Social Media

Walnut Creek, Calif. – Retailers are taking an increasingly omni-channel approach to their mobile strategies, looking to combine mobile with existing channels rather than treat it as a separate entity. According to a new study from RSR Research, “Mobile in Retail: Reality Sets In,” 49% of retail respondents said the purpose of their mobile strategy is to drive traffic to the store in 2014, compared to 33% in 2013.

Columbus, Ohio – DSW Shoe is opening a new store in West Hartford, Conn., on Thursday, Feb. 27. Customers will have access to the DSW Rewards loyalty program in which they can earn certificates toward future DSW purchases and receive special member-only offers.

Customers can also participate in a Shoe Lover community on Facebook to receive exclusive offers and giveaways, including chances to win free shoes on Facebook each Tuesday.

San Francisco – PBTeen, a Williams-Sonoma banner aimed at young consumers, has launched a design blog aimed specifically at teens. The vision of the blog, known as The Stylehouse, is to give tweens and teens a place to find design inspiration and fuel their budding imaginations for home décor.

Content will be created by PBteen editors, brand ambassadors and curated blogger partnerships. The blog will focus on four primary channels of decorating, celebrating, dorm, and behind the scenes.

Procter & Gamble's Orgullosa program — a platform created in 2011 to celebrate, empower and fuel Latinas’ accomplishments and dreams — unveiled its Nueva Latina campaign. The campaign is a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to empower women to define what it means to be a bicultural, modern Latina.

Hispanic consumers are outpacing non-Hispanics in their adoption of mobile, social and online sources for local shopping, according to BIA/Kelsey's Consumer Commerce Monitor study released this week. 

Chantilly, Va. -- Hispanic consumers are outpacing non-Hispanics in their adoption of mobile, social and online sources for local shopping. According to BIA/Kelsey's Consumer Commerce Monitor study, nearly a quarter (23.6%) of Hispanic consumers reported they use tablets for local shopping, compared with 15.5% of non-Hispanics. And nearly half (48.5%) of Hispanic consumers use mobile devices for local shopping, compared with 32% of non-Hispanics.

New York – An overwhelming majority (79%) of shoppers say they shop at their favorite retailers/brands because they trust the brand, according to a survey of 15,000 online shoppers by the PwC US Retail & Consumer practice.  In other survey findings, 37% of U.S. shoppers do not use their smartphone for shopping because of security concerns, and 61% noted deals and promotions as the reason for following a brand’s social media site.

Single Touch Systems, a technology-based mobile media solutions provider, has named Adam Meshekow as head of national retail sales.

Meshekow will be responsible for the company's direct sales and marketing efforts and will work with management to help architect plans for future client engagement and product development and deployment.

Jewel joined for the debut of the Swiffer Sweep and Trap, which features soft rotating beater blades that are designed to scoop up large particles into a removable dirt bin for quick disposal.

The singer-songwriter led the debut — which took place in New York at the kid-oriented venue Make Meaning — with a live performance of the new "Clean-Up Song." Her acoustic performance is available for free download on the Swiffer Facebook page at Facebook.com/Swiffer.    

Facebook has reached an agreement to acquire WhatsApp, a cross-platform mobile messaging company, for a total of approximately $16 billion, including $4 billion in cash and approximately $12 billion worth of Facebook shares. The agreement also provides for an additional $3 billion in restricted stock units to be granted to WhatsApp’s founders and employees that will vest during four years subsequent to closing.