Best Buy

Best Buy is linking together email and mobile with an interactive web-based game as the next big marketing push for its recently revamped loyalty program. The big-box retailer recently sent out an email message thanking its loyalty members for shopping this holiday season. The email also included a link to a mobile and desktop game that encourages consumers to stay plugged into the My Best Buy loyalty program year-round. "When Best Buy launched My Best Buy last year, we promised our members richer experiences and more mobile," said Jeremy Baier, spokesman at Best Buy.

Best Buy recently launched a new magazine called Best Buy Life & Tech at its stores in Canada. The magazine focuses on technology trends and lifestyle stories. The 76-page premier issue, which arrived at stores in time for the holiday shopping season, includes an article on gift ideas, a comparison of the new PS4 and Xbox One gaming consoles, and a Q&A with actress Kristen Wiig.

Samsung may have something new in store for its battle with Apple: a new take on the retail store itself. Former Apple Store designer Tim Gudgel is a new Samsung employee according to The Information, as the company is reportedly considering "a deeper investment in U.S. retail." Samsung currently takes a different approach than that of Apple when it comes to product retailing. Instead of costly dedicated stores, Samsung has pop-up areas in shopping malls and dedicated areas in Best Buy locations. The hiring of Gudgel signals a possible change in that strategy. 

In a unique holiday move, Best Buy will host a shoppable Google+ hangout on "Last Minute Deals" tonight. For those who don't know, a Google+ hangout is a video chat done through the Google+ social networking website. It enables up to 10 people to interact and share documents, images and videos with each other, and it can be broadcast for others to view. People who RSVP for Best Buy's hangout will be able to watch a group of tech enthusiasts talk about last-minute gift ideas. And they'll even be able to shop for the products as they're being discussed. 

As the holiday season swings into gear so does competitive shopping, with consumers scoping out merchandise in physical stores and then comparison shopping for the lowest price on their mobile device, dubbed "showrooming." In an effort to combat or "embrace" this phenomenon, some retailers, led by Best Buy, have implemented strategies including price matching to convert more shoppers into buyers. Nobody is winning in this new game — not manufacturers, retailers or consumers.

It appears the biggest retail fail this holiday season is brands not having websites optimized for tablets. Examples include Best Buy and Sony Style. While both brands saw a lot of traffic from smartphones, IBM reports the brands are missing a bigger sales opportunity by not offering a tablet-optimized version of its site, providing a…

The shoppers stream in, unrelenting. Store clerks bravely hold their positions and get hit with a barrage of questions. Why don't I see the Galaxy S4? Will you match this price on the iPad 2? Pandemonium, and it's not even Black Friday yet. But this pandemonium is planned. It's dress-rehearsal day at Best Buy. The shoppers actually are store employees, doing their best to rattle colleagues. After all, if you can't deal with 130 co-workers creating faux havoc, how are you going to survive the real masses swarming in to kick off the holiday-season buying spree at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving?

Promotional cards offer the same benefits of other redeemable cards, yet with no stored value and the flexibility to set expiration dates and usage limitations. With the right strategies, it's possible to capitalize on complimentary cards to increase sales. Here are four top promotional card campaigns to incorporate into your redeemable card program:

Retailers are battling Amazon.com this holiday season by turning storefronts into mini distribution hubs. USA Today reports that companies such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Gap are offering "ship from store" services. The tactic speeds delivery with shorter delivery routes and saves retailers money. "This is the most important thing that will change physical retailers…

Amazon.com has raised its free shipping minimum order to $35. The change came after a decade of free shipping to U.S. addresses on a minimum order of $25 on Amazon's site. It took effect Tuesday, just ahead of the holiday shopping season, according to Amazon Spokeswoman Julie Law. Amazon now finds itself in the mid-range of major retailers that offer free shipping on online orders. Wal-Mart and Target offer free shipping on many purchases of over $50, while Best Buy's minimum order is $25. Earlier this year, Amazon warned that its shipping costs were going to increase during the holiday season.