| April 8, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- California ports lead the crackdown on counterfeit goods
The ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., are the main gateway for goods from Asia, and they account for about 40% of all the counterfeit goods seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection each year. Seizures rose 35% last fiscal year over 2009 levels, reflecting an increase in counterfeiting as the Internet provides criminals easier sales avenues and smugglers find craftier ways to elude detection. Los Angeles Times (4/8)       - Inside J. Crew's expanded Fifth Avenue flagship
J. Crew recently unveiled its remodeled and expanded 10-year-old Manhattan flagship on Fifth Avenue, now the largest store in the apparel chain's lineup. The 20,800-square-foot, three-story store boasts an open midcentury modern design and includes J. Crew's first full shoe and handbag departments. It's also the first store to include J. Crew's men's, women's and children's brands under one roof. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (4/8) - When Martha Stewart speaks, retail leaders listen
Authenticity and a deep understanding of what the customer wants are the keys to developing a successful brand, Martha Stewart told about 250 retail leaders from across the country this week. "We live the life of our customers. ... With any of our products we ask, 'Do we want it?' If we don't covet it for ourselves, it's not good enough for our customers." Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (4/8)  | Akamai - The Right Partner with the Right Solution
Are you failing to to satisfy user expectations for an outstanding online shopping experience? Do you need to accelerate your dynamic content? Do you strive to be a retailer that pushes the envelope with site technology and offerings? Learn why the Akamai Dynamic Site Accelerator is the right solution for those issues and more. |
 - Retailers beef up the merchandise mix to boost sales
After several years of slimming down the merchandise mix to make stores less cluttered, retail chains including Dollar General, J.C. Penney, Old Navy and Wal-Mart are packing products onto walls, shelves and even aisle floors to boost sales. The earlier trims came in response to customers' calls for less-cluttered stores. "They loved the experience. They just bought less. And that generally is not a good long-term strategy," said Wal-Mart's U.S. CEO, William Simon. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (4/7) - Study: Shopping may help you live longer
Consumers who shop more often could be extending their lives, according to a recent study of 1,850 Taiwanese men and women ages 65 and older. The study found that participants who made more frequent shopping trips had lower mortality rates, which the authors attributed largely to the health benefits of getting out of the house and socializing with others on a regular basis. Los Angeles Times/Booster Shots blog (4/7) - Consumers are expected to spend about 10% more on Easter this year
Consumers are expected to spend an average of $131.04 per person on Easter this year, up from $118.60 in 2010, as they increase spending on candy, food and new clothes for spring, according to NRF's 2011 Consumer Intentions and Actions survey. Only about 14.8% of consumers will do their shopping online, but those who do plan to spend an average of $96 more per person than strictly brick-and-mortar shoppers. Display & Design Ideas (4/7), DMNews (4/7) - Spring skirts are sweeping the pavement
Hemlines have hit the floor this spring, after trending longer for a couple of seasons, say retail buyers for upscale retailers from Saks and Bloomingdale's to members-only fashion site Net-a-Porter. "Below the knee, midcalf, anywhere hovering around the ankles -- all of these lengths are trending at the moment. Only now have they started to register with consumers in a big way," said Bloomingdale's fashion director, Stephanie Solomon. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (4/6)  | Turning Online Shopper Uncertainty into a New Source of Sales and Profits. Eliminating consumer uncertainty is a challenge for all online merchants. The question is, how can you address shoppers' concerns and increase sales and profits in the process? Download the buySAFE white paper to learn more NOW! |
 | Retail Technology |  | | | - Teaming of Old Navy, Shazam app boost both
Old Navy says its new campaign incorporating the song-identifying application Shazam is winning over consumers, while Shazam has seen a spike in downloads that it attributes in part to Old Navy. The Shazam app, when activated during an Old Navy TV spot, identifies the music and displays outfits featured in the commercial, with an option to buy. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (4/7)  | Business Platinum Card®
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| NRF News | | | | - NRF Loss Prevention Conference to highlight partnerships, leadership, results
With programming that covers leadership, diversity, professional development and core loss prevention functions, there's something for everyone at NRF's 2011 LP Conference. Held June 13 to 15 in Dallas, this event is set to be truly record-breaking. In a recent blog post, NRF's Joe LaRocca outlines the sessions he is most excited about at this year's conference. Read more. - Office Depot, Polo Ralph Lauren execs share what to expect at next week's Supply Chain Summit
Next week, supply chain and logistics executives from across the country will gather in Columbus, Ohio, for the inaugural Global Supply Chain Summit. In anticipation of the conference, Dennis Cohen, director, private brand operations for Office Depot, and Russ LoCurto, senior vice president for global logistics for Polo Ralph Lauren, share their thoughts on what to expect at the event. Learn more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Morton's CEO: Improved economy means more sizzle for steakhouses
 Morton's Restaurant Group closed seven of its namesake steakhouses in underperforming markets during the downturn, as sales slowed along with business travel and special-occasion budgets, but an improving economy has the chain back in expansion mode, says CEO Christopher Artinian. Morton's plans to add about 35 U.S. eateries in the coming years and expects to add restaurants in Asia at a rate of about two per year, he said. Houston Chronicle (4/6) - Burger King's new owners drop pricey high-tech redesign plan
Burger King's new owners have rejected plans launched under previous leadership to give more than 12,000 restaurants a sleek, futuristic look with pricey red-and-black remodeling jobs, according to this article. Instead, the chain plans to design a new look that will cost significantly less than the $500,000 to $600,000 per store price tag that had franchisees up in arms last year. BurgerBusiness.com (4/8) - Chipotle, Fazoli's tap into photo-sharing for campaigns
Chipotle and the Italian restaurant chain Fazoli's are the latest brands to launch photo-sharing campaigns. Chipotle is challenging customers to come up with creative variations on wrapping things in the chain's characteristic burrito foil and photograph the result for a chance at a $10,000 prize. And Fazoli's is offering free spaghetti to customers daring to post school photos on Facebook. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (4/7)  | |  | | The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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| 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 | | Fixtures & Equipment Project Manager | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Sr. Manager Recruiting | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Senior Corporate Internal Auditor | PetSmart, Inc. | Phoenix, AZ | | Vice-President 24HourFitness.com | 24 Hour Fitness | San Ramon, CA | | Director of Customer Loyalty | Aeropostale | New York, NY | | Senior Marketing Manager | Stage Stores, Inc. | Houston, TX | | Energy Manager | Tractor Supply Company | Brentwood, TN | | General Manager, Merchandise | Smithsonian Enterprises | Washington, DC | | Divisional Merchandise Manager- 2 positions available/Softlines and Consumables | Headquarters Marine Corps, MWR & Business Operations | Quantico, VA | | Learning Solutions Manager - Southeast Region | Petsmart, Inc | Multiple Locations, United States | | Learning Solutions Manager - Northeast Region | Petsmart, Inc | Multiple Locations, United States | | Inventory Manager | Tractor Supply Company | Brentwood, TN | | | |  | |  |
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Easter's biggest spenders this year will be 25- to 34-year-olds and young adults aged 18 to 24. Source: 
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