Marketing Tactics

Saks Fifth Avenue has opened its first standalone store dedicated exclusively to footwear.  

Two online brands and an iconic American designer top a list of retail brands that command the most loyalty among consumers.   Amazon, Zappos and Ralph Lauren were the top loyalty leaders in the retail segment in the 20th annual  Brand Keys Loyalty Leaders List.  The ranking, which is 100% consumer-driven, examined 72 categories and 635 brands. Rounding out the top five in retail: Sephora and Trader Joe’s.     

Starbucks is bullish about its new café format, Starbucks Reserve, which will target a more sophisticated audience with premium coffees and food offerings.     The company had previously said it planned to open 500 Reserve locations globally, with the format making its debut next year. But it is looking to open as many as 1,000 locations, Bloomberg reported.

Gift cards certainly have not lost their luster among holiday gift givers and recipients — or Albertsons.   Well aware that three in four consumers (73%) planned to give at least one gift card last holiday season, according to the Retail Gift Card Association (RGCA) reported, the grocery chain is ready to attract these shoppers again this year. In effort to grab these customers’ wallet share, Albertsons will add the Five Back Visa gift card to its gift card portfolio.  

Who hasn’t wanted to buy “looks” featured on their favorite television show? Now, it’s a reality.   A new TV talk show series, created through a partnership between Wayfair and A+E Networks, will allow viewers to purchase all featured items on Wayfair.com.   The show, called The Way Home, uses a combination of home décor and DIY how-to’s, room makeovers and everyday solutions for better living — and everything displayed is for sale.  

NYX Professional Makeup is set to launch its first flagship in Manhattan on Friday, Oct. 28.    Located in the heart of Union Square, the new NYX is the company's 20th domestic store and will combine digital technology with a hands-on educational environment.    In keeping with its heritage as a digital brand, NYX stores feature a series of innovative technologies, including an in-store Beauty Bar, an interactive makeup station featuring custom video tutorials.  

The use of cash remains strong among in-store shoppers.   That’s according to a new survey by Cardtronics, in which 89% of consumers report using cash in the past six months to pay for merchandise in a physical store.    Cash was followed by debit cards, used by 74% of consumers in the last six months, and credit cards, used by 66% of consumers. Eighteen percent of consumers reported using store mobile apps to pay for something in the last six months, and 17% used a mobile wallet. 

Nan Richardson, a veteran architecture/design/commercial real estate business development, marketing and public relations professional, has joined brand agency and retail design consultancy CBX as engagement director, branded environments.   In her new position, Richardson will work to connect with prospects, build relationships and develop new business opportunities for CBX in the retail, restaurant, hospitality and commercial real estate industries.  She will be based in Newport Beach, Calif.