Marketing Tactics

All laundry detergent’s most recent ad campaign, called “Summer Play,” encourages consumers to turn their mobile devices into a movie-making machine, thanks to Magisto’s cloud-based smart technology.

Walmart’s opponents employed a new tactic this week by launching a repository of negativity under the auspices of The Center for Media and Democracy.

Tampa, Fla. -- Burger 21, founded by the owners of The Melting Pot Restaurants, has executed its first franchise agreement in Michigan, under which a debut restaurant in Ann Arbor will open summer 2015.

Additionally, the company signed two franchise agreements for single units in Ocala, Florida, and Raleigh, North Carolina. The new deals are part of the fast-casual concept's growth strategy to expand its presence in new and existing markets nationwide.

To date, Burger 21 has 13 open locations and 25 franchised restaurants in development.

New York – Although Macy’s Inc. reported a 4% increase in net income to $292 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, from $281 million in the same period a year earlier, the company still missed Wall Street expectations. Leftover merchandise from a sluggish first quarter helped keep Macy’s profit growth down.

Mississauga, Canada -- Target Canada is launching several initiatives to improve business performance and better deliver the Target brand experience to Canadian customers. Among the initiatives are a partnership with interior designer and TV host Sarah Richardson, who will launch an exclusive home décor line at Target Canada in fall 2015.

Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Nine-in-10 retailers report selling on online marketplaces, and 64% use digital marketing. Results of a survey of more than 200 U.S. and U.K. online retailers from e-commerce provider Channel Advisor also indicated the following:

New York – XO Group Inc., parent company of online maternity and wedding retailers such as TheBump.com and TheKnot.com, has named Dhanusha Sivajee as executive VP marketing, responsible for overseeing the brand, consumer marketing, partnerships and communications. Sivajee joined XO Group from AOL, where she served as chief marketing officer for the AOL Brand Group and drove audience growth across AOL's portfolio of digital brands.

Columbus, Ohio – Big Lots Inc. is expanding its food selections in all of its 1,491 stores across the country. The department will feature more brand name products, improved product arrangement and well-designed signage to make shopping easier.

With heavy investment in its Paint Studio and a corresponding media blitz to promote it, wholesale sales at Ace Hardware Corp. jumped double digits in the second quarter.

Macy’s tempered its full year sales forecast after solid second quarter results and growing optimism around omnichannel initiatives weren’t enough to offset a slow start to the year.

Macy’s said sales increased 3.3% to $6.267 billion and same store sales increased 4% during the second quarter ended August 2. Excluding sales in departments licensed to third parties same store sales increase 3.4%. Profits increased to $292 million, or 80 cents a share, from $281 million, or 72 cents a share.