Marketing Tactics

Lawrenceville, Ga. -- Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group said that entertainment destination AirSport Indoor Sports Facility has opened at Discover Mills in Lawrenceville, Ga., near Atlanta.

This 20,000+-sq.-ft. location joins previously opened Black Diamond Skatepark, as well as a number of other retailers coming soon.
 

When the days grow shorter and the air starts to turn chilly, retail companies prepare for their hottest time of year. As they get ready for the holiday season, retailers will do well to keep three additional factors in mind:

u Adjust for the presidential election. Typically, retailers market heavily in October and early November to drive store foot traffic as the holidays begin. Early marketing efforts, however, will not go as far this holiday season.

HERSHEY, Pa. and SAN FRANCISCO — The Hershey Company recently partnered with the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Calif. to provide students with a hands-on package-design opportunity. Students were asked to create a customized heart box design for Hershey's Pot of Gold chocolates to help give the collection a contemporary, fresh look for the 2013 Valentine's Day season.

Retailers looking to add sparkle to this year’s Christmas season may want to take a new look at their gift card programs. Last year, more than half of consumers bought at least one gift card for the holidays, according to a report from First Data Corp., an Atlanta-based e-commerce processor.

Indeed, consumers seem to be taking more of a shine than ever to these types of spending vehicles.

Friday promises to be a big day in Wasilla, Alaska, as the town receives the distinction of being the location of the 5,000th AutoZone store.

A presentation and ribbon cutting ceremony to be held Friday afternoon will be attended by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright along with the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

Los Angeles -- A PriceGrabber back-to-school survey released on Wednesday found that 48% of consumers believe retailers are offering better back-to-school shopping promotions this year.

According to the survey, 88% of consumers chose 'sales' as the top retailer promotion that will entice them to make a back-to-school purchase this year. Forty-nine percent of shoppers cited coupons; 44% noted that "free items with purchase" would persuade them to buy; and 34% selected sales available online only.

All eyes are on J.C. Penney Co. as it rolls out the first wave of its branded shops to nearly 700 stores nationwide. 

LOS ANGELES — Nearly half of consumers polled in the latest PriceGrabber survey respondents said that retailers are serving up better back-to-school promotions this year, compared with 2011.