Inside Nordstrom's Treasure & Bond store

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September 16, 2011 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch    Lowe's launches rebranding campaign Lowe's will roll out a new ad campaign on Monday along with a system that will allow customers to access information on every product they purchase at the home improvement chain, including product manuals and warranties. The campaign is part of an overall rebranding strategy wrapped up with the tagline "Never Stop Improving." Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (9/15)      Liz Claiborne trims executive team, cuts costs Liz Claiborne's head of global sourcing and operations Peter Warner and human resources chief Lisa Piovano-Machacek will leave the company in the next month as part of an ongoing reorganization aimed at cutting costs at the struggling apparel conglomerate. The company has been shifting services and functions to its brands, including Juicy Couture, Lucky Brand and Kate Spade, as part of the reorganization that was announced in July. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (9/15)      Esprit to exit North America, focus on Asia and Europe Hong Kong-based Esprit Holdings will exit its operations in the U.S. and Canada and focus on expanding its more promising business units in Asia and Europe as part of a four-year turnaround strategy, the company said Thursday. The company will open a trend unit in Paris and a design center in China as part of the plan to revitalize the brand. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)/The Associated Press (9/15)      Inside Nordstrom's Treasure & Bond store As Nordstrom's search for just the right spot for a New York City department store goes on, the upscale department store chain is gleaning more insights from the city's shoppers at its new Treasure & Bond store, which donates profits to local charities. This story offers a first look into the shop, which boasts an eclectic mix of apparel and home decor products, most of which are priced in the three-figure range. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (9/14)      Other News Victoria's Secret to open 4 stores in Russia this year American City Business Journals/Columbus, Ohio (9/15)      John Jantsch invites you to go local As customers continue to rely on the Web to help them screen local businesses, local businesses must take steps to ensure that they pop to the top of online searches. Duct Tape Marketing's John Jantsch offers strategies for local marketing success in this free white paper from American Express OPEN, How to Win at the Local Marketing Game. Download your free copy now, exclusively for SmartBrief readers.   Retail trends    Discounters boost their price advantage Discount chains selling food, including Wal-Mart Stores and Target, are seeing their price advantage grow as inflation prompts traditional grocers to raise prices faster. Shoppers can save as much as 25% on an $80 bill depending on the store chosen, according to a two-year study of 30 typical grocery items by The Tampa Tribune. The Tampa Tribune (Fla.) (9/15), The Tampa Tribune (Fla.) (9/15)      High-end backpacks are the new messenger bag Grown men are trading in their messenger bags and laptop cases for backpacks that can hold more stuff, and the trend is transforming the traditional campus carryall into a designer accessory. "What's great about them is that your hands are free to carry other things, but you can put more things in them, like your sneakers. You don't need another bag," said Barneys New York men's wear vice president Tom Kalenderian. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (9/14)      Used to verify compliance, understand operations and identify risks, LP audits are an essential part of asset protection in retail. However, many retailers are not getting the most out of their audits. Click here to learn how LP audits can help your retail business reduce losses and increase profits.   Retail Technology    New technology mobilizes Fashion Week coverage New York Fashion Week has evolved from a relatively insular industry event into a real-time party for the style-conscious masses thanks to mobile technology that allows for live viewing of runway shows and Twitter streams chockablock with 140-character descriptions of the latest looks. "We can see snapshots of looks as they are coming down the runway because it has become natural for people to snap and share," said Elizabeth Schofield, founder and editor of Fashion's Collective, New York. Luxury Daily (9/15)      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!   Main Street    Former stockbroker finds his fortune in the garment district Toronto native Jay Godfrey took his finance degree and moved to New York for a Wall Street job in 2000, but soon found his heart lay elsewhere. Godfrey began studying at Parsons The New School for Design, and in 2005 he launched his own line of dresses that are now available at upscale stores including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's. Bloomberg Businessweek (9/15)      SBA: Faster payments could mean billions for small businesses President Barack Obama's directive that the government pay its small-business contractors in 15 days rather than 30 would save small businesses billions by reducing financing costs, said Joe Jordan of the Small Business Administration. Small businesses often fund their services with lines of credit or loans, so, "By cutting the receivables time in half, you're reducing the negative float," he said. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/You're the Boss blog (9/15)      Health care reform got you down? Learn more from UnitedHealthcare on how the federal changes to medical benefits will affect you and your employees. This guide highlights incentives for enrollment and a timeline of important dates and deadlines. Don't let them pass you by—Learn more here!   Sponsored Content    Small Business Week In Review Tara Fuller 7 Things You Didn't Know Google Analytics Could Tell You Karlee Weinman Get Into Your (Dis)comfort Zone Cameron Herold Brainwrite Your Way To Your Next Big Idea Matthew E. May What Small Business Health Care Tax Credits Do You Qualify For? Tom Harnish   NRF News  NRF shares why retailers will continue to market the holidays early this year For as long as NRF has conducted its holiday spending survey -- which is heading into its ninth year -- 40% of Americans have said they begin their holiday shopping before Halloween. That means that while they are choosing which vampire or pumpkin costume they want, they are also reaching for ornaments and tree skirts. NRF's Ellen Davis joined the "CBS Early Show" to discuss this trend. Retailers aren’t quick to abandon Halloween altogether, but they know many shoppers out there really want to get some of their holiday shopping done early. Watch the clip.      NRF SmartStat: Sept. 16, 2011 Retail industry sales in August increased 0.1% seasonally adjusted over July and 6.0% unadjusted year-over-year. Source: NRF.        Chain restaurants ask supercommittee to end ethanol tax credit and tariff NCCR and 16 of its member companies are asking Congress' "supercommittee" to repeal a federal tax credit for corn-based ethanol producers and a related tariff on imported ethanol, saying the provisions drive up food prices for consumers and eliminating them could help reduce the deficit. "Chain restaurant companies are food retailers and as such the impacts of the current ethanol subsidies are acutely felt by restaurant operators in the form of higher wholesale and retail food prices," NCCR Executive Director Rob Green said. Read more.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  Restaurants may have a role in the war against food waste Consumers and businesses dumped 30 million tons of food in landfills last year, while 50 million households sometimes go hungry. A new initiative from two trade groups aims to shift more food to those who need it. One solution that has been proposed involves clustering restaurants, stores and food processors near each other to make composting easier. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Green blog (9/15)      More eateries adopt iPads for self-service tableside A number of restaurants across the country have added iPads and other touchscreen gadgets that let guests bypass employees when they're ordering and paying the bill. At Stacked in Torrance, Calif., the $1 million digital ordering system allows the eatery to operate with fewer employees while making customers feel more involved, says co-owner Paul Motenko. Los Angeles Times (9/16)      Souplantation, Sweet Tomatoes earns "green" label nationwide Garden Fresh's souped up efforts have made it the first national company to have all its restaurants earn sustainability certification from The Green Restaurant Association. All 120 Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes restaurants have cut energy use, committed to recycling and made other sustainable changes in the past two years. San Diego Union-Tribune (9/14)      Other News Fazoli's takes quickservice to the fast-casual level QSRMagazine.com (9/15)      Position Title Company Name Location Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Forman Mills Pennsauken, NJ MDSR Buyer-Fashion Meijer Grand Rapids, MI ASSET PROTECTION ASSOCIATE SAKS FIFTH AVENUE BAL HARBOUR, FL SALES ASSOCIATES SAKS FIFTH AVENUE GREENWICH, CT Sales Associate Career Day at South Coast Plaza Saks Fifth Avenue Costa Mesa, CA Sales Associate Saks Fifth Avenue ATLANTA, GA Merchandise Planner Kohl's Department Stores Menomonee Falls, WI Assistant Buyer Kohl's Department Store Menomonee Falls, WI Product Creative Design - Manager/Specialist Cabela's Sidney, NE Regional Director Francesca's Collections Philadelphia, PA IT Business Analyst - eComm / Internet Marketing Academy Sports & Outdoors Katy, TX Various Retail Opportunities within Deloitte Consulting LLP Multiple Locations, United States Corporate Counsel - Employment Law Ross Stores Pleasanton, CA Director of Stores A'GACI, LLC San Antonio, TX SALES ASSOCIATES - FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, SEASONAL SAKS FIFTH AVENUE TROY, MI Fashion Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN Vice President of Distribution and Logistics Sleep Experts Dallas, TX Visual Manager Saks Fifth Avenue San Francisco, CA Saks Fifth Avenue- Designer Sales Associate Saks Fifth Avenue Houston, TX Saks Fifth Avenue- Sales Associate Career Fair- New Orleans, LA Saks Fifth Avenue New Orleans, LA Sales Associate - Sales Support (stock) - Personal Shopper - Career Day Saks Fifth Avenue McLean, VA Candy Merchant Five Below, Inc. Philadelphia, PA Saks Fifth Avenue - FT and PT Sales Associates - Sales Support - St. Louis, MO Saks Fifth Avenue St. Louis, MO Location Director - Home Delivery Organic and Natural Food Suburban Organics Ottsville, PA Replenishment Manager Headquarters, MCCS Quantico, VA Click here to view more job listings.   SmartQuote  Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken." --Warren Buffett, American businessman and philanthropist        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. 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