Omnichannel

LOS GATOS, Calif. — Wanderful Media, an online local discovery shopping company, has revamped its existing collection of digital circulars and re-launched it as an online community that drives shoppers to local retailers. 

Called Find&Save, the online community gives shoppers access to all the latest sales in their areas and gives them the tools they need to connect with other shoppers and help them keep track of what they need. Shoppers can access Find&Save remotely via tablet, mobile or web. 

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy will offer up to 1 million free smartphones to eligible customers, in an effort to encourage shoppers to use its mobile app.  

Consumers who want a new smartphone or who are eligible for a device upgrade with their current mobile service provider can visit the site and choose from a variety of Android smartphones. They can then sign up for a new contract or upgrade to a two-year contract, and the phone will be shipped directly to them.

Walmart marketing executives shared new insights on the company’s price comparison advertising campaign and other outreach efforts this week during a presentation at the 12th annual Shopper Marketing Summit.

Clint McClain, senior director of marketing communications platforms, and Ken Mantel, senior director of marketing, shared the stage during a presentation that shed light on how to work with Walmart on select marketing initiatives in a media landscape that is being rapidly transformed by digital alternatives.

AUSTIN, Texas — Digital coupon site, RetailMeNot.com, is launching an updated version of its free RetailMeNot Coupons app for iPhone that includes the ability for consumers to search for and find digital coupons for nearby retailers located in 500 shopping malls. The app also enables users to request that additional shopping areas be geo-fenced by RetailMeNot.

NEW YORK — Duane Reade has launched its first mobile application for iOS devices. The free app, available in the iTunes store, will facilitate and further enhance customer access to Duane Reade’s pharmacy services, photo printers, prescription refills, Balance Rewards offers, account information and in-store maps.  

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1's fourth-quarter earnings fell 46% compared with last year, when the chain recorded a large, one-time tax benefit.

The company earned $61.7 million in the three months that ended March 2, compared with $115.2 million in last year's quarter. Revenue rose 16% to $551.6 million. Same-store sales climbed 7.9%.

For the full year, Pier 1 earned $129.4 million on $1.7 billion in revenue.

For its current fiscal year, the chain expects to open 30 stores.

SAN FRANCISCO — Alliance Data Retail Services recently collaborated with Locaid, the world's largest LaaS (Location-as-a-Service) company, to run an opt-in geofence pilot program between Black Friday and New Year's Eve in 2012.

By Mark Ledbetter, [email protected]

There's a season for everything, and that's no less true for retailers. Merchants have historically enjoyed a central position in the retail universe, driving everything from pricing to availability. How quickly things have changed. Today, try telling a 19-year-old that she can't get a discount on the slightly frayed jeans she found on the discount rack. She'll buy a similar pair online and Tweet about it so fast, it will make your head spin!