Social Media

San Bruno, Calif. – WalmartLabs, the division of Wal-Mart’s e-commerce operation dedicated to developing new technology, has purchased Luvocracy, an online community that helps consumers find products recommended by family members, friends and online influencers. Founded three years ago, Luvocracy was one of the first companies to enable the entire social shopping experience, from discovery to commerce, to occur within its app.

Canton, Mass. -- Dunkin' Donuts is partnering with Discovery Channel to create an omnichannel marketing promotion for Discovery Channel’s upcoming “Shark Week” programming event the week of Aug. 10. To kick-off the partnership, beginning July 29 customers can "Take a Bite, Take a Pic."

Knoxville, Tenn. -- Regal Cinemas is partnering with Coca Cola to launch a promotion called "Tweet-a-Coke.” The promotion gives customers the chance to share a Coke via Twitter.

Moviegoers can buy and Tweet a friend a Coca-Cola at participating Regal Cinemas across the country. They can connect a credit card to their Twitter account, then tweet a friend using @TweetACoke, the word "enjoy" and their friend's Twitter handle.

The @WalmartLabs unit of the retailer’s Global eCommerce division has done another deal in Silicon Valley, acquiring the social shopping site Luvocracy.

Cleveland -- Shopping ranks as a favorite activity among nearly half of all teens and young adults aged 13 to 24. According to a new survey of more than 1,000 teens and young adults ranging from ages 13 to 24 conducted by Alexander Babbage in partnership with Forest City Enterprises Inc., shopping at malls ranked above a virtual shopping experience among the entire group, with the 13-to-17-year-old age group showing the strongest preference for a bricks-and-mortar shopping experience.  

Grand Rapids. Mich. – Meijer is reportedly focusing on making its apparel, footwear and accessories assortment more appealing to fashion-conscious customers. According to the Detroit News, Meijer is taking steps including redesigning its stores, hiring outside consultants and launching a multimedia marketing campaign to improve the appeal of apparel and related categories.

So the news is out that Facebook is testing a new “buy” button designed to help businesses drive sales in News Feed and on Pages. This feature will let consumers click the “Buy” button on ads and page posts to purchase a product directly from a business, without leaving Facebook.

In the lead-up to the 2014 Budweiser Made in America Festival, the beer company has launched a web series to find an act to add to the festival’s lineup in Los Angeles.  
 
The MADE Underground series — produced by Vice’s music arm, Noisey —follows a Brooklyn band, X Ambassadors, and London street musician, Jamie N. Commons, as they look in cities like St. Louis, Seattle, Rio de Janeiro and Athens.

Dallas -- Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurant, Inc. has launched its first multimedia brand advertising campaign with the new company tagline, “We Speak Barbecue.” The new campaign uses both music and visuals and includes multiple 30-second national television spots, radio advertisements and a digital campaign.

Pop singer Cody Simpson has become the latest artist to join the American Rag “All Access” campaign, which kicks off July 28 and continues through November. American Rag, available only at Macy’s, launched the program in February, and features exclusive music, videos, online sweepstakes and in-store appearances from some of today’s “rising stars.”