Rooting For The Underdog Can Ron Johnson, CEO since Nov. 1, 2011, turn JCP around? There are many critics who say ABSOUTELY NOT. I am, however, optimistic about the new era of JCP, with one particular disclaimer. We will get to that in a little bit. We all know the company’s 110 year history as Penneys, then JCPenney, and now JCP. We are all well aware of the astounding, jaw-dropping, … Read More
How do national brands market differently to men and women? Heather Reid and Spencer Jackson evaluated three national brands (Macy’s, Gap, and Starbucks) and outlined their viewpoints below. Macy’s Friends & Family Email Marketing Macy’s has done a fantastic job relentlessly email marketing to me. Nearly every day since Thanksgiving week, I’ve received an email with a special offer. The offers are always motivating; 25% off including sales items with everyday free … Read More
One of the challenges of retail marketing is creating an in-store environment that ties consumers to the brand and drives them to buy. The balance between communication and noise has to be managed very carefully. Marketers in the fast food and fast casual industries are constantly trying to maintain a good balance between brand and promotional/product marketing. On one hand, they want to offer limited time offers and up sell … Read More
How are mobile apps measuring up? Do they assist consumers in the purchasing process? The other day, USA Today published an article describing how some big-box retailers are benefiting themselves and their customers with indoor (in-store) navigation apps. It caught my attention, because driving sales through consumer communication is a core objective of my coworkers and me. The article highlights three national chains which are embracing technology to help consumers navigate their … Read More
As any married person will tell you, a marriage relationship is sealed just after the wedding bells ring. Retailers from all walks of life, restaurants, clothing and other specialties also seek to be ‘married’ to their customers. The stronger the marriage, the more likely the retailer will hear wedding bells- otherwise known as the ‘romantic’ sound of a ringing cash register. One of the best ways to solidify this ‘marriage’ … Read More
A few weeks ago, I compared auto parts retailers with the help of my good friend Glen Tyler. This week, I’ve asked Glen to share some insight on how office supply retailers are measuring up in the hustle and bustle of back-to-school shopping. Back-to-school season is seen by many retailers as a good barometer on how well the holiday shopping season will fare. According to the National Retail Federation, the … Read More