Sales & Marketing

New York – Ann Inc. is being urged to explore options, including a sale, by activist investor Engine Capital and Red Alder. The two firms, who collectively own more than 1% of the outstanding shares of Ann Inc., are publicly urging the company to sell at a substantial premium above current stock price.

Emeryville, Calif. -- Jamba Inc., operators of Jamba Juice stores, reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate its move to an asset-light model with the announcement that the company has entered into an agreement with Capgemini, a leader provider of consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. The agreement provides enhanced administrative tools, technology services, and capabilities for Jamba, and is anticipated to create workflow efficiencies while reducing costs as the brand pursues a 10%-20% reduction of overall G&A in 2015.

Walldorf, Germany – Retailers should consider waiting until August to launch back-to-school promotions and focus them heavily on online shoppers. According to new data from SAP, consumer sentiment toward back-to-school advertising doesn’t become positive till the end of July.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group recently introduced its U.S. e-commerce site, 11Main.com. Like its parent company Alibaba, 11 Main operates by letting other retailers and businesses sell goods through its platform in exchange for a small portion of the proceeds. 11 Main offers shops in a variety of categories including fashion & style, home & outdoor, jewelry & watches, baby & kids, collecting & art, and crafts, hobbies & toys. Buying and/or selling goods on 11 Main requires an invitation.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – ShopYourWay, the digital loyalty, marketing and shopping platform of Sears and Kmart, is partnering with YouTube celebrities Ricky Dillon and Jenn McCallister. The two social media stars will serve as “curators of cool” on the Shop Your Way site.

Dillon and McCalister collaborated with Shop Your Way to deliver their first semester fashion picks, creating catalogs members can like, follow and share. They have nearly 10 million fans combined on social media networks such as YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.

Columbus, Ohio – Express Inc. will be using Rich Media Messaging (RMM) technology from Iris Mobile to drive the fashion retailer’s seasonal “Back-to-Business” sweepstakes campaign with GQ Magazine. A combination of both a participant-based sweepstakes and a voting-based contest, this campaign will award one emerging startup entrepreneur with a grant from Express based on public votes.

Orlando, Fla. -- Florida's retail development market is moving indoors. According to JLL research, nearly half of all retail commercial construction in Florida in the half of 2014 is taking place in malls and shopping centers.

The Italian luxury brand Fendi gets social in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood, opening a pop-up whose brick walls are adorned with neon hash tag signs.   

The 630-sq.-ft. shop, dubbed #fendisoho, combines sophisticated touches — leather and velvet — with a playful, arcade-themed décor that includes custom vending machines, where products dangle from mechanical claws.