Shop Talk
Retailers, consumers and prices
Luxe CEOs bemoan encroachment of social media on privacy
No one wants it broadcast to the world when one is submitting to the indignities of airport security screening.
But that’s just what happened to luxury designer Tory Burch awhile back, when a fan tweeted to thousands that Burch was barefoot at the airport. The upside, Burch said, was that the tweet and subsequent discussion gave her the idea to create a travel sock for women.
New business ideas notwithstanding, Burch told an audience at the National Retail Federation conference that social media was taking a toll on her.
“You want to maintain a level of mystique in a way, you don’t want to be accessible,” she said. “Being the face of our brand I want to maintain a level of privacy … but you have to stay interesting, be quippy and funny and not boring, but at the same time, not too personal.”
Walmart takes to iPhones to find holiday shoppers
Walmart has launched an aggressive push to win market share this holiday shopping season, cutting prices on everything from books to toys to lean ground beef and televisions.
Now, it is taking its effort to reach potential holiday shoppers beyond its typical TV or print ads.
This holiday’s shiny new toy: social media
Companies that cater to consumers are always chasing after the latest consumer technology trend (anyone remember Second Life?), and this holiday season that means following them into the world of social media.
Companies ranging from Wal-Mart and Panda Express to J.C. Penney and Target are experimenting with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Flickr. Some are tweeting special coupons or limited-time deals, while others are doling out fashion advice or providing play-by-plays from product launch parties on Facebook. M.A.C. said it is using its Facebook page to feature artists, color collections, and what is happening backstage at fashion shows.
Recession ushers in era of the savvy shopper, but will it last?
The indicators are there: people are saving more and they’re spending less. The era of the savvy(er) shopper has officially arrived. But how long will it last?
Family financial guru Ellie Kay has been talking about smart shopping for years, publishing numerous books and maintaining a blog about how to shop smart. With the back-to-school shopping season running up against the recession, she’s been hearing a lot from her readers about how they’ve changed their buying habits.
Social Media for Business
A new report by Inside Facebook discusses some best practices for retailers hoping to set up shop on the popular social networking site.
Some of the recommendations include letting users shop from within Facebook, including even the ability to share product information with friends. Another suggestion is to have contests, giveaways and sweepstakes.
Starbucks now most popular brand on Facebook
The popular social networking website has a new champion among its brands: Starbucks.
With a combination of recent social networking promotions and front-page ads, the Seattle-based mega coffee company has attracted more than 3.6 million fans to reportedly passed Coca-Cola to become the most popular brand on Facebook.
Check Out Line: Signs of brighter days ahead?
Check out hopeful signs that the recession may be abating.
While recent reports showed slumping sales at many big-box retailers, there are other signs that the economy may be bottoming.
U.S. retail sales rose in May and the number of workers who filed new applications for jobless benefits last week fell for the fourth straight week.
Slump means market share gains in E-commerce
We know the U.S. recession is gloomy for retailers, online stores included, but at least a third of these e-commerce sellers say they’re taking greater market share amid the slump.
That’s according to Shop.org and Forrester Research in a marketing study based on their annual State of Retailing Online report. Shop.org is a division of the National Retail Federation.
L.A. keeps on (taco) truckin’!
Meet Kogi, L.A.’s newest celebrity.
It’s not a buxom starlet or a hunky leading man, it’s a Korean-themed taco truck that sells things like Korean short rib tacos to home-made ice cream sandwiches and daily specials.
In a city where taco trucks are as ubiquitous as New York City’s hot dog vendors, Kogi has used technology lure fans.
Jack is Back!
By Shivani Singh
Jack Box, hamburger chain Jack in the Box’s snowman-faced mascot, is alive and kicking.
Last month, the mascot was hit by a bus in an advertising spot aired during the Super Bowl. The campaign continued online for a month, with a cliff-hanger that left fast-food fans wondering whether Jack would survive.
Following some intrigue involving corporate underlings, Jack woke up last week to take back the reins of the company and launch its new logo that blows up the word ‘Jack,’ which is how most customers refer to the fast-food chain.
The post-Super Bowl viral campaign targeted the company’s core audience of mostly 18- to 34-year-olds, who used YouTube, Facebook and Twitter to cook up millions of hits, Chief Marketing Officer Terri Graham told Reuters.
The multichannel campaign was also supported by coupons. On Tuesday, the company gave a free soda and small fries to people who printed a coupon on the ‘Hang In there Jack’ site. Restaurants saw an increase in traffic on the days the coupons were offered, the company said.
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