Marketing Tactics

UPS still loves logistics, but a new marketing campaign from the company puts a finer point on the range of problem-solving abilities alluded to when UPS first asked, “What can Brown do for you?”

United Problem Solvers, the new brand positioning from UPS, is designed to communicate the company’s unique capabilities to solve problems for all customers, ranging from small businesses to the largest global enterprises.

Australian specialty tea retailer T2 has made its U.S. debut, opening a store in the heart of Manhattan's Soho neighborhood. The shop stocks over 200 teas from around the globe along with an extensive assortment of teapots, cups, sifters and other related items.

St. Paul, Minn. -- Gander Mountain will open a 52,000-sq.-ft. store in Kaleen, Texas, and a 45,600-sq.-ft. store in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on March 12, giving it 156 stores nationwide.

The Tulsa location marks Gander Mountain's entry into Oklahoma. The Killeen store continues Gander’s major expansion into the Texas market, and will be its 20th store in the state.

Kansas City, Kan. -- Coach will permanently extend its temporary stay at Kansas City’s signature designer outlet shopping destination, Legends Outlets Kansas City. The permanent location, which will nearly double the existing pop-up footprint, is slated to open fall 2015.

Pittsburgh – Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. knows who it wants to be – a successful omnichannel brand. The retailer is rolling out a new omnichannel campaign, "Who Will You Be?", which will debut March 6 on TV and digital platforms during ESPN's College Basketball Championship Week.

Seattle – If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Amazon.com is reportedly heeding that old saw with plans to open a store on the Tmall site of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Holding Group.

Columbus, Ohio – Higher gross margin helped Big Lots Inc. increase net income 12% to $94.43 million.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 from $84.35 million in the same quarter a year earlier. Net sales climbed 1% to $1.59 billion from $1.57 billion, with same-store sales improving 2.9%.

Smart retailing, deep services and creative marketing lure shoppers to top malls

The retail industry is ever-changing, with shoppers now looking to malls as a place of both business and socialization. A constant evolution of attractions is needed to entice them to visit a center and then keep them coming back on a consistent basis.

Savvy mall owners are challenged to practice smart retailing and deliver creative, on-trend marketing tactics when leasing, marketing and operating shopping centers.

T2 STEPS ONTO THE GLOBAL STAGE

Australian specialty retailer T2 is looking to tap into the growing global market for premium teas — and it’s doing so with a style all its own. The company’s first international store, in London’s hip Shoreditch neighborhood, took top honors as the Store of the Year in the Retail Design Institute’s 2014 International Design Competition.

Big Lots Inc. did what it was supposed to do in the fourth quarter -- and more, as the discount retailer reported a better-than-expected 3% increase in same store sales.

The company also announced a new omnichannel initiative that it expects to put in place by the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Big Lots has dabbled in online selling in the past, but had discontinued those operations after not getting the strategy down quite right. Now the company says it is looking to fully embrace omnichannel retailing in-store and on its website with a new initiative launching this year.