Social Media

TAMPA, Fla. — Sam's Club has signed a deal with Triad Retail Media to provide pet care information on its website, Triad said Wednesday.

Redwood Shores, Calif. -- A “Live Help” feature, detailed information about products and services and access to personal account information are the three most important features consumers expect to find at a company’s website, according to an annual survey by Oracle. The company surveyed more than 3,000 consumers worldwide regarding their use of customer service channels including call centers, live chat, click-to-call and email.

Houston -- Francesca's Holdings Corp. fired its CFO Gene Morphis after an internal investigation found that he had “improperly” communicated company information through social media. The company said it began an investigation after discovering his activity on May 11.

NEW YORK — Gap has launched a new global marketing campaign focused on its new t-shirt collection. The line will include three categories—The Now Tees, The Essential Tees, and The G Tees— as well as other t-shirt-inspired styles including dresses, skirts, tanks and rompers.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears has launched Team Up to Stop Bullying, an anti-bullying initiative designed to bring solutions quickly and effectively to bullying victims, families, educators and communities.

Chicago -- Forty-two percent of Americans are using social media to shop – this equates to nearly 95 million consumers – and that number continues to rise, according to a study by Leo Burnett/Arc Worldwide. When asked how often social media is used to shop today versus a year ago, almost 73% of people confirmed they are using it more.

New York -- Dressbarn, a subsidiary of Ascena Retail Group Inc., has launched a social and interactive campaign, called Share Your (MOM)ent, for Mother's Day. The campaign's integrated web and mobile site was designed and developed by Manhattan-based agency Conversation.

The campaign encourages consumers to upload a photo, video or written memory of anyone who has ever given them a warm and fuzzy mom-like feeling, and to share it with others via social networks and a customizable e-card.

In recent years, specialty retailer GameStop Corp. has been among the fastest-growing global chains, opening 388 new stores in 2009, more than 350 in 2010 and 285 new locations last year. For its current fiscal year, GameStop is ramping down organic growth, anticipating the opening of some 150 stores, in deference to building on its dominant presence in the multichannel PC digital download market.

Armonk, N.Y. -- A report released Tuesday by IBM found that the U.S. online retail sector grew more than 6% in March 2012. This upswing in March closes a quarter in which online sales were down slightly from the same period in 2011.

New York -- Wrapp, a new online gift service from Sweden, has launched in the United States, partnering with such retailers as Gap, H&M and Sephora to let consumers send free virtual gift cards to friends on Facebook.