  | January 14, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Retail chains expand commitments to signature causes
Three national retail chains began 2011 by extending their pledges to charitable causes. Kohl's plans to contribute $1.5 million over the next three years to Serving Up Supper for Kids, which feeds poor children in the summer. Wal-Mart pledged $1 million to fight hunger in Salt Lake City as part of an online contest, and Macy's created The Workshop at Macy's, an education program for minority- and women-owned businesses. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (1/13)       - Brooklyn Duane Reade drugstore boasts a beer bar
A new Duane Reade drugstore in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood also has a beer bar, which the chain added to appease residents who supported their local pharmacy and were gearing up to fight the chain's expansion. Clerks offer tastings of nine beers on tap and fill growlers -- refillable glass bottles -- that customers can buy to drink elsewhere. The New York Times (free registration) (1/13)  | Unsure how to respond on Facebook?
Download our free Whitepaper:
The Definitive Guide to Social Media Moderation and Publishing
With more than 700 status updates posted on Facebook per second, you need a game plan. Download Whitepaper |
 - Plaid, plaid and more plaid on tap for spring
Menswear designers and retail chains are adding more plaid options this spring, moving beyond brightly patterned men's shirts to coats, accessories and entire suits. Popular trends in menswear often have a longer life, because male shoppers tend to avoid drastic change, experts say. Menswear execs at chains such as Macy's and J. Crew say plaid may have peaked, and they're looking ahead to different kinds of patterns. The Wall Street Journal (1/13) - Retail sales and consumer prices both rose in December
Retail sales rose 0.6% in December from the previous month, the Commerce Department reported, slightly less than analysts expected. Consumer prices also rose in the December, driven largely by higher fuel prices, according to a Labor Department report. Gas prices rose 8.5%, the sixth consecutive month of rising prices at the pump. The Wall Street Journal (1/14)  | Develop an Information Agenda for your retail company. The IBM Information Agenda Guide for Retail outlines a practical, proven approach for turning a client's Information On Demand vision and strategy into reality. Download the complimentary guide and learn how information management solutions help companies establish and leverage trusted information to optimize business performance. |
 | NRF 100th Annual Convention & Expo |  |  | | |  | - NRF's 100th Big Show closes with glimpses of past and future
 The final panel of NRF's Big Show this week was moderated by Macy's CEO and NRF Chairman Terry Lundgren and featured a mix of brick-and-mortar and online retailers talking about the industry's past and future challenges. Crate & Barrel co-founder Gordon Segal said the most important decision his company made was to cut out middlemen early on and deal directly with manufacturers. "It was way too risky, but we were too young to recognize that risk," he said. The Oregonian (Portland) (1/13)  - Cisco study shows retailers within PCI standard
Ninety-two percent of retailers believe they are operating within the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, which protects cardholder transactions, according to a Cisco report. "Obviously retailers have to comply with PCI," said Fred Kost, director of security solutions marketing at Cisco. "But it's also clear that they're recognizing benefits from doing so, such as protecting their brand and ensuring that customers trust them." InternetRetailer.com (1/13)  | Drive company revenue by simplifying IT strategies.
Investments in IT are often seen as key to supporting core business operations. Microsoft Online Services offers technology solutions outfitted for small to mid-size companies that will free up resources and help employees focus on what matters most. Download this free whitepaper to find out more! |
| NRF News | | | | - Holiday sales rose 5.7% in 2010
December sales gains helped retailers beat holiday projections this year, as retail industry sales for December rose 5.3% unadjusted year-over-year. According to NRF, preliminary 2010 holiday sales, which combine the full months of November and December, rose 5.7% to $462 billion, surpassing NRF's forecast of 3.3%. Read more. - Zappos.com voted best in customer service for 2010
In a survey of 9,200 shoppers, appos.com took top honors in the sixth annual NRF Foundation/American Express Customers' Choice survey, conducted by BIGresearch. While many companies are not new to the list, Newegg (No. 10) jumped five spots to make the top 10 this year. View the top 10.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Starbucks sets its sights on the subcontinent
In a bid to break into India, Starbucks is embarking on a strategic partnership with Tata, the country's largest conglomerate. The companies will initially work together to source and export Indian coffee beans, but they hope the alliance will lead to the opening of retail stores, perhaps in Tata's chain of luxury hotels. "We've done a good job of that around the world and we have every intention of doing that here," said Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz. The Wall Street Journal (1/14) - Hardee's adds boxed-lunch deal to the menu
Hardee's launched its $5 Big Box Lunch deal, a boxed combo that includes two cheeseburgers, fries, an apple pie and a 20-ounce beverage. Competing quickservice chains, including KFC, Taco Bell and McDonald's, have all experimented with bundling food in a box, which some say adds perceived value by making the deal feel more like a meal. BurgerBusiness.com (1/13) | Career Track | | | |
 | |  | | | | |  |  Asset Protection Manager | Saks Fifth Avenue | Beverly Hills, CA | | Director of eCommerce | South Moon Under | Berlin, MD | | Senior Buyer for Wine | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Loss Prevention Manager-PowerMax Warehouse-McCalla, Ala | OfficeMax | McCalla, AL | | Program Analyst/Logistics | Marine Corps Exchanges/Headquarters Marine Corps | Quantico, VA | | Merchandise Data Analyst | Marine Corps Exchanges/Headquarters Marine Corps | Quantico, VA | | Corporate Recruiter - Merchandising and Retail | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Planogram Specialist | Exchange (Army Air Force Exchange Serivce) | Dallas, TX | | Operational Initiatives Manager | Ross Stores, Inc. | Pleasanton, CA | | Store Operations Manager - dd's DISCOUNTS | Ross Stores, Inc. | Pleasanton, CA | | Manager of New Store Openings & Operations | Ross Stores, Inc. | Pleasanton, CA | | Chief Merchant/General Merchandise Manager | Moosejaw Mountaineering | Madison Heights, MI | | Vice President of Supply Chain & Replenishment | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Senior Project Manager | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Senior Merchandise Planner/Distributor | Navy Exchange Service Command | Virginia Beach, VA | | Divisional Merchandise Manager | Navy Exchange Service Command | Virginia Beach, VA | | Traffic Management Specialist | Navy Exchange Service Command | Virginia Beach, VA | | Merchandise Planner | Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) | Virginia Beach, VA | | Merchandise Planner | Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) | Virginia Beach, VA | | Associate Buyer - International & Offshore Markets (Bilingual Spanish required) | OfficeMax | Naperville, IL | | Divisional Merchandising Manager - Men's Sportswear | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, Florida, FL | | Divisional Merchandising Manager - Home Decor & Gifts | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, FL | | | |  | |  |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | Animals are such agreeable friends, they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms."
--George Eliot,
British writer  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com | | | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Thursday, January 13, 2011
- Wednesday, January 12, 2011
- Tuesday, January 11, 2011
- Monday, January 10, 2011
- Friday, January 07, 2011
| | | Lead Editor: Megan Conniff
Contributing Editor: Faye Rapoport
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | | | | | | © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
U.S. import cargo volume is expected to be up 8% in January over January 2010. Source: 
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please comment thoughtfully CPG Brokers, your best resource to optimize your in store self exposure and maximize sku distribution.