| March 19, 2012 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- 4 retailers launched a revolution 50 years ago
Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart and Kohl's opened their first stores in 1962, each aiming to bring year-round value to consumers and create a more profitable store model. The chains grew and launched a retail revolution that forced department stores to find new ways to compete. "If you looked at how [discounters] priced products in the past, a lot would compare against the department-store prices -- that's now almost an irrelevant argument," says NRF's Dan Butler. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (3/19)       | Predict what customers want and how to delight them.
Discover the power of analytics.
When customers visit your website or store to make a purchase, they leave valuable clues to how you can build a longer, more profitable relationship with them. Join us online March 22 to hear how retailers are using analytics to increase profitability. REGISTER NOW. | - Target's subtle shift caters to loyal shoppers
Target generates big buzz for its "cheap chic" collections from designer brands including Jason Wu and Missoni, but the chain is seeing its biggest sales increase in the grocery category, according to a recent SEC filing. Remodeled stores with expanded grocery and fresh food aisles aim to entice Target's regulars to buy more essentials while in the stores. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (3/16) - Nordstrom finds synergy with outlet stores
Nordstrom closed its Seattle Nordstrom Rack store and will open in a new location next to its full-line department store; the high-end chain will end the year with more Rack stores than full-price department stores for the first time in its 111-year history. Contrary to conventional wisdom that says the concepts cannibalize each other, Nordstrom has found that stores do better when they're near each other, said the company's president, Blake Nordstrom. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (3/17) - Where Uniqlo's fast fashion begins
Yuki Katsuta and his global team of 100 designers are responsible for creating the trendy basics Fast Retailing's Uniqlo has become known for around the world. In this profile he explains the process, which starts with imagining where the brand's customers might want to travel and using images of those places to inspire new patterns and styles. The Wall Street Journal (3/16)  | Kettle Foods reduces reporting cycle from 8 weeks to just 3 weeks
An antiquated reporting system and lack of data insight can stop growth in even a strong company. Read the white paper to learn how: Kettle Foods used Inca Software, a Logicalis Company, and IBM Cognos Express to slash reporting time, enable fast amendment of reports and centralize data. |
 - Department stores reinvent themselves
Once the central hub of retail activity, department stores steadily lost market share as specialty retail concepts emerged and grew. Now, chains including J.C. Penney, Target and Macy's aim to reclaim shoppers by bringing more specialty shops into the stores and giving online shoppers a place to see, touch and immediately purchase the products they crave. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (3/19) - The state of the luxury jewelry market
Luxury brands have been on an upward trajectory, but slowing sales in the West and a projected decline in demand in China this year could prove challenging. Cartier says its geographical diversity and ability to shift production levels quickly in the face of changing demand have positioned it well to ride out market changes. The Wall Street Journal (3/18)  | The Business Case for Mobile and Tablet Shopping
Is mobility an out-of-reach luxury or could it really improve your business? Get the facts! Aberdeen’s Analyst Insight examines the impact of mobile solutions on retail transactions, customer expectations, and important profit opportunities. This research – a $399 value- is yours free! Download your copy here! |
 - Google adds more cities for daily deals
Google expanded daily-deals service Offers to Houston, Philadelphia, Miami and Austin, Texas. The company is also aggregating deals from 11 websites, including AP Daily Deals, Half Off Depot and Boston.com, as it seeks to compete with leaders Groupon and LivingSocial. Internet Retailer (3/15)  | Data powers all your online channels and as a marketer you are involved with how this information is being used to reach customers. Federal regulations require protection of that consumer data to avoid potential risks and lawsuits. Watch these videos to learn how to create a comprehensive data privacy strategy. |
 | 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.
| Policy & Government Affairs | |  | | |  | - Lawmakers take aim at "roll-your-own" shops
Lawmakers, tobacco companies and retailers are pushing to increase taxes on stores that let customers use machines to roll their own cigarettes. The growing number of shops offering the service charge customers for the pipe tobacco they use, which is taxed at a much lower rate than cigarettes. The Wall Street Journal (3/16)  | Leveraging Cloud Security to Weather Threatening Storms
Web attacks and retribution campaigns are on the rise, and they have become more frequent, more random and more extreme. This paper assesses the current cyber threat environment and discusses the use of distributed cloud services as an effective means to protect against evolving, modern-day IT threats. |
 | | | Most Popular Headlines from Last Week Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. |
| NRF News | | | | - Why NRF's "This is Retail" video contest is just getting started
Now that the submission process has come and gone, the contest will officially kick into high gear on April 2 when the top 20 videos are announced. Videos will be matched up through the month of April for public voting, with the three finalists announced on May 1. The "This is Retail" contest will culminate in an exciting conclusion on May 16 at NRF's Washington Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C, when the three best retail stories in America are ranked and awarded with $50,000 cash. See the full contest timeline. - Why retailers should join NRF's march on Capitol Hill
Registration is now open for NRF's 77th Annual Washington Leadership Conference, May 15-16, where NRF is pushing the retail industry's interests on Capitol Hill. Join NRF and more than 100 retailers on their visit with legislators in Washington to address critical issues such as sales tax fairness, job creation, travel visa reform, privacy issues and more. Learn more and register.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Planner | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, FL | | Director of Advertising Production | The Bon Ton Stores, Inc. | Milwaukee, WI | | Business Analyst | QuantiSense | Atlanta, GA | | Implementation Consultant | QuantiSense | Atlanta, GA | | Director, Store Environment & Merchandise Planning | Harbor Freight Tools | Calabasas, CA | | Meat/Seafood Team Leader | Meijer | Cincinnati, OH | | Meat/Seafood Team Leader | Meijer | Westerville, OH | | Merchandise Planning & Analytics Manager | Coast Guard Community Services Command | Chesapeake, VA | | Director of Store Initiatives | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | VP eCommerce | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Director, Online Marketing | Bath & Body Works Direct, Inc. | Columbus, OH | | Direct Marketing Manager | RadioShack | Fort Worth, TX | | Director of Operations | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Merchandise Planner | Kohl's Department Stores | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Merchandise Buyer | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee/Menomonee Falls, WI | | Buyer | Smithsonian Museum Retail | Washington, DC | | Global Insights Manager | Burt's Bees | Durham, NC | | Designer - Footwear/Girlcare | Tween Brands Service Co. | New Albany, OH | | Buyer, Petites | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, FL | | Merchandise Planner | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | 'I have done my best.' That is about all the philosophy of living one needs."
--Lin Yutang,
Chinese writer and inventor  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com
| | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Friday, March 16, 2012
- Thursday, March 15, 2012
- Wednesday, March 14, 2012
- Tuesday, March 13, 2012
- Monday, March 12, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Megan Conniff
Contributing Editor: Faye Rapoport
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