 | December 9, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Toy shoppers stick to their lists
Consumers whose gift-shopping lists include toys and games are heading out to the stores determined to buy the exact items on their list at the lowest possible price, according to a study from NPD Group. A majority of buyers know exactly what toys they want to buy, most of them know where they plan to buy them, and 42% say they would head to another store rather than pick a different toy if the one they seek is out of stock. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (12/8)       - How are pricey holiday windows paying off?
Department stores long have had a tradition of decking out their flagship store windows with ever-more-innovative holiday displays, often spending hundreds of thousands on efforts that likely attract many more gawkers than shoppers. These days, stores may see a payoff in bigger brand buzz driven by bloggers and social media sites that post photos and descriptions to readers around the world. MSNBC (12/8) - Customized gifts move way beyond monogrammed towels
A growing number of retailers and manufacturers are meeting customer demand for personalized gifts, from upscale shoe seller Allen Edmonds where shoppers design their own footwear, to Create-A-Mattress' custom-ordered mattresses complete with a personal message stitched on. USA TODAY (12/7)  | Residents of Top Rung neighborhoods are always in style, preferring to shop at retailers such as Nordstrom and Macy's. They also shop online and are avid readers. How can you find this type of customer? Esri Business Analyst Online enables you to identify your best customers and find more like them. Check out the free Esri ZIP Code Lookup tool. | - Wal-Mart to cut extra Sunday pay for new employees next year
Wal-Mart said it will phase out the additional $1 per hour it pays to staffers when they work Sunday shifts, as the practice of paying extra for Sunday is declining throughout the industry. The change will take effect next year for workers hired after Jan. 1, and won't affect stores in Rhode Island or Massachusetts, where state law requires retailers to pay 1.5 times the hourly rate on Sunday. The Washington Post/Bloomberg (12/8) - H&M to open its largest store this weekend
The largest H&M store in the world is slated to open Saturday in Las Vegas, in a three-story, 55,000-square-foot space that used to house an FAO Schwarz store. The Las Vegas flagship at the Forum Shops at Caesars will be one of a handful of U.S. stores to sell H&M's exclusive new limited-edition Lanvin clothing line. Las Vegas Sun (12/8) - Converse to open retail stores
Nike-owned sneaker brand Converse is moving into retail with the debut of its first stores in Boston and New York's SoHo neighborhood last month. The 102-year-old company spent five years developing and honing the retail concept, which it plans to expand by five or six stores next year. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (12/9) - Home Depot ends the year with more optimistic outlook
Home Depot raised its 2010 earnings guidance this week, buoyed by better-than-expected November sales and signs that consumers are starting to spend more on home-improvement projects. The company also said it plans to spend on capital projects and open 10 new stores next year. CNBC (12/8)  | |  | | | Multichannel Retailing 2010: Facts, Issues, and Opportunities for Growth.
Most retailers operate with a combination of stores, websites and other channels. But what is really being achieved with the extension of multichannel retailing, and which challenges and opportunities do you need to address now to stay competitive in 2011? Find out with this free, in-depth market research. | |  |  |  |
- Christmas card sales decline in the digital age
Fewer consumers sent Christmas cards last year, a move many see as the start of a generational shift away from traditional paper holiday greetings. "People are up to date all the time on Facebook," said Kit Yarrow, a professor who studies the Gen Y culture. "Gen Yers are notorious for not sending thank you notes and not RSVPing. I just think that method of communication is foreign to them. And that doesn't bode well for the future of holiday cards." Chicago Tribune (12/9)  | 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! |
 - Macy's creates magic mirror that reflects digital realities
 Macy's newest gadget is gaining attention among shoppers at the chain's Manhattan flagship, as part of the department store's efforts to cater to digitally savvy shoppers. The "magic" mirror takes a picture of the shopper, then allows her to virtually try on the store's fashions and send photos of her favorites for comments from friends via e-mail, text and Facebook postings. TMCNet.com (12/8)  | You're out of the office, meeting with clients and vendors, all while balancing work and life. Sometimes even a laptop just isn't practical. The RUN Powered by ADP® mobile payroll app helps you manage payroll anytime — quickly and easily — from any location. Choose ADP® and get a $300 Apple® Gift Card. |
 | Main Street |  | | | - What you'll need to pass SBA muster
Banks are once again offering loans backed by the Small Business Administration, but even a federal guarantee doesn't mean the decision is easy. Lenders want to see detailed spending plans, management's résumés and full financial data, writes Rachel Zippwald, a vice president at California Bank & Trust. Also, she advises, be prepared to explain your projections, defend your credit score and answer plenty of questions. Reuters/Entrepreneurial blog (12/3) - 3 tips for keeping your shift workers healthy and safe
Rotating- or night-shift workers are more likely to be injured on the job, a University of British Columbia study found. Researchers also found that women were at greater risk, probably because of home and child-care duties. Employers can reduce the chance of accidents by allowing employees to take naps, reducing overtime hours and encouraging workers to develop healthy habits off the job, says Bill Sirois, chief operating officer of Circadian. SHRM Online (12/2)  | |  | | The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
Stay "On the Pulse" of Holiday Online Shoppers
Track online shopping activity with the Cyber Holiday Pulse Index, exclusively from Chase Paymentech. Get actual online payment transaction data - not estimations. Discover key shopping dates for better promotional planning and gain insight into consumer spending habits. Follow the Pulse Index here
In "How The Vitamin Shoppe Answered the Inventory Question," Tony Truesdale (President & Chief Merchant) and Jason Scheffer (Director of Inventory) discuss how the company quickly raised turn & in-stocks while also reducing working capital needs prior to The Vitamin Shoppe's successful IPO in October '09 — the first retailer to do so in almost two years.
Interested in learning more about advertising in NRF SmartBrief? Contact Susan W. Kim at (202) 407-7877 or skim@smartbrief.com.  | |  | |  |
| NRF News | | | | - Popularity of gift receipts increases for holiday shoppers
Gift givers will try to make the returns process a little easier for their loved ones this year, as six in 10 holiday shoppers say they will provide a gift receipt most or some of the time when giving a gift. According to a recent NRF survey, nine out of 10 Americans also said they find store return policies to be fair. Read more. - Window displays vs. a personalized online shopping experience -- who wins?
While some may argue that festive storefronts have an edge over visuals on the Web, websites actually have the upper hand, argues eBags co-founder Peter Cobb. The bells and whistles that accompany store window displays can be costly, he says, and more personalized options can be achieved online at a fraction of the cost, he says. "Being able to tailor creative and offerings to online shoppers is a big reason why e-commerce will continue to steal retail market share." Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - McRib relaunch pays off for McDonald's
The highly publicized limited-time return of McDonald's cult classic McRib sandwich in November contributed to a 4.9% sales boost for the month. In addition to the McRib-led pop in November, growing demand for the chain's McCafe premium coffee drinks has led to several months of sales growth this year. Los Angeles Times/Money & Company blog (12/8) | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | |  |  Director of eCommerce | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween/ToyZam! | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Director, Guest Services | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween/ToyZam! | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Manager, Web Merchandising Intelligence | Kohl's Corporate Offices | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Director of Marketing and Licensing | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Merchandise Planner | Kohl's Corporate Offices | Milwaukee, WI | | VP of Marketing | Teavana | Atlanta - Buckhead, GA | | Buyer - Ladies Apparel - Special Sizes | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, FL | | Senior Software Engineer | Bass Pro Shops | Springfield, MO | | Store Technology Leader | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Regional Manager Development Program | Follett Higher Education Group | Multiple Locations, United States | | Retail Construction Project Manager | Teavana | Atlanta, GA | | Director of Field Construction | Rent-A-Center | Plano, TX | | Manager, Home Office Human Resources (Recruitment & Employee Relations) | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Planogram Specialist (Temporary not to exceed 2 Years) | Headquarters Marine Corps/ Marine Corps Exchange | Quantico, VA | | Assistant Category Manager - Reader's Market | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | Business Process Analyst | QVC | West Chester, PA | | Legal Counsel | Kohl's | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Branch Head/Field Operations (Marine Corps Exchanges) | Headquarters/MCCS | Quantico Marine Corps Base, VA | | | |  | |  |
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Black Friday weekend shoppers spent an average of $365.34 this year, up from $343.31 in 2009. Source: 
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