Marketing Tactics

An assortment of cashiers, 13 hidden cameras, and a whole lot of holiday spirit led to an epic surprise at a grocery store in Germany this month.

Edeka, Germany's largest supermarket chain, decided to surprise its shoppers with a seasonal treat.

In an attempt to liven up the otherwise boring chore of grocery shopping, these cashiers opted to delight their patient shoppers with a choreographed orchestra that beeped the holiday classic, "Jingle Bells."

Watch here and enjoy!

New York – Online fashion rental company Rent the Runway has partnered with innovation agency Redscout to help create the brand's new positioning, voice, logo and visual identity. Redscout helped Rent the Runway combine the two main focuses of the business, technology and fashion, into one synergistic and thoughtful vision across its online, mobile and brick-and-mortar platforms.  

Ottawa, Canada – The U.S. retail tradition of ‘Cyber Week’ is spreading north. New data based on parcel volumes compiled by Canadian mail service Canada Post show that e-commerce shipments as a result of Cyber Week this year have doubled since 2012.  

Atlanta – Pizza chain Mellow Mushroom is partnering with beer brand Stella Artois to provide rewards to consumers who post photos on Twitter and Instagram, with a little help from their friends. By posting “usies” (“selfies” with a friend) using the hashtag #MellowStellaContest, Mellow Mushroom followers are entered in a contest featuring a getaway and other prizes.  

Mountain View, Calif. – Google Inc. is reportedly studying the effect color has on consumer purchase decisions, among other issues. According to Reuters, the company has found a clear link between color and employee satisfaction with their workspaces, and is still in the early stages of research.  

Canton, Mass. – Dunkin’ Donuts opened six new restaurants and remodeled one location with existing franchise partners during the last several weeks in  the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market. Currently, there are more than 150 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants located throughout the area.    In total, there are more than Dunkin’ Donuts 150 restaurants in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market.

San Francisco – In the last several years, restaurant revenue declined 22 to 45% during the post-Thanksgiving holiday period. According to a study across quick-serve, fast casual, and fine dining chains by customer engagement solutions provider Thanx Media Inc., the average restaurant experienced a 27% revenue decline in December, as compared to that year's monthly average.   

Austin, Texas - More than half (56%) of Christmas shoppers surveyed typically have gifts left to purchase by the time "Panic Saturday,” the last Saturday to shop for holiday gifts before Christmas (also referred to as "Super Saturday"), rolls around. According to a new consumer survey from digital offers site RetailMeNot, nearly one in 5 (18%) Christmas shoppers surveyed admit that they've actually waited until the Saturday before Christmas to begin shopping for presents.  

Toronto, Canada - Today’s consumers increasingly shop online with home delivery, eliminating a valuable trip to the store where they can be enticed to make additional purchases. However, a LoyaltyOne survey of 1,000 American consumers indicates a discount on the online purchase for picking up in store (as has been experimented with by Target and Best Buy) will encourage a majority of customers to select that option.  

Porch.com CEO Matt Ehrlichman has been named the USA Today Entrepreneur of the Year for 2014.

Key criteria of the award included exhibiting significant growth this year and solving a consumer problem.

Ehrlichman won the honor after a team of USA Today editors sorted through 10 finalists.