MARKETING/SOCIAL MEDIA

Pacific Sunwear of California is stepping up its game to better connect with its mobile-savvy customers.   Through a partnership with PredictSpring, the teen apparel chain has launched a new mobile app experience — one that is faster and more and visually rich. For example, the new app links to Instagram Shop-the-Look, a service that allows customers to browse and purchase directly from the PacSun Instagram feed.  

Hurricane Harvey, the first Category 4 Hurricane to make U.S. landfall since Charley in 2004, is poised to have the same, if not larger, economic impact.  

Expect an Amazon-dominated holiday retail season among U.S. consumers this year, with the e-commerce giant being the top destination for shoppers.  

Disney's marketing firepower will be on full display starting at  12:01 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, when it launches a global merchandise promotion — complete with augmented reality — of toys and products inspired by its upcoming film, "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."  

Mod Super Fast Pizza Holdings has named its first chief marketing officer.   The Seattle-based company has appointed Tracy Cioffi as chief marketing officer, effective immediately. She will lead the fast-casual restaurant chain's global marketing strategy.  

Retail marketers take heed: Facebook's appeal is fading among teens even as two other platforms continue to pick up momentum.  

Millennials are on board with personalized marketing.   While security may be a concern with older shoppers, 70% of millennials are comfortable with retailers tracking their purchasing and browsing behaviors if it means they’ll receive more relevant communications, according to a report from SmarterHQ, a multichannel behavioral marketing platform.   

Uber riders nationwide can now earn credits for shopping and dining under a rewards program with Visa.   The program, Visa Local Offers with Uber, launched last year in the San Francisco and Los Angeles markets. It has been relaunched to be made available to Uber riders across the country. The program is open to Uber riders with an eligible U.S.-issued Visa card on file in the Uber app.