Marketing Tactics

San Francisco – Strong same-store sales growth at Old Navy helped drive a 1% increase in net sales at Gap Inc. to $1.53 billion in March 2015, compared with net sales of $1.51 billion for the same month the previous year.

Gap Inc.’s overall same-store sales were up 2%. The company said that the earlier timing of the Easter holiday peak shopping weeks in 2015 benefited March sales results and will likely negatively impact its April sales results.

The National Retail Federation is investing millions of dollars into research for the retail industry by creating a new center.

NRF plans to form a new department called the Retail Research and Analysis Center to bring together all existing research within NRF and expand upon the wide range of issue areas and trends already studied. The center will focus on four main areas: the economy, legislative and regulatory policy, the retail industry and consumers.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is rewriting the rules on stuffed animals with a new line of toys that are linked to a mobile app.

The retailer’s new Promise Pets feature a free mobile app that families can download to bring the experience of pet care to life, teaching children about animal care through an interactive play experience. Breeds in the collection include the Golden Retriever, Beagle, Yorkshire Terrier and Persian Kitten. Build-A-Bear plans to introduce more breeds throughout the year.

Millennials are not loyal to fashion brands, according to a new study. In fact, 45% of those surveyed by LIM College say nothing can be done to retain them.

This is according to the results of a new survey, "Shopping Trends Among 18-25 Year-Olds," conducted by LIM College Professors Robert Conrad and Kenneth M. Kambara, Ph.D.

American Eagle is leveraging the star power of Brad Pitt to launch an innovative denim recycling program that will put needy people in affordable homes.

Customers can bring their old denim into any of American Eagle Outfitters’ 823 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada and receive a 20% discount on a new pair of jeans. Any collected unwearable denim will be shredded and recycled into UltraTouch Denim Insulation and other building materials for use in Make It Right’s affordable homes around the country.

New York - Millennials are not loyal to fashion brands. In fact, a new study from LIM College shows that 45% of those surveyed say nothing can be done to retain them.

The study, “Shopping Trends among 18-25-Year-Olds,” surveyed 275 LIM College students from March 2-9, 2015. Respondents were asked to evaluate the applicability of statements regarding why they may have abandoned what had been their brand of choice in 2013. The top responses were:

1. Availability of desirable new alternatives (64%).

Fort Worth, Texas – Pier 1 Imports Inc. on Thursday reported a declining profit for its fourth quarter and also announced that it plans to close 100 stores as part of a three-year real estate optimization plan.

Pier 1 reported net income of $33.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, down 22% from $42.6 million the same quarter a year earlier.  Expenses related to the retirement of the company’s former CFO, as well as increased selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, contributed to the decrease in profit.

Atlanta - Purchases in brick-and-mortar stores still accounted for more than 94% of all retail sales in the U.S. last year, totaling $4.4 trillion. But according to the new “Reality of Retail” report from retail marketing firm InReality, consumers are shifting their in-store shopping habits.

Petco is leveraging the combined power of video and celebrities with its latest promotion, "Think Adoption First."