| December 15, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
 | Making retail smarter
Today's smarter consumer is not only more informed, but also more demanding of retailers. Learn how to create a shopping experience that is tailored to your customers’ wants and needs. Come visit IBM at NRF (booth #619) and see what smarter retail looks like. | - Neiman Marcus makes bigger social media moves
Neiman Marcus has overcome the luxury retail sector's early aversion to social marketing and invested in social initiatives to connect with the 77% of shoppers who own Web-enabled mobile devices. The upscale department store is experimenting with a variety of social platforms, and former Women's Wear Daily editor Jean Scheidnes, who heads the social media team, manages a branded blog aimed at developing a bigger editorial presence. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (12/14)      - Christopher & Banks names new president
Apparel retailer Christopher & Banks has signed former Wilsons Leather CEO Joel Waller as its new president, under a one-year contract that puts Waller at helm of the chain's turnaround efforts. The chain hopes to bring back core customers who were turned off when the merchandise mix shifted from sensible to more cutting-edge fashions, said senior vice president Monica Dahl. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (12/14)  | 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. |
 - Holiday returns start early
Shoppers who took advantage of big Black Friday discounts have begun returning some of their purchases even before the holiday. In flush years, retailers typically give back 7 cents in returns for every dollar shoppers spend, but that figure spiked with the recession and it's expected to hit 9.9 cents this year, according to an NRF survey. Bangor Daily News (Maine)/The Associated Press (free registration) (12/14) - Supermarkets aim higher with in-store dining
Some supermarket chains including Whole Foods and Wegmans have advanced from setting up a few tables where shoppers dine on the fly from foam containers to cultivating affordable chef-run destination eateries aimed at capturing more of consumers' dining out dollars. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (12/14)  | COMING SOON: The most valuable e-commerce conference of 2012, ChannelAdvisor Catalyst. Everyone who's anyone in e-commerce will be there. Follow @channeladvisor to find out the Where (hint: not NC) and When for Catalyst 2012 |
 - Malls use high-tech tools to make parking easier
Shopping center parking lots rarely fill up completely, but coveted spaces closest to the stores are in high demand, sparking mall operators and retailers to employ high-tech tools including smartphone applications to help shoppers find the lots closest to their destinations and get a real-time view of how many spots are available. Social media also plays a role, as consumers feed Twitter with updated parking reports. The Wall Street Journal (12/15) - How to replace paper punch cards with digital loyalty
Belly's founders have created an iPad-based system to replace the paper punch cards small businesses often use in their customer-loyalty programs with more personalized offerings. The Chicago-based start-up installs iPads in the store, and customers scan their iPhones or Android phones at the point-of-sale. FastCompany.com (12/14)  | GREAT HAPPENS IN threes AT HYATT.
3% REBATE. TRIPLE HYATT GOLD PASSPORT® BONUS POINTS. COMPLIMENTARY INTERNET. Book your qualifying meeting by 12/31/2011 and hold by 3/31/2012 to take advantage of this special offer. To book your next meeting, contact your Hyatt Sales Representative and reference offer code REWARDS or go to hyattmeetings.com/REWARDS. |
  - Businesses need to look at BYOD policies from all angles
Businesses considering whether to allow employees to use their own mobile devices for business purposes need to take into account several factors, Ramon Ray writes. Businesses should consider whether they could withstand even a small data breach before opening up their IT policies. Employers should also take into account how knowledgeable their workers are about their devices and make sure employees are aware of how to keep their device's security up to date, Ray writes. Entrepreneur.com (11/16)  | Policy & Government Affairs |  |  | | |  | - 2011 brought legislative victories for NRF
 The Hill ranked NRF's last-minute campaign to block the banking industry's attempts to delay debit-card swipe-fee reform as the biggest legislative victory of the year, but there have been others, including the Retail Means Jobs campaign. Most recently, NRF has been a key player on efforts to pass an online sales tax bill that would level the playing field for brick-and-mortar merchants. Retail's BIG Blog (12/14)  | 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! |
| NRF News | |  | | - NRF revises holiday forecast to 3.8%
With just ten days until Christmas, NRF has revised its holiday forecast upward, expecting holiday sales to rise 3.8% this year to a record $469.1 billion. NRF's initial forecast, announced on Oct. 6, called for anticipated sales growth of 2.8%. While a 3.8% sales increase is considerably above the ten-year average sales increase of 2.6%, it is still lower than the 5.2% increase the retail industry saw last year. Read more. - NRF SmartStat: Dec. 15, 2011
 As of the second week in December, 37 million people -- or 16.5% of U.S. consumers -- had not even started their holiday shopping. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch. - How Sheplers Western Wear organizes for omnichannel
Due to high consumer expectations, retail organizations are becoming more global, social, mobile-powered and digital than ever before. How do you structure the business to make the most of these sophisticated customers and employees? Executives from Sheplers Western Wear and OnlineShoes.com will explain at Retail's BIG Show, Jan. 15-18 in New York City. Learn more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Footwear Buyer | Forman Mills | Pennsauken, NJ | | Regional Manager | Aspen Dental | Tampa, FL | | Coordinator, Communications and Public Affairs | National Retail Federation | Washington, DC | | IS Director of Operations | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Software Applications Architect-Merch/Marketing | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Assistant (Associate) Buyers - Brick & Mortar and Ecommerce | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee, WI | | Director of Learning and Development | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Director of Store Operations | Francesca's Collections | Houston, TX | | Finance Manager | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Sr. Director, Store Planning and Construction | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Manager, Brand Marketing & Public Relations | La-Z-Boy | Monroe, MI | | Associate Buyer - Procurement Services | Petsmart, Inc | Phoenix, AZ | | Regional Zone Manager | Spirit Halloween | Paramus, NJ | | Visual Merchandising Manager | Castle Megastore | Tempe, AZ | | DVP Spirit Halloween Marketing, Licensing & Creative Services | Spirit Halloween | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Buyer - Women's Accessories and Gifts | Pier 1 Imports | Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX | | Mens Buyer | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Logistics 3PL Manager | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | VP DMM Boys | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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- Monday, December 12, 2011
- Friday, December 09, 2011
- Thursday, December 08, 2011
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Contributing Editor: Faye Rapoport
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