| May 16, 2012 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Nordstrom wins kudos for customer engagement
Nordstrom was named one of the most-connected companies by U.S. News & World Report for its ongoing innovation and efforts to use digital technology and social media to connect with customers. "A lot of this technology is changing [customer] expectations around speed, around convenience, and we are working really hard to keep up with that," says Jamie Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom Direct. U.S. News & World Report (5/15)       | The Secrets of Apple's Retail Success - Apple Stores have shattered traditional metrics and changed the face of the retail industry forever. Go behind the scenes of Apple Stores and learn techniques Apple uses to delight their customers. Download this free eBook here. Brought to you by TimeTrade - the leader in online appointment scheduling for retail. | - CEO: J.C. Penney needs to explain pricing tiers: Even though the use of Ellen DeGeneres and a new marketing campaign strategy hasn't prevented J.C. Penney from a first-quarter loss, CEO Ron Johnson says that the "transformation is ahead of schedule" and will exhort his agency Brand Advisors to do the hard retail-selling work of explaining the chain's new pricing strategy and wean customers from coupons. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (5/15)
- Gap sets its sites on growth in North America
Gap plans to put its primary focus this year on improving performance and reversing same-store sales declines at its namesake, Old Navy and Banana Republic stores in North America, CEO Glenn Murphy said Tuesday at the retailer's annual shareholder meeting. The company will also work on expanding newer concepts including Athleta and Piperlime, which is set to open its first brick-and-mortar store this year. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (5/15)  | Download Forrester Research, Inc.'s April 2012 report: SMB eCommerce Solutions 2012, A Guide To Selecting Your eCommerce Solution written by Brian K. Walker. Learn which SMB eCommerce solution you should consider for your business. For example, Forrester expects to see the advent of full-service offerings such as Amazon's suite of solutions. Download your complimentary copy now. |
 - How can retailers fight showrooming?
Consumers increasingly are using their mobile devices to find the lowest price on products after checking them out in brick-and-mortar stores. Merchants have some tools to fight the showrooming trend, including merchandising that compels customers to buy then and there and competitive pricing that helps ensure shoppers won't find better deals online, writes PM Digital's Suzy Sandberg. MobileCommerceDaily.com (5/15) - Retailers are concerned about fuel prices
 For the first time since 2009, retailers say unemployment is not their top worry, finds a BDO USA study. The researcher looked at the nation's 100 largest retailers, and found 99 were concerned that the weak economy would hurt their business, and 71% listed fuel prices as a top concern, up from 58% in 2011. Unemployment was a concern for 68%. CNBC/Consumer Nation blog (5/15) - U.S. luxury brands build their presence in Brazil
Wealthy Brazilians who used to feed their demand for Coach bags and Tiffany rings by flying to New York or Miami to shop are now finding the coveted items closer to home. Luxury sales in Brazil grew 20% last year, and Coach, Tiffany, Kate Spade and other U.S. luxury brands are opening stores there. Bloomberg Businessweek (5/16)  | Learn How to Cut HR Costs Without Cutting Production
Entrepreneurial execs know that they need to follow the rules, but they may not realize which decisions will lead to the two vital components that help keep HR costs low. The following paper focuses on minimizing human capital expenses in four key areas. Download the white paper, An Executive’s Guide to Cutting HR Costs to learn more. |
 - Isis signs Macy's, Foot Locker for mobile-payment service
Isis, the mobile-payments player formed by AT&T, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless, says it will partner with several retailers, including Macy's and Foot Locker, to launch in-store Isis Mobile Wallet payment services this year. Hundreds of local retailers in Austin, Texas, and in Salt Lake City will begin using the service as well. Wired.com/Gadget Lab blog (5/15), CNET (5/15)  | 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! |
| NRF News |  |  | | - Hawaii's Tanna Dang awarded $25,000 top prize in NRF's "This is Retail" contest
By illustrating the philanthropic and transformative impact of her retail clothing boutique to the Honolulu community, small business owner Tanna Dang took home first place in NRF's nationwide "This is Retail" contest. Macy's Chairman, CEO and President Terry Lundgren and NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay presented Dang with a $25,000 check this morning at NRF's 77th annual Washington Leadership Conference. Other winners included Florida's Kim Williams of The Polka Dot Press earning $15,000 in second place, and Illinois' Susan Kaufman of Market Alley Wines was awarded $10,000 for third. Read more. - Will online sales tax legislation slow down e-commerce?
 As the trend of side-stepping sales tax by purchasing retail products online continues, sales tax fairness – or e-fairness – hinges on the principle that closing these loopholes would protect local jobs while also giving states and municipalities means to keep America's communities thriving. On CNBC's Squawk Box, Staples founder Tom Stremberg joined former Congressman Bill Delahunt, D-Mass., and a panel of experts to discuss this trend, and weigh in on whether the implementation of e-fairness legislation would stymie online sales. Watch the video. Retail's BIG Blog (5/15)
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Denny's commits to humanely raised pork products
Denny's has committed to source more of the sausage, ham and bacon it serves at its 1,650 restaurants from producers that don't use gestation crates and influence its suppliers to shift away from the crates. McDonald's and Wendy's have already made similar pledges; eight states now ban the use of gestation crates and several more have bills pending to do the same. Chicago Tribune (5/15) | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Manager, Mast Global Operations & Integration | Limited Brands | Columbus, OH | | Selling Manager - Palm Beach, FL | Saks Fifth Avenue | Palm Beach, FL | | Senior Vice President, Human Resources | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Direct Marketing Campaign Developer | Shopko | Green Bay, WI | | Circulation and Marketing Analyst | Shopko | Green Bay, WI | | Senior Buyer - Home/Furniture | Shopko | Green Bay, WI | | Merchandise Planner | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Retail Operations Manager | Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts | Waltham, MA | | Senior DBA - SQL Server - Oracle | Shopko | Green Bay, WI | | Merchandise Buyer - Multiple Categories | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee/Menomonee Falls, WI | | Cosmetics Buyer (Experience Required) | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee, WI | | Merchandise Planner | Kohl's Department Stores | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Senior Merchant | Golfsmith International | Austin, TX | | Vice President Planning and Allocation | Golfsmith International | Austin, TX | | Merchant – Softlines | Golfsmith International | Austin, TX | | Senior Manager, Marketing | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Women's Designer Selling Manager | Saks Fifth Avenue | Beverly Hills, CA | | Merchandise Planner | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, FL | | Senior Manager of Field Human Resources | Ollie's Bargain Outlet | Harrisburg, PA | | 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 | | Buyer, Hardgoods | Moosejaw Mountaineering | Madison Heights, MI | | Senior Director of Quality and Product Safety | Walmart | Shenzhen, China | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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