 | May 23, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
| Industry Watch |  |  | | - Liberty Media's B&N bid is all about the Nook
Barnes & Noble attracted a $1 billion bid from Liberty Media last week largely on the strength of its Nook e-reader, which commands about 28% of the market and may expand beyond digital books to spur sales of magazines, music and other digital content. "As Apple proved, you need to have the content and the device. Malone has the content, and Barnes & Noble has the device. You're not buying the stores; you're buying the Nook," said retail management consultant Sherif Mityas. The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)/The Associated Press (5/21)      - Germany's Labelux to acquire Jimmy Choo from TowerBrook Capital
Labelux, a German holding company, has agreed to buy luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo from TowerBrook Capital. Recent reports have suggested that the iconic brand is worth as much as $811 million, but financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Sales of upscale shoes are slated to rise about 20% annually during the next few years, and Jimmy Choo has reported annual growth of more than 30% since it began expanding into bags, sneakers and other upscale accessories in 2001. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (5/23), Bloomberg (5/22) - Solar tree touts S.C. retailer's eco-friendly stance
The owners of Half-Moon Outfitters in Columbia, S.C., didn't want to hide their solar panels on the roof of the new store they plan to open next month, so instead they commissioned a "tree" that boasts a panel on each bough. The functional sculpture sits just outside the store, which also uses shelves made solely from recycled or locally harvested cedar, windows and doors salvaged from an old school and glass garage doors designed to provide ventilation and cut down on cooling bills. The State (Columbia, S.C.) (5/20)  | Maximize Your Business's Potential.
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  - Retailers shift focus from economy to consumer trends
Retailers are less worried about consumer confidence than they were a year ago. They are more concerned with attracting and keeping customers, according to a study by BDO. "Worries about external factors, like economic trends where retailers are basically helpless, have subsided," said a BDO USA partner. "They know consumers are spending. The concern now is, 'How do we get our share?' " MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (5/21) - 7 ways to increase customer loyalty
Offering discounts to returning customers is one way to build loyalty, but it's not necessarily the best way. "If you get a discount, it's kind of over and done with," says consultant Bob Konsewicz. Physical rewards, special experiences and games may be a better way to say "thank you," according to experts. And don't forget added service, whether it's a survey, a lengthy apology or your personal cellphone number just for your best customers. Inc.com (5/20) - Real-estate slump has a bright side for indie booksellers
The ranks of independent booksellers are on the rise for the second consecutive year, thanks at least in part to an ongoing real-estate slump that's helping them win better lease deals. "Landlords are far more willing to negotiate for new owners and existing stores have been able to renegotiate their leases," said Oren Teicher, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, which has added more than 100 members since last year. The Miami Herald/The Associated Press (free registration) (5/20) - What's on tap as the book world gathers for annual expo? In addition to hearing from authors and searching for the next best sellers, attendees at this year's BookExpo America are likely to spend much of their time exploring all the new options for digital reading and discussing the implications of the technology and trends on their industry. Google executives will lead three sessions at the event, which kicks off today, and researchers will unveil new data on trends in digital media consumption. PaidContent.org (5/22)
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 - Home Depot social plan taps old-school experience
Home Depot's social media strategy is drawing directly from traditional sales techniques, recruiting in-store sales associates to spend a couple of their weekly workdays interacting with customers online. The move is a departure from the norm of setting up a corporate-centric social operation and is designed to tap into one of Home Depot's strengths, the everyday, in-the-aisle knowledge and expertise of sales staff who work with customers face to face. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (5/23)  | Ad Compliance Best Practices Kit — Stay ahead of consumer concern and government regulation with TRUSTe. Gain an overview of what Behavioral Advertising (OBA) is, why it is important, and what your options are. Insights from the FTC, DAA, TRUSTe, Forbes, Publisher's Clearing House and more. Register Now. |
 | Hot Topics | | | | Top five news stories selected by NRF SmartBrief readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
 | | | Most Popular Headlines from Last Week Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. |
| NRF News | | | | - D.C. insider Bob Woodward to speak at NRF's Washington Leadership Conference
Bob Woodward, author and journalist, will present the luncheon keynote session Tuesday, June 21, at NRF's 76th annual Washington Leadership Conference. The conference, June 20 to 22 in Washington, D.C., is a vehicle for retailers to push for new and revised legislation that will benefit the entire industry. WLC is open to retailers, and registration is free for NRF members. Learn more. - Gift cards: Weighing the opportunities and risks
For retailers, gift cards can be instrumental in improving cash flow and managing inventory. But according to Giles Sutton, state and local tax partner for Grant Thornton, the addition of federal legislation passed by Congress in 2009 and recent rulemaking by the Federal Reserve Board and IRS means retail companies must educate themselves on the full risks and rewards of gift card sales. In a recent peer-reviewed white paper in NRF's Retail Reference Center, Sutton discusses the issues and opportunities in this area. View the white paper.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Buca di Beppo aims for graduates with Twitter campaign
Buca di Beppo, a Las Vegas-based Italian restaurant chain, is targeting graduating high-school and college students with a Twitter contest. The company is offering a chance to win one of 14 graduation parties for 15 people each. The chain is using its Facebook page and an e-mail campaign to drum up publicity for the promotion, which requires contestants to retweet a branded message to their followers. "We really want our Twitter presence to catch up with our Facebook presence," a Buca di Beppo spokesman said. ClickZ (5/20)  | |  | | | | |  |  Senior Vice President, Communities & Networks and Executive Director | Shop.org | Washington, DC | | Web Project Manager | The Wet Seal, INC | Foothill Ranch, CA | | Director of Real Estate | Teavana | Atlanta, GA | | Director of Retail | Wisteria | Dallas, TX | | Planogram Specialist | AAFES | Dallas, TX | | Retail Planogram Specialist | Headquarters Marine Corps, MCCS | Quantico, VA | | Entry Level Culinary Full Time | Wegmans Food Markets | Bridgewater , NJ | | Entry Level Culinary Part Time | Wegmans Food Markets | Ocean , NJ | | Cook III Full-Time Customer Service | Wegmans Food Markets | Bridgewater, NJ | | Retail Marketing Manager | L.L.BEAN | Freeport, ME | | Director of Talent Acquisition | rue21 | Warrendale, PA | | DVP Real Estate | Spirit Halloween | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Planner | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Senior Financial Analyst | Art Van Furniture | Warren, MI | | Purchasing Buyer, National Accounts | Bed Bath & Beyond | Union, NJ | | | |  | |  |
 | |  | | The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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