| February 20, 2012 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Christopher & Banks CEO resigns
Christopher & Banks chief executive Larry Barenbaum resigned on Friday, and President Joel Waller will perform the job until the women's apparel retailer finds a permanent replacement. Waller originally was recruited by Barenbaum to help turn around the company, which closed 100 stores and cut 25 jobs last month. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (2/17)       | Do you know what global consumers are buying? What product categories do they prefer? What do they value most in their shopping experience? And how do they differ from country to country? Pitney Bowes Ecommerce Solutions conducted a global survey polling consumers in ten countries including Canada, UK, Australia, China, Japan and Brazil. Download the white paper here. | - Topco announces new president and CEO
Randall Skoda has been named the new president and CEO of Topco, having served as interim president and CEO for the past few months, and executive vice president for four years prior to that. "We are excited about the leadership and experience Randy brings to his new role," said Steve Smith, Topco's chairman and K-VA-T Food Stores president and CEO. Retailing Today (free registration) (2/17) - Belk to invest $75 million in store renovations in 2012
Charlotte-based department store chain Belk will invest $75 million to renovate about 30 stores this year, focusing on revamping existing spaces instead of adding new locations, the company said. The 300-store chain, which hasn't opened new stores since 2007, has begun looking at possible new markets but won't open any new stores until at least next year. The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) (2/18) - Mackey: Whole Foods progresses on all fronts
 Hard work has propelled Whole Foods forward in a down economy, says founder and co-CEO John Mackey. The company's stock value is near an all-time high, it has introduced innovative programs to educate customers on healthy eating, and it is demanding higher standards from suppliers. "We threw ourselves into the task of making the shift from strong growth to a sudden recession." Winston-Salem Journal (N.C.)/Cox News Service (2/19)  | Learn Customer Engagement Best Practices from Aberdeen!
Aberdeen Group’s recent research on customer intelligence and engagement strategies reveals what today’s leading retailers are doing to gain insight into the mindshare of their customers, respond to their elevated expectations, and strengthen customer centricity. This $399 report is yours free! Download your copy now! |
 | Retail trends |  |  | | - Warm winter changes consumers' spending habits
Winter coats, snow shovels and even soup are languishing on the shelves amid the fourth-warmest December-through-January period on record. However, the higher temperatures and lack of snow in many parts of the U.S. have consumers getting out of the house more. Malls and movie theaters have seen higher traffic, and Home Depot already is seeing brisk sales of live plants and gardening gear in some parts of the country. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (2/20)  |  |  | | See how Cardmembers use American Express OPEN Cards to help run their business:
“American Express customer service is phenomenal. There's always someone at the end of the line, whether it's evenings, weekends, or holidays.” - Eli Wilner, Eli Wilner & Company
With the Business Platinum Card from American Express OPEN, you can enjoy over 30 premium benefits to help power your business. Including, 24/7 customer service.
LEARN MORE & APPLY | |  |  |  |
  - Smartphone shopping improves customer planning
Interactive shopping technology allows consumers to shop before entering a store. Ninety percent of shoppers know what they will buy before arrival; 75% think they are smarter shoppers than they were a year ago; and 86% think they are getting more precise in what they buy, according to Deloitte's American Pantry Study conducted in October. Progressive Grocer (2/16)  | Costs are rising in China and Japan, prompting high-tech firms across Asia to consider new sourcing locations so they can remain efficient, while focusing more on service. What will be the impact of this behavioral shift? Learn about the findings in this free white paper. |
 - How to fight "sweethearting"
A new report tries to measure the scope of damage done to retailers from a form of employee theft called "sweethearting," in which workers give merchandise away to friends free or at a discount. The most effective programs to fight it are having clear standard operating procedures and auditing programs in place, and encouraging employees to be alert and report suspicions, says NRF's Joseph LaRocca. Security Director News (Langhorne, Pa.) (free registration) (2/17)  | To make a retail operation truly customer-focused, retailers need to connect customer’s interactions, drive better decisions using science and insight, and optimize operations for efficiency. Retailers who focus on discerning customer sentiment and creating a customer experience will win customers’ long-term loyalty. Learn more. |
 | Hot Topics | | | | Top five news stories selected by NRF SmartBrief readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
| | | Most Popular Headlines from Last Week Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. |
| NRF News | | | | - NRF shines spotlight on true impact of retail careers
Buyers. Customer service superstars. Creative directors. The launch of NRF's nationwide video contest serves many functions, but its purpose is simple: to sharpen America's focus on the retail industry's innovation, vitality to the American economy, and reward the most captivating stories in retail. In a post on Retail's BIG Blog, NRF's "This is Retail" campaign is explained through the lens of the video contest, which features $50,000 in prize money. Read more. Retail's BIG Blog (2/20) - Best strategies for retail IT management
Omni-channel retailing brings a litany of IT services to master. Retailers must try to stay a beat ahead of the ever-changing technology, user platforms and POS solutions -- all of which must run efficiently to secure consumer confidence and sales. In a March 1 STORES Knowledge Series webinar, Kaseya's ITSM Specialist Ray Barber will discuss best practices for overcoming today's IT challenges to decrease the impact downtime has on businesses. Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - McDonald's acts to bridge sales, brand-perception gap
McDonald's brand perception is lagging behind its sales figures, according to this article. Although the brand remains among the most valuable in the world, many consumers can't see beyond the burgers and fries and rank the chain lower on the scales of taste, quality and friendliness. The company has been tackling the perception problem by addressing the origins and quality of the food it serves, revamping Happy Meals and attempting to reshape public opinions about "McJobs" with its National Hiring Day event. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (2/20) | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Email Marketing Manager | Golfsmith | Austin, TX | | Buyer, Petites | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, FL | | Vice President of Human Resources | Teavana | Atlanta, GA | | Retail Management | Total Wine & More | Seattle, WA | | Selling Manager, Women's Shoes - NYC Store | Saks Fifth Avenue - NYC Store | New York, NY | | Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | IS Director of Operations | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Merchandise Planner | The Bon Ton Stores | Milwaukee, WI | | Corporate Recruiter - Merchandising and Retail | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Store Director - In Training | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Corporate Counsel | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | AVP - Marketing | West Marine | Watsonville, CA | | Senior Manager, Manhattan WMS Applications | PEAPOD | Lake Zurich, IL | | General Manager | Saks Fifth Avenue | Short Hills, NJ | | Business Development - Home Office Based | The French Company/FacilityConnect | Twinsburg, OH | | Demand Planner | Staples, Inc. | Framingham, MA | | Visual Merchandiser Manager | Castle Megastore Group | Tempe, AZ | | Merchandise Planner/Distributor | Navy Exchange Service Command | Virginia Beach, VA | | Retail Communications and Operations Manager | Hanna Andersson LLC | Portland, OR | | DVP Spirit Halloween Marketing, Licensing & Creative Services | Spirit Halloween | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Sr. Director, Store Planning and Construction | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Assistant General Manager of Merchandising (AGMM) | Saks Fifth Avenue | Hackensack, NJ | | Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Marketing Director -- Indianapolis | Saks Fifth Avenue | Indianapolis, IN | | National Advertising Sales Manager | Intent Media | New York City , NY | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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Six in 10 retail customers with smartphones report using their devices while in brick-and-mortar stores to search for better prices elsewhere. Source: 
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