Marketing Tactics

Toys “R” Us says its annual nationwide fundraising campaign to benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation raised more than $5.8 million and collected over 200,000 toys.

During the 2015 campaign, customers helped bring holiday joy to some of the 15.5 million kids in need across the U.S. by donating new, unwrapped toys at Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores nationwide and through monetary contributions made in stores and online at Toysrus.com/ToysforTots.

Big 5 Sporting Goods had a lackluster fourth quarter despite saying that cold weather in its Western markets drove strong traffic during the holidays.

For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 3, the company reported that net sales were $275 million, compared to net sales of $250.3 million for the 13-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Same-store sales increased 0.1%. For the full year, net sales were $1.03 billion, compared to net sales of $977.9 million for the 52-week fiscal 2014 full year. Same store sales increased 1.3% for the fiscal 2015 full year.

Shopping center companies will receive recognition for 2015 development, acquisition and third-party management activities, as Chain Store Age’s 27th annual “Fastest Growing” awards rank the most active shopping center owners, managers and acquirers for projects, contracts and transactions completed during last year.

The top placers will be featured in the May 2016 issue of Chain Store Age, which will be bonus-distributed to the International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual RECon event in Las Vegas.

Chain Store Age has launched our annual search for 10 individuals in retail real estate we call “retail stars.” All will be featured in the May 2016 issue of CSA with bonus distribution at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon event in Las Vegas!

The award recognizes people under the age of 40 who are making an impact in retail real estate – whether from the tenant (retail) or the landlord (shopping center company) side.

Almost every major brand has experimented with SMS marketing services. Some programs have been wildly fruitful while others were abandoned after only a few months. Having seen both small and large retailers implement successful mobile marketing programs, there is little doubt that SMS can drive customer engagement and increase revenue.

Shoptalk is out to break the mold of what constitutes a retail industry event and the clearest indication of that philosophy is a digital brochure that showcases an expanding roster of speakers and the image of a monkey sitting on a toilet. Seriously.
 

Walgreens, along with a host of other retailers, on Tuesday opted into Visa's Visa Checkout to help facilitate an omnichannel shopping experience. Walmart.com also will be incorporating the option into its services within the year, Visa reported.

Carl Nottberg, a veteran retail facilities executive, is battling cancer.

Nottberg, senior VP of business development at USM, is suffering from multiple myeloma, a relatively uncommon form of cancer that attacks the plasma cells in the bone marrow. He has been in and out of treatment while his immune system is attacked, and hospitalized for weeks at a time.

A new study links retailers' success to an omnichannel strategy that includes physical stores.

According to the report, by L2 and titled "Death of Pureplay Retail," online-only retailers are at a disadvantage due to high costs for marketing and shipping, making their business model challenging and ultimately unsustainable in the long-term. The report was sponsored by Simon Property Group.

Photo: Jerry Azarkman, president of Star World