Retail Round Up: How Puppies Sell Product & Retail Leads the Way for Digital Ad Spending

Who doesn’t love a soft, squishy puppy? When it comes to marketing your store on social media, just add a pup to attract clicks!  It’s what luxury retailer Bergdorf Goodman is doing to promote handbags in their new #Barkdorfs campaign. Tip: make sure the puppy is clean and dry before photographing it sitting on a Givenchy bag. (Luxury Daily)

When it comes to digital ad spending, retailers are leading the way. They understand that consumers are turning to an array of devices to make shopping more convenient, and their advertising strategy shows: in 2015, retailers will spend nearly twice as much as any other industry on mobile ads. (eMarketer)

Small stores are winning big. Wal-Mart stores haven’t been performing well lately, but their smaller “neighborhood” outposts are. The small urban shops have been outperforming the U.S. unit’s overall sales. The company is also boosting wages and seeks to increase the quality of the goods for sale. (CNBC)

Balmain’s designer Olivier Roustig has made the brand hotter than ever, especially with his friends, the Jenner and Kardashian sisters, rocking the line. He’s not the first designer to collaborate with H&M, but they’re hyping up the collection in a new way: by revealing it at the Billboard Music Awards. Will the hashtag #HMBalmaination take off? (The New York Times)

It’s no secret that fast fashion moguls like H&M, Forever 21, and Zara have drastically changed the retail landscape. Find out what draws consumers in and what the future holds for all types of retailers. (Forbes)