Marketing Tactics

By Raymond Florio, [email protected]

Andrea Freeman has joined lease-to-own retailer Aaron’s as VP of marketing.

Shoppers looking for apparel inspired by the summer sophistication of the Hamptons will want to head to the Banana Republic this spring.

The Banana Republic division of Gap has teamed up with designer Michelle Smith to introduce a 60 piece collection of her signature Milly brand that includes women’s apparel and Smith’s first foray into the menswear category. Beginning in May, the products will be available in an unidentified number of Banana Republic’s 600 stores and online. The products will be featured in June promotional materials.

By Mike Wehrs

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The Sembler Co. announced Monday that, in celebration of the firm’s 50th anniversary, it has launched a new website, Sembler.com.

This is the second major revision to the website since the initial launch in 2002. With technology and social media changes, the new site enables better interaction among The Sembler Co., its clients, vendors, and associates.

NEW YORK — Same store sales at Bed Bath & Beyond could be in for a nice bump if a pricy new hair removal product becomes popular with shoppers.

Kansas City-based advertising agency Barkley was hired by Big Lots to help the closeout retailer with a broad range of marketing and brand strategy initiatives.

Barkley will provide Big Lots with full-service advertising and marketing duties including brand strategy, and broadcast, print and in-store executions. Barkley will also partner with Big Lots on web strategy and execution.

Reston, Va. -- A report released Friday by comScore showed that holiday online spending grew 14% year-over-year to $42.3 billion, as individual shopping days reached record spending levels.

Total results, however, fell slightly short of early-season predictions, as softer-than-expected buying occurred during the early to mid weeks of the period.