Steve Jobs steps down from top job at Apple

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August 25, 2011 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch    Steve Jobs steps down from top job at Apple Steve Jobs officially resigned from the CEO post at Apple on Wednesday, saying in a letter that the time had come when he could no longer meet the duties of the job. Jobs was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 and had been on his third medical leave of absence when he made the announcement; he'll remain with the company in the newly created position of chairman. Jobs recommended that Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook, who has already been taking care of the day-to-day operations while Jobs has been on leave, be named the next chief executive of the company. Bloomberg (8/25), The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/25), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/24)      J.C. Penney's CLAD brand aims to boost sales to men J.C. Penney is set to launch a new full-price apparel site for men by the end of the month. The CLAD site, the newest offering from the department store chain's Growth Brands Division, is designed to boost sales with content including style tips, fitting tools and other content from the editors of Esquire. American City Business Journals/Dallas (8/24)      Boston Proper executive looks ahead after Chico's acquisition Chico's $205 million acquisition of Boston Proper doesn't necessarily mean consumers will soon see brick-and-mortar versions of the online apparel retailer's digital stores, says Boston Proper President Sheryl Clark. The partnership may bring new boutiques down the line, she said, but the first focus will be leveraging Chico's resources and expertise to boost the direct-to-consumer business, she said. Multichannel Merchant (8/24)      Collective Brands to close 475 Payless, Stride Rite stores Collective Brands said Wednesday that it will close about 475 underperforming Payless ShoeSource and Stride Rite stores during the next three years to focus resources on building business at busier locations. The company also said it will "conduct a review of strategic and financial alternatives to further enhance shareholder value." The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/25) Other News Books-A-Million will acquire 14 Borders leases Bloomberg (8/25)      J.Jill board adds former Chico's CEO Scott Edmonds Retailing Today (free registration) (8/24)      Sears' head of Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard brands resigns Chicago Tribune (8/24)      Your customers move fast. Can your POS keep up? Today's shoppers are fully connected, highly informed, omni-channel and fast — and they expect nothing less of you! Learn how mobility can meet their demands by enabling richer engagement, instant information, seamless service and enhanced functionality. This new RTP White Paper explains your options and opportunities. Get your free copy now!   Retail trends    East Coast merchants open for business after earthquake Retailers along the Eastern Seaboard were open for business as usual on Wednesday, the day after an earthquake centered in Virginia shook the coast but did little or no damage to stores and shopping centers. Now, many are battening the hatches to prepare for Hurricane Irene, which is forecast to hit the Washington, D.C., area this weekend and may send storms as far north as New York. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (8/24)      Imports from China support jobs in the U.S., research shows With the exception of shoes and clothing, the vast majority of goods and services sold in the U.S. are made here, according to recent research from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Some experts say even the goods we import from China are good for the domestic economy because they support about 1 million domestic jobs, and cutting back on apparel imports from China wouldn't bring back domestic manufacturing, said NRF's Craig Shearman. "The question isn't whether you source from China vs. the U.S., but rather China vs. India, or China vs. Vietnam." USA TODAY (8/24)      Other News Halloween pop-up shops play tricks on permanent party stores The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville) (8/24)      Don’t miss DMA2011— The Global Event for Real-Time Marketers. You’ll hear thousands of practitioners and experts discuss solutions and best practices to achieve optimal channel mix and integration that lead to measurable results and increase real-time customer engagement. Save an extra $300 when you register now with Keycode SMB3.   Retail Technology  PacSun iPads in the hands of sales staff PacSun has armed sales associates in more than 300 stores with iPads to help them assist customers with product information and place online orders for out-of-stock items. Staffers can also use QR codes to send promotions and other information directly to shoppers' mobile phones. InternetRetailer.com (8/24)      How to turn money you already spend into points you can use: Introducing The New Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN, designed to earn Membership Rewards® points faster: 3X on airfare. 2X on advertising, gas & shipping. 1X on everything else. Use points to pay for travel, Amazon.com purchases, Facebook ads, and more. 50K bonus points when you spend $10K your first 5 months. LEARN MORE & APPLY   Sponsored Content    How One Antique Business Went Mobile, And Why You Should Too ELI WILNER The 7 Golden Rules For A Great Website Presented by AT&T How To Skyrocket Your Business Profits In Less Than 12 Months Katie Morell Why Beijing Is The Best Place On Earth To Start A Business Barry Moltz 5 Ways To Stop Stunting Your Growth Ken Kaufman   NRF News  10 must-have components for selling digitally this holiday season The holiday season is right around the corner -- have you made your strategy list and checked it twice? If you're selling digitally, Shop.org's recently released 2011 Holiday Strategy & Planning Guide can be your road map. Included in the guide are 10 specific components of a successful foundation for holiday season online selling strategies. Learn more.      NRF SmartStat: Aug. 25, 2011 Half of all consumers surveyed said that the state of the U.S. economy will cause them to shop for sales more often during the back-to-school season. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch.        Crate & Barrel's business case for alternative IT infrastructure Crate & Barrel is undertaking a significant transformation initiative to improve analysis tools and the customer experience. At the upcoming ARTS Users' Conference, to be held Sept. 27-29 in Orlando, Crate & Barrel Chief Transformation Officer Edward Rennemann will discuss building the business case to launch the initiative. The conference and workshop is open to both retailers and solution providers. Learn more.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  Subway expands cafe-style test to 16 stores Sixteen new Subway stores boast a more upscale look with stuffed chairs and flat-screen TVs designed to encourage guests to linger. The cafe-style prototype comes with a bigger menu that includes panini sandwiches, espresso drinks and an expanded line of pastries. Investor's Business Daily/The Associated Press (8/24)      Burger King adds oatmeal for breakfast Burger King added oatmeal to its breakfast menu this week, joining rivals McDonald's, Starbucks and Chick-fil-A in a growing push to boost breakfast business with healthier options. Burger King says about 10% to 15% of its customers come in for the morning meal. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.)/The Associated Press (free registration) (8/24)      Position Title Company Name Location Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Forman Mills Pennsauken, NJ Corporate Counsel - Employment Law Ross Stores Pleasanton, CA Sales Associates- Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert, CA Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert, CA Product Creative Design - Manager/Specialist Cabela's Sidney, NE Program/Engagement Manager The Yacobian Group Boston, MA Marketing Director Saks Fifth Avenue San Francisco, CA Merchandise Planner Kohl's Department Stores Menomonee Falls, WI Assistant Buyer Kohl's Department Store Menomonee Falls, WI Senior Merchandise Planner Navy Exchange Service Command Virginia Beach, VA SALES ASSOCIATE SAKS FIFTH AVENUE NAPLES, FL San Antonio Sales Associate Career Days! Saks Fifth Avenue San Antonio, TX IT Business Analyst - eComm / Internet Marketing Academy Sports & Outdoors Katy, TX Merchandise Buyer Kohl's Department Stores Milwaukee/Menomonee Falls, WI Director of Stores A'GACI, LLC San Antonio, TX Senior Wine Buyer Total Wine & More Potomac, MD Regional Visual Trainer Victoria's Secret Dallas/Houston, TX Director of eCommerce Technology Moosejaw Madison Heights, MI Applications Manager-Distribution & Transportation PetSmart Phoenix, AZ Senior Project Manager PetSmart Phoenix, AZ Sr. Internet Buyer Tween Brands Direct, LLC New Albany, OH Loss Prevention Exception Reporting Manager Stein Mart Jacksonville, Florida, FL Sales Associates - Saks Fifth Avenue - Career Fair - Chevy Chase, MD Saks Fifth Avenue Chevy Chase, MD Fashion Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN Click here to view more job listings.   SmartQuote  The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot." --Bill Russell, American basketball player        This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com   Subscriber Tools       Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Grab our News Widget Publish your Press Release   Advertise Associate Publisher:  Susan W. Kim (202) 407-7877 Download Media Kit Job Board:  Jackie Basso (202) 407-7871       Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 Tuesday, August 23, 2011 Monday, August 22, 2011 Friday, August 19, 2011 Thursday, August 18, 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