| October 18, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | | - Hobby Lobby CEO discusses the key to holiday success
 After Hobby Lobby's rapid expansion in its earliest days in the 1970s, CEO and founder David Green has learned to go slow to minimize debt and maximize business success. In an interview, Green discusses Hobby Lobby's 6% increase in sales in 2009 in spite of a weak economy. "During weak economies the crafting industry usually does well. In addition to people making their own gifts, there is a group of people who will also sell their crafts and projects to supplement their income," said Green. NRF Blog (10/18)       - Anthropologie to debut accessories concept this month
Anthropologie plans to open its first accessories-only store this month, in Chevy Chase, Md. The 1,400-square-foot shop will open around the corner from an existing Anthropologie store, and will feature an assortment that's heavily focused on shoes. In addition, the shop will boast the company's first collections of antique and estate jewelry. The company also said it is eyeing Texas, Nashville and Chicago as potential locations for its first wedding store. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (10/18) - FAO Schwarz debuts rebranding in time for the holidays
FAO Schwarz has unveiled a new logo this month, leading up to the holiday season launch of its "Legendary Christmas Collection." The new branding will be on display on the company's website as well as at its Fifth Avenue flagship and in dedicated sections of Toys R Us stores nationwide. Toys R Us acquired FAO Schwarz last year. InternetRetailer.com (10/15) - Grocers cope with cost-cutter shopping patterns
Since the onset of the recession, consumers have increased the number of stores they shop each week as they search out the best deals on groceries. Retailers including Safeway and New Seasons have responded to the challenge in shifting shopping patterns by introducing low-price deals on grocery staples in an effort to persuade customers to buy more items in one place. The Oregonian (Portland) (10/16)  | Mobile barcodes make traditional media both interactive and measurable. When consumers scan these barcodes with their mobile devices, they are immediately connected to the web where they can view videos, coupons, and more. Want to learn more about mobile barcodes? Sign up for a FREE webinar today. | - Department stores shift back into growth mode
 Department store chains are celebrating the post-recession return of shoppers by shifting into expansion mode, with chains including Target, J.C. Penney and Kohl's announcing new store openings, writes BNET's Carol Tice. The markets they're choosing may serve as a bellwether for the recovery, she writes. "When big retailers place big bets on new stores, it's usually based on a lot of market research that indicates where the economy is turning around." BNET/Retail Reality Check blog (10/15) - Retail experts to keep watch on gift cards this season
The practical nature of gift cards may make them more popular with newly frugal gift buyers this holiday season, but deep discounts on merchandise may lure cash-conscious consumers away from cards, experts say. Gift card sales have been on the decline since the recession started, according to NRF figures, with 22% of consumers saying the plastic pieces are too impersonal. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (10/15)  | Supercharging the Online Channel
Getting to the right shoppers and then converting them to buyers in your online store is every retailer's key objective. Short purchase windows, impatient buyers, and new mandates around security are creating unprecedented demands on commerce sites. Learn how to attract customers to your site, optimize their online shopping experience and drive more transactions. Watch the webinar NOW! |
 - Some small merchants shutter brick-and-mortar stores to focus online
More small merchants in the Allentown, Pa., area are closing their stores and moving the business online, part of a national trend that's growing with the popularity of online shopping. Some experts say that while online may be a viable option for people who know what they want and are strictly focused on price, brick-and-mortar stores will continue to be popular among shoppers looking for service and immediacy. The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) (10/17)  | In any industry, operational excellence revolves around key business outcomes including productivity, cost control, and quality of service. For retailers, all of these outcomes are highly, if not entirely, dependent on the quality of the workforce and how it is managed. Find out what challenges retailers are facing, and what a workforce management solution can do for your bottom line. |
 | Hot Topics |  | | | Top five news stories selected by NRF SmartBrief readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
| NRF News | | | |  | - Looking for just one great idea to boost holiday sales? We've got 40.
Though most holiday plans are already set in stone, there's still wiggle room for that one great idea. On Oct. 27, join Shop.org and some of the most well-respected companies in e-commerce for an engaging, rapid-fire webinar featuring 40 ideas and tips to help you improve search engine optimization, conversion and social marketing. Open to NRF and Shop.org members only. Learn more. |
- NRF SmartStat: Oct. 18, 2010
 After the first year of enactment of a value-added tax, U.S. retail spending would decline by almost $260 billion, or 5%. Source: NRF report compiled by Ernst & Young - Give us 15 minutes. Win an iPad.
The survey completion deadline for Retail Horizons, NRF's most illustrious industry benchmarking report, has been extended to Oct. 22. Retail department heads, take 15 minutes to complete your section of the survey and you'll automatically be entered to win an iPad. Retailers who complete the report will also receive a customized company report with key metrics to compare their company against the industry standard. Learn more.
- Domino's debuts Wisconsin 6 with new TV campaign
Domino's has launched a national ad campaign aimed at introducing the pizza chain's first new product of 2010 and offering consumers a glimpse at the origins of the company's food. The Wisconsin 6 pizza boasts six cheeses, and new TV spots launched last week feature some of the dairy farms that produce the ingredients. The campaign, which is part of a partnership with Dairy Management Inc., also includes an interactive site called "Behind the Pizza." PizzaMarketplace.com (10/14)  | Good pair of shoes? Or a great career?
Forgo that new pair of shoes and put your hard earned money toward finding a satisfying career. Tap into the practical advice and proven strategies of 20 of the best recruiters, coaches, columnists and experts at the fully online Career Summit 2010. The first of 13 sessions starts on 10/26. Register today! | | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  Inventory Control Analyst | Castle Megastore Group | Tempe, AZ | | Key Account Manager- Internet | Chanel Inc | New York, NY | | Branch Head, Field Operations | Headquarters Marine Corps/Marine Corps Exchanges | Quantico, VA | | Merchandising Branch Head | Headquarters Marine Corps/Marine Corps Exchanges | Quantico, VA | | Category Manager - Own Brands (Food & Consumables) | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | Division Merchandise Manager | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | Human Resources Manager | Neiman Marcus | Dallas, TX | | Product Development Foods Associate | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Merchandise Planner - Emblematic Apparel and Gifts, U.S. Stores | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Foods Product Development Associate Sourcing Manager | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Foods Product Development Sourcing Manager | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Senior Merchandise Planner - Emblematic Apparel and Gifts, U.S. Stores | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Senior Planner | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Director of Stores | Confidential | Los Angeles, CA | | Lead Business Systems Analyst - CRM | Chico's FAS, Inc. | Fort Myers, FL | | Senior Retail Marketing Manager | Cabela's | Sidney, NE | | Manager of Associate Relations | Chico's FAS, Inc. | Fort Myers, FL | | Buyer/Merchant (Foods Merchandising) | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Inventory Accountant - Intermediate | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Branch Head Logistics & Communication | Headquarters Marine Corps/Marine Corps Exchanges | Quantico, VA | | Head of eCommerce Operations | Crate and Barrel | Northbrook, IL | | Controller | Pacific Gateway Concessions | South San Francisco, CA | | Website Analyst | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | | |  | |  | |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | It has been said that the love of money is the root of all evil. The want of money is so quite as truly."
--Samuel Butler,
British author  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com | | | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Friday, October 15, 2010
- Thursday, October 14, 2010
- Wednesday, October 13, 2010
- Tuesday, October 12, 2010
- Monday, October 11, 2010
| | | Lead Editor: Megan Conniff
Contributing Editor: Faye Rapoport
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | | | | | | © 1999-2010 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please comment thoughtfully CPG Brokers, your best resource to optimize your in store self exposure and maximize sku distribution.