 | March 8, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
| Industry Watch |  |  | | - Costco debuts designer line of wedding gowns
Brides-to-be have increasingly headed to Costco for everything from engagement rings to honeymoon trips, but until now they haven't had the option of shopping Costco for the dress. That will change as the chain takes to the road with Los Angeles designer Kirstie Kelly's six lower-priced gowns designed specially for Costco. A series of trunk shows are slated to start in L.A. and hit several markets in the west this summer. CNBC/Consumer Nation blog (3/7)      - American Eagle said to be launching CEO search
American Eagle is reportedly looking for a new CEO to replace retiring chief James O'Donnell, who has held the head post at the teen apparel retailer since 2003. The move will be the latest in a string of high-profile executive departures from specialty chains since the holidays, including the resignation of Gap North America President Marka Hansen last month. The Wall Street Journal (3/8) - Apple stores may scale back boxed software to make room for services
Apple is reportedly considering cutting back on its in-store boxed software, games and computer peripheral offerings to make more room for employees helping computer buyers get their devices formatted and ready to use as part of the chain's personalized in-store setup service. The changes are likely to affect 80% of Apple stores, while the remaining 20% are large enough to accommodate services and full product lines. CNET (3/7)  | Business Platinum Card®
• Receive up to $200 airline fee credit to the airline of your choice
• Premium car rentals and special upgrades at fine hotels and resorts worldwide
• Save 3%-10% automatically on business expenses from FedEx, Hertz®, OfficeMax®, and more with OPEN Savings®
Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN. Apply Now. |
  - Target's move into Canada to affect retailers differently
Target and other major U.S. chains are preparing to enter the Canadian market, but how their moves will affect retailers varies, according to analysts. Reitmans, Joe Fresh, Le Chateau and other retailers that will compete most directly will face challenges. Convenience store operators, sporting goods stores and specialty retailers will be relatively unscathed. "Investors should take a look at the companies they own, scan the landscape, see who is coming and decide: Is it going to negatively impact them or not?" said Brian Yarbrough, an analyst at Edward Jones. Reuters (3/7) - Some retailers can weather higher commodity costs
Some retailers are better positioned than others to withstand the effects of higher commodity and labor costs on apparel prices this spring, including Lululemon and Ann Taylor, which have strong brands and financially secure customers willing to pay higher prices for their styles. Some specialty chains may not fare as well. Morgan Stanley estimates that, if prices rise 4%, U.S. apparel-sales volume could fall as much as 2.2%. The Wall Street Journal (3/8) - Tighter leather and exotic skin supplies likely to hit luxury manufacturers
Harsh weather around the world is pinching the supply of leather and exotic skins just as demand rises, a trend that has design houses worried about price. Italian tanners, who account for about 20% of the world's leather production, are working to keep prices down by searching farther afield for raw materials. At Hermes, executives are concerned about the rising prices of exotic skins, including crocodile which could increase as much as 25% this year. "We're in a period when we're trying not to raise prices. Any price increases this year would be modest," said Hermes CEO Patrick Thomas. The Wall Street Journal (3/8)  | Learn how your competitors are changing their POS to boost sales...
...and why you should too! Recent research from Aberdeen reveals surprising shifts in the ways retailers are using Point of Service to enrich customer engagement, leverage business intelligence, and enhance other systems. Download their insightful report - a $399 value - at no cost.. |
   | Health care reform got you down? Learn more from UnitedHealthcare on how the federal changes to medical benefits will affect you and your employees. This comprehensive guide highlights incentives for enrollment and a timeline of important dates and deadlines. Don't let them pass you by—Learn more here! |
| NRF News | | | | - Former Apple Fellow shares retail innovation do's, don'ts and do-it-now's
As the former chief evangelist of Apple, Guy Kawasaki knows a thing or two about retail innovation and how to spur an organization to action. In a recent Q&A on Retail's BIG Blog, Kawasaki shares his views on what great innovators have in common, tips for bringing that inspiration into an organization and three things that will kill it. Read more. - NRF SmartStat: March 8, 2011
 Almost 80% of retailers say they use Twitter, up from 61% in 2010. Source: Retail Horizons 2011 - More than half of Americans will get in the spirit this St. Patrick's Day
An estimated 122 million Americans are planning to celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year -- the most ever in NRF survey history -- according to a recent NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch. This increase is also expected to give retailers a slight boost this springtime. "March is typically one of the slower months of the year in terms of consumer spending, but we expect this year's celebration to provide a nice boost for companies who are in the business of promoting the holiday," said Phil Rist, executive vice president of BIGresearch. Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Subway takes "world's largest chain" title from McDonald's
Subway now officially has more units around the world than any other restaurant chain, including longtime leader McDonald's, the company said Monday, although McDonald's still leads the competition when it comes to sales. Worldwide, Subway had 33,749 restaurants at the end of last year, while McDonald's boasted 32,737 units. Both chains have been ambitiously expanding overseas, and Subway expects to have more international than domestic units by 2020. CNNMoney.com (3/7), The Wall Street Journal (3/8) - Dunkin' details expansion plans in Asia
 Dunkin' Brands detailed ambitious plans to expand its namesake and Baskin-Robbins brands in Asia, including opening its first store in Vietnam and adding thousands of units in China in the coming years. Until now the company has largely avoided China and India in favor of expansion in countries with closer ties to American culture, including South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan. The Wall Street Journal (3/8)  | |  | | | | |  |  Senior Buyer, Sports & Outdoors | Amazon.com | Seattle, WA | | Merchandise Planning and Inventory Management Senior Manager | Kurt Salmon | Multiple Locations, United States | | Product Development and Sourcing Senior Manager | Kurt Salmon | Multiple Locations, United States | | National Account Manager | Specialty Store Services | Nationwide, United States | | Senior Marketing Manager, Search Engine Optimization | macys.com | San Francisco, CA | | Manager, Merchandising Initiatives | Total Wine & More | Potomac , MD | | District Sales Manager- Texas & Oklahoma Market | Lakeshore Learning Materials | Houston, TX | | Director of Merchandising | Lakeshore Learning Materials | Carson, CA | | Buyer/Headquarters Level-Marine Corps Exchanges | Headquarters Marine Corps Community Services | Quantico MCB, VA | | Multi-Channel Strategy Sr. Manager | Deloitte Consulting LLP | Nationwide, United States | | Senior Vice President, Communities & Networks and Executive Director, Shop.org | National Retail Federation | Washington, DC | | Retail Manager | Tri-County Feeds | Marshall, VA | | | |  | |  |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my telephone."
--Bjarne Stroustrup,
Danish computer scientist  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com
| | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Monday, March 07, 2011
- Friday, March 04, 2011
- Thursday, March 03, 2011
- Wednesday, March 02, 2011
- Tuesday, March 01, 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 |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please comment thoughtfully CPG Brokers, your best resource to optimize your in store self exposure and maximize sku distribution.