Social Savvy La Palmera Takes Cutting Edge Approach

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Published on Tuesday, 17 May 2011 22:53

SOCIAL SAVVY LA PALMERA TAKES CUTTING EDGE APPROACH
Launch of new website and smartphone apps part of successful social media push to increase sales

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (May 25, 2011) – Want to be a smarter shopper? There’s an app for that. And it’s just one of the ways La Palmera is continuing to connect with socially savvy consumers.

 “Our transformation didn’t end with the $50 million renovation,” said La Palmera General Manager Fred Walters. “We are continuing to find ways to invest and remain relevant with our shoppers through social media outlets, including a mobile optimized website, apps for smartphones, Facebook and Twitter campaigns and most recently, the launch of our new website.

 “The new site is more user-friendly and easier to navigate and we have added links to other features such as our Facebook page, the La Palmera YouTube channel, Twitter and Foursquare as well as our mobile site. We now utilize all of these to regularly communicate with our shoppers.”
 

   The new website also features a number of new La Palmera programs, including direct links for more information, enhancing the user experience.
•    Palmedia – Partnerships between La Palmera and businesses that include a blend of advertising, sponsorships and co-branding. Includes onsite advertising as well as program sponsorship, etc.
•    Palmarketplace – Customized short-term leasing opportunities for entrepreneurs or small businesses that may want to try selling their product in a retail setting. Includes kiosks, carts and storefront locations with a variety of terms.
•    Fashionably Responsible – Website and social media communications are more green than traditional print media. Utilizing these communication tools help La Palmera to be a better steward of the environment, along with it’s redesign to conform to U.S. Green Building Council guidelines to attain LEED certification.
•    La Palmera Cares -- La Palmera Cares was developed to assist in humanitarian efforts in the local community and beyond through fundraising and awareness. Using social media, such as text- donation campaigns in partnership with the American Red Cross, the program reflects the mission of parent company Trademark Property to be extraordinary stewards, enhance communities and enrich lives. Past efforts include working with the American Red Cross to raise funds for earthquake victims in Haiti, earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan as well as those recently hit by tornadoes here in the U.S. using similar outreach methods.

La Palmera’s new Shop Smart app for iPhone, Blackberry and Android model smartphones also continues to gain in popularity, with more than 2,400 downloads since it debuted at the first of the year. The app allows shoppers to customize their shopping experience as well as navigate a virtual map of the mall and see where sales, promotions and events are happening in real time. Shoppers without smartphones can rely on the La Palmera mobile site, which offers similar features.

The socially savvy theme is present in La Palmera’s marketing and advertising efforts as well. Corpus Christi-based ArtFly Advertising was recognized in the recent American Advertising Federation-Corpus Christi Chapter (AAF-CC) 2011 ADDY Awards Competition, taking home 10 awards including gold for the Shop Smart smartphone campaign and two golds for the “Transformation” video depicting La Palamera’s recent two-year $50 million make-over, which was distributed via the La Palmera YouTube channel at youtube.com/lapalmeracc.

“The iPhone app, the transformation video and the photography were very vivid and eye catching and the design, composition and art elements were just beautiful and very pleasing to the senses,” said Melody Harshbarger, a judge for the AAF-CC ADDY Awards. “ I think the overall look of the campaign was fantastic! I am not from the area, but if I was visiting I would definitely want to check out La Palmera.”

LA PALMERA
Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, La Palmera is a 1-million square foot super-regional mall with more than 100 retail and restaurant tenants including Dillard’s, JCPenney and Macy’s. Obtained in July 2008 by Trademark Property, La Palmera is the first mall to be LEED-CS pre-certified pursuing Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Following a $50 million renovation, the mall features a new outdoor main entrance featuring P.F. Chang’s and Grimaldi’s, 600-seat food court with a 4,500-gallon feature aquarium and a children’s ocean-themed play area. For more information on La Palmera, go to lapalmera.com or call (361) 991-5718.

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