 | December 6, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Giant Eagle opens its own food-processing facility
Giant Eagle is becoming its own food supplier, using a 170,000-square-foot facility in Freedom, Pa., to cut fresh fruit that is delivered to 228 Giant Eagle stores and 160 GetGo convenience stores. Soups and pasta dishes are being added to production, and sauces and gravies are expected to follow. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (12/5)       - FedEx expects to mark its busiest day ever
FedEx predicts it will move about 16 million packages and parcels on Dec. 13, doubling its typical daily load and making the holiday shipping day the busiest in the company's history. A significant increase in online shopping is behind the 11% increase in business from last year's busiest day, the company says. The Daily News (Memphis, Tenn.) (12/6) - Stride Rite launches TV campaign aimed at new moms
Stride Rite's first national TV commercial in 20 years is slated to launch during the annual airing of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on Tuesday night, aiming to attract new moms with shoes that start their young children off on the right foot. The campaign highlights the life stages between birth and kindergarten, with a goal of associating Stride Rite's shoes with each stage. The New York Times (free registration) (12/5)  - November brings fewer retail hires, despite higher sales
Retailers hired fewer workers in November than they usually do during the month, according to a Labor Department report. Stores are extending hours for existing employees and many may have made their seasonal hires earlier than usual this year, the report says. Chains including Toys R Us, Macy's and Kohl's all said earlier this year that they planned to boost seasonal hiring, but others are taking a cautious approach despite predictions for higher seasonal sales. The Wall Street Journal (12/3) - Consumers are set to cash in on loyalty points
Shoppers plan to use the points they've accrued under retailers' loyalty programs to stretch their holiday shopping budgets, according to new research from LoyaltyOne and Epsilon Targeting. About 11% of respondents to a recent survey said they plan to use loyalty benefits during the season, and many said they would spend their points on gifts for others. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (12/4) - Christmas tree sales see healthy growth
Sales of real and artificial Christmas trees are on the rise this year, with consumers expected to spend up to $10 million more on trees than they did in 2009. About two-thirds of Americans plan to spend on trees, lights and other holiday decorations this year, according to a recent National Retail Federation survey. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (12/4) - Seasonal retail helps farmers keep growing
Farmers traditionally boost their retail efforts during the holidays, selling early winter produce as well as wreaths and decorative plants. The season provides critical income that keeps many local farms operating throughout the year. "This is a huge time of year for us," said Healdsburg, Calif., farm owner Ridgely Evers. "It's about a third of our business." The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.) (12/5)  | New Retail 2.0 eBook: Make Money, Hand Over Flash
Are competitors employing retail concepts like Private Sales, to improve customer loyalty and generate rapid revenue growth? Learn how you can transform your business for today's multi-channel buyers with a FREE eBook, "Retail 2.0: Private Sales." Don't hesitate. Innovate. Download Your eBook Now | - Gilt's full-price men's site reflects different shopping styles
 Men shop differently from women, says Gilt Groupe's John Auerbach, who will head up a full-priced men's shopping site set to launch next summer. The new site is a shift away from Gilt's discount flash-sale model. "It's often said that women tend to buy something they like and then find an occasion to wear it, while men will think about the occasion and outfit themselves accordingly," he said. Mashable (12/1)  | Supercharging the Online Channel
Getting to the right shoppers and then converting them to buyers in your online store is every retailer's key objective. Short purchase windows, impatient buyers, and new mandates around security are creating unprecedented demands on commerce sites. Learn how to attract customers to your site, optimize their online shopping experience and drive more transactions. Watch the webinar NOW! |
 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.
 | Stay "On the Pulse" of Holiday Online Shoppers
Track online shopping activity with the Cyber Holiday Pulse Index, exclusively from Chase Paymentech. Get actual online payment transaction data - not estimations. Discover key shopping dates for better promotional planning and gain insight into consumer spending habits. Follow the Pulse Index here |
| NRF News |  | | | - How American Eagle, Guitar Center and Macy's built private label success
Innovation is key in private label and is something that American Eagle, Guitar Center and Macy's don't shy away from. In a thought-leadership panel at Retail's BIG Show, these industry giants will reveal their views on private label development, what's worked and what hasn't, as well as how they promote their success internally and to Wall Street. Retail's BIG Show centennial celebration takes place Jan. 9 to 12, 2011, in New York City. Learn more. - Preparing for version 2.0 of the PCI Data Security Standard
Version 2.0 of the PCI Data Security Standard takes effect on Jan. 1, 2011. Is your company ready? Join executives from Intel SOA Products Group and Security Warrior Consulting for a STORES Knowledge Series webinar on Dec. 14 as they address six key compliance areas with a single solution. Learn more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - White Castle tests 3 new restaurant concepts
White Castle has launched three new concepts aimed at exploring whether the 90-year-old burger chain can expand its niche into new fast-casual cuisines. The new concepts are: Deckers, a triple-decker grilled sandwich shop; Blaze Modern BBQ, a modern slow-cooked barbecue joint; and Laughing Noodle, a fast-casual eatery featuring noodles, soups and salads. All three eateries are housed in remodeled former White Castle restaurants. QSR Magazine (12/2010) - Genghis Grill goes social with concert tour
Genghis Grill will kick off its first concert tour in Dallas this week, using social media sites to spur buzz and let fans pick their favorite local bands. Local bands compete with videos uploaded to GenghisGrillTV.com, and concertgoers will vote for their favorites with tweets, Foursquare check-ins and Facebook "likes." FastCasual.com (12/3) | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  Director, Guest Services | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween/ToyZam! | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Manager, Web Merchandising Intelligence | Kohl's Corporate Offices | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Director of Marketing and Licensing | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Merchandise Planner | Kohl's Corporate Offices | Milwaukee, WI | | VP of Marketing | Teavana | Atlanta - Buckhead, GA | | Branch Head/Field Operations (Marine Corps Exchanges) | Headquarters/MCCS | Quantico Marine Corps Base, VA | | Planogram Specialist (Temporary not to exceed 2 Years) | Headquarters Marine Corps/ Marine Corps Exchange | Quantico, VA | | Regional Manager Development Program | Follett Higher Education Group | Multiple Locations, United States | | Retail Construction Project Manager | Teavana | Atlanta, GA | | Director of Field Construction | Rent-A-Center | Plano, TX | | Manager, Home Office Human Resources (Recruitment & Employee Relations) | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Assistant Category Manager - Reader's Market | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | Business Process Analyst | QVC | West Chester, PA | | Legal Counsel | Kohl's | Menomonee Falls, WI | | | |  | |  | |
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--Lady Dorothy Nevill,
British writer and socialite  |
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Video games are the No. 1 top toy for boys in 2010 for the third straight year in a row. Source: 
