 | November 4, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | | - Target sets its sights on downtown Los Angeles
Target plans to open an urban prototype store in downtown Los Angeles, filling a space left when Macy's closed its 7+Fig mall location last year. The store will be smaller than the chain's traditional suburban big-box model, with a streamlined merchandise selection centered heavily on food and household basics. Los Angeles Times (11/4)       - EBay upgrades fashion offerings as site's style changes
EBay's image as strictly an online auction site is shifting in the face of reality -- today, about 65% of the site's revenue comes from fixed-price sales of new products, especially apparel and accessories. CEO John Donahoe made a pitch this week to fashion companies, encouraging them to set up branded malls on eBay, Women's Wear Daily reports. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (11/3) - 7-Eleven pushes for Slurpee Summit after Obama comment
After President Barack Obama joked on Wednesday that he would meet with Republicans in a "Slurpee Summit," 7-Eleven officials contacted the White House with an offer to make the event a reality. "If the president wants a Slurpee Summit, we're offering to cater it with red and blue Slurpees," said spokeswoman Margaret Chabris. "And we'll even offer a purple Slurpee, since that's what you get when you bring red and blue together." USA TODAY (11/3) - Neiman Marcus wish lists go social with holiday contest
Neiman Marcus has launched a holiday contest with a social media focus, offering shoppers the chance to win a $2,500 gift card by creating online wish lists. Entrants in the "Presents Perfect Challenge" will select at least 10 items from a collection of merchandise; the luxury department store chain will display the top 10 most popular picks online each week. Luxist (11/3)  | 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. | - Retailers and food manufacturers cautiously raise prices
Food makers including Kraft, General Mills and Sara Lee, which held prices down for years, are starting to raise them again to reflect higher costs for ingredients. Supermarket chains are passing some of the costs along to consumers, but, as Stater Bros. CEO Jack Brown noted, "The big challenge will be, how much can we swallow and how much can we pass along?" The Wall Street Journal (11/4) - The demise of the "aspirational" consumer
Pre-recession retail marketing included a focus on the "aspirational" consumer, shoppers willing to splurge on some of life's luxuries as a reward for their hard work. Despite hopes that the downturn wouldn't dampen aspirations, new research from the American Affluence Research Center reveals that consumers at all income levels except the top tier have cut back on their nonessential spending and have no plans to revive aspirational spending. Brandweek (11/3) - Where are the bright spots in holiday spending?
While retailers are expected to report slower October sales figures today, there are some bright spots that are expected to bode well heading into the holidays. Teen apparel retailers and women's clothing merchants are expected to see stronger seasonal sales, CNBC reports. CNBC (11/3)  | Adobe Mobile Experience Survey: What Users Want from Media, Finance, Travel & Shopping. With more than 4.5 billion cell phone subscribers worldwide, it's no wonder businesses are betting big on mobile. Get a first-of-its-kind, bird's eye view of what consumers are doing on their mobile devices and what most engages them across 4 key industries. Download the whitepaper. | - Why true leadership depends on teaching
The best leaders share expertise and information rather than hoarding it, Mark Healy writes. As a management consultant, he says he believes every type of business can apply a simple, five-step process for employee development: learn, act, lead, teach, repeat. "Teaching is ... what separates great leaders from good ones," he writes. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (11/2)  | Retailers need to maximize profits from every inch of their retail stores in order to meet heightened expectations for personalized customer service and improve the profitability of their stores. Learn more about maximizing space utilization while localizing and tailoring assortment mix, pricing, and promotions in this free white paper. |
| NRF News |  | | | - Register for Innovate 2011 by Friday and save $300
Innovate is back --- back in San Francisco, March 8 to 10, and back with business-changing ideas. Last year's inaugural Retail Innovation & Marketing Conference sold out; this year, we're opening registration earlier and increasing the event's size, though space is still limited. Register by Friday, Nov. 5, and save $300. Learn more.
- Chipotle to experiment with new Asian concept
A team from Chipotle Mexican Grill plans to open a new Asian eatery next year, in an experiment to gauge how well its format that uses a simple menu of sustainable ingredients might translate to new cuisines, said founder and co-CEO Steve Ells. "This Asian restaurant is just an opportunity to see how our model works when we use different ingredients and a different style of food. This restaurant will allow us to take a look at that." QSRMagazine.com (11/3) - Starbucks needs to open overseas locations
 Starbucks suspended expansion activity during the economic downturn, but in order for the company to realize growth, it is time to start opening new stores, according to this Wall Street Journal analysis. With Starbucks' home market almost saturated, the company needs to look toward international expansion. France and Germany might be good options for Starbucks as incomes are high and consumers enjoy coffee. The Wall Street Journal (11/4)  | 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! | | 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 | | Division Merchandise Manager | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | Senior Ecommerce Manager | Expedia | Seattle, WA | | 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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1 in 4 shoppers will use their mobile device to research or make a holiday purchase this year. Source: 
