Marketing Tactics

Minneapolis - The number of digitally distributed coupons for CPG brands on key websites received nourishment from food shoppers in the first half of 2015.

Overall CPG digital coupon distribution increased by 17%, according to analysis conducted by Kantar Media.

The increase was attributable primarily to food areas. Within food, the dry grocery area, which is historically the largest area in digitally distributed coupons, accounted for much of the growth.

New York -- Technology-related spending by chief marketing officers (CMOs) is on the rise.

According to a study from Foundation Capital, technology spend by CMOs will increase 10 fold in 10 years, growing from $12 billion to $120 billion.
 

New York – In a first, West Elm, a Williams-Sonoma subsidiary, will make its products available outside of the brand’s own stores and website.

The Williams-Sonoma subsidiary said it has entered into a partnership with U.K. department store retailer John Lewis to open an in-store shop in the newly renovated John Lewis flagship on Oxford Street in London. The shop will open on Sept. 3, following the launch of a branded West Elm shop online at Johnlewis.com.

New York -- Target is leaning on its product design and development team as its works to return to the days when shoppers flocked to "Tar-zhay" for fabulous design and inventive product, according to a report in Ad Age.
 
For a look inside the retailer's design lab, read the full story here.

New York -- Global mobile commerce is set to explode, according to Coupofy.com, a Seattle-based database of online coupon codes.  
The company predicts global mobile commerce will grow 42% annually between 2013 and 2016, compared to 13% for regular e-commerce. Mobile shoppers will spend an estimated $600 billion in 2018, up from $200 billion in 2014.

See more here.

New York -- Roosevelt Field Mall in Garden City, New York, has nabbed yet another online jewelry company looking to test brick-and-mortar.

Altoona, Pa. -- Family-owned convenience store chain Sheetz is partnering with First Bankcard to offer its first private label credit card, the Sheetz Personal Credit Card.

First Bankcard is a division of First National Bank of Omaha and a leading issuer of credit cards.

The card is designed to be used exclusively at Sheetz stores and offers customers’ automatic savings at the chain’s fuel pumps, as well the ability to earn points on every qualifying purchase in its stores.

Express Inc. says improved marketing and merchandising measures led to strong profit and revenue performance in the second quarter.

Net income totaled $21 million, compared to $6.9 million, boosted by gross profit resulting from cost of sales growth that was significantly behind the rate of net sales growth.

Net sales increased 11% to $535.58 million from $481.42 million. Same-store sales rose 7% and e-commerce sales grew 21%.

As it awaits regulatory approval of its acquisition of Office Depot, Staples Inc. is focused on making its stores appealing to students with tech items on their back-to-school lists.

The retailer is offering exclusive student savings with a valid college student I.D. or verifiable .edu email address for online orders.

Meijer is recognizing the need to fund hunger programs in the communities it serves with a new promotion.