Sales & Marketing

Beliefs that online shopping has replaced brick-and-mortar shopping are exaggerated, especially when it comes cosmetic and grooming purchases, according to a new The Harris Poll.  

The Kroger Co. has tapped a tech veteran as its next chief digital officer.   The supermarket giant announced that 15-year-veteran Kevin Dougherty, 63, group VP and chief digital officer, will retire on Jan. 27, 2017. He will be succeeded by Yael Cosset, 43, chief commercial officer and chief information officer of 84.51.     

PayPal tapped noted designer Jonathan Adler to personalize gift cards for the payment company’s person-to-person (P2P) payment service. Consumers who opt to use the service to give  money to friends and family, can now choose from six exclusive yet customizable digital holiday and generic gifting cards — a move that personalizes their “gift of money,” and adds a chic touch to an often impersonal gift option.  

While some retailers struggle with mobile’s limited “real estate,” Wayfair sees it as a window of “shopping” opportunity.   The home décor pure play launched View in Room, a new feature within its mobile app that lets shoppers see furniture and décor in their homes before they buy. The new feature places two-dimensional (2-D) product images in any room through the camera of iOS and Android mobile devices.  

Michaels came up short in the third quarter, posting earnings and revenue that missed analysts’ forecasts.   The art and craft retailer reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of 40 cents per diluted share, missing analysts' estimates of 43 cents per share.   Net sales increased 5.0% to $1.227 billion, primarily a result of the acquisition of Lamrite West in February 2016 and sales from 19 additional stores.  

High-tech purchases could account for a major portion of consumer holiday spending this year — and they will be placed by high-tech shoppers.   This prediction was made in a report by UPS, “2016 UPS How to Click with High-Tech Online Shoppers.”     

Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co. is making a move to more data-driven marketing efforts with the hiring of Jency Keeton as director of corporate marketing.   As digital brand manager for global marketing at Fossil, Keeton doubled the retailer’s social media audience and directed its website, email, blogging, and influencer programs. Her digital promotions, contests, and user-generated content programs were deployed in stores and all other customer touch-points.  

Gordmans Stores named Ramin Mozafari as senior VP of planning and allocation.   Mozafari joins Gordmans from Kohl's Department Stores, where he most recently was senior VP, divisional merchandise manager for accessories. Prior to Kohl's, from 2008 to 2012, he served DSW, where he held various merchandising roles including VP, general merchandise manager.