Marketing Tactics

Amazon.com is famous for launching new services and solutions at a dizzying rate, but the online retail giant is quietly preparing to close one down.

In an announcement posted on the Amazon Local daily deals site, the retailer says it will stop deals on the site and app as of Dec. 18. Amazon Local will continue business as normal until that date. Amazon Local purchase vouchers will remain valid for five years from purchase date as required by law in all 50 states.

Rhone, a maker of high-quality activewear, has made its first foray into the physical space with the launch of a holiday pop-up in New York City's SoHo neighborhood. And while the SoHo shop will only be open through January 15, 2016, it could be a harbinger of things to come.

Jordan’s Furniture, known for its larger-than-life stores that combine retail with all manner of entertainment, is outdoing itself in its next location. The retailer is building a 192,500-sq.-ft. store in New Haven, Connecticut — its first in the state — that will feature a massive indoor rope course, billed as “IT Adventure Ropes Course,” that includes two 60-ft. high ropes courses. Jordan’s is devoting 20,000 sq. ft. to the attraction.

A new e-commerce integration will empower online retailers to sell goods directly through Instagram.

Springbot, an e-commerce marketing platform designed for online stores, has integrated with Instagram to allow the creation of customized shopping pages through a Magento or Shopify merchant’s Instagram profile. Springbot already provides the tracking of revenue attribution for retailers on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

Buoyed by the launch of new menu offerings and increases in store traffic, Starbucks Corp. brewed up another strong quarter, with revenue and profits meeting Wall Street expectations. The coffee giant also continues to set a torrid pace for store expansion.

Starbucks intends to open 1,800 new stores globally during fiscal 2016, with licensing driving a large portion of the growth. This includes 700 stores in the Americas (half licensed), 900 in China/Asia-Pacific (two-thirds licensed), and 200 primarily licensed stores in Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA).

Retailers, are you prepared for the millennial effect?

Born roughly between 1980 and 2000, millennials, are poised to cause a tidal shift in the retail industry because of their spending power and unique characteristics that greatly influence how and what they purchase. According to Advertising Age, millennials will spend more than $200 billion annually starting in 2017 and $10 trillion in their lifetimes.

Target has an aggressive new plan to lure shoppers this holiday season that includes free shipping on all orders and a new international website.

The plan is part of Target CEO Brian Cornell’s efforts to restructure the company and revamp its digital and in-store offerings. Free shipping starts Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 25.

Big screen actors and television personalities made smoking cool for generations of Americans. Now produce marketers and retailers hope a new deal with Hollywood can have the same effect on fruits and vegetables.

Jordan’s Furniture, known for its larger-than-life stores that combine retail with all manner of entertainment, is outdoing itself in its next location. 

The retailer is building a 192,500 sq.-ft. store in New Haven, Connecticut—its first in the state—that will feature a massive indoor roap course, billed as  “IT Adventure Roaps Course,” that includes two 60-feet high ropes courses.  Jordan’s is devoting 20,000 sq. ft. to the attraction.

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