Social Media

SPARKS, Md. — McCormick is appealing to football fans who enjoy tailgating, and identified the Top 10 Tastiest Tailgate cities in the U.S. to promote its Grill Mates seasoning.

In a joint venture with Bert Sperling, a leading "Best Places" researcher, McCormick Grill Mates analyzed 31 cities in the U.S. with professional football teams to identify the Top 10 in the country.

The rapid spread of a presumably false rumor about Jack Nicholson retiring from acting last week got me thinking about what a true Hollywood icon he has become and how he took a very unique path to greatness. Retailers aspiring to greatness in their social efforts may want to “be like Jack” in the way they apply social media technology.

Know your own strengths

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie is stepping into the digital arena for its latest advertising campaign with a social media contest to find who will get to be featured in an “I’m Beef People” advertising circular or outdoor billboard. 

The “I’m Beef People” local campaign also supports Winn-Dixie’s recent introduction of WD Brand Choice Angus Beef to all Winn-Dixie stores.

Milford, Conn. – Subway is entering a cross-platform advertising partnership with NBCUniversal for its new interactive game show “Million Second Quiz.” In addition to providing gift cards to contestants during the course of the show, Subway will offer photo opportunities and social media engagements.

Other aspects of the joint campaign will include messaging on Facebook and Twitter, a prize of a year’s worth of foot-long subs via an NBC radio promotion, and a Subway presence in the live stream both online and in the MSQ App.

Bud Light Platinum and Justin Timberlake are launching "Platinum Nights," a digital-to-real-world scavenger hunt that will challenge social media-savvy fans to unlock a series of weekly clues for a chance to win Platinum flyaway experiences during Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience World Tour.

Throughout the next 13 weeks, Timberlake, Bud Light Platinum's creative director, will release a weekly clue via his Facebook page to lead fans to online and real-life Platinum experiences where they can unlock additional clues.  

Mississauga, Ontario – Canadian interactive retailer The Shopping Channel is relaunching as TSC. The relaunch includes an upgraded and redesigned website, as well as a new "ShopTSC" app for iPhone, iPad and mobile website.

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Seventy-seven percent of consumers say shipping costs factor into their willingness to shop online. Results of the CFI Group Retail Satisfaction Barometer for second quarter 2013 also show that the most common consumer activity on retail websites is browsing and researching before in-store purchase (59%).

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Stein Mart is among the first off-price retailers to launch an online store.

"We are excited to announce that we are in the e-commerce business and happy to be able to serve our customers who like to shop online," said Jay Stein, CEO. "As we learn more and grow this business, we anticipate that this channel will rapidly become our largest flagship 'store'."