Marketing Tactics

Retail sales stall in July
Consumers cooled their spending in July. Retail sales were flat in July, in line with a revised 0.8% gain in June, according to figures released Friday by the Commerce Department. The report ended three straight months of monthly gains. Sales in July rose 2.3% from a year ago. Excluding automobiles and parts sales, sales fell 0.3% in July — the weakest reading since January, after a 0.9% gain in the prior month.
First Look: Target, Lincoln Park, Chicago
Target Corp. has brought its new flexible-format store model to Chicago’s Lincoln Park North. The 33,000-sq.-ft. store, which features Target’s first Freshii café, has been carefully curated for the neighborhood, and includes home items sized for condos and small space living and artwork that reflects the local culture and community. The creative force behind the bold art installations was hometown artist Cody Hudson and his team at Struggle Inc.

Study: Back-to-school shopping just getting started

Back-to-school promotions seems to start earlier and earlier each year. But most consumers aren’t buying the pitch. That’s one of the findings of a new report by A.T. Kearney in which the majority of consumers surveyed said they planned to do most of their BTS shopping in August and September. (Only 4% of shoppers did any of their shopping as early as July 4.) And in another nod to the "old school" shopper, the study suggests that brick-and-mortar will still make or break back-to-school sales.
Department store offers more flexible, personalized loyalty program

Nordstrom Inc. is enhancing the rewards it offers customers via its loyalty program. The retailer partnered with Aimia Inc., a data-driven marketing and loyalty analytics company, to expand the Nordstrom Rewards loyalty program. The expanded program launched in Nordstrom stores in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, and on Nordstrom.com in May 2016. In the first three months, Nordstrom has enrolled approximately 1.7 million new members.
Weis loyalty shoppers can now earn discounts on future shopping trips

Weis Markets on Thursday announced it has upgraded its Weis Reward Points Program to include the option of a 5% discount when customers use their Weis Preferred Shopper Club card and make a qualifying $100 purchase in a Weis Markets store. The discount can be redeemed on a customer’s future order.
Lifestyle retailer hits the road — in a container

Online and catalog retailer Garnet Hill is taking a curated collection of its aspirationally styled home and apparel goods on the road with a mobile pop-up boutique. The experience, created from a converted shipping container, resembles a natural home environment – except that it's shop-able. The mobile pop-up will launch at Garnet Hill headquarters in Franconia, New Hampshire, moving south through New Hampshire, and completing its summer tour in New York City.
Marine Layer is latest new-to-Kentucky tenant at The Summit

Bayer Properties’ plan for drawing shoppers to its new $156 million mixed-use development in Lexington, Kentucky, could be one that catches on in other rural regions: Recruit retail tenants that are not new to the universe, but new to the state. So when it opens next spring, the retail roster at The Summit at Fritz Farm will include Bonobos, Cos Bar, Shake Shack, J. McLaughlin, Brooks Brothers, and — just signed this week — Marine Layer.
Walmart teams up with personal care brand on new girls campaign

Walmart, along with organizations around the world, has teamed up with personal care brand Always to contribute to the goal of keeping girls in sports with a new campaign. The Always #LikeAGirl – Keep Playing program will partner with UN Women to help girls build and maintain their confidence through sports. In the U.S., Always will support Girls on the Run programs and work with Walmart to help keep girls in sports.
There’s a new story at Story — and even Neiman Marcus is in on the act

Story, the innovative retail store in Manhattan that totally reinvents itself every few months, has gone nostalgic with its latest revamp. Story’s new installation, “Remember When,” offers an immersive retro experience that celebrates Nickelodeon’s memorable characters and iconic shows — “Rugrats” and “Sponge Bob” to name just two — from the ‘90s, just in time for the 25th anniversary of Nickelodeon.
Restoration Hardware puts spotlight on design in new store

Restoration Hardware has few equals — and spares no expense — when it comes to creating luxurious retail destinations. The luxury home furnishings retailer’s newest store, at The Gallery at Town Center Plaza, Leawood, Kansas, represents the latest iteration of its next-generation design galleries. The three-level, 56,000-sq.-ft. store includes an entire floor dedicated to the brand’s new concept, RH Modern, complete with an integrated RH Contemporary Art Gallery.
Teen apparel retailer to unveil new store prototype

It’s no secret that Abercrombie & Fitch has been developing a new prototype. The chain will unveil its new look early next year, at Polaris Fashion Place, in Columbus, Ohio. The store will herald a new direction for the brand with a new aesthetic and updated merchandise selections. It will be situated on the lower level near Madewell. Abercrombie has already introduced a new look for its Hollister store brand.
Sony Square NYC, New York City

A curated selection of Sony entertainment products and technologies — some of which are still in the prototype stage — are on display at the new Sony Square NYC. Located in the company's New York City headquarters on Madison Avenue, the 2,400-sq.-ft. store also will host consumer events, including photography classes, exclusive movie screenings and invitation-only performances by Sony Music artists.