Marketing Tactics

Two retailers ‘making’ moves with the White House
Etsy and the West Elm division of Williams-Sonoma continue to fuel the maker movement with new initiatives that were launched to coincide with a Presidential Proclamation establishing the National Week of Making.

In conjunction with an event at the White House and a proclamation by President Barack Obama, online retailer Etsy said it planned to expand its Craft Entrepreneurship program to 30 cities by July 2016 from the current 19 cities.
Whole Foods: New store concept to be called ‘365 by Whole Foods Market’

Austin, Texas — Whole Foods Market unveiled the name of its new banner of smaller, value-focused and millenial-targeted stores: “365 by Whole Foods Market.”

U.S. Internet Q1 ad revenue hits $13.3 billion

New York — Internet ad revenues hit a record-breaking $13.3 billion in the United States in the first quarter of 2015, up 16% over the year-ago period, according to the latest IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report figures released today by the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PwC US.
Five tips for retailers to personalize interaction with customers

By Joe Dalton As technologies advance, social channels proliferate, and consumers become more plugged into digital marketing, personalization and contextualization is becoming the key to connecting with customers. While consumers build their online identities simply by using their devices for everything from browsing to averting traffic, they leave trails of their preferences, behavior, and values that retailers can draw upon to appeal to the interests of each individual customer.
Michaels, Gymboree team up on Instagram promotion

Irving, Texas – The Michaels Companies Inc. is teaming up with The Gymboree Corp, on a summer Instagram promotion. Customers who share on Instagram how their family is crafting in style using the hashtag #CraftingInStyleSweeps and follow both Michales and Gymboree on Instagram will be entered to win a $100 gift card to both retailers.

Three winners will be chosen at random each week.
Survey: Half of credit card holders don’t care about rewards

New York — If credit card issuers stopped offering rewards, a slight majority of American credit cardholders wouldn’t change their spending habits. According to a new Bankrate.com survey, 51% of U.S. credit card holders say they would keep using the card the same way they did previously. Another 26% would use the card less often and 19% would stop using it entirely.
Men’s Wearhouse to open 300 tuxedo shops in Macy’s

Fremont, Calif. — Men's Wearhouse on Thursday announced it had signed a 10-year agreement with Macy's to operate men's tuxedo rental shops inside 300 Macy’s locations. The shops are expected to be located in or near the men’s department.

Men's Wearhouse will begin operating 17 pilot tuxedo shops in fall 2015, and expects the remaining shops to be open by fall 2016. Macy's and Men's Wearhouse will also collaborate to develop a digital tuxedo rental shop on macys.com.
Twitter offers ‘app category’ targeted ads for advertisers

New York -- Twitter announced on Wednesday that its advertisers can use the data the social giant has been collecting on which apps its users download for targeted ads.
Cabela’s continues Canadian expansion

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s Inc. will open a 50,000-sq.-ft. store in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Upon opening, it will become the first Cabela’s location in Nova Scotia and second in Atlantic Canada, joining the Moncton, New Brunswick store opened in May.

The retailer expects construction on the store to begin in 2016, and anticipates a 2017 opening. It will be located in the Dartmouth Crossing development near the intersection of Lakeview Drive and Wright Avenue. North American Development is the developer.
Volta electric car charger network includes Macy’s, Whole Foods

San Francisco -- Volta Industries is launching a network of more than 100 free electric car charging stations across five cities. Participating retailers include Macy’s and Whole Foods.

Volta first began in Honolulu by offering free electric car charging services underwritten by local brands. Since then, Volta has deployed initial charging infrastructure in high-volume, retail locations in five major cities, including the San Francisco Bay area, the Los Angeles metropolitan area, San Diego, Phoenix, and Honolulu.
Dick's opening new stores in Va., S.C., and Fla.

Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. is opening four new stores this month as the company moves forward with its plan to open as many as 750 stores by 2017.

The company will distribute free Reebok Play Dry T-Shirts to the first 100 people in queue on the opening day. Also, the early birds will get an opportunity to open the DICK'S Sporting Goods Gift Locker on all three days. Moreover, on Saturday and Sunday, the company plans to give away free Mystery Gift Cards worth $5–$500 to the first 100 adults in line.
Kohl's, Disney win big at LIMA awards

Kohl's and Disney's "Frozen" were among the winners at the LIMA International Licensing Awards.

In a ceremony held this week at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Kohl's Department Stores received the Retailer of the Year award for its in-store presentation of Frozen.

In addition, Jakks Pacific tied with Playmate Toys' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles product line for the win in the Film, Television or Entertainment (Animated) Licensee: Hard Goods category for its Disney Frozen Snow Glow Elsa doll.