D.e.m.o. is trying to lure online shoppers this holiday season with its “Ring in the Bling” sweepstakes.
The urban-style clothing chain, part of Anaheim-based Pacific Sunwear of California Inc., is playing up the promotion on its Web site.
A pop-up window appears on the screen, where shoppers can fill out a form for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree at the chain.
D.e.m.o. has been looking to boost sales growth under Lou Ann Bett, president of the unit who came onboard in May.
The chain targets people aged 16 to 25 with music-inspired clothing, including Sean “P.Diddy” Combs’ “Sean John” and Russell Simmons’ “Phat Farm” lines.
Bett already has spearheaded several changes, including launching the Web site, which is offering free shipping on orders of $125 and more, and tweaking the chain’s men’s and women’s lines.
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D.e.m.o. sweepstakes: looking to grow urban clothing sales |
D.e.m.o.’s same-store sales rose 2.7% in October and 4% in September. The unit’s same-store sales in the second quarter were up only 0.4%.
It’s not the heady gains of years past, though. The unit posted a 21% jump in same-store sales in 2003 and grew at a 6% pace in 2004.
This fall, the d.e.m.o unit tweaked its clothing line for guys. The unit offered garb in more masculine colors, such as navy and gray, and a wider selection of polo shirts.
The guys division has seen its struggles, with sales dropping 12% for the three months ended July 30 after a 9.1% drop in the previous quarter.
Girls apparel, on the other hand, has been hot. The division’s sales were up 21% for the three months ended July 30 after a 20% jump in the previous period.
D.e.m.o. has been playing to the ladies by adding more apparel, including new lingerie and perfume by Baby Phat.
The chain also recently launched a new brand called Akademiks Ladies, which includes jeans, sweatshirts and jackets. D.e.m.o. already has a men’s version of the brand.
In other news, Pacific Sunwear recently got a new chief operating officer, Wendy E. Burden.
Burden, 52, comes from Victoria Secret Stores, a unit of Limited Brands Inc., where she spent six years. Most recently, she
was vice president of business strategy and operations.
Prior to the Limited, Burden spent 18 years with PepsiCo Inc.
Fish Wrap
Fishbone Marketing Inc. recently moved to bigger digs in Newport Beach.
The 3-year-old shop, formerly in Irvine, has been “on a new business tear,” according to Chief Executive Nathan James.
“Having just arrived in our new digs, we already foresee needing more space within a few months,” James said.
Fishbone plans to hire one to three more workers by the end of the year, James said.
The shop has 10 workers, eight of which are in Orange County and the others at an office in Albuquerque, N.M.
Fishbone recently nabbed some new work from National Medical Registry Inc. in San Clemente and Q Staffing Services in Irvine. The shop also is doing pro bono assignments for the OC chapter of the American Electronics Association.
“Based both on our background and our commitment to OC, we target the industries that dominate our home turf: automotive and automotive aftermarket, technology, chain restaurants, finance and real estate,” James said.
The OC shop is getting ready to shoot new television spots in January for Australian client Barbeques Galore Inc., which has its U.S. offices in Lake Forest and recently agreed to be bought by private equity firm Ironbridge Capital.
The commercials likely will be shot in Scottsdale, James said.
He declined to give specifics on the creative but said the commercials will “show an entirely new way of looking at grills.”
Cluck Cluck
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A Inc. continues to grow in OC.
The chicken fast-food restaurant chain recently opened a new location in Santa Ana. Folks lined up in the early morning to walk away with some free food.
Chick-fil-A handed out some $26,000 in food to the first 100 people in line. Freebies included a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A combo meals.
The location is part of Chick-fil-A’s plan to open about 75 restaurants in California during the next five years.
The company is slated to open restaurants in Long Beach and Murrieta in the next few months.
