  | June 2, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
| Top Story |  |  | | - Shoppers spent more on luxury, less on the home in May: Consumers spent less in May on furniture and other items for the home while splurging more on clothing and luxury goods, according to new data from MasterCard. Mother's Day and graduations helped boost jewelry sales 7.6%, while furniture sales fell 3.2%. Washingtonpost.com/The Checkout/The Associated Press (6/1)
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  - George Zimmer: The man who built Men's Wearhouse
George Zimmer started Men's Wearhouse in 1973, with one store in Houston and a $100,000 loan from his dad that came with an early lesson on the importance of margins and pricing. As he prepares to hand over the CEO reins on June 15, Zimmer reflects on the early days and what it took to build the biggest men's specialty apparel store in the country. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (6/2) - Investors see value in Syms' real estate portfolio
Apparel retailer Syms' announcement last week that it might put itself up for sale had investors and industry watchers speculating on the best way to maximize value. While the chain has struggled against newer discount competitors including TJ Maxx and Marshalls, the company may find its most valuable asset is its significant portfolio of valuable New York real estate. NorthJersey.com (Hackensack, N.J.) (free registration) (6/1)  | Help protect your employees by managing business travel risks with Zurich's white paper 'Managing the Risks of Business Travel: What every business needs to know'. Click here for the FREE download! |
 - Merchants seek alternatives to plastic packaging
Difficult-to-open plastic "clam shell" packaging has been frustrating consumers for decades, but now manufacturers and retailers are shifting to less expensive and more environmentally friendly options that give consumers easier access to their purchases. New options have to deter shoplifters, who cost retailers about 1.44% of their sales in 2009, according to NRF data. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (6/1)  | Could your CRM deliver better ROI?
Today's CRM systems can dramatically improve your bottom line through better customer marketing, engagement and retention — but only if your program is properly designed. Learn how one specialty retailer increased campaign results 300% through creative segmentation — as one of five proven strategies for CRM success. Download your copy now! |
 - The evolution of luxury brands online
In the earlier days of e-commerce, many luxury brands used the Internet to market their high-end products but stopped short of putting them up for sale online amid concerns that the high-touch service they're known for would suffer. Today, brands including Lilly Pulitzer, Bugaboo and Coach have figured out how to offer the same service level with online stores, and they're seeing a growing segment of their sales come from online buyers. Internet Retailer magazine (6/2011)  | 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. |
 | Main Street | | | | - 3 ways to develop top-notch succession planning
Most companies do a poor job of succession planning, but it could be improved by getting accurate assessments of leadership potential, write Jay Moran and Jeffrey Cohn, authors of "Why Are We Bad at Picking Good Leaders?" "The best organizations insist that leadership development and leadership assessment be tightly linked. They don't leave the assessments on a book-shelf to collect dust -- they use them," Moran and Cohn write. The Business Insider (5/31) | Policy & Government Affairs | | | | - Health care reform and its effect on the retail industry
Retailers working on already tight margins are likely to see their costs rise as new health insurance reform laws take effect, whether they make the decision to cover most workers or opt not to offer insurance and pay a government penalty instead. Retailers are seeking greater flexibility under the laws and clarity on the definition of a full-time employee. "The retail workforce does not divide neatly into full- and part-time pockets, so that's why we've been eager to work with the administration," said NRF's Neil Trautwein. Human Resource Executive (6/2)
| NRF News | | | | - Sears executive testifies before Congress on corporate tax reform
A senior executive from Sears testified on behalf of NRF today, saying lawmakers should focus on jobs and the economy as they explore options for corporate tax reform. "We support tax reform that would broaden the income tax base and lower the income tax rates," Sears Holding Corporation Vice President for Tax James Misplon said. "The elimination of many special deductions and credits in exchange for lower rates will bring about a more economically efficient tax system that is simpler for taxpayers and will ease enforcement." Read more. - What's hot in retail (and at NRF)
From the release of Shop.org's annual State of Retailing Online and new research on how social networks impact shopping to the launch of a national 60-day campaign to fight swipe fees and preparation for NRF's annual Loss Prevention Conference in Dallas, May was a jam-packed month at NRF. View a complete list of the most popular resources and articles in retail from last month. Read more. - How crisis planning can -- and does -- save lives
Recent tragedies across the U.S. -- and the actions of retail employees trained to handle those situations -- serve as a reminder that crisis planning is crucial. In a recent video, NRF Senior Asset Protection Advisor Joe LaRocca discusses how proper planning and advance communication to associates on what to do during a crisis can minimize loss of life in active shooter situations and during natural disasters. Watch the video.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Burger King switches agencies, ad tactics
Burger King's edgy King mascot will take a breather as the fast-food giant switches to ad agency McGarryBowen and a bigger emphasis on the food itself in an attempt to bring back the brand. The agency was chosen after a review and Burger King's decision earlier in the year to sever its relationship with Crispin Porter + Bogusky, which established the King as a brand mascot. The Miami Herald (free registration) (6/1)  | |  | | | | |  |  Senior Vice President, Communities & Networks and Executive Director | Shop.org | Washington, DC | | Divisional Merchandise Manager, Consumables | Headquarters Marine Corps, MCCS | Quantico, VA | | Merchandise Buyer | Five Below, Inc. | Philadelphia, PA | | Vice President, Real Estate | Earls Restaurant Ltd | Vancouver, Canada | | Learning Solutions Manager - Southwest (Training Manager) | Petsmart | Southern California , CA | | Director of Retail | Wisteria | Dallas, TX | | Planogram Specialist | AAFES | Dallas, TX | | Fashion Buyer | Target | Minneapolis, MN | | 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 | | Senior Merchandise Planning Administrator | Headquarters Marine Corps, MCCS | Quantico, VA | | Purchasing Buyer, National Accounts | Bed Bath & Beyond | Union, NJ | | | |  | |  |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | A man with a surplus can control circumstances, but a man without a surplus is controlled by them, and often has no opportunity to exercise judgment."
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