Retail

Mobile App |

Tiffany & Co. Asks “What Makes Love True” Via App

January, 2012

Tiffany & Co. is asking users to share what they find to be “true love” through their Valentine’s Day mobile application. The application shares love stories, tips on keeping a successful partnership, and a map where users can mark their initials on their favorite romantic spots. Users can also upload their own images and put a special Tiffany & Co. filter on it to make it more romanticized. The application also features a link to the Tiffany & Co. store where mobile purchases can be made. To learn more, please visit LuxuryDaily.com or the iTunes App store.

01/24/12
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Mobile Commerce |

Home Depot and PayPal Test Mobile Payments

January, 2012

Home Depot and PayPal will be testing mobile payments in-store in 51 stores. Guests who will be participating in the test will be able to pay for purchases by entering in a pin on their mobile phone or by using a PayPal designated credit card. In addition to mobile payments, the company has said they may include location-based offers to help incentivize and ease the use of mobile payment. To learn more, please visit TechCrunch.com.

01/19/12
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Mobile App | Mobile site | Technology | ,

Express Boosts App Downloads With QR Code

January, 2012

Express has added QR codes to store windows and clothing tags inorder to encourage downloads of the store’s app and promote their social sites to their consumers.  The QR codes placed on the windows of the New York stores and placed on tags for clothing lead to the mobile landing page where consumers can learn about and easily download the Express app for iPhone, Android, or Blackberry platforms.   Express hopes that the app downloads will lead to more memorable in store experiences as well as increase engagement with the fashion retailer’s social media sites.  For more information see Mobile Commerce Daily.

01/17/12
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Social | ,

Walgreens Targets Consumers Via Paid Social

January, 2012

Walgreens is paying Twitter and bloggers to act as crisis PR against its former benefit manager, Express Scripts.  Walgreens has been at risk of losing customers to rival pharmacies after failed negotiations this past summer.  Walgreens recently purchased the promoted tweet “@Walgreens Patients should be able to choose their pharmacy, not @ExpressScripts. Tweet using #ILoveWalgreens to show your support!”  Walgreens also enlisted Social Spark, a service that connects bloggers with paid sponsorships, in order to recruit and sponsor bloggers to defend the company and garner reader support.  This approach has elicited some negative responses online about the company’s use of purchased promoted tweets and blogger sponsorships to generate support for the company.  For more information and reactions to the campaign, please see AdvertisingAge.

01/16/12
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Mobile App | Uncategorized |

Tiffany & Co. Launches User-Curated Campaign

January 2012

Tiffany & Co. launches their user-curated campaign, encouraging photographers and consumers to upload photos to their What Makes True Love microsite. Photographers have been uploading candid photos of couples in New York and Paris. Beginning January 25, consumers are able to upload photos to Instagram, and using the hashtag #trulovepictures, have a chance to be featured on the site. The microsite also features real-life videos, stories, romantic movies and songs, and a map where consumers can pinpoint where they fell in love in New York. The campaign is complete with a Tiffany’s station on Pandora. For more information, please see Luxury Daily.

01/13/12
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Mobile site |

@WalmartLabs Acquires “Small Society”

January, 2012

In another move to boost their digital presence, Walmart’s digital division, @WalmartLabs, has now acquired digital agency Small Society. The three year-old agency has helped develop and launch a number of iOS programs, and has worked with clients such as Starbucks, WholeFoods and Amazon. @WalmartLabs will use the additional members of their team to not only strengthen their online presence, but mobile presence as well. To learn more about this new acquisition, please visit TechCrunch.com.

01/04/12
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Social |

Lands’ End Launches Contest on Pinterest

December, 2011

Lands’ End has launched its holiday contest entitled “Pin It To Win It” on Pinterest.  Lands’ End is the first major retailer to hold a large promotional digital contest on the social site.  In the holiday contest, consumers can create their own ‘pin board’ of style from the items available on the Lands’ End pinterest page.  Any consumer who create’s a pin board is entered to win a selection of Lands’ End gift certificates.  The winner will be selected based on creativity, composition, and style.  For more information see PR Newswire.

12/26/11
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Mobile Commerce | Mobile site |

Saks Fifth Ave. Turns to Mobile For Holiday Push

December 2011,

Saks Fifth Avenue will drive holiday shopping this season via their in-store window displays, as well as customized QR codes. When visitors passing the windows scan the QR code, they can either watch a holiday video or visit the mobile shopping site. Along with the normal drop down departments, the mobile site also offers “Best Sellers” and “Designers We Love” options for quick holiday gifting ideas. To learn more about this combination of retail display and mobile activation, please visit LuxuryDaily.com.

12/20/11
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MMS/SMS | Technology | ,

DDR Corp Uses Geo-Fencing during Holidays

December 2011

DDR Corp., a retail real estate company, is using geo-fencing technology in its open-air shopping malls nation-wide. Deals are texted from retailers to consumers upon entering the mall’s borders. While such technology has been used by individual retailers before, DDR Corp. is using ValuText for small businesses within their malls. Since these businesses don’t typically have the marketing budget of larger retailers, this service gives them the opportunity to better compete during the holidays, free of charge. For more information, please see Mashable.

12/16/11
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Mobile App |

Nordstroms Updates App For Holiday Gifting

December, 2011

Nordstroms has updated its mobile app to include a holiday gifting guide as the front page. The gifting guide aims to help consumers shop this season by providing gifting suggestions for groups of people such as men, women, newly weds, mothers and more. Nordstroms’ app allows users to purchase an item with an easy “one click purchase” option, or easily reserve the item for pickup at their nearest store.  The company is also offering free shipping for any items purchased through the app this season.  Nordstrom’s update to their app comes after the successful launch of their Facebook app “Norstroms Santa” which also helps consumers with holiday season gifting.  For more information see Luxury Daily.

12/16/11
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Social |

Shop Express via Facebook

December 2011,

Express is now allowing their Facebook fans to shop and purchase clothes directly from their Facebook page. Fans can share their favorite outfits with friends, or comment on others favorite attire. All purchases will be completed using a safe and secure Express checkout process. For more information, please see Express Facebook.

12/07/11
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Social |

Coach’s interactive animation game

December, 2011

Coach has created a Facebook game which allows fans to design their own bag out of Couch hangtags. Players can share their designs with their Facebook friends, vote on the ones they like the best and enter to win a grand prize from Coach. For more information, please see Coach Facebook.

12/07/11
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Social |

Macy’s “Million Reasons To Believe”

December 2011,

Macy’s stores across the nation are opening their mailboxes this holiday season for letters to Santa. Macy’s shoppers are also encouraged to “Like” Macy’s Facebook page and upload a picture for an opportunity to become the “believer of the week”. For each letter Macy’s receives, they will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1,000,000. For more information, please visit Macy’s Facebook.

12/07/11
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Mobile App |

Walmart Launches Gift Recommendations App

Walmart Shopycat App

December, 2011

Walmart has launched it’s Shopycat App that provides gifting recommendations for your friends this week.  The app works by mining a person’s Facebook history (interests, comments, likes, etc) and generating suggested gifts based on what it finds out about the person. The suggested gifts are then all available for purchase on Walmart.com or it can suggest the nearest Walmart store that has the item.  The app has been in testing since August and Walmart hopes that the months of making extensive tweaks to Shopycat’s gifting algorithm, the app will be be able to correctly guess the perfect item for your friends or loved ones this holiday season. For more information on Walmart’s Shopycat, see AdAge.

12/01/11
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Mobile App | Social | ,

Hugo Boss Increases In-Store Traffic Via Mobile

November, 2011

Hugo Boss is taking social media to the next level. The high-end menswear designer is increasing their social media fan base by providing a mobile check-in contest to allow fans to win a shopping trip in New York City. Customers that check-in at one of the worldwide retail locations will be entered into the raffle. For more information, please see Luxury Daily.

11/30/11
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Mobile App | Social |

BlackFly Day Assisted Mobile Shoppers

November, 2011

Aptly named “BlackFly Day”, the new Black Friday-centered application helped users share deals as they did their holiday shopping. Deals that were shared could be bookmarked on a map to allow fellow shoppers quick ways to locate savings. Android mobile user ratings of the app were low, citing difficulty using the app without having an existing Facebook membership. To learn more about this mobile app, please visit Gizmodo.com.

11/29/11
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Mobile App |

eBay Seeks Window Shoppers for Donations

November, 2011

To promote donations to Toys for Tots, eBay created two interactive storefront windows in New York City and San Francisco.  Several different toys including teddy bears appeared in the windows and asked shoppers to download a mobile app and scan the QR codes on each item to make their donation.  The promotion also included a PR push with actress Debra Messing making a donation at the New York store.  For more info, please visit: http://promomagazine.com/mobilemarketing/ebay_mobile_marketing_interactive_storefront_1118_peo2/

11/28/11
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MMS/SMS | Mobile Ads | ,

Kiehl’s SMS Texts Drive Holiday Traffic

November 2011

Kiehl’s, the high-end skincare brand, uses geo-fencing technology to drive holiday traffic in-stores. Opt-in mobile users receive location-based SMS texts when they are within range of a store with a special holiday promotion. SMS texts have also included in-store and online discount codes. For more information about this and other location-based mobile tactics, please see Luxury Daily.

11/25/11
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Mobile App | Social |

Downy’s Facebook Mashup App

November, 2011

Downy has created a Facebook app that allows consumers to mash up pictures of themselves. The idea of placing people in unexpected places grew from Downy Simple Pleasures new blended fragrances. A campaign which combines “two great scents” for “one unexpected mashup.” For more information, please see fitsugar.

11/14/11
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Mobile App |

Walmart Launches New Mobile App

November, 2011

Walmart is rolling out their new app for iPad and iPhones, that promises to enhance the customer experience both online and in-store. The new app will include barcode scanners, coupons, Apple’s Siri voice command and a budgeting tool. Also in the works, an “in-store item finder” that will show consumers exactly where to find products. For more information, please see AdWeek.

11/09/11
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Mobile App | ,

Amazon adds augmented reality to e-commerce

November 2011,

Online retailer Amazon launches iPhone app combining augmented reality and e-commerce, similar to the Google Goggles concept. The app allows the iPhone camera to recognize tens of millions of products to then drive purchase through Amazon.com.  Amazon is among the first to bring the physically tangible and digital worlds of shopping together, and it seems this will only be the beginning for augmented reality experiences. For more information, please see Mashable.

11/04/11
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Mobile Ads | ,

H&M Promotes Versace Line With Mobile Ads

November, 2011

In an effort to drive in-store visits to see the new Versace line, H&M will be running mobile ads on Pandora.com to create awareness. As an added value and incentive, users who click on the ads will win a chance for tickets to see the line debut in New York City. In addition, after clicking the ads, consumers have an opportunity to sign up for the company’s e-newsletter. To learn more about this mobile campaign, please visit LuxuryDaily.com.

11/01/11
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Social |

Ariel Fashion Shoot on Facebook

October, 2011

Ariel, a popular laundry detergent in the UK, designed a special glass box in Stockholm Central Station in which a robot shot juice, coffee and ketchup onto freshly cleaned white clothes. The robot was controlled by fans of Ariel’s Facebook page. Once the clothes were completely covered in stains, they were placed in a washer with Ariel and cleaned in real time. For more information, please see AdsOfTheWorld.

10/12/11
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Mobile App | Mobile Commerce |

Guess Challenges Consumers to Check-In

October 2011

Fashion retailer Guess launched their mobile and social promotion, Urban Jungle Check-In Challenge, for the G by Guess line bringing customers in-store and rewarding them for their participation. Customers who checked-in via Facebook and foursquare were rewarded with special offers on their in-store purchases. QR codes placed throughout the store encouraged customers to snap the tag for more information about the challenge. Additionally, a leaderboard featured online displayed store locations with the most check-ins to heat up competition for customers and employees alike. For more information, please see Mobile Commerce Daily.

10/07/11
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Mobile App | Social | ,

Neiman Marcus Leverages Foursquare

September 2011

Designer and luxury retailer, Nieman Marcus, will launch a scavenger hunt via Foursquare to enhance its shoe and handbag event. The retailer will hide 15 Nancy Gonazalez clutches in 41 of its stores. Shoppers can check in at the retailer using Foursquare to receive clues and beat other customers to find the hidden clutch for keeps. Those who do not find a clutch or visit a location without one hidden can be entered to win one of many more Nancy Gonzalez clutch giveaways. With the scavenger hunt occurring soley within store walls, Nieman Marcus is able to drive consumers in-store during the event. For more information please see Mashable.

09/30/11
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Mobile Ads | ,

V.S. Leverages Geo-Targeted Mobile Ads

September, 2011

In the hope of driving in-store visits and purchases, Victoria’s Secret is pushing geo-targeted ads on Pandora’s iPhone application. The company recently launched their NFL line of clothing and will use the ads to create awareness. When users click through on the ad, they are directed to the NFL section of the website. They can also view closest locations to purchase the products in-store. To learn more, please visit MobileMarketer.com.

09/26/11
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Mobile App | Mobile site | ,

Ralph Lauren Customizes QR Codes

September 2011

Ralph Lauren showcased their iconic logo in customized QR codes featured in store front windows. The branded QR code enticed consumers to scan the code, which drove them to a mobile site where they could purchase apparel specially designed for the 2011 US Open. Additionally, users could register for a chance to win a trip to the 2012 US Open final, complete with a $3,000 Ralph Lauren wardrobe. Luxury Daily notes, “Custom QR codes have a three-to-one ratio of scans over traditional codes,” according to Matt McKenna , founder and president of Red Fish Media, Miami.  For more information, please see Luxury Daily.

09/23/11
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Mobile Ads | Social |

Hallmark Adds QR Codes to Cards

September, 2011

Hallmark, the greeting card and party supply company, will be placing QR codes on some of their greeting cards this fall season in hope of attracting a younger audience. Disney’s Cars, Warner Brothers’ Scooby Doo and Marvel’s Super Hero Squad are some of the card themes that will have these QR codes. Each codes will provide buyers an exclusive video of the characters on the cards. For more information, please see Hallmark QR Codes.

09/21/11
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Mobile site | Social |

Walmart Buys Mobile-Ad Targeting Company

September, 2011

Walmart has recently purchased the mobile-ad targeting company Kosmix, and renamed it @WalmartLabs.  The goal of the acquisition is to boost Walmart’s e-commerce.  According to Anand Rajaraman, Kosmix co-founder and and senior-VP e-commerce at Walmart, “The technology at the core of what we do [at @Walmartlabs] is the Social Genome, which enables us to connect millions of consumers with the best products based on their interests at any given moment.”  For more info, please visit adage.com

09/19/11
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Social | ,

Gap Sponsors New Virtual Sticker Promotion

September 2011

Gap is sponsoring a new partnership with Entertainment Weekly and social-networking site, GetGlue, driving users to the Gap store with an exclusive promotion. When users check into one of Entertainment Weekly’s 12 recommended fall TV shows like, “The Playboy Club” and “Pan Am”, they will receive a virtual sticker to redeem at adult Gap stores for 40% off a regularily-priced item. Mashable quotes Alex Iskold, founder and CEO of GetGlue, “Checking in from the couch and unlocking retail coupons is a big deal, and I think that’s going to be a big part of social TV in the future.”  Gap has also purchased pages in Entertainment Weekly and made digital buys on EW.com to complete the promotion.  For more information, please see Mashable.

09/16/11
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