Gap use real reindeer in Christmas promotion

There’s no Donner, no Blitzen and no Rudolph in Gap’s latest social media promotion, but there’s plenty of offers.

The clothing retailer, working with digital agency AKQA, has unleashed an admittedly odd campaign that tracks eight real reindeer (not the flying kind) in a pasture in Lake Crystal, Minn.

The reindeer, which are equipped with GPS, compete in various “contests” including tests for who moves the farthest, fastest, slowest or closest to the North Pole on a particular day. Each one is connected to a different deal. Emma, for instance, will get you 40% off your whole purchase. Chloe will get you all accessories in store for $5 each.

Fans are encouraged to give their preferred reindeer a boost with supported tweets.

JCPenney Sets Up Shop on Facebook

JCPenney has set up shop on Facebook, allowing consumers to buy the company’s clothes and tell their friends about it.

The retailer worked with Usablenet on the site, which also lets users “like,” share and review products.

JCPenney currently has 1.3 million fans on Facebook. The company moved closer to Facebook integration in October when it began running Facebook “like” buttons in its banner ads.

JCPenney’s not the first retailer to sell its wares on the world’s largest social networking site. 1-800-Flowers started offering Facebook-based transactions last year and in August, Delta Airlines began letting users book tickets from its Page. Procter & Gamble also runs an e-commerce site on the network.

Check out the site:
http://www.facebook.com/jcpenney?v=app_174296685928910#!/jcpenney?v=app_174296685928910

Todd Wasserman for Mashable

Visa's Local Deals on the iPhone

Visa has announced that its official iPhone application is available for free in the iTunes App Store. It’s completely in step with other popular consumer apps, as it’s heavy on deals and location-based technology.

Each user automatically receives customized offers, which are stored in the app and can be redeemed online or in brick-and-mortar stores. The app gives its users a handy map and directions for locating retail outlets where they can redeem their offers, and it will also help Visa cardholders find nearby ATMs.

At launch, Visa is working with about 50 hand-picked retailers to bring special deals to Visa account holders via the Visa iPhone app. Participating merchants currently include 24 Hour Fitness, Meineke, New York & Company, Holiday Inn, Hard Rock Café and Zales.

As far as customization goes, users will be able to select from a handful of categories to tailor the offers they get; verticals include purchases such as clothing, jewelry, travel, dining, entertainment and other retail goods.

And account holders with Visa Signature cards will get extra special offers in addition to the offers available to all Visa account holders.

While we were expecting something a bit less trendy and a bit more techie from the credit card company — something like what Visa did for New York City subway riders, perhaps — Visa’s first official iPhone app is a decent starting point.

Jolie O'Dell for Mashable

144 days of Christmas

by Helen Cowley

Is it me or does Christmas descend upon us earlier every year? By mid October, I’d seen Santa Claus fighting for shelf space with the grim reaper, hampers disguising themselves as cauldrons and fairy floss being attacked by fairy lights. By the time Halloween actually came around, kitsch glittery trees were already adorning the stores and shopping centers.

In the UK, Selfridges opened their Christmas shop on August 2nd, the earliest ever in their history. In mid-summer (well, if you can call it that, you know, those 2 hours of sunshine that hit in early August?), they were selling everything from pine trees, crackers, paint-your-own baubles and jingle bells to a £500 life-size donkey. Naturally, no home would be complete without one!

And here, Telstra launched its 55 days of Christmas campaign online on November 1st offering customers a free (and somewhat random) gift each day by opening a window on the calendar - at the same time cross-promoting one of their products.
So are people really in the mindset to be planning Christmas so early? Well the truth is no, but ‘Christmas theatre’ does a great job of injecting much needed retail experience into stores a lot earlier, whether we like our ghouls and gold in the manger or not.


This year more than ever, that theatre will be paramount to pull people in off the streets and away from ‘the global store’. As the Aussie dollar flutters around parity with the US dollar, more and more purchases are being made online. In fact johnlewis.co.uk took more money online last year (£327M) than its largest flagship store on Oxford Street London (£320M). Now, with David Jones offering e-commerce in time for Christmas, it will be interesting to see how the impact of the Internet affects their revenue split post January.

It’s not hard to see why online Christmas shopping is becoming so popular, not only are people becoming excessively time poor but many retailers are also offering incredibly attractive shipping deals. In fact, it was the 2 words ‘FREE SHIPPING” that helped save Christmas in the US last year.

I read an article recently stating that for every US cent increase in the Aussie dollar, there is roughly an additional one percent volume paid through Paypal. Which means that Australian retailers will be fighting harder than ever this year for a share of the Christmas pudding.

And of course all of this is great for consumers. Suddenly the array of gift ideas for her has flourished into a world of Victoria’s Secrets undies, Louboutin heels and Beckham bags. Better still, we’re able to expand our casual repertoire of socks and jocks for dad into Abercrombie and Fitch t-shirts, FCUK pants and Best Buy gadgets. Even if he doesn’t appreciate any of it, at least you’ll be paying a fraction of the price you might pay for brands on our own shores.

Undoubtedly this is going to have a huge impact on Australian retail. With both Westfield and the high street stores enticing us into buying our Christmas gifts from them, it’s going to take more than plastic trees and Cliff Richard’s rendition of ‘Ding Dong Merrily On High’ to make us part with our hard earned cash. In fact, this year more than ever, stores are really going to have to step it up a notch and provide more excitement, more innovative displays and better deals.

I guess that kind of thing happening at any time of the year is a good thing, so perhaps I’ll just have to accept that bats, cats and witches’ hats are going to be forming part of the nativity scene from hereon in.

FaceBook Deals takes over Times Square

American Eagle Outfitters became the first retailer to make use of Facebook's Places on such a grand scale. This Thanksgiving weekend they took over Times Square to show off their special Facebook Deals. From now until December 14th AEO are offering $10 off AE Jeans by checking into any American Eagle store on Facebook Places!

A number of other retailers also jumped on the bandwagon for the festive period with smaller deals including:

Southwest Airlines donating $1 per check in towards air travel to the Make-a-Wish Foundation when you check in on Facebook Places.

The Hard Rock Café are donating $1 to WhyHunger to fight childhood hunger and poverty worldwide.

JC Penney are offering $10.00 off $50.00 purchases towards an assortment of merchandise and services when you Check in.

H&M are offering the first 2000 check-ins 20% off any item of choice.

Starbucks are donating $1.00 per check-in to Conservation International to help protect 5,000 acres of forest.

24 Hour Fitness are donating $1.00 to KaBOOM! for every person who checks in using Facebook Places.

The North Face are donate $1.00 to the National Park Foundation for every individual who checks-in at one of America's nearly 400 national parks or visits a The North Face retail location.

REI are supporting local conservation efforts, each time you check in at an REI store, REI will donate $1 to a local nonprofit.

The Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas are offering to extend your stay for one extra night at no cost when you check-in. If you can't stay the extra night, receive a room upgrade.

TAO and LAVO, Las Vegas are offering complimentary admission for you and one guest on your next visit.

Harrah's are ffering a number of Deals at its various properties for people who check in at each location including:

• Bally's: buy one Jubilee! ticket and get one free.
• Paris Las Vegas: buy one Eiffel Tower Ride pass and get one free.
• Rio: get free admission to the VooDoo Lounge.
• The Flamingo Las Vegas: buy one Paradise Garden Buffet and get one free.
• O'Sheas Las Vegas: buy one drink at the Dublin Up Bar and get one free.
• Harrah's Las Vegas: buy one Flavors Buffet and get one free.
• The Imperial Palace: buy one Emperor's Buffet and get one free.
• Caesars Palace: buy one Lago Buffet and get one free.
• Planet Hollywood: buy one Spice Market Buffet and get one free.

What's interesting is that many of these retailers are opting to donate to charities with their offer. This notion of giving, especially at this time of year is very poignant to their brand values and one that customers connect with in an ongoing relationship rather than simply, have 10% off your next purchase.

It's only a matter of time until Facebook Deals starts up in Australia and then we can have some fun...