Sales & Marketing

MINNEAPOLIS — Digital coupons are increasingly being used as a marketing tool for major brands, as evidenced by the rise in such offers between 2011 and 2012.

Accoding to Kantar Media, digital couponing events across key websites increased by 46.1% in 2012 compared with 2011, and 805 manufacturers distributed digital coupon offers on these key websites during 2012, an increase of 18.9% as compared with the same period in 2011.  

Birmingham, Ala. -- Bayer Properties said Tuesday that Scott Laslo has joined the company as VP asset management. 

Laslo more recently served as VP/general manager and VP for Forest City Enterprises. His asset management role at Bayer will focus on value creation and oversight of the company’s growing portfolio of over 10 million sq. ft.
 

Amazon, which gained attention for its expanded Kindle line and growing e-commerce footprint, captured the second spot on BrandIndex's list of most buzzed about U.S. brands for 2012.

Lowe's and Target were the only traditional retailers to make the top 10. Lowe's moved up one spot to the number five position, thanks to the launch of MyLowes.com and better-equipped staff. Target captured the number seven spot with the help of its remodeling program and year-round exclusives.

Other retailers in the top 25 include Walgreens (13), Home Depot (18) and Kohl's (25).

San Antonio, Texas -- Dallas-based Venture Commercial said Tuesday it has completed seven leases in the San Antonio market for Best Buy Mobile stores. Six of the stores, ranging in size from 1,500 sq. ft. to 4,500 sq. ft., opened in 2012 and the seventh is expected to open in 2013.

Corpus Christi, Texas -- Brixmor Property Group announced Wednesday that a 12,420-sq.-ft. Petco recently opened at Five Points, located in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Five Points.

Consumer confidence in January fell to its lowest point since November 2011, according to the Conference Board.

The Conference Board’s index decreased to 58.6, down from a revised 66.7 in December. The figure was lower than forecast; Bloomberg predicted a median of 64.

The drop in confidence coincides with the 2% payroll tax increase used to fund Social Security.

Aurora, Colo. -- Brixmor Property Group announced Wednesday a 28,000-sq.-ft. lease was executed with Books-A-Million at Arapahoe Crossings, located in Aurora, Colo., a suburb of Denver.

Brixmor, based in New York City, is the owner of Arapahoe Crossings.

TORONTO — Most retailers in Canada are ready for a phase-out of one-cent coins, a national retailing trade group said Wednesday.

The Retail Council of Canada said the majority of the country's retail businesses were prepared for the disappearance of the penny and will follow the government's proposals for determining prices.