Pinterest

By Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin

Editor’s note: Launched in March 2010, Pinterest now ranks as the third most-visited social-networking site in the United States, according to a recent report by Experian Marketing Services. Pinterest, which lets its users “pin” photos and information onto virtual boards, ranks behind only Facebook and Twitter in terms of total visitors, according to the report. It also skews heavily female — about 60% of users are women.

San Francisco -- Sephora on Monday unveiled its social and mobile makeover, which includes a new personalized web experience, new mobile website, iPhone app and iOS devices in over 100 stores.

By Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin, [email protected]

Retailers are flocking to the visually enticing Pinterest site to engage with consumers. But the site can also be a powerful driver to engage employees.

Why is Pinterest suddenly such a big deal? For one thing, it’s exploding with growth. In September of last year, they had less than 2 million users. Now, it has 20 million users or more.

Retailers are now well familiar with social media as a means of engaging consumers, but may be less familiar with using this means of interactive dialogue to engage employees. And, yes, even those employees out on the sales floor. Why is employee engagement so important? Because profits are important.

Los Angeles -- Guess Inc. has grabbed onto the Pinterest social media tool to launch a new contest for its customer base.

The “Color Me Inspired” contest, for which Guess collaborated with four style bloggers, invites the Pinterest community to showcase how color inspires them for a chance to win a pair of color-coated denim from the Guess spring collection.

The one-week Pinterest campaign kicked off on March 8.