Sales & Marketing

Soaring customer expectations are creating an increasingly challenging environment for brands seeking engagement.   That’s according to the 22nd annual Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, which recognizes the brands that receive the highest loyalty and engagement assessments and surpass competitors for "delighting" customers.  

With the deadline for the deal set to expire Friday, Jan. 27, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Stefano Pessina told shareholders attending the Walgreens Boots Alliance annual meeting Thursday morning that the board of directors for both Walgreens and Rite Aid were in "active" discussions toward getting the deal approved even as the Federal Trade Commission continues to deliberate over the proposed retail pharmacy merger.  

Gavin Walsh has joined Trademark Property Co. as a senior leasing representative focused on mixed-use properties in Texas. They include Waterside in Fort Worth, Watters Creek in Allen, and Hillside Village in Cedar Hill.   Walsh arrives at the Fort Worth-based developer from The Shopping Center Group in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he handled a portfolio exceeding three million sq. ft. He also worked as a broker for Katz & Associates in the state.  

Washington Prime Group has announced a $33 million renovation plan of Pearlridge Center in Aiea, Hawaii, near Pearl Harbor. The 1.2 million-sq.-ft. property is the largest retail center in the state, consisting of Uptown and Downtown complexes joined by a monorail.  

American consumers are ready to celebrate the Super Bowl, but they don’t plan on spending as much as they did last year.      Consumers will spend an average of $75 for a total of $14.1 billion as an estimated 188.5 million watch the Atlanta Falcons face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI on February 5, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual Super Bowl Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.  

The omnichannel evolution has begun — and more retailers are adopting the business strategy to better meet shoppers’ needs.   That’s according to “Retail Insight: Moving Beyond Omnichannel,” a report from SPS Commerce and conducted by Retail Systems Research. The study, which is based on responses from more than 500 retailers, suppliers and logistics firms worldwide, said that more than 35% of retailers are on track with their omnichannel execution, up nearly 200% year-over-year.  

At Home has appointed veteran marketer Ashley Sheetz as chief marketing officer.   Sheetz was formerly chief marketing officer and group VP at Sally Beauty, where she led a turn-around strategy to reposition and modernize the brand. Prior to that, Sheetz held a variety of marketing leadership roles at GameStop before being appointed chief marketing officer in 2012.  

Retailers executives are bullish on 2017.   That’s according to a survey from TD Bank, which polled 173 retail executives at the National Retail Federation’s annual Big Show in New York City. Seventy-four percent of the retailers said they believe sales will increase in the next 12 months. What’s more, 81% of the retailers reported that they met or exceeded their revenue goals in 2016.   In other key findings: