Marketing Tactics

Tech Guest Viewpoint – Surviving the Holiday Season, Week by Week
By Christopher Lester, Emma If you’re like me, you might still be in denial over the date on the calendar. But it’s true: The holidays are well upon us. Yes, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. But let’s be honest: It’s also one of the most stressful times of the year, and the busiest to boot.
Ann Inc. profit, sales hit by weak traffic; inventory surges at Ann Taylor
New York – Ann Inc. beat Wall Street expectations for the third quarter with net income of $29.9 million, down 27% from $41.2 million the same quarter a year earlier. Pre-tax and after-tax charges associated with the closure of the Madison Avenue Ann Taylor store helped drive down net income.

Macy’s Black Friday deals include giveaways via its mobile app

NEW YORK - Macy’s is enhancing its Black Friday promotions by giving away a million dollars in prizes in stores nationwide during doorbuster hours. Beginning at 6 p.m. local time on Thanksgiving Day, customers will have a chance to win big, scoring digital gift codes that can be used instantly for Black Friday purchases.
Paster Enterprises rebrands to Paster Properties

St. Paul, Minnesota - Shopping center developer and manager Paster Enterprises has rebranded to Paster Properties, and has debuted a new look and website.
Ann sales hit by weak traffic, labor strike

Ann Inc. President and CEO Kay Krill cited a number of factors that caused the company to report its first decline in same-store sales in 10 quarters.
Norred gains new CPG and retail responsibilities

CROSSMARK veteran Jim Norred was named president of the sales and marketing services company’s Marketing Solutions Group.

Norred most recently served as EVP of corporate development with responsibility for client services, business development, insights and corporate marketing. Prior to that, he served as the company’s CIO. He also has served as president of G2, an integrated marketing joint venture that ultimately was acquired by WPP in 2008.
Top 10 holiday spending myths revealed

With consumer surveys and holiday forecasts a dime dozen this time of year, Customer Growth Partners CEO Craig Johnson offers his take on some of the biggest fallacies regarding retail spending.

Customer Growth Partners, a consulting and research firm focused on retail and other consumer industries has determined that the top 10 biggest holiday myths of 2014 are:
Citizen Watch flagship combined digital elements with sustainable design

LYNDHURST, N.J. - Citizen Watch Company of America opened its first-ever global flagship, in Times Square, New York City. The 1,300-sq.-ft. foot store is designed to appeal to amateur and serious watch enthusiasts alike, with interactive and hands-on displays and exclusive offerings, Multiple 360- degree cases allow for shopping from either side of the case and provide easy movement throughout the store.
CIT: Middle-market retail execs cautiously optimistic about holidays

NEW YORK - Senior middle-market retail executives are cautiously optimistic about the upcoming holiday season. Fifty-five percent of executives anticipate their total holiday sales will increase by 6% or more in 2014, as compared to only a third last year, according to an annual study conducted by CIT Group.
Report: Retailers to watch this holiday season

Worthington, Ohio - Amazon and Nordstrom shoppers plan to increase their holiday spending the most compared to other shoppers, according to a survey by Prosper Insights & Analytics. The report, “Holiday 2014: Retailers to Watch,” finds that while overall holiday spending plans are up this holiday season, shoppers will still be looking for sales and big discounts and spending only what they have to, making waves for retailers to navigate this year.
Survey: Shoppers will find best Black Friday discounts at J.C. Penney

New York - J.C. Penney, Macy’s, Rite Aid, Meijer and Sears rank as the best retailers for Black Friday deals, according to a survey by personal finance social network WalletHub. The survey shows that Penney has the highest overall discount rate at 65%, while Big Lots, at 24%, and Costco, at 21%, have the lowest. WalletHub surveyed 5,525 deals from the 2014 Black Friday ad scans of 21 of the biggest U.S. retailers. Here is a quick summary of some of the key findings.
Study: Mass retailers more popular than e-tailers for holiday

Denver – An estimated 28% of consumers plan to do most of their holiday shopping at mass retailers, compared to 26% who will frequent online retailers. According to an ongoing shopper behavior study conducted by The Integer Group and M/A/R/C Research, free shipping continues to be the most popular offer for holiday shoppers, with 58% of shoppers reporting they expect to take advantage of it this holiday season.