 | November 3, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | | - How will the congressional shift affect the retail industry?
Republicans' takeover of the House and gains in the Senate resulting from Tuesday's elections are likely to impact retailers on a host of issues, including health care reform, taxes and credit card fees, according to NRF's overnight analysis of the results. The shift makes it much less likely that Congress will pass a value-added tax or "card check" legislation, but it also means further credit card swipe fee limits will likely be tougher to achieve. NRF Washington Retail Insight (11/3)       - Belk monitors stores' security from HQ in pilot program
Department store chain Belk has launched a 49-store pilot program designed to keep expert eyes on shoppers from a central location. Each store was outfitted with security cameras that send live feeds to security specialists in one location; the experts monitor shopper behavior to increase detection of shoplifters. Shoplifting cost the country's merchants about $13.3 billion in losses last year, according to National Retail Federation figures. The Jackson Sun (Tenn.) (11/2) - Family Dollar uses analytics to fuel growth
A while back, Family Dollar called a halt to ambitious expansion plans after the chain saw same-store sales start to slip. The company shifted its focus to improving merchandising and training, using customer-centric analytics to tweak individual store offerings to better meet the needs of each store's shoppers. Now Family Dollar is back in growth mode, with plans to open 300 stores in 2011 and remodel all 6,800 locations during the next four years. STORES magazine (11/2010) - New York mayor unveils plans to boost the city's fashion industry
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has unveiled a blueprint for boosting the city's fashion industry, which employs about 5.5% of the city's workforce and generates $2 billion in annual tax revenues. The program's six initiatives came out of a year-long examination of the industry's challenges by high-profile volunteers including Diane Von Furstenberg, Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren and Gilt Groupe chief Kevin Ryan. BNET/Style Inc. blog (11/2) , Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (11/2)  | Can "Like" and "Share" Work Together?
Wondering when to use the Facebook "Like" button on your site and when to use "share?" You're not alone. Learn the 6 best practices for combining "Like" and Share to maximize both referral traffic and data. Download Whitepaper Now | - Retailers lift veil of mystery from Black Friday deals
Details on Black Friday deals are becoming available earlier and earlier each year, with a growing number of websites leaking information that used to be top-secret until the ad-packed newspaper hit the porch on Thanksgiving Day. Unauthorized leaks can frustrate retailers looking to retain a competitive edge, said the National Retail Federation's Ellen Davis, but merchants increasingly are becoming a source for the leaks as they seek to build buzz for their promotions. U.S. News & World Report (11/2) - Mass merchants launch consumer electronics push
Target will begin selling Apple's iPhone this season, Best Buy plans to offer its "Free Phone Friday" promotion and Wal-Mart has dropped prices on a slew of TVs, computers and gaming consoles. The promotions come as consumers say they are poised to make it a year for gadgets, with 66% of consumers planning to buy their consumer electronics from mass merchants such as Target and Wal-Mart. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (11/2) - Sky-high cotton will push clothing prices higher next year
A severe shortage has pushed cotton prices almost 80% higher since July, a shift that has manufacturers and merchants predicting 2011 price increases. Merchants, including the Bon-Ton chain, are experimenting with replacing cotton with less expensive fabrics in some garments, but the company still plans to raise prices by about $1 in the spring, with further increases to follow in the fall. The New York Times (free registration) (11/2)  | Gain Critical Market and Retail Intelligence on POS. How are your competitors leveraging POS, and which systems do they rely on to advance in today's markets? Get fresh insights into today's POS priorities, technology and market trends, plus in-depth vendor comparisons from this new 55-page report from IHL Group. This outstanding value is yours at no cost. |  | Reshaping Enterprise Workforce Management Software
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| NRF News |  | | | - Is your e-commerce site ready for the holidays?
Most online holiday retailers are expecting strong holiday sales this season. Do you think your e-commerce site can handle it? Join executives from Forrester Research and VeriSign for a STORES Knowledge Series webinar on Nov. 10 as they discuss best practices for blazing-fast website performance and offer tips to decrease cart abandonment. Learn more. - NRF SmartStat: Nov. 3, 2010
 Eight out of 10 executives cite leadership development and pipeline as the top people management issue critical to organizational success. Source: NRF/Deloitte talent management survey - RFID: It's only as good as the associates who know how to use it
The use of RFID in retail can mean improved efficiency in tracking products and increased levels of asset visibility. But do your associates possess working knowledge of RFID technology to apply and evaluate the data? NRF University wired, the NRF Foundation's eLearning platform, now offers an interactive course on RFID essentials, which highlights the technology basics, data sharing, application examples and implementation -- the perfect training for retail associates in IT, finance, operations, engineering or sales. Learn more.
- San Francisco officials outlaw Happy Meal toys
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors approved a measure Tuesday to ban restaurants from including free toys with children's meals that don't meet certain nutritional standards. Officials in favor of the ban say it's an important step in reversing the trend of childhood obesity, while McDonald's calls the new law misguided. "Parents tell us it's their right and responsibility -- not the government's -- to make their own decisions and to choose what's right for their children," said a spokeswoman for the chain. Los Angeles Times (11/2)  | Good pair of shoes? Or a great career?
Forgo that new pair of shoes and put your hard earned money toward finding a satisfying career. Tap into the practical advice and proven strategies of 20 of the best recruiters, coaches, columnists and experts at the fully online Career Summit 2010. The first of 13 sessions starts on 10/26. Register today! |  | |  | | The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
Get key demographic and market facts about any location in the U.S. on the go with the Business Analyst Online app. Download the free app now and instantly evaluate an area on-site.
 | | | Interested in learning more about advertising in NRF SmartBrief? Contact Susan W. Kim at (202) 407-7877 or skim@smartbrief.com.  | | |  | |  |
| Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  Senior Attorney, Litigation | dressbarn | Sufffern, NY | | Director of E-Commerce | The Wet Seal, INC | Foothill Ranch, CA | | Compliance Manager | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Creative Manager | Neiman Marcus/Bergdorf Goodman | Irving , TX | | Retail Marketing Director | OfficeMax, Inc | Naperville, IL | | Systems Analyst-Labor Applications | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Director, Strategic Communications and Campaign | Universal Technical Institute Inc. | Phoenix, AZ | | Senior Ecommerce Manager | Expedia | Seattle, WA | | Division Merchandise Manager | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | Merchandise Planner - Emblematic Apparel and Gifts, U.S. Stores | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Senior Merchandise Planner - Emblematic Apparel and Gifts, U.S. Stores | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Senior Employment/Labor Counsel | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Category Manager - Own Brands (Food & Consumables) | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | System Analyst- SQL and Microsoft Dynamics | The Hershey Company | Hershey, PA | | | |  | |  | |
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- Monday, November 01, 2010
- Friday, October 29, 2010
- Thursday, October 28, 2010
- Wednesday, October 27, 2010
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