Branding

Brooks Brothers, the "Makers and Merchants" of fine American suits and ties since 1818, is turning its talents on another Yankee Doodle favorite — steak. The legendary apparel emporium plans to launch a huge steakhouse, branded "Makers and Merchants," at 11 E. 44th St., around the corner from its flagship store at 346 Madison Ave., sources told the New York Post. The beefery will take over the three levels that Brooks Brothers acquired from J. Press in 2008 and used for several years for its women's line. 

There's a sense of alternate reality built in to each of URBN Inc.'s (owner of Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, BDLHN and Terrain) stores. Now URBN is taking this experience to the next level by building a branded village where ladies (and men) can live its ethereal lifestyle and buy it, too. Our sister site Racked Philly reports that the company purchased 6.5 acres in Devon, Pa. (about 30 minutes outside the heart of Philadelphia as the Google Maps flies) onto which they plan to erect a Terrain garden center, an Anthropologie, a boutique hotel, a couple farm-to-table restaurants, and more.

Luxury brands by their nature must approach digital marketing in a far different manner than brands that appeal to the masses. This includes everything from targeting to customer service. Luxury brands must be able to take the services their customers expect in-store and provide them in the digital space.

Last year, Best Buy's stock price was at its lowest point in nine years. Sales were plummeting while former CEO Brian Dunn was covered in a shroud of shame due to his unethical relationship with a female employee. However, the summer of 2013 brought about some good news for the struggling electronics chain. Best Buy posted its first profit in a year, with earnings skyrocketing to

After years of being the place "where the pets go" and subsequently "where the healthy pets go," Petco is updating its tagline and embarking on a company transformation intended to make it a destination that's about more than just products and services. The new tagline, "The Power of Together," is meant to highlight the human-animal bond. Or more simply put: "There's a desire to see pets as part of the family," said Elizabeth Charles, Petco's chief marketing officer. "They're no longer in the backyard, they're up in the bedroom."

Consumer expectations have changed significantly in recent years; the advent of mobile, online and social channels have seen to that. Rakuten has grown from a niche e-commerce player to a global online marketplace in just 16 years. In that time we've learned a few things about how to ensure online success for retailers in an ever-competitive climate. Consider the following five steps:

Climate change. Resource scarcity. Pollution. Human rights. These are some of the most pressing issues facing business today. They're also some of the most difficult for consumers to relate to, let alone orient their lives around. According to a recent report from The World Economic Forum and Accenture, sustainability is in desperate need of a makeover. Despite millions of dollars spent marketing the concept over the past decade, only 28 people of people know what terms such as "sustainable," "responsible," "eco friendly" and "green" really mean, and just 44 percent say they trust green claims coming from big brands. 

Hollister Co., a division of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., is partnering with Keds, a division of Wolverine Worldwide, to release an exclusive line that features signature Hollister patterns on Keds-brand sneakers. The exclusive Hollister + Keds sneakers will be available only at HollisterCo.com, but will be on display inside Hollister stores so shoppers can get a closer look.

Conversion and acquisition are key metrics to any lucrative business, but mastering the art of retention is the ultimate indicator of success. Why does retention matter you ask? Eighty percent of future revenue comes from just 20 percent of existing customers! While it certainly can be a challenge, it's possible to transform customers into brand advocates in three steps with the help of customer loyalty programs.

In the second and final part of this interview with Beth Guastella, the recently named president and COO of giggle, a specialty retaile