfiger, and Joe Lamastra.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shopko announced that Michael Cooper has joined the company as SVP marketing. In this role, Cooper will lead Shopko's branding strategy and marketing initiatives. He will report to Jill Soltau, president and chief merchandising officer.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Grocers Association has named Keri Askew Bailey as SVP government relations and public policy, effective immediately.

In this newly created position, Bailey will assume responsibility for creating and managing an aggressive public policy program through the development and facilitation of coalitions with CGA membership, ally associations, chambers of commerce, and other interested parties.

Wallingford, Conn. -- Edible Arrangements has set its sights on the Pacific Northwest for an aggressive expansion campaign designed to open as many as 30 new locations in the near future.
 
Edible Arrangements already has 10 locations in Oregon and Washington and sees significant opportunity for growth, which will be accomplished through franchising. Most of the growth will be focused in the Seattle, Tacoma and Portland areas and the company is currently seeking franchisees with the resources to open multiple locations.
 

DALLAS — AT&T has partnered with mobile engagement solutions provider, Scanbuy to help businesses launch more engaging QR code campaigns. 

Working with Scanbuy, a global provider of mobile engagement solutions, the enhanced features include the ability to:

• Execute creative campaigns with codes that can help trigger actions such as link to a video, prompt a phone call, or generate an email.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Women are taking fashion into their own hands, according to a new study from T.J.Maxx and Dr. Hazel Clark, research chair of fashion at Parsons The New School for Design.

SEATTLE — Online shoe retailer, OnlineShoes.com, announced that four in-vogue fashion bloggers will each design a pair of customized 993 Running Shoes by New Balance, and readers will vote on who did it best.  At the end of voting, the winning design will go into production and be sold by OnlineShoes.com as limited-edition footwear. Voters can also enter for a chance to win a pair of custom New Balance running shoes. The contest runs from Tuesday, April 9 through Friday, April 19, 2013.