Social Media

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreens on Tuesday announced the availability of an exclusive new offering for customers that check in at any Walgreens store nationwide through Foursquare.

The drugstore chain said customers that check in via Foursquare instantly will receive a unique scannable coupon via their smartphone, which is redeemable in the store and does not require texting, reply or other steps.


Coral Gables, Fla. -- A University of Miami study found that the display of a social media icon such as a Facebook “Like” button or a Twitter symbol on a shopping website influences a consumer’s buying decision.

New York City -- Macy’s has unveiled the launch of its new Facebook page. Shifting to Facebook’s new timeline format, Macy’s will now share the history of its brand, as well as the company’s current news and initiatives.

Salt Lake City -- Overstock.com on Tuesday announced the launch of a new consumer information portal: O.info. The website features blogs, reviews and buying guides to provide pre-purchasing information to consumers.

BENSALEM, Pa. — Charming Shoppes is making it easier than ever for women to design and share their favorite looks. On the heels of the successful launch of their new fit and style technology, Fashion Genius, Lane Bryant and its sister brands Catherines, Fashion Bug and Sonsi have further enabled the customer's shopping experience by enabling women to build personalized outfits based on their Fashion Genius fit and style profile, share their outfit creations across their preferred social network and vote for their favorite customer created looks.

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma announced Friday the launch of Cultivate.com, a content site and online resource for kitchen inspiration and design.

The new website provides information about kitchen design and remodeling in one single destination, offering consumers advice from kitchen experts, inspirational photos, recommendations for local kitchen professionals, and unique planning tools.

WASHINGTON — Retailers in 2012 will invest heavily in IT, e-commerce, customer service and mobile platforms in order to build customer engagement, a new report from the National Retail Federation Foundation and KPMG found. The report, titled, Retail Horizons: Benchmarks for 2011, Forecasts for 2012," surveyed 247 retail executives from various sectors, outlines retailers’ top strategic initiatives for 2012 including merchandising, ecommerce, store and field operations, supply chain and human capital, among others.

NEW YORK — Gap Inc. is turning to the blogosphere for its new "Be Bright" global marketing campaign. The company announced that it has partnered with six fashion and lifestyle blogs to promote its spring collection.

Washington, D.C. -- A report released Wednesday by the National Retail Federation and KPMG found that retailers in 2012 will invest heavily in IT, e-commerce, customer service and mobile platforms in order to build customer engagement.

The report, “Retail Horizons: Benchmarks for 2011, Forecasts for 2012," polled 247 retail executives from various sectors regarding their top strategic initiatives for 2012.

New York City -- The Deloitte American Pantry Study, released Tuesday, polled more than 4,000 shoppers and found that, more than ever, consumers are turning to social networks, smartphones, and tablets to meet their shopping needs.

According to the study, 90% of shoppers know what they’re buying before they arrive at a store. Three-quarters say they are smarter shoppers than they were a year ago, and 86% believe they are getting more precise in what they buy.