Marketing Tactics

Pittsburgh - American Eagle Outfitters and Aerie are launching the "Ultimate Road Trip" sweepstakes in stores nationwide and online from March 7 through March 18. Entrants have the opportunity to win a grand prize of a restored Volkswagen Westfalia valued at approximately $25,000 and $10,000 in cash to create their own ultimate road trip experience.

Bealls Inc., the 100-year-old Florida-based department store retailer, is developing a specialty store concept, called Bunulu, which will debut by the end of 2015.

Los Angeles - Factory workers of American Apparel established a coalition of workers to advocate for their rights before new corporate management. Hundreds of workers met on Feb. 28 to organize themselves into the "Coalition of American Apparel Factory Workers United to Save American Apparel."

Small business customers are the lifeblood of Sam’s Club and to ensure the continued vitality of the crucial shopper segment the retailer is supporting an entrepreneurial youth organization.

Sam’s donated $250,000 to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) and the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) to grow and support YEA!’s national educational program that works to transform middle and high school students into confident entrepreneurs.

Walmart Vice President of U.S. Manufacturing Cindi Marsiglio is scheduled to provide an update on the retailer’s $250 billion domestic sourcing commitment at an event later this month.

Marsiglio is scheduled to speak at 7 a.m., March 19, at an event sponsored by Doing Business in Bentonville at the John Q Hammons Center in Rogers, Ark. The organization, known as DBB locally, regularly holds events at which top Walmart executives share updates and insights on key initiatives and working effectively with the company.

San Francisco -- Sephora on Thursday officially unveiled its San Francisco-located Innovation Lab, which will focus on the development of new strategies and technologies for both in-store and mobile shopping. In conjunction with the debut of the Lab, the beauty retailer announced the rollout of four new digital programs:

New York -- Dolce & Gabbana will open a flagship store in the 15,000-sq.-ft. 155 Mercer Street building in the SoHo area of New York City.

Thor Equities leased the entire building to the Italian luxury fashion house, which plans to re-create the original brownstone façade.

Originally built in 1855 as Firemen’s Hall, the historical property was most recently home to dance performance venue the Joyce Theater. The four-level building includes 50 ft. of frontage on Mercer Street.
 

Washington, D.C. -- Consumers are opening up their pocketbooks for St. Patrick’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation’s St. Patrick’s Day Spending Survey.

The survey, conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, finds that nearly 127 million Americans are planning to celebrate the traditional Irish holiday and will spend an average of $36.52 on green garb, festive food and more, compared to $35.78 last year.