 | April 6, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Dish Network submits winning bid for Blockbuster
Dish Network outbid rivals in a bankruptcy auction for video-rental chain Blockbuster. The satellite TV company offered $320.6 million early today, beating out bidders including an investment group led by Carl Icahn. "With its more than 1,700 store locations, a highly recognizable brand and multiple methods of delivery, Blockbuster will complement our existing video offerings while presenting cross-marketing and service extension opportunities for Dish Network," said Dish Network's executive vice president Tom Cullen. The Dallas Morning News (free content) (4/6), The Wall Street Journal (4/6)       - Landlords see a bright side to empty Blockbuster stores: Commercial landlords are eyeing the prospect of more vacant space if Blockbuster's new owners decide to shutter stores, but say the prospects for filling the 3,000-to-7,000-square-foot stores in desirable spots won't be as daunting as suddenly staring at the cavernous big boxes left empty when chains including Circuit City and Linens 'N Things liquidated. The Wall Street Journal (4/6)
- Borders to reveal cost-cutting plan
Borders is expected to release details to creditors and landlords today on its plans to generate significant cost savings as it emerges from bankruptcy later this year. The plan likely will include leaving its Ann Arbor, Mich., headquarters for less-pricey digs in the Detroit area. To date, the company has shuttered 50 of the 226 stores slated for closure, and it expects to close the rest by the end of May. The Wall Street Journal (4/6) - DSW hires full-time manager to run its growing online sales arm
Discount shoe retailer DSW will transition the company's controller, Roger Rawlins, into the role of full-time general manager for its burgeoning e-commerce site. Online sales contributed significantly to the chain's 14% sales jump last year, with Rawlins at the helm part time. The promotion "recognizes the importance of this business segment and (Rawlins') significant contributions to that business over the last year," said CEO Mike McDonald. American City Business Journals/Columbus, Ohio (4/5)  | LAST CHANCE: Save 50% on $100 hotel gift cards to reward staff and customers. Need an incentive? A promotion? A thank you? And a deal? Get half off a 12-pack of $100 The Hotel Card vouchers powered by Expedia Networks—good toward 2-night stays at 55,000 hotels (all major brands). Get bizy and buy. |
 - Retailers renovate fitting rooms to coax consumers to spend more
Shoppers who spend time trying on garments in retailers' fitting rooms wind up making purchases 67% of the time, compared to a 10% conversion rate for those who don't. However, too often consumers are turned off by the ill-fitting doors, bad lighting and uninspiring ambience they find in the dressing room. Retailers including Ann Taylor, Old Navy and Macy's have been investing in inviting upgrades designed to coax shoppers back, including everything from chandeliers and fancy touches that make the rooms feel like walk-in closets to larger family waiting areas with TVs to make shoppers feel less rushed. The Wall Street Journal (4/6) - Report: March retail sales gained at a slower pace
Retail sales rose in March in most sectors, but at a slower rate than they have in previous months as consumers grapple with higher fuel prices and merchants deal with a late Easter holiday this year, according to a new MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse report. "The growth rate came down in March, but it didn't come down as much as we thought it would," said Michael McNamara, vice president for research and analysis for SpendingPulse. CNBC/Consumer Nation (4/6) - Who's next to stop reporting monthly same-store sales?
The list of national retail companies that still report monthly same-store sales figures has dropped to 24, and analysts expect the trend of opting out of the reporting ritual to continue. Most recently, teen retail chains Hot Topic, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle and Aeropostale have announced plans to stop the practice, leading some analysts to wonder which merchants will be next. TheStreet.com (4/5)  | Drive Traffic with PLAYTIME! Over 400,000 families EXPERIENCE PLAYTIME daily - more than 150 million annually! Indoor, outdoor, retailer or developer - trust PLAYTIME to custom-create a stunning play area that draws traffic. Visit www.experienceplaytime.com or contact David O'Niones (DavidO@ExperiencePlaytime.com, 303-662-0302) to learn more. | - DealPulp.com reverses local daily deal trend with online bargains
Start-up DealPulp.com says it has signed 88,000 members who have saved a total of almost $450,000 since the site's launch in January, proving the company's point that daily deal sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial that focus on local brick-and-mortar bargains may be ignoring a large shopping population. DealPulp exclusively partners with national merchants to offer users 50% or more off deals available only online. Yahoo!/Agence France-Presse (4/5)  | Akamai - The Right Partner with the Right Solution
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 - Arizona shooting tragedy reminds retailers to be prepared
The recent shooting tragedy that took the lives of six and seriously injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in a Safeway parking lot sent a stark reminder to merchants to be prepared to deal with shooting incidents, says NRF's Joe LaRocca. To help retailers update or formulate plans, NRF has updated its own emergency response guidelines, designed in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security to help train workers on how to respond in the event of a shooting. Security Director News (Langhorne, Pa.) (free registration) (4/5)  | Use social media to enchant your customers
Learn how to create a smart, savvy, and enchanting social media strategy from industry expert and bestselling author Guy Kawasaki. Register today for the 2011 Social Media Success Summit where industry experts reveal all the latest techniques and proven business-building tactics you need to know to immediately benefit from social media. Early bird 50% off rate: register now! |
| NRF News |  | | | - McDonald's Hiring Day another example of retail's economic impact
Yesterday's announcement of McDonald's plan to hire 50,000 employees in April brings much deserved attention to the value of retail as a job creation engine, and McDonald's isn't the only retail company working to bring about positive economic growth. In a recent post on Retail's BIG Blog, NRF's Margaret Little shares how other retailers are influencing the economic comeback and what McDonald's upcoming investment means to state and local economies. Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - New York City lawmakers to consider Happy Meal toy ban
Several New York city council members say they'll back a ban on toys, games and ticket giveaways with quickservice meals that don't meet specific nutritional guidelines. San Francisco passed the country's first so-called "Happy Meal ban" last year, a move supported by a national consumer group and opposed by restaurant companies including McDonald's, which say the measures aren't effective tools in the fight against childhood obesity. "On average, kids eat at McDonald's about three times a month; that means about 87 other meals are eaten at home, school or elsewhere. That adds up to a discussion larger than toys," said McDonald's spokesman Mason Smoot. The Wall Street Journal/The Associated Press (4/6), Reuters (4/6)  | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | |  |  Internal IT Auditor II | Dollar General | Goodlettsville, TN | | Senior Manager, Retail Operations | Total Wine | Potomac, MD | | Merchant Opportunities at Kohl's | Kohl's | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Vice President of Supply Chain & Replenishment | Total Wine | Potomac, MD | | Sr. Manager Recruiting | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Divisional Merchandise Manager- 2 positions available/Softlines and Consumables | Headquarters Marine Corps, MWR & Business Operations | Quantico, VA | | Senior Corporate Internal Auditor | PetSmart, Inc. | Phoenix, AZ | | Learning Solutions Manager - Southeast Region | Petsmart, Inc | Multiple Locations, United States | | Learning Solutions Manager - Northeast Region | Petsmart, Inc | Multiple Locations, United States | | Senior Marketing Manager | Stage Stores, Inc. | Houston, TX | | Director of Customer Loyalty | Aeropostale | New York, NY | | Vice-President 24HourFitness.com | 24 Hour Fitness | San Ramon, CA | | Energy Manager | Tractor Supply Company | Brentwood, TN | | General Manager, Merchandise | Smithsonian Enterprises | Washington, DC | | Inventory Manager | Tractor Supply Company | Brentwood, TN | | | |  | |  |
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