Final answer:
Ashley's is using direct marketing to target customers by sending messages about new arrivals and special offers, along with their website address, without waiting for customer inquiries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ashley's, the popular apparel store mentioned in the student's question, is employing a marketing strategy known as direct marketing. This is a form of communication with customers that involves reaching out proactively through various channels without the customers initiating the request.
The key features of this strategy include sending messages regarding new arrivals, special offers, and including the store's website address, which enables the convenience of browsing and shopping online. This resembles the marketing approach used by companies such as L.L. Bean, which successfully sells its products through mail, telephone, and its website, mitigating issues of imperfect information with a strong reputation for quality and a money-back guarantee. In the context of apparel stores like Ashley's, direct marketing serves to build a relationship with customers, keep them informed, and encourage repeat business and customer loyalty.