News

With help from friends, consumers can win Mellow Mushroom contest
Atlanta – Pizza chain Mellow Mushroom is partnering with beer brand Stella Artois to provide rewards to consumers who post photos on Twitter and Instagram, with a little help from their friends. By posting “usies” (“selfies” with a friend) using the hashtag #MellowStellaContest, Mellow Mushroom followers are entered in a contest featuring a getaway and other prizes.
Report – Google studies color effect on consumers
Mountain View, Calif. – Google Inc. is reportedly studying the effect color has on consumer purchase decisions, among other issues. According to Reuters, the company has found a clear link between color and employee satisfaction with their workspaces, and is still in the early stages of research.

Study – Restaurant revenue drops post-Thanksgiving

San Francisco – In the last several years, restaurant revenue declined 22 to 45% during the post-Thanksgiving holiday period. According to a study across quick-serve, fast casual, and fine dining chains by customer engagement solutions provider Thanx Media Inc., the average restaurant experienced a 27% revenue decline in December, as compared to that year's monthly average.
Survey – More than half of holiday shoppers finish last-minute

Austin, Texas - More than half (56%) of Christmas shoppers surveyed typically have gifts left to purchase by the time "Panic Saturday,” the last Saturday to shop for holiday gifts before Christmas (also referred to as "Super Saturday"), rolls around. According to a new consumer survey from digital offers site RetailMeNot, nearly one in 5 (18%) Christmas shoppers surveyed admit that they've actually waited until the Saturday before Christmas to begin shopping for presents.
Survey – Small discounts prompt in-store pickups

Toronto, Canada - Today’s consumers increasingly shop online with home delivery, eliminating a valuable trip to the store where they can be enticed to make additional purchases. However, a LoyaltyOne survey of 1,000 American consumers indicates a discount on the online purchase for picking up in store (as has been experimented with by Target and Best Buy) will encourage a majority of customers to select that option.
Banana Republic targets last-minute holiday shoppers

San Francisco – Some people complain about customers who put off holiday shopping till the last minute, but Banana Republic is welcoming them with open arms. Banana Republic is offering “The Procrastinators Event,” a special promotion for last-minute shoppers, from Dec. 17-22.
PetSmart agrees to $8.7 billion buyout

Phoenix – PetSmart Inc. has agreed to be purchased for about $8.7 billion by a consortium of buyers led by private equity firm B.C. Partners and also including pension fund manager La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and private equity firm StepStone. The total figure represents an acquisition price of $83 per share, a 39% premium over PetSmart’s closing price on July 2, 2014.
Marketplaces outstrip digital growth in November

Online sales at third party marketplaces grew faster than the overall industry, according to cloud-based e-commerce solutions provider ChannelAdvisor.

The digital measurement firm reports that November was a mixed month for e-commerce channels. But Amazon, Google Shopping and Other 3PMs (third party marketplaces) grew materially faster than the 16% e-commerce baseline growth rate comScore had predicted.

Specifically, ChannelAdvisor reports:
PetSmart fetches buyer for $8.7 billion

After weeks of exploring “strategic alternatives,” PetSmart has agreed to be acquired for about $8.7 billion by a consortium led by London-based BC Partners.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with BC Partners, which maximizes value for all of our shareholders and best positions PetSmart to continue to meet the needs of pet parents," said Gregory Josefowicz, chairman of PetSmart. "This transaction represents the successful conclusion of our extensive review of strategic alternatives."
USA Today honors Porch.com CEO

Porch.com CEO Matt Ehrlichman has been named the USA Today Entrepreneur of the Year for 2014.

Key criteria of the award included exhibiting significant growth this year and solving a consumer problem.

Ehrlichman won the honor after a team of USA Today editors sorted through 10 finalists.
Macy’s help customers protect digital privates

Consumers looking to keep a tight grip on their most private possessions may want to check out a new high-tech collection launching at Macy's.

The store will be selling Royce Leather handbags, wallets and briefcases integrated with fingerprint technology, RFID blocking technology, and GPS technology. In particular, the Royce Leather Freedom Briefcase will be the world's first security bag with DNA-based fingerprint technology. The briefcase enables a single user to access the bag, demonstrating the ultimate in personal and travel security.
Heroes ring in the holidays at Mall of America

More than 3,200 military members, veterans and their families attended the Holiday for Heroes event at Mall of America.

The mall, working with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, invited attendees to enjoy unlimited rides at Nickelodeon Universe, free breakfast at Hard Rock Cafe, a military resource fair, visits with Santa, an ugly sweater photo booth and prizes valued at more than $200.

This is the first year Mall of America has hosted Holiday for Heroes.