Victoria's Secret drives Limited Brands' growth

Reading this on a mobile device? Try our optimized mobile version here: http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dCwACaiGapCddKhDCidawJCicNrlfG

April 25, 2012 News for the retail industry   Top Story    Mother's Day spending is expected to reach $18.6 billion Mother's Day gift spending is expected to rise from an average of $140.73 per person last year to $152.52, according to the National Retail Federation. Total spending should come in at $18.6 billion, with the greeting card holding on to the top purchase spot, with 83% of a respondents to a survey saying they plan to make a card purchase for mom. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (4/24), Chicago Sun-Times (4/24)      Your customers count on you. You count on your suppliers. Measuring vendor performance is the key to continual improvement of your supply chain and to delivering an optimal consumer experience. Download How to Measure Supplier Performance to understand the benefits of timely vendor measurement and how to strategically implement your own process to improve supplier performance.   Industry Watch    Victoria's Secret drives Limited Brands' growth Limited Brands owns several retail lines including Bath & Body Works and La Senza, but the lion's share of its revenue comes from sales at lingerie icon Victoria's Secret. The brand, which rang up more than $6 billion in sales last year, saw March same-store sales rise 10%. Investor's Business Daily (4/24)      Apple's fortunes soar amid strong iPhone and iPad sales Apple reported a 94% profit increase for its fiscal second quarter, largely because of strong and steadily growing demand for the iPhone and the iPad. The iPhone, sold in more than 100 countries, accounts for 57.9% of the company's sales. The Wall Street Journal (4/24)      Benetton turns to Alessandro for a makeover Alessandro Benetton has taken over the Benetton family business and is being charged with turning around the once more popular brand and fashioning it to more effectively compete with the likes of H&M and Zara. Known for hit-or-miss, provocative ads (such as recent flop in which the pope is seen kissing an imam), Italian business consultant Armando Branchini says this is one thing that needs to be revised about the company. "These campaigns are a thing of the past, the hallmark of another era. They need one-to-one, digital communication," he says. Reuters (4/24)      A peek at NYC's 1st Joe Fresh store New York City's first Joe Fresh store bursts forth with bright colors and affordable fashions made more for layering than fit, writes New York Times' Critical Shopper Jon Caramanica, who got his first look at the Canadian chain's offerings this week. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (4/24)      Other News Aetna starts selling health insurance through Costco The Hartford Courant (Conn.) (4/24)      Burlington Coat Factory to debut NYC flagship this fall Display & Design Ideas (4/24) What Every Small-Business Owner Needs To Know For Tax Season Small-business owners can seize many opportunities to reduce their taxes, lower their expenses and invest in employees and equipment this tax season. It’s important to understand the credits, deductions and strategies you can use to help maximize your business’s tax advantages. Download your 2012 Small Business Tax Strategy white paper now, exclusively for SmartBrief readers.   Retail Trends    Common traits of successful retailers Building trust and winning a reputation for consistency and loyalty to customers are three attributes common to a list of successful retail companies from Wal-Mart and Kohl's to Nordstrom and Ralph Lauren, this story illustrates. Forbes (4/24)      Retailers using a cross-channel loyalty platform have seen a 20% increase in customer retention rates. Download our white paper, Five Strategies for Cross-Channel Loyalty, to learn the keys to building a centralized cross-channel customer loyalty platform that utilizes relevant customer data to ensure a seamless and consistent brand experience across all channels.   Retail Technology    Wal-Mart, Target find app success with different strategies Wal-Mart and Target lead retail brands in the number of downloads of mobile applications from the iOS app Store, according to Luth Research and Mobile+Positive. The rivals have taken different approaches, with Target driving traffic to a single app and Wal-Mart achieving growth with a multitude of branded apps. MediaPost Communications/MoBlog (4/24)      Which do you choose: Customer frustration…or channel integration? Today's consumers expect to shop the way technology lets them work and live: easily, efficiently and seamlessly across channels. Aberdeen's 2012 Analyst Insight on the Omni-Channel Retail Experience explains how your competitors make that happen – and how you can too! This $399 value is now yours free. Download the report now!   Policy & Government Affairs    Senate votes to uphold new labor rules The Senate voted down a resolution Tuesday that would have overturned new National Labor Relations Board rules that will pave the way for a shorter time between the announcement of a union election and the vote. Retailers and business groups including NRF oppose the rules, which take effect Monday. "With only about 5 percent average unionization, retailers are low-hanging fruit for union organizers," said NRF Vice President David French. Philly.com (Philadelphia)/The Associated Press (4/25)      Webstore — your all-in-one eCommerce solution from Amazon Webstore gives you the features you need to launch or grow your eCommerce business. Learn how Webstore can help you succeed today!   Sponsored Content    Why You Can't Fire Employees for Bad-Mouthing Your Business Courtney Rubin 5 Ways Effective Marketing Makes Your Business Worth More John Jantsch How Entrepreneurs Can Change the World Tom Harnish 6 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Jackie and John F. Kennedy Rieva Lesonsky Fighting for the Young Consumer's Attention Dan Schawbel   NRF News  Mother's Day shoppers flock to department stores in 2012 Despite grappling with high gas prices, Americans will look for sentimental and unique ways to shower mom with affection this year. According to NRF's 2012 Mother's Day survey conducted by BIGinsight, nearly two-thirds of gift buyers will shop at a department store -- the most in the survey's history. Total spending for the holiday is expected to reach $18.6 billion. Read more.      NRF SmartStat: April 25, 2012 Americans will spend an average of $152.52 on Mother's Day gifts this year. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGinsight.        Senate to examine sales tax equality for Internet and brick-and-mortar retailers The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing today on a "hybrid" bill that would level the playing field between Internet retailers and local merchants but also ease the burden on cash-strapped states that are currently losing an estimated $24 billion a year to untaxed purchases. "Brick-and-mortar retailers are major contributors to the health of local communities and should not be placed at a disadvantage compared to remote sellers that have no local presence," NRF Senior Vice President for Government Relations David French said. Read more.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  New CEO aims to reclaim Friendly's iconic status John Maguire grew up on patty melts and chocolate Fribbles at his neighborhood Friendly's, and as the chain's new CEO he aims to revive the once-iconic family restaurant brand by finding a modern way to take it back to its roots. "In some ways it tried to be fast casual and chased concepts like Panera, but they lost what really is their identity," said Maguire, a 19-year Panera veteran. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (4/24)      Other News Hardee's, Steak 'n Shake boost morning menu offerings BurgerBusiness.com (4/24)      Position Title Company Name Location Customer Intelligence Strategist GFS Marketplace Grand Rapids , MI Director of Catalog Merchandising/Creative Scrubs & Beyond, LLC St. Louis , MO Retail Construction/Project Manager Jewelry Repair Enterprises, Inc Delray Beach, FL Senior Buyer Floor and Decor Outlets of America, Inc. Smryna, GA Senior Manager of Field Human Resources Ollie's Bargain Outlet Harrisburg, PA Buyer, Hardgoods Moosejaw Mountaineering Madison Heights, MI Merchandise Planner Burlington Coat Factory Burlington, NJ Senior Store Leadership Management Position Saks Fifth Avenue Atlanta, GA Director of Retail, Travel Hospitality Service Delaware North Companies Buffalo, NY Director of Field Human Resources The Vitamin Shoppe North Bergen , NJ Learning Solutions Manager PetSmart Phoenix, AZ Wholesale Visual Coordinator MacKenzie-Childs LLC New York, NY Retail Merchandise Manager Le Creuset of America, Inc./Schiller Stores, Inc. Early Branch, SC Fashion Product Manager (Sourcing Manager) Target Minneapolis, MN Product Manager (Sourcing Manager) Target Minneapolis, MI Fashion Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN Target.com Merchandising Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN Retail Buyer - Home Target Minneapolis, MN Director of Marketing Moosejaw Madison Heights, MI Cosmetics Buyer (Experience Required) Kohl's Department Stores Milwaukee, WI E-Commerce Merchant Kohl's Department Stores Milwaukee / Menomonee Falls, WI Merchandise Planner Kohl's Department Stores Menomonee Falls, WI Merchandise Buyer - Multiple Categories Kohl's Department Stores Milwaukee/Menomonee Falls, WI Click here to view more job listings.   SmartQuote  Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." --Thomas Edison, American inventor        This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com   Subscriber Tools       Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Grab our News Widget Publish your Press Release   Advertise Associate Publisher:  Dena Malouf (202) 407-7837 Download Media Kit Job Board:  Jackie Basso (202) 407-7871       Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 Monday, April 23, 2012 Friday, April 20, 2012 Thursday, April 19, 2012 Wednesday, April 18, 2012     Lead Editor:  Megan Conniff Contributing Editor:  Faye Rapoport     Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004     © 1999-2012 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information