Social Media

Cranberry Township, Pa. -- Teen retailer rue21 announced the opening of its flagship, which is located less than one mile from its corporate office. The 8,000-sq.-ft. store includes apparel and accessories for both girls and guys as well as the chain’s newest and fastest-growing division, rue+ plus sizes. The merchandise mix also features fragrance, beauty and room decor.

Ann Arbor, Mich. – Pizza retailer Domino’s, which recently shortened its name from “Domino’s Pizza,” is reportedly turning to social media to promote the name change and also locate out-of-date signs. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Domino’s is encouraging consumers to upload photos of signs with the old Domino’s Pizza logo and name to Instagram using the hashtags #LogoInformants and #Sweeps.

Mountain View, Calif. – Google is reportedly testing the inclusion of live chat with businesses linked directly within search results. According to TechCrunch, a search results card will show consumers whether a business they have search for is available for chat, and then immediately launch a Google Hangouts chat if help is in fact available.

San Mateo, Calif. – Almost half (48%) of consumers say they purchase more from retailers that leverage shopper interests and buying behavior to personalize the customer experience across all channels.

Tokyo - Shiseido Co. Ltd., a global cosmetics manufacturer, will empower its nearly 10,000 beauty consultants in Japan with IBM mobile apps designed to provide new customer services, customer-centric product improvements and social innovations.

Charleston, S.C. - The Running Buddy, a vertical retailer of specialty lifestyle products, have introduced a Brand Ambassador program. Running Buddy Brand Ambassadors are invited and encouraged to share their thoughts and collaborate with other ambassadors in a variety of ways including: social media outreach and engagement, sharing audio or video clips, outreach to potential Running Buddy retailers, writing informative blog posts or articles, sharing photos from marathons and other activities, and more.

Michaels is trying to drive digital engagement with customers by giving away the springtime trip of a lifetime. 

The retailer will be offering up a free trip for two to Paris for those who create art and upload it to Michaels' website or social media venues.

Nuremberg, Germany – Some observers have suggested the practice of consumers using their mobile devices to check prices at rival retailers while in a store, is on the wane. However, a survey of mobile phone users in 23 countries (including the U.S.) from GfK found 40% compare prices at other retailers while in a store.

Forty percent also contact a friend or family member for advice, while 36% take pictures of products that they might buy.

Phoenix – PetSmart Inc. launched an omnichannel campaign around the joys and struggles of “pethood” – or pet parenthood, with a TV commercial during the Feb. 22 Academy Awards telecast. The campaign will include short films and ads shown on TV and online, and include print, digital and social media components.

Almost 2-in-5 U.S. consumers who are walking the retail aisles with smartphone in hand are comparing prices, according to a GfK survey.