Marketing Tactics

Rue La La, a leading online lifestyle shopping destination, has launched DressingRoom, a series of boutiques that offer members a one-stop shopping experience the features everything from necklaces and vases to linens and dresses.

DressingRoom offers cross-channel inspiration via themed boards and how-to content. The series kicks off this month with "Bright & Bohemian," followed by "Minimalist Whites" and then "Weekend Casual" throughout the month of June.

Virgin Mobile has entered into a partnership with Banana Republic that will offer its Canadian members the newest looks from the brand for less.

Starting today through Dec. 31, Virgin Mobile members will receive 20% off any one full-priced item at Banana Republic stores across the country.

Roundy's saw net sales increase by 1.9% to $1 billion, and reported a net loss of $4.5 million compared with net income of $8.6 million.

Interactions, a leading global integrated sales and marketing programs developer, has appointed David Zierman as director of insights.
 
Based in San Diego, Zierman will lead the company’s market research efforts including managing primary data collected via Mystery Shopping, Customer Intercept Surveys, Web Based Surveys, electronic customer satisfaction surveys (bottom of the receipt surveys) and Retail Audits. He will be responsible for the organization’s P&L as well as business development and operations.
 

Hollister plans to open the Hollister House this summer from Memorial Day weekend through early August. The brand, rooted in Southern California, will feature new summer styles and host music performances at the beach house all summer long.

The lineup of musical artists includes Ariana Grande, Chromeo (DJ set), Cody Simpson, Lucy Hale, MKTO, Timeflies and Zendaya.

New York - Uniqlo announced it will enter two new markets, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, starting this spring. The Japanese apparel giant will open three stores in the Philadelphia market and six stores in the Boston metro area.  In addition, Uniqlo will open a pop-up shop at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston, early this summer.

Uniqlo will enter Pennsylvania with three stores in the greater Philadelphia area:

• King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia (May 16)
• 1608 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia (Oct. 3)

Overland Park, Kan. -- Sprint Wholesale Solutions announced the launch of Sprint Panorama, a service that leverages industry insights to help retailers expand their appeal to customers by incorporating their own branded wireless service into their list of goods and services. With Sprint Panorama, the Sprint Wholesale Solutions sales team assists brands by addressing their wireless objectives enabling them to seize new opportunities, differentiate and grow through mobility.
 

Washington, D.C. -- More than two-thirds of U.S. shoppers will buy gift cards during the spring and summer seasons, according to a just-released survey by the Retail Gift Card Association.

Buying occasions include Mother’s Day, graduation and weddings. Key findings of the RGCA spring and summer gift card study, which polled more than 1,100 American shoppers, include:

Pittsburgh -- GNC Holdings reported that net income for the quarter ended March 31 dipped to $69.9 million, from $72.6 million in the year-ago period.

Retail revenue grew 3.1% to $509.0 million, compared to $493.5 million for first quarter 2013, driven primarily by strength from the e-commerce sector. Consolidated revenue edged up 1.9% to $677.3 million. Same-store sales decreased 0.7%.

GNC’s profit slid in the first quarter, but although the company said that severe weather during January and February affected its financial results, it also pointed to an “unusually significant amount” of negative media as a driving factor for the dip.