| May 1, 2012 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, Kohl's celebrate half a century
Few in 1962 realized that four retailers born that year would eventually change the way Americans shop. Forbes looks back at the early days of Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart and Kohl's, all of which turn 50 this year. Three of the brands began life as lower-priced offshoots from established retail chains, while Sam Walton started Wal-Mart from scratch. Forbes (4/30)      - Target to launch The Shops on Sunday
Target will launch The Shops at Target at all 1,763 U.S. stores and online Sunday. The collection of wares from five local U.S. merchants will include a mix of sweets, dog treats, cosmetics, home goods and luxury accessories, as part of a new initiative aimed at re-energizing the retailer's non-grocery sales. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (5/1) - How Guess found success with long-term brand focus
Guess has grown from a single Southern California jeans store to 1,600 locations in 87 countries since its launch 35 years ago, pegging its success to a long-term strategy of focusing on what works for its stylish 20- and 30-something shoppers instead of jumping on every trend, says president for North America Nancy Shachtman. Geographic diversity also helps the retailer weather economic ups and downs in different regions. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (5/1)  | 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! |
 - Retailers grapple with effects of unexpected weather
A mild winter and early spring in many parts of the U.S. resulted in retail markdowns during the winter months followed by higher-than-expected demand for spring apparel. While some retailers plan to cut inventories in anticipation of a repeat next season, others are less focused on Mother Nature and more concerned about the effects of Europe's double-dip recession on planned international expansion. CNBC (4/30) - Consumers explore rental options for wedding wear
Weddings are the top reason consumers visit fashion rental site Rent the Runway, which recently launched a Weddings Boutique section dedicated to helping wedding parties find dresses and accessories that won't break the bank. A start-up called Nearly Newlywed offers slightly used wedding gowns that brides can either sell back to the site or offer up on consignment after the special day. The Washington Post (4/30)  | Top 5 HR Compliance Concerns for Small Business
Small and medium sized companies spend a lot of time focusing on core business issues, but they may overlook one of the most potentially serious and costly issues — regulatory compliance. How do you know what issues to look for in order to protect the company? Download this must-read paper that discusses the top 5 HR compliance issues. |
 - The importance of tablets with POS capabilities
Around the world, retailers are exploring how to enhance the on-site shopping experience with the use of tablet devices. Such companies as Disney, Sears, J.C. Penney, Gucci, Macy's and Bloomingdale's are finding ways to better accommodate customers with a wider range of services via personnel with tablets in hand. VentureBeat (4/30) - The future of tap-to-pay technology
Caribou Honig, co-founder and partner at QED Investors, says smartphones that allow tap-to-pay transactions will become commonplace after Apple introduces the next iPhone, which will have near-field communication and a digital wallet. "The value will manifest as developers integrate wallet functionality with the other capabilities of the phone, and create novel apps that are nearly unforeseeable today," he writes. Forbes/CIO Network blog (4/23)  | Email marketing in a complex world
Experts estimate that approximately 20 percent of emails never make it to the inbox. Read this white paper to see how a focused approach and relevant content can drive customer actions, build communities and extend the reach of your brand. |
 - How big data analysis can help build up your small business
Data analysis isn't just for large companies; small companies can also benefit. To make your analysis efforts a success, it's important to collect as much data as possible and to try out new markets as they become available. "I would advise people to explore the new platforms as they emerge," said Jesse Pujji of Ampush Media. Inc. online (4/30)  | Interactive marketers are feeling the pressure from government to offer clear, transparent privacy regulations for consumers. This free whitepaper, discusses various legislation, such as the EU Cookie Directive, and outlines how marketers must comply while offering a positive and enriching consumer interaction via the new paradigms of consensual targeting. Get the free whitepaper here. |
| NRF News |  |  | | - From Florida to Illinois to Hawaii, meet NRF's Top 3 "This is Retail" finalists
NRF today announced the final three winners of its "This is Retail" video contest, determined after a week of public voting through NRF's Retail Means Jobs website. The top three winners include the personal stories of three retail companies who hail from Florida, Illinois and Hawaii and represent different categories of the retail spectrum. The finalists will be awarded cash prizes totaling $50,000 when the rankings are unveiled May 16 at NRF's Washington Leadership Conference. Read more. - What's hot in retail (and at NRF)
Riding the wave of warm weather and another strong retail sales report, retailers jumped into the month of April with an extra spring in their step. From consumer research on what to expect for the spring holidays to NRF's latest push behind the Retail Means Jobs campaign, view a comprehensive list of what your retail peers found valuable last month. Read more. Retail's BIG Blog (5/1)
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Customer Intelligence Strategist | GFS Marketplace | Grand Rapids , MI | | Director of Catalog Merchandising/Creative | Scrubs & Beyond, LLC | St. Louis , MO | | Senior Buyer | Floor and Decor Outlets of America, Inc. | Smryna, GA | | Director of Payroll | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Merchandise Buyer | Gorsuch Ltd. | Vail, CO | | Senior Director of Quality and Product Safety | Walmart | Shenzhen, China | | 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 | | Category Manager/Buyer | The Vitamin Shoppe | North Bergen , NJ | | Director of Retail, Travel Hospitality Service | Delaware North Companies | Buffalo, NY | | 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 | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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In California, retail supports over 4.7 million jobs, representing nearly 25% of the state's total employment. Source: 
