 | May 9, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- The man behind the newest face of Lord & Taylor
Industry watchers predicted doom and gloom when second-generation retail real-estate developer Richard Baker borrowed heavily from banks including Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers to acquire Lord & Taylor and Canada's Hudson's Bay Company. Instead, Baker, who began his entrepreneurial career with a catering company at age 15, made a success of the ventures -- Lord & Taylor's sales are now higher than they were before the recession and earnings at the combined companies rose to $450 million in 2010 from $330 million the year before. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (5/7)       - Kroger intensifies push against organized retail crime
In 2009, 92% of retailers reported being victims of organized retail crime the year before and 73% had noticed an increase, according to an NRF survey. To combat the rise, Kroger recently hired a new a manger of organized crimes, Dennis Dansak, who oversees investigators in divisions nationwide. In October, working with federal agents, Dansak helped apprehend 32 people accused of stealing $4.87 million in goods from six retailers. The Cincinnati Enquirer (5/7) - Wal-Mart and Target add groceries in Portland, Ore.
Wal-Mart and Target have both expanded their grocery sections at stores in the Portland, Ore., area, as part of a nationwide expansion of fresh food offerings as the discount chains ramp up efforts to grab market share from traditional supermarket chains. Target has added fresh food sections to two locations, with more on the way, and Wal-Mart may open as many as 17 stores in the region. The Oregonian (Portland) (5/7) - 5 discount retail chains set to fill Chicago's empty boxes
Five discount chains have announced plans to open new Chicago stores in the coming months, taking advantage of lower rents to move into spaces left empty when chains including Borders, Blockbuster and Circuit City closed their doors. Chains including Ross, Savers and Five Below plan multiple locations in the Chicago market, aiming to capitalize on consumers' growing demand for deals. Chicago Tribune (5/8)  | 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 trends |  | | | - Bridal shops see two royal gowns worth copying
Kate Middleton was clearly the star of her wedding to Prince William, but sister and bridesmaid Pippa also made quite an impression on designers and retailers -- for the first time anyone can remember, bridal shops are working just as furiously to turn out replicas of the bridesmaid's dress as they are the royal gown. "I can't think of one where there was such a fuss over the bridesmaid's dress," said Dan Rentillo, design director for David's Bridal. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (5/5) - Retail sales continue to grow despite food, fuel increases
Retail sales continue to rise despite higher fuel and food costs, according to an economic forecast by Bloomberg News. There was likely a projected 0.6% rise in purchases in April, following a 0.4% increase in March. "We're seeing a pretty resilient consumer, even with the headwinds from higher fuel prices," says Omair Sharif, an economist at RBS Securities. Growing employment is the reason, he says. Bloomberg (5/8) - Long flowing styles signal freedom from winter's layers
Spring styles are heavy on light, floor-length dresses, skirts and wide-legged pants that offer women room to breathe after a long winter of constricting layers and an even longer recession that had many holding their breath, say retail creative directors. The styles hark back to the '70s, says Gilt Groupe's Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, who advises women to tailor the look to their own bodies and styles instead of adopting it wholesale. St. Louis Post-Dispatch/The Associated Press (5/8)  | Act now on LinkedIn deal for hiring like the big guys. Get great applicants—3 times higher quality than those from traditional job boards—from a job listing on LinkedIn's 100-million-member professional network. Pay $97 (50% off the usual $195) and see your listing go viral. View this bizy deal. |
 | Retail Technology | | | | - More merchants offer paperless receipts
Retailers including Sears, Urban Outfitters and Whole Foods are offering to e-mail customer receipts instead of printing out paper versions of the transaction, pleasing eco-friendly consumers and gaining more e-mail addresses in the bargain. "Down the road, people will have the opportunity to pay with their mobile phones. They will want electronic receipts," said Richard Mader, executive director of NRF's Association for Retail Technology Standards. Daily News (New York) (5/6)  | The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN
Spending power for your business. Premium benefits for you.
Access a portfolio of 30+ premium benefits, including:
• Complimentary Airport Club Access
• Annual $200 Airline Fee Credit for any airline
• Built-in upgrades at FINE HOTELS & RESORTS
Business Platinum Card
APPLY 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.
| Policy & Government Affairs | | | | - Judge signs late-fee agreement in Hollywood Video case
A federal bankruptcy court judge signed off on a lawsuit settlement that bars debt collectors from filing or threatening to file negative credit reports against former customers of the now-defunct Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video stores. The settlement is the result of a January lawsuit claiming that the company hired to recoup $244 million in late fees and other charges filed negative credit reports without informing customers or giving them a chance to dispute the charges. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/The Associated Press (5/7) | | | Most Popular Headlines from Last Week Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. |
| NRF News | | | | - How can retailers ensure accurate RFPs?
An article suggesting that vendors do not always provide accurate responses to Requests for Proposal is prompting the Association for Retail Technology Standards to update the Master Agreement for its RFP process. In a STORES column, ARTS Executive Director Dick Mader outlines the issue and solicits comments on how retailers verify the accuracy of RFPs. Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Tampa McDonald's to become model for modern redesign
McDonald's and its franchisees expect to invest more than $1 billion to remodel and modernize the majority of the country's 14,000 stores by 2015, trading bright primary colors for earth tones, fiberglass tables and chairs for wood and faux leather booths, and the familiar bright white facade for stone and glass. This article and video take a look at the Tampa, Fla., store that will provide the model for renovations nationwide.  USA TODAY (5/8)  | |  | | | | |  |  Stationery Buyer | Five Below, Inc. | Philadelphia, PA | | Director of Real Estate | Teavana | Atlanta, GA | | Web Project Manager | The Wet Seal, INC | Foothill Ranch, CA | | General Manager, Retail E-Commerce & Catalog | Smithsonian Enterprises | Washington, DC | | Tax Senior | PetSmart, Inc. | Phoenix, AZ | | Telecom Business Mgr-OCONUS | AAFES | Okinawa, Japan | | Store Software Applications Architect | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Director of Talent Acquisition | rue21 | Warrendale, PA | | Merchandise Planner Analyst | Headquarters Marine Corps, MCCS | Quantico, VA | | Senior Corporate Internal Auditor | PetSmart, Inc. | Phoenix, AZ | | Director Talent Acquisition | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Director of Store Operations | Five Below, Inc. | Philadelphia, PA | | Online Business Manager | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | DVP Real Estate | Spirit Halloween | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Retail Store Manager | Kitty Hawk Kites/Kitty Hawk Surf Company | Rodanthe, NC | | Marketing Manager Coupon Team | Target | Minneapolis, MN | | Senior Manager, Site Planning | Target | 55402, MN | | Business Process Consultant Target.com | Target | Minneapolis, MN | | | |  | |  |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely."
--Karen Kaiser Clark,
American motivational speaker and consultant  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com
| | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Friday, May 06, 2011
- Thursday, May 05, 2011
- Wednesday, May 04, 2011
- Tuesday, May 03, 2011
- Monday, May 02, 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 |
|
Nine in ten retailers have a mobile strategy in place or in development, up from 74% a year ago. 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.