Marketing Tactics

The way in which retailers market to consumers has undergone considerable change in recent years, particularly in light of the popularity of social media platforms. Indeed, social media has become essential to retailers’ marketing efforts, according to a recent BDO USA survey, which found that 86% of retail CMOs included social media in their holiday 2012 marketing plans.

At the back of the new Ollie’s Bargain Outlet in Reading, Pa., is a self-serve café setup with a sign that proclaims: “The Pot’s Always On. Have a free cup of coffee on us, and if you like, use two sugars … it’s been a pretty good year!”

From the sounds of things, there hasn’t been a bad year since the first Ollie’s opened in Mechanicsburg, Pa., in 1982.

By Chris Donnelly, managing director, Accenture Retail

Ahead of the holidays, 56% of U.S. consumers told us that they expected to ‘showroom’ as they bought gifts this year — underlining the threat of online pure play retailers to the success, and even existence, of traditional retailers. However, traditional retailers can compete and even win this battle.

Generally speaking, I’m not big on trend forecasts. Maybe it’s because there are so many of them, particularly at this time of the year. They all seem to blend together into a mass of predictions and statistics.

Online sales are expected to reach record levels this holiday season, but traffic to Walmart.com was down in November compared to the same period the prior year.

Walmart on Friday wrapped up its 12 Days of Giving campaign with a $70,000 donation of warm clothing to 14 non-profits groups.

One of the organizations selected to receive a donation, the Assistance League of Yuma, serves its community by using proceeds from their thrift store to provide clothing, shoes, hats and more to children in need.　Operation School Bell allows the organization to bring groups of students from rural schools twice a year to get clothing.

ISELIN, N.J. — Domino Sugar has donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross for relief and rebuilding efforts in the Northeast following Hurricane Sandy.

The Woodlands, Texas -- Conn’s announced the opening of three Conn’s HomePlus stores in El Paso and Fort Worth, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona.

The new Conn’s HomePlus store format showcases furniture and mattresses in addition to the leading brands and the latest technologies in consumer electronics and home appliances.

CANTON, Mass. and STAMFORD, Conn. — Nestle Waters North America has signed a five-year contract making it the exclusive water supplier for Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins restaurants nationwide.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens has made additional donations totaling $100,000 to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

The company, which includes Duane Reade in New York and New Jersey, is making two $50,000 contributions, one to the Empire State Relief Fund announced by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and the other to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund established by Gov. Chris Christie.