  | October 4, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | | - Belk revamps its image
Belk is investing $70 million in a rebranding effort aimed at modernizing the 122-year-old department store chain's image with a new logo and an aggressive marketing campaign as it seeks to attract new shoppers. Reinventing the brand makes sense as shopping patterns continue to change, said National Retail Federation's Dan Butler. "It used to be in the '70s, and even up to the early '80s, that if you were a department store shopper, you didn't really shop in any of the other channels. Now the consumer who shops at Nordstrom and Saks might also shop at a dollar store." The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) (10/3)       - Best Buy hopes to connect with more customers this Christmas
Best Buy hopes to see its dream of a "connected Christmas" come true this year, as it pushes its wide collection of products and services and aims to set itself apart from competitors ranging from Costco to Amazon.com, which have beefed up consumer-electronics offerings this year. One analyst says the demise of Circuit City positions the chain well, but another cautions Best Buy not to let a focus on gadget lovers make less tech-savvy shoppers feel left out. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (10/2) - Home Depot has high hopes for Martha Stewart kitchen line
Martha Stewart's line of kitchen countertops, cabinets and other kitchen remodeling items debuted at Home Depot last month, along with the chain's high hopes for a resurgence in home remodeling. Stewart also lends her name to merchandise lines at several other retail chains, including Macy's and PetSmart, and her company plans to expand its retail efforts to offset losses in its media operations. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (10/1) - Wal-Mart's shelves reflect stark economy
Families that rely on government assistance can be found shopping at a Virginia Wal-Mart at midnight on the first of the month, when the new month's funding becomes available. Wal-Mart has changed the way it stocks its stores to accommodate customers who struggle from check to check, carrying larger packs of items at the beginning of the month, and smaller sizes toward the end. National Public Radio (10/2) , The Wall Street Journal (10/2)  | Your personality. Your talents. You have the spark that makes us Walmart. What does that mean for you? It's the opportunity to make a difference in our company and in the lives of our customers. At Walmart, we save people money, so they can live better. We do this by relying on and supporting the people who make us shine bright each day — you. Join Walmart today! | - Merchants test the waters on price increases
Retailers across the board are considering price increases as the costs of raw materials continue to rise, and consumers are likely to see bigger tickets on everything from their large drinks at Starbucks to the latest looks from Jones Apparel Group. Economists say customers' willingness to pay higher prices could signal an improved economy and increasing inflation, while a reluctance to give up rock-bottom prices would mean more margin-eating discounting for retailers. The Wall Street Journal (10/2) - Catalogs morph into magazines from design-minded merchants
Some retailers are transforming their catalogs from books full of single product shots into magazinelike displays of rooms transformed with a few key pieces. For West Elm, that means mixing its merchandise with antiques and other artwork customers might already own. "We want people to hold on to our catalog the same way they do the back issues of Domino or Elle Decor or bookmark pages from their favorite blog," said VP Jim Brett. San Francisco Chronicle (10/3) - Retailers aim for tweens' wallets with bargain-priced styles
Tween- and teen-focused specialty chains that have weathered the recession the best are those that have focused on offering chic styles at cheap prices. Department stores are starting to take notice -- Macy's recently launched a line of apparel tied to "Glee," a show that's particularly popular with tweens, and J.C. Penney debuted its Uproar line aimed at the demographic. The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) (10/2) - Kmart unwraps social-media strategy for the holidays
Kmart's marketing efforts this holiday season will include an online space for moms to share their family traditions and favorite holiday memories. It's part of the chain's effort to connect with customers through social media, says CMO Mark Snyder. Also on tap for the chain: expanded layaway and a greater emphasis on private label brands. Brandweek (10/3)  | QuickAutoHouse increases unit volume 100%
"I didn't want to start a warehouse. That would mean hiring a lot of people—increasing my cost and decreasing my profit. FBA was my solution." John Liao, owner, QuickAutoHouse
Read more about how Fulfillment by Amazon delivers for QuickAutoHouse. |
 | Hot Topics |  | | | 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.
| NRF News | | | | - Understanding the convenience store era
As Americans have become more time-constrained, convenience stores have become a beacon in the retail sector. Part grocery store, part foodservice outlet and frequently part gas station, convenience stores offer something for everyone. Mark Wuller of Grant Thornton LLP has published a peer-reviewed paper in NRF's Retail Reference Center on convenience store trends as well as ideas for management personnel to consider as they evaluate what's right for their organization. Read more. - 5 ways to better connect with shoppers
According to Mitch Joel, author of "Six Pixels of Separation," people are changing the way they function online and now is the time for retailers to rethink the way they connect with consumers. Joel shares five points on concepts to consider when actively engaging online consumers in today's market. Read more.
- New Boston Market CEO takes helm as menu is revamped
Boston Market named George Michel as its new chief executive, replacing F. Lane Cardwell, who held the post for 17 months. Michel, who previously headed Canadian chain Timothy's Coffees of the World after stints at several restaurant companies including Burger King, will be the third CEO since Sun Capital Partners acquired the chain from McDonald's in 2007. The chain is expected to announce a nationwide menu revamp today. American City Business Journals/Denver (10/2)  | Expert career advice — for a bargain price
Just one hour with a top career coach can cost $300. The Career Summit 2010 gives you access to 20 of the best recruiters, coaches, columnists and experts for one low price. Take control of your future and find satisfaction in your career. Discount ends 10/10 — register today! | | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  Inventory Control Analyst | Castle Megastore Group | Tempe, AZ | | Retail Solution/Application Consultant | MicroStrategy | Chicago, IL | | Director Non Perishable Food Sales | Meijer | Chicago, IL | | General Merchandising Manager (GMM) | A'GACI, LLC. | Los Angeles, CA | | Associate Buyer (Merchant) | Zale Corporation | Irving (DFW), TX | | IT Development Manager | The Timberland Company | Stratham, NH | | Retail Merchandise Manager | Hallmark Cards | Kansas City, MO | | Controller | Pacific Gateway Concessions | South San Francisco, CA | | Senior Retail Marketing Manager | Cabela's | Sidney, NE | | Web Analytics Manager | Neiman Marcus | Dallas, TX | | Inventory Accountant - Intermediate | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Database Marketing Analyst | CSN Stores, LLC | Boston, MA | | Sales Forecast Manager | Carolina Pad | Charlotte, NC | | Head of eBusiness Operations | Crate and Barrel | Northbrook, IL | | Manager, Strategic Retail Pricing | CVS Caremark | Woonsocket, RI | | Website Analyst | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | eCommerce Web Buyer | Belk | Charlotte, NC | | North America Retail Accounting Manager | Nike, Inc. | Portland, OR | | Innovation Leader - Maximizer | Hallmark Cards | Kansas City, MO | | Category Manager | CVS Caremark | Woonsocket, RI | | Director of Strategic Pricing | Guitar Center | Westlake Village, CA | | Principal Business Consultant | Oracle Corporation | Atlanta, GA | | Retail Buyer | University Co-operative Society, Inc | Austin, TX | | VP of Business Systems & Process Implementation / Administration | Dick's Sporting Goods | Pittsburgh, PA | | | |  | |  | |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | Sound character provides the power with which a person may ride the emergencies of life instead of being overwhelmed by them. Failure is ... the highway to success."
--Og Mandino,
American author  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com | | | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Friday, October 01, 2010
- Thursday, September 30, 2010
- Wednesday, September 29, 2010
- Tuesday, September 28, 2010
- Monday, September 27, 2010
| | | Lead Editor: Megan Conniff
Contributing Editor: Faye Rapoport
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | | | | | | © 1999-2010 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
More than half of Americans will decorate their yards for Halloween. Source: 
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please comment thoughtfully CPG Brokers, your best resource to optimize your in store self exposure and maximize sku distribution.