Marketing Tactics

By Bobby Koscheski, ACI Worldwide

EMV compliance is coming and when it hits, it will change the way payments happen across America. Today, when consumers make non-cash purchases at any number of their favorite merchants in the U.S., they stand in front of payment terminals, swipe their cards and follow the on-screen prompts. EMV will require new payment processes that, while seemingly small to those instituting the change, require a shift in behavior that could feel monumental to consumers.
 

The upcoming release of “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper Lee’s second book has caused widespread excitement, and now Barnes & Noble is looking to tap in to some of that with a special event at its stores.

New York -- Hip online eyewear retailer Warby Parker continues its brick-and-mortar expansion. The company has opened its 12th store to date, in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.  

The 2,200-sq.-ft. store is Warby Parker’s first permanent location in the Midwest. It joins locations in cities across the nation, including such as New York, Miami, Dallas and Los Angeles.

Dick's Sporting Goods is targeting fitness-minded women with an all-new video campaign.

The retailer has begun airing eight 15-second commercial spots and one 60-second spot on sites such as Hulu, ESPN and ESPNW, and on May 15, the commercials will debut on TV. The company says these ads are the first to target women specifically under Dick's Sporting Goods’ broader “Who Will You Be?” campaign, which launched in March.

Hhgregg is partnering with Maytag once again on an omnichannel giveaway that honors everyday American heroes.

The retailer and appliance-maker will honor 10 deserving Americans who have had a profound impact on their community. Each hero will receive a free Maytag appliance and an Hhgregg gift card to thank them for their commitment. Additionally, hhgregg and Maytag brand are giving away appliances every day in May at hhgregg.com.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market on Wednesday announced plans to debut a new store format targeted at millenials. The company said the stores are expected to begin opening next year, and the expansion will be “fairly rapid.” It did not reveal the name of the new banner.

Spring is in full swing, and PetSmart wants its customers to celebrate new beginnings by adopting a new pet.

The retailer will be hosting a national adoption weekend between May 15 and May 17 at all PetSmart stores. More than 3,000 animal welfare organizations will be on-site at all 1,400 PetSmart stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to help customers find the perfect furry companion.

New York -- An early Easter that drew shoppers into stores in March and slowing economic growth helped cut into retailers’ April sales results.

At Costco Wholesale Corp., April same-store sales were flat, slightly below analysts’ estimates, primarily due to the strong U.S. dollar and lower gas prices. Sales at U.S. stores increased 2% for the four weeks ended May 3. Internationally, sales fell 4%.  

Total revenue inched up 2% to $8.75 billion.