 | October 27, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Neiman Marcus to accept Visa and MasterCard
Neiman Marcus aims to finally appease shoppers who for years have asked the company to accept more than the upscale chain's branded credit card, American Express or cash, a practice that has resulted in lost sales among shoppers who didn't learn of the policy until it was time to pay. Starting Nov. 1, the company will accept Visa and MasterCard at all 41 of its stores. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (10/27)       - Sean John adds more Macy's shops
The Sean Jean brand is growing inside Macy's, and founder Sean "Diddy" Combs kicked off the expansion with the launch of a new 2,000-square-foot boutique inside Macy's Herald Square flagship in New York this week. Sean John will also expand its lineup of branded retail stores through an outsourcing deal with SJ Retail. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (10/26) - Survey: Costco poised to win shoppers this season
Shoppers who head to Costco expect to spend more than they did there last year, according to BIGresearch, which surveyed shoppers at 11 chains. The overall results reflect a mood of economic uncertainty that has got consumers focused on practicality and price, says analyst Pam Goodfellow. Bloomberg Businessweek (10/27)  | Consumer Insights Your Brand Needs to Know: Latest Trends in Behavioral Advertising
Learn what brand managers, advertisers, as well as networks, agencies, and publishers need to know about consumer survey insights into behavioral ad serving, also known as interest-based advertising. Learn more today! |
 - Shoppers look to save by starting early
About 39% of U.S. consumers already have started their holiday shopping, up sharply from last year, according to NRF data. The shift reflects a new mindset among bargain-hunting consumers who, in the past would have waited out merchants and snapped up last-minute bargains. Now, more of them are organizing their lists earlier and searching out the best deals. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (10/27) - More consumers trade brand for price to make ends meet
High unemployment and rising food prices have more consumers trading weekly trips to fill grocery carts with brand name items for new shopping habits that include extreme couponing and stocking up on deeply discounted bulk items. "Because there is more information available on pricing and quality, it's easier to make smarter decisions than it used to be," said Wharton marketing professor Stephen Hoch. Knowledge@Wharton (10/26) - Survey: Consumers poised to shift buying habits
Only 20% of consumers have switched the products they buy in the face of grocery inflation, but 70% say they're ready to make changes if prices on particular products rise again, according to the Annual Accenture Pricing Shopping Survey. Many said they'll switch to the generic version if the price goes up 10% and drop it off the list in the face of a 20% increase. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (10/25)  - U.K. mobile users boost retail searches
 Retail searches by mobile phone users in the U.K. grew 35% in the third quarter, compared to the same period last year, according to BRC-Google Online Retail Monitor. Searches for U.K. retail sites by consumers in other countries grew 34% in the quarter. HousewaresLive.net (10/26)  | Are you keeping up with the changing world of employee health care? Get The Basics of Employee Health Care for Small Business: A Guide to Creating a Company Benefit Plan, and find out what you need to know today. There's no obligation. Click to download a complimentary whitepaper. |
 - Get your share of the nation's millions of senior shoppers
People over 60 are growing as a percentage of the U.S. population, and small businesses have the advantage in earning their business because they prefer a more personal shopping experience, notes Rieva Lesonsky. Older Americans generally want to interact with friendly employees, and the majority want a place to sit so they can rest during shopping trips, according to A.T. Kearney's Global Maturing Consumer study. Seniors also tend to spend more per purchase, the study found. Small Business Trends (10/26)  | 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. |
| NRF News |  |  | | - Congressional proposal expected to lower retailers' tax bills
NRF welcomed a proposal unveiled by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp yesterday that would reform the nation's corporate tax structure and drop the rate corporations pay to 25% from the current 35%. "This is a major step forward in drafting a simpler and fairer tax system that would ultimately help create jobs for American workers," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. Read more.  | - NRF releases 4th quarter Retail Sales Outlook
"While the consumer is bruised and struggling in this recovery, spending continues to be a driver of modest growth," says chief economist Jack Kleinhenz in NRF's most recent Retail Sales Outlook, a quarterly report on industry sales. The report uses recent economic data to analyze the impact of key indicators such as employment and the housing market on retail sales growth. NRF members, download a free copy of the report. Learn more. |
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - New rivalries brew as coffee industry perks up
Coffee is hot and getting hotter in markets around the world, spurring fresh competition for major players Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts. Companies such as Honolulu Coffee Co., whose barista beat out rivals from larger chains in international competitions this year, are finding success by appealing to more sophisticated palates. Forbes (10/26) | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | VP of Marketing | Teavana | Atlanta - Buckhead, GA | | Vice President, Business Development | Confidential | Akron, OH | | Merchandise Planner | Smithsonian Museum Retail | Washington, DC | | HR Director, Retail Stores | SalonCentric | Based in NJ & NYC, NJ | | Costume Designer/Sr. Manager | Spirit Halloween | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Logistics Operations Manager | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween | Egg Habor Township, NJ | | Recruiting Manager - Atlanta Area | Saks Fifth Avenue | Atlanta, GA | | Sr. Systems Training and Communications Specialist | Bj's Wholesale Club, Inc. | Westborough, MA | | Director, Store Planning and Design | Ross Stores, Inc. | Pleasanton, CA | | HR Manager (Corporate Headquarters) | Petsmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Commission Sales Associates, Alterations/Fitter/Sewer, Department Managers, LP/Asset Protection | Saks Fifth Avenue | Chevy Chase, MD | | Killian Fragrance Specialist | Saks Fifth Avenue | New Orleans, LA | | Chantecaille Beauty Specialist | Saks Fifth Avenue | New Orleans, LA | | Escada Brand Ambassador | Saks Fifth Avenue | San Antonio, TX | | Asset Protection Associate | Saks Fifth Avenue | San Francisco, CA | | Fashion Buyer | Target | Minneapolis, MN | | Store Manager-Luxury Retail-San Diego | Tourneau LLC | San Jose, CA | | Assistant Store Manager-Luxury Retail-San Jose | Tourneau LLC | San Jose, CA | | Buyer | Five Below, Inc. | Philadelphia, PA | | Director Global Trade & Compliance | Charming Shoppes, Inc. | Bensalem, PA | | Account Manager | SPANX, Inc | Atlanta, GA | | Sales Associate - Jewelry | Saks Fifth Avenue | Naples, FL | | Corporate Visuals Manager | MacKenzie-Childs LLC | New York , NY | | Merchandise Buyer - Fashion Apparel | Kohl's Department Stores | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Seasonal Selling Professional | Saks Fifth Avenue | Troy, MI | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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Americans are expected to spend $2.5 billion on Halloween costumes this year. Source: 
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