Sales & Marketing

Chicago -- Social media is now essential to marketing in the retail industry, according to a recent BDO USA survey, which found that 86% of retail CMOs have included social media in their holiday marketing strategy. The executives said social media accounts for 10% of their holiday advertising and marketing budgets this year.

Through the first 30 days of the holiday season online sales have surpassed $20 billion with several days last week above the $1 billion mark.

New York -- Early reports indicate that Target Corp.’s holiday promotion with Neiman Marcus is not off to the spectacular start that many industry experts had expected. The promotion includes some 50 gift items featuring works of 24 well-known designers from Marc Jacobs to Diane von Furstenberg to Judith Leiber.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Employees at the Grand Rapids-based retailer Meijer raised $3 million for the 2012 United Way Workforce Campaign for the second year in a row. The workforce campaign aims to improve the lives of those in need by meeting critical needs of the community.

Dallas -- The Howard Hughes Corp. and Dillard’s announced that the department store is the latest anchor to be part of The Shops at Summerlin, in West Las Vegas Valley. Dillard’s will build a two-level, 200,000-sq.-ft. foot in the center, with opening scheduled for fall 2014.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Less than six months after joining Family Dollar, Tammy L. DeBoer has been named SVP of food.

DeBoer will report to Paul White, EVP and CMO at the rapidly growing discount retailer. This latest appointment comes as the retailer has taken steps to position itself as a one-stop destination for shoppers with expanded assortments of food and consumables.

By Tom Rittman, Theretailequation.com

The holiday season is often considered the most wonderful time of year, but as retail sales soar, so do returns. And don’t be fooled by a seemingly valid receipt. Savvy fraudsters know how to prey on holiday cheer costing retailers thousands of dollars in fraudulent returns and exchanges.
 

Dallas -- SRS Real Estate Partners announced that two new market leaders have been selected to lead the offices in Dallas/Ft. Worth and South Florida.
 
Mark Reeder has been named market leader for the Dallas/Ft. Worth office and will lead in partnership with Ryan Johnson. Reeder has been with SRS since 2000.

John Artope has been selected to lead the office in South Florida. He already leads the offices in Orlando and Tampa, and has been with the company since 2002.