The 2013 back-to-school shopping period hasn’t represented boom times for retailers — so stores have felt forced to be extra creative in their attempts to attract shoppers
Marketing
Atlantic City Casino Promotion Bashed By Watchdogs Is a Big Hit with Gamblers
The “You can’t lose” promotion, which promised to refund losses at slot machines Atlantic City’s Revel, appears to be a big winner for the casino—even if consumer advocates think the deal is misleading at best.
The Great Debate: Do Millennials Really Want Cars, or Not?
Why are young people less likely to purchase cars, or even have driver’s licenses nowadays? One theory has it that the generation that came of age with the Internet and smartphones thinks cars are pretty lame. Automakers prefer to see the situation differently — that young people today love cars just as much as any other group, but …
Waffles & Pretzels: The Hot, Quirky Features on Fast Food Menus Everywhere
In the quest for new and surprising menu items, fast food chains like Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Popeye’s have jumped on two comfort foods—waffles and pretzels—and they’re being served in ways you’d never imagine.
Gmail Segregates ‘Promotions’: Why This Won’t Slow Down the E-mail Marketing Machine
Gmail’s new tabs system separates marketing messages into a “Promotions” box, making it easier than ever to ignore e-mail ads. Yet one theory holds that Gmail’s new design could actually make e-mail marketing more effective.
The Real Reason Taco Bell Killed Kids Meals
The decision came down to money, not concerns about nutrition or childhood obesity. In fact, after eliminating kids meals, Taco Bell may wind up feeding just as many children as it did in the past—and they’re likely to pay more, while scarfing down even more calories.
Target’s Online Video Campaign to Turn College Kids into Lifelong Paying Customers
Why did Target stream video for four days of hip personalities living in a fake dorm on a set in Los Angeles? Enticing college kids into decorating their dorms with Target merchandise is only part of the answer.
Cheap Jaguars? Luxury Volkswagens? Automakers Go High and Low to Expand Brand Appeal
It’s a topsy-turvy, muddled time in the auto business, as Volkswagen plans on selling a vehicle priced like a Jaguar—and vice versa.
Fast Fine Casual Food? The Continued Blurring of Chain Restaurant Categories
When a prototypical fast food chain like KFC pushes into the realm of “fast casual,” what do terms like “fast food” and “casual dining” mean nowadays?
A Disloyalty Movement? Supermarkets and Customers Drop Loyalty Card Programs
7-Eleven’s Free Slurpee Day: This Year With Bigger Slurpees!
It’s July 11, or 7/11, the day each year that a certain convenience store chain celebrates as 7-Eleven Day. That’s the official name anyway. Most customers know July 11 simply as Free Slurpee Day.
Why Golden Corral’s Gross-Out Video Won’t Scare Off Customers
The phrase “public relations nightmare” gets thrown around often. But the truth is that viral videos showing disgusting things happening at chain restaurants don’t really put a dent in sales.