 | September 22, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
| Industry Watch |  |  | | - Coach goes higher-end in London with 41 Collection
Coach opened its first European flagship in London this month, as part of a push to grow beyond the mature U.S. market. While the brand expects its signature bags, which sell for an average price of about $325 compared with thousands for upscale designer brands, will appeal to those seeking affordable luxury, the new store also will boast a three-bag collection of pricier purses named for famous London neighborhoods. Forbes (9/21)      - Sale of Sur la Table could speed up expansion plans
A Bahrain-based investment bank whose past investments include Gucci and Tiffany has acquired Seattle-based kitchenwares retailer Sur La Table. New owner Investcorp is expected to expand the 86-store chain, a move that will provide new competition for 270-store rival Williams-Sonoma, industry consultants say. The Seattle Times (9/20) - Toys R Us to hire 5,000 fewer seasonal workers this year
Toys R Us will begin hiring 40,000 holiday workers this week, down from the 45,000 temporary jobs it created a year ago. Chains including J.C. Penney, Kohl's and Crate & Barrel said they plan to hire about as many seasonal workers this year as last, but others are cutting back and some may be putting off hiring additional workers until they're sure they'll need them, said John Challenger of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Reuters (9/21) - Chanel sues 399 sites accused of selling counterfeits
Luxury design brand Chanel filed a federal lawsuit this week against 399 websites accused of selling knockoff bags, scarves and other items bearing its name. The lawsuit seeks an order to seize or disable the websites, which operate largely out of China, the Bahamas and other international markets, and an injunction barring them from selling counterfeit Chanel products. Las Vegas Sun/The Associated Press (9/21)  | Earn 2X rewards points on gasoline purchases with The New Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN. Designed to earn Membership Rewards® points faster:
• 3X points on airfare
• 2X points on advertising, gas, shipping
• 1X points on everything else
• For a limited time, 50K bonus points when you spend $10K your first 5 months
LEARN MORE AND APPLY |
  - Local retailers stay optimistic despite lower holiday forecasts
Early forecasts call for slower holiday season sales growth this year, but some local merchants in markets such as Bloomington, Ill., say they're seeing shoppers spend more, which bodes well for season that typically accounts for between 20% and 40% of annual sales. Consumers may take the same type of frugal approach to holiday shopping this year as they did in 2009, said NRF's Ellen Davis. "They especially want things that will last, so they may be willing to spend on longer-term investments." The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Ill.) (9/21), Bloomberg (9/21) - Business picks up at U.S. ports as holiday cargo comes in
Cargo traffic has picked up dramatically at U.S. ports in advance of the looming holiday season, and one report predicts incoming cargo volume will increase 11.8% in September over the same month last year. "With the most crucial spending period of the year just weeks away, retailers have made careful decisions on the amount of merchandise they need to properly stock their stores during the holidays," said NRF Vice President Jonathan Gold. Los Angeles Times/Money & Company blog (9/21)  | Case Study: McCormick and Schmick's
In the highly competitive restaurant market, McCormick & Schmick's needed to understand and respond to dining trends in real time. Read this case study to see how IBM® Cognos® Express enabled a set of automated dashboards that integrate both general ledger and point-of-sale data from the company's individual stores to drive better decisions. |
  |  |  | | 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! | |  |  |  |
 | Policy & Government Affairs | |  | | |  | - West Hollywood officials move to ban fur sales
The city of West Hollywood, which boasts high-profile shopping areas including Melrose Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, took the first steps toward becoming the first U.S. city to ban the sale of clothing made with fur. Animal advocates cheer the move while merchants in the district, which includes Balenciaga, Arcade and other upscale apparel shops, call it anti-business. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (9/20)  | From Black Friday to special promotions, the management of special events is relevant to all segments of retail. Anticipating what could happen, particularly in light of changing technologies and new generations of customers, can be difficult. Click here to reveal the art to minimizing the risk at special events. |
| NRF News | | | | - Retail's BIG Show debuts best value package
Get the best bang for your buck at NRF's 101st Annual Convention & EXPO, Jan. 15 to 18 in New York City, by registering for the best value package. New for the 2012 event, the best value package includes access to the opening night reception, Annual Retail Industry luncheon and EXPO as well as up to 60 hours of recorded educational sessions from the industry's top executives. Learn more. - NRF SmartStat: Sept. 22, 2011
 Of any retailer on the STORES Hot 100, Amazon.com has had the highest total growth between 2005 and 2010. Source: STORES Hot 100 - Give us 15 minutes. Win an iPad
Survey collection for Retail Horizons, NRF';s most illustrious industry benchmarking report, is under way. Retail department heads, take 15 minutes to complete your section of the survey by Oct. 7 and you'll automatically be entered to win an iPad. Retailers who complete the report will also receive a customized company report with key metrics to compare their company against the industry standard. Learn more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - U.S. fast-casual chains find path to growth in the Middle East
Fast-casual chains are finding new opportunities in the Middle East where the oil-based economy is flourishing and U.S. casual and quickservice brands have already demonstrated demand for Western offerings. Beautiful Brands and Smashburger are among the latest eateries with plans to expand in the region. FastCasual.com (9/21) | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Vice President, Business Development | Confidential | Akron, OH | | Director of Planning and Allocation | LittleMissMatched | New York, NY | | Merchandise Manager | Party City | Rockaway, NJ | | Payroll Manager | Party City | Rockaway, NJ | | Shopper Marketing and Retail Promotions Director | Two West Inc. | Nationwide, United States | | Associate Merchant - Direct Import | OFFICE DEPOT | Boca Raton, FL | | Senior Wine Buyer | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Account Manager | SPANX, Inc | Atlanta, GA | | SALES ASSOCIATE | SAKS FIFTH AVENUE | Hackensack, NJ | | Sales Associate- Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert | Saks Fifth Avenue | Palm Desert, CA | | Sales Associates - Beauty Specialists - Career Fair - Beachwood, OH | Saks Fifth Avenue | Beachwood, OH | | MDSR Buyer-Fashion | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | ASSET PROTECTION ASSOCIATE | SAKS FIFTH AVENUE | BAL HARBOUR, FL | | Vice President of Distribution and Logistics | Sleep Experts | Dallas, TX | | Replenishment Manager | Headquarters, MCCS | Quantico, VA | | REGIONAL RECRUITING MANAGER | SAKS FIFTH AVENUE | ATLANTA, GA | | Buyer (Lawn & Garden/Seasonal/Trim-A-Tree) | Navy Exchange Service Command | Virginia Beach, VA | | Corporate Counsel - Employment Law | Ross Stores | Pleasanton, CA | | Location Director - Home Delivery Organic and Natural Food | Suburban Organics | Ottsville, PA | | Fashion Buyer | Target | Minneapolis, MN | | SALES ASSOCIATES | SAKS FIFTH AVENUE | NEW YORK, NY | | SALES ASSOCIATES | SAKS FIFTH AVENUE | GREENWICH, CT | | Sales Associate Career Day at South Coast Plaza | Saks Fifth Avenue | Costa Mesa, CA | | Product Creative Design - Manager/Specialist | Cabela's | Sidney, NE | | Regional Director | Francesca's Collections | Philadelphia, PA | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | If you're quiet, you're not living. You've got to be noisy and colorful and lively."
--Mel Brooks,
American filmmaker  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com
| | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Wednesday, September 21, 2011
- Tuesday, September 20, 2011
- Monday, September 19, 2011
- Friday, September 16, 2011
- Thursday, September 15, 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 |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please comment thoughtfully CPG Brokers, your best resource to optimize your in store self exposure and maximize sku distribution.