  | September 27, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
| Industry Watch |  |  | | - Macy's to boost holiday hiring 4% this year
Macy's will hire about 78,000 seasonal workers at its namesake and Bloomingdale's stores, call centers, warehouses and online fulfillment centers for the holidays, at a time when many other merchants plan to hire the same number or fewer temporary staff. "We expect additional hiring this year given the continued sales growth in our business -- both in-store and online," said Chairman and CEO Terry Lundgren. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (9/26)      - Dollar General to start selling beer in Arkansas
Dollar General has won permits to sell beer at 50 of its stores in Arkansas. The chain says its customers already go elsewhere to buy beer and the move will offer shoppers greater convenience and further position the stores as one-stop destinations for everyday shopping. Reuters (9/26) - Judge OKs Borders' intellectual property sale to Barnes & Noble
A bankruptcy judge approved Borders Group's plan to sell intellectual property to Barnes & Noble for $13.9 million, after the parties resolved privacy concerns that led the judge to delay the deal. Under the revised deal, Barnes & Noble will e-mail customers on a list bought from Borders to notify them of the change and give them 15 days to opt out of e-mails. The Detroit News/Bloomberg (9/26)  | Earn 2X rewards points on advertising costs with The New Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN. Designed to earn Membership Rewards® points faster:
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  - Euro zone crisis makes retailers more pessimistic
Europe's economy needs substantial reforms to solve the ongoing financial crisis there, and the situation has major retailers in Western Europe pessimistic, according to a survey of 100 global retailers released at the World Retail Congress in Berlin on Monday. "We see band aids, periodic bailouts, but not yet fundamental reforms necessary to make this thing (the euro) work," Deloitte's global research director Ira Kalish. CNBC/Reuters (9/26) - Companies aim to win brand loyalty from birth
Brands including Disney, Fisher-Price and Mattel are pushing to get their logos and licensed characters in front of the newborn-to-3-year-old set, as part of a trend to begin building brand loyalty from birth. Their efforts are aided by digital technology and the growing number of tots watching online videos and learning to use the Internet before they speak in full sentences. Adweek (9/26) - Some grocery chains move away from DIY checkout
Most grocery shoppers opt to check out with a cashier rather than a self-service scanner, saying they prefer the human interaction and higher service level, and several chains are paying attention. Big Y Foods said recently it's phasing out self-service lanes, and other chains including Albertsons say they're reducing the number of scanners and increasing the number of manned checkout lanes at some stores. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (9/26)  | New cloud management techniques enable IBM to provide a simplified "anywhere, anytime" self-service approach for the delivery and consumption of IT services. Read this paper to see how using a cloud-based approach for your IT can free you to reap immediate benefits of a specific technology instead of having to spend time, resources, and money focusing on how to implement it. |
 - Why going mobile may be much easier than it seems
 Almost half of all merchants surveyed in Shop.org's recent report on the state of online retailing said they have either a mobile-optimized website or mobile application, which means those who don't are at risk of falling behind, writes ARTS executive director Richard Mader. Adding mobile needn't be as complicated as it seems: standalone systems can be integrated after the fact and there's no need to invest in additional hardware or personnel to get mobile platforms up and running. Retail's BIG Blog (9/27)  | Top 5 HR Compliance Concerns for Small Business
Small and medium sized companies spend a lot of time focusing on core business issues, but they may overlook one of the most potentially serious and costly issue — human resource compliance. How do you know what issues to look for in order to protect the company? Download this must-read paper that discusses the top 5 HR compliance issues. |
 - How to get on the first page of Google's results
An effective search engine optimization campaign can land your business on page one of search results, but SEO can be difficult to understand, writes Krista LaRiviere of gShift Labs. She identifies several aspects of the current state of SEO, including the necessity of using software packages, the importance of strong content and how social sites influence search results. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (9/26) - Win employee engagement through sustainability efforts
Companies that want to increase employee engagement should emphasize their commitment to sustainability, Kathleen Miller Perkins writes. "When employees understand how their labors contribute to the competitive advantage of their companies and to the betterment of their worlds, they are more likely to feel that their work is meaningful. As their work becomes more meaningful to them, they are more likely to increase their engagement in it," she writes. Environmental Leader (9/22)  |  |  | | 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! | |  |  |  |
| NRF News | | | | - Macy's announces holiday hiring goal of 78,000
While early reports have shown that many retail companies are planning to keep holiday season hiring for 2011 at last year's levels, Macy's spread a little holiday cheer yesterday with an announcement to hire 78,000 for the holidays -- a 4% increase over last year's hires. In a note that accompanied the news release, Macy's Chairman, President and CEO Terry Lundgren said the announcement "underscores the important role that retailers play as employers and drivers of our economy in every state." Read more. - NRF SmartStat: Sept. 27, 2011
 Apple Stores climbed more than 30 spots on this year's Top 100 Retailers list -- from No. 52 to No. 21 -- with 2010 U.S. sales increasing 32.3% to $18 billion. Source: STORES 2011 Top 100. - NRF 2012 Loss Prevention Conference call for speakers closes tomorrow
These are the final days to submit a session proposal for the retail industry's biggest loss prevention event. Hot topics range from fighting online fraud to combating organized retail crime. What ideas do you have to share with other industry leaders at the 2012 NRF Loss Prevention Conference & EXPO? The deadline for submissions is Sept. 28. Learn more.
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