Marketing Tactics

Bolingbrook, Ill. -- Ulta Beauty is running strong. On Thursday, the fast-growing beauty products and services retailer posted fourth quarter profit and revenue that topped Wall Street expectations, including an 11.1% jump in same-store sales. It also announced plans for 100 net new stores in fiscal 2015, for a 13% increase in total square footage.

Ulta reported net earnings of $87.3 million for the quarter ended January 31, up 21.6% from $70.7 million in the year-ago period.

Sprouts Farmers Market is hoping Nascar fans will be racing to its stores after the Phoenix-based retailer signed on for a major sponsorship.

The 200-unit retailer of fresh, natural and organic foods will be the primary sponsor of Cole Whitt’s number 35 Ford Fusion when the green flag drops at this weekend’s CampingWorld.com 500 at the Phoenix International Raceway. According to Sprouts, the 23-year-old Whitt is an Arizona native committed to living a healthy lifestyle. Sprouts also operates more than 20 stores in and around Phoenix.

Before Lululemon and many others started selling "athleisure" apparel, Juicy Couture started the trend in the 1990s. Now the brand and retailer plans a comeback. 

The company says it expects to open 133 stores (through its various licensing partners) during the next five years, according to Women's Wear Daily. Juicy will open 31 international locations in eight countries this year, the report said. Three of the countries — India, South Africa and Azerbaijan — will be new market entries for the brand.

New York - Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia is opening its first Martha Stewart Cafe, in the Starrett-Lehigh building, home to Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's corporate headquarters. The cafe will offer handcrafted espresso beverages and teas.

The menu, personally curated by Martha Stewart, will serve hot beverages, cold-brew iced coffee, artisanal loose-leaf teas, and pastries. The cafe is partnering with Kobrick Coffee, a New York City-based and family-owned roaster, and Wei Bertram of Connecticut-based Arogya Tea,

Minneapolis - Retailer participation in freestanding insert (FSI) coupon events and digital coupons distributed on retailer websites benefited from double-digit increases in 2014 compared to 2013. According to data from Marx, a Kantar Media solution, those participation rates were up 11.8% and 16.5%, respectively.

Canada’s leading grocer has developed a novel idea that its supermarket competitors in the U.S. may want to think about using.

Loblaw has introduced Naturally Imperfect-labeled produce. The company describes the new line as the smaller, misshapen produce that still tastes great and is good for you. The produce will now be available at stores in Ontario and Quebec.

Another online company has entered the physical retail space: Google has opened an in-store shop in Currys PC World, on Tottenham Court Road in London.

York, Pa. – An insurance settlement from a store damaged by fire helped The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. increase net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 to $71.7 million, up 17% from net income of $61.3 million in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Sales grew 3%to $942.6 million from $914.9 million. Top-performing merchandise categories included cold weather and active apparel and home. The company continued its trend of double-digit sales growth in e-commerce in the period. Same-store sales rose 4.3%.