Marketing Tactics

Jordan’s Furniture believes in giving people a reason to visit its stores — a reason that extends beyond merchandise. And its newest location is no exception to the rule.

The 192,500-sq.-ft. space combines retail with entertainment, and devotes 20,000 sq. ft. to such attractions as an elaborate indoor rope course, a water show with light and sound effects, a pizzeria and ice cream counter.

Plymouth Meeting, Pa. -- Metro Commercial Real Estate announced it has negotiated 13 new store openings for Dollar Tree in Pennsylvania.

Dollar Tree a value-driven variety store operating at a one-dollar price point, with stores where Middle America lives and shops and incorporates the philosophy of bright stores, big signs, and a clean environment.

A drop in same-store sales led Bed Bath & Beyond to report a 21% decline in profit for the third quarter.

The retailer said same store sales in the third quarter ended Nov. 28 decreased by approximately 0.4%, compared with an increase of approximately 1.7% in last year's fiscal third quarter. Same-store sales from digital channels grew in excess of 25%.

Bed Bath & Beyond reported a profit of $177.8 million, or $1.09 a share, compared with $225.4 million, or $1.23 a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 0.3% to $2.95 billion.

Kmart is launching a new social media campaign called “Fit in the Fun” that promotes the enjoyment of healthy activities while also engaging members of its Shop Your Way loyalty program.

The program includes a dedicated Fit in the Fun website as well as a #FitintheFun hashtag campaign. In addition, celebrity fitness instructor Jillian Michaels (who has an established relationship with Kmart) offers online tips and also sells branded merchandise on the new site.

Overall retailers had a good 2015 holiday from a digital commerce standpoint, but some patterns changed.

According to the Verizon Retail Index, days that previously had unusual spikes in e-commerce activity, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday, now show more normal levels of online traffic and purchase activity. Part of this shift is attributed to the widespread availability of high-speed online connections from consumer mobile devices.

Leading department store operator Hudson’s Bay Company confirmed months of speculation and agreed to pay what appears to be a modest sum to acquire online luxury retailer Gilt Groupe.

Hudson’s Bay, which operates 470 department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue and the Off 5th discount format, said it agreed to pay $250 million for Gilt in a deal that will add $500 million to 2016, $40 million in adjusted operating profit by 2017 and countless synergies to leverage the combined companies’ infrastructure and customer databases.

I remember something a retailer once said to me more than 25 years ago, long before digital mattered. It’s still true today: If the product’s not right, nothing matters. If the product is right, everything matters. That everything now includes staying ahead of the consumer digitally. We’ve gone from a generation that saw technology as a skill to one that doesn’t see it at all — it’s so natural it’s become instinct. This shopper lives in a world where digital doesn’t just define shopping habits — it defines the way shoppers live.

Simon turned to the Internet for its latest development. The shopping center owner creates centers that offer destination shopping and a place for socialization, and now it’s redefining the way the company connects with its millions of shoppers on a daily basis. Simon SAID is a lifestyle-focused digital platform that delivers editorial content on fashion, beauty, design, culture and food. The platform taps influencers, bloggers and retail partners to create original content, which features products from numerous brands sold at Simon centers.