 | December 15, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Credit-card fee reform makes list of 2010 lobbying victories
Businesses and trade organizations had several significant victories in Washington this year, including NRF's successful fight to limit the credit-card interchange fees that merchants pay to banks. NRF prevailed despite heavy lobbying against the measure by banks and credit unions. The Hill (12/14)       - NRF and others boost holiday shopping outlook
NRF and other groups increased their projections for holiday sales growth after the Commerce Department reported higher-than-expected November retail sales on Tuesday. Higher incomes and increased consumer confidence have raised expectations for the season, and NRF now predicts a 3.3% increase in holiday sales, up from an earlier estimate of 2.3%. "The start to the holiday season has surpassed all expectations," said President and CEO Matthew Shay. He cautioned that sustained sales growth beyond the season depends on an improved employment picture. The Wall Street Journal (12/15) , The Washington Post (12/15) , Reuters (12/14) , Yahoo!/Reuters (12/14) - Sources: Zale explores sale of Piercing Pagoda
Zale reportedly is looking to sell its 680 mall-based Piercing Pagoda kiosks as part of an effort to focus resources on fine-jewelry operations at its Zales and Gordon's stores, which account for 85% of the company's revenue. Possible buyers for the brand include private equity firm Apollo Global Management. Bloomberg (12/14)  | Applying Social Data: 3 Best Practices
Learn what it takes to create a positive experience for both your users and your business.
Download a free whitepaper now. | - Retailers balance holiday discounts and profit margins
The need to drive traffic spurs merchants to offer deep holiday discounts, but retailers also have to protect their profit margins. Some find innovative ways to strike a balance, such as Saks, which is offering discounts on cashmere sweaters and fall fashions but is cutting the number of sale days and other promotions. Psychology comes into play for many. Studies have shown that shoppers perceive a better deal when they see higher prices on unrelated products and when promotional prices have a "9" on the end. The Wall Street Journal (12/15) - Luxury retailers report a return of full-price shoppers
Luxury retailers say sales are increasing for indulgences such as jewelry and handbags, and customers are paying full price again. High-end sales are expected to increase 7% this year over last, as luxury merchants end recession-era discounting as demand returns. That's an encouraging sign for the overall economy, which counts on wealthy consumers for a large share of consumer spending, economists say. Los Angeles Times (12/15) - Feds grab designer fakes in raids on Las Vegas vendors
Federal agents confiscated 4,300 designer knockoffs valued at $350,000 in Las Vegas last week, as part of an ongoing crackdown on counterfeit sales. Fakes included clothing, accessories and jewelry bearing 25 upscale brand names, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Rolex. Las Vegas Sun (12/14)  | Today's leading technologies provide new ways to solve old problems. See Joshua Jewett, SVP and CIO at Family Dollar discuss "Delivering Business Impact with SaaS." This NRFtech presentation describes how SaaS is a new tool in the IT arsenal and how Family Dollar quickly deployed a SaaS based inventory solution to drive significant results. | - American Apparel aims high with international Groupon offers
American Apparel plans to launch its first international Groupon offers with deals in Europe, Brazil and Mexico this week. The California-based clothing company said a pre-Thanksgiving national offer with the daily-deal site attracted 130,000 U.S. shoppers and contributed to the company's best-ever Cyber Monday sales. Reuters (12/14)  | |  | | | 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. | |  |  |  |
| NRF News |  | | | - Wal-Mart's divulges sales gains from in-store digital marketing
Campaign optimization, mobile integration and dynamic content have consistently delivered results for Wal-Mart. Attendees of Retail's BIG Show will learn how an interactive platform can increase sales, and how digital signs cause shoppers to deepen their engagement. Actual sales gains from optimization and technology will also be revealed for the first time. Retail's BIG Show centennial celebration takes place January 9-12, 2011 in New York City. Learn more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - McDonald's plans major growth in China
McDonald's plans to increase its investments in China significantly next year, opening 200 new stores and remodeling existing locations with its new European bistro look. McDonald's faces fierce competition from quickserve rivals including Yum! Brands' KFC, which has about 2,000 stores in China, compared with McDonald's 1,100. The Wall Street Journal (12/15) | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | |  |  Director, Guest Services | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween/ToyZam! | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Director of eCommerce | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween/ToyZam! | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Director of Marketing and Licensing | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween/Toyzam! | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Executive Vice President, Merchandising & Marketing | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Vice President of Strategic Planning | Rent-A-Center | Plano, TX | | 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 | | Assistant Category Manager - Reader's Market | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | Planogram Specialist (Temporary not to exceed 2 Years) | Headquarters Marine Corps/ Marine Corps Exchange | Quantico, VA | | 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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Almost a quarter of adults will purchase a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express gift card this year. Source: 
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