 | October 5, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | | - Gap partners with Obama on job-training program
Gap and McDonald's are two of the companies named this week as partners in President Barack Obama's newly created initiative designed to provide U.S. workers with job skills. The program aims to pair at least one company and one community college in each state. Gap plans to launch a seven-city pilot program that will offer community college students a chance to learn skills with an eye on filling jobs at the company, said CEO Glenn Murphy. Bloomberg (10/4)       - Q-and-A: Toys R Us CEO Gerald Storch shares holiday outlook
While discounters may compete on price, the big chains can't touch Toys R Us when it comes to assortment, and keeping shelves stocked with the right mix of classics such as Barbie and Lego as well as the season's hot new toys, CEO Gerald Storch says in this interview. "Most of the toys we carry are not available in the limited assortment of mass merchant chains, and customers know that," he said. TheStreet.com (10/4)  | How the 'Like' Button Impacts Search Results
Do you know how Social and Search intersect today? Find out how your site can apply the open graph and Facebook's "Like" button to bridge social and search and drive increased site traffic. Download this FREE whitepaper now. | - Teen-apparel brands hope to tempt the preschool set
Teen-apparel merchants including Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters and Forever 21 are looking to expand their customer bases with new brands and stores created for very young children. "Little kids are so status-conscious about clothing now, more than ever," said one branding expert. "It was a natural evolution for young college, teenage brands -- 'Why not go after them younger and get them hooked into our brands?'" Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (10/3) - Study: Contrary consumers spend more when slogans push savings
Retailers' slogans promoting the chance to spend less often spur shoppers to open their wallets wider, according to a new study. Consumers exposed to several retail brand names including Wal-Mart, Sears and Dollar General expressed a willingness to spend less compared with their reactions when they were presented with the chains' value-focused slogans, researchers found. "We don't like to be sold to," said one co-author. BusinessNewsDaily.com (10/4) - Merchants feel the squeeze as cotton prices continue to climb
Cotton prices rose 33% in the past three months, exceeding $1 per pound for the first time in 15 years and squeezing margins for merchants who are wary about raising prices in a still-tight economy. A number of factors have hit the cotton supply hard, including bad weather in China and floods in Pakistan, as well as a longer-term shift by U.S. producers toward more lucrative crops. Los Angeles Business Journal (free registration) (10/4)  | Mobile barcodes make traditional media both interactive and measurable. When consumers scan these barcodes with their mobile devices, they are immediately connected to the web where they can view videos, coupons, and more. Want to learn more about mobile barcodes? Sign up for a FREE webinar today. | - Tech companies and farms converge to track food from field to shelf
Dole Food Co. and some other large agribusiness players have been working with tech companies to create new food-tracking systems that use specialized software to track produce from its cultivation in the field to the time the final product is purchased at the grocery store. The systems are emerging in reaction to public outrage over recent food recalls, and are designed to stop potentially contaminated products from reaching the food supply. Los Angeles Times (10/3)  | How can you control your largest source of shrink… if it can't even be seen? Learn how top retailers such as Vitamin Shoppe find, track, and stop employee theft. Our free White Paper explains key loss prevention facts and trends that you need to know, and how exception reporting—properly executed—can dramatically increase your profits and deliver big ROI! Get your copy now! | - Credit unions score federal funds for small-business loans
If you can't get a loan from your bank, you may find some credit unions are newly able to help. Four dozen credit unions received $69.91 million in federal funds under a program designed to spur small-business lending. Funding for the cash infusion came from the TARP program, which lost its spending authority on Sunday. The Wall Street Journal (10/1) - Show you're serious about sustainability
Small businesses can be just as "green" as big ones, although they sometimes aren't as careful to communicate that commitment to various audiences. Publish your sustainability plan, highlight your green packaging and post videos of your recycling efforts prominently on your website, Anita Campbell suggests. Small Business Trends (10/1)  | CrazyonDigital increases average daily orders 150%
"We believe Amazon is taking the customer buying experience to the next level of unification, and as our sales numbers show, customers love it!" Sanjay Singh, Owner and President CrazyOnDigital.com
Read more about how Fulfillment by Amazon delivers for CrazyonDigital. |
 | Policy & Government Affairs |  | | | - Visa and MasterCard agree to let merchants offer cash discounts
Visa and MasterCard have settled a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department and several state attorneys general, in a move that will allow merchants to offer discounts to customers who pay with cash, checks or lower-fee cards. Retailers hailed the settlement as a victory in their ongoing fight against higher fees. "It's not just merchants complaining. It's Congress who is looking at it. The Fed is looking at it. The state attorney generals are looking at it. And there are private lawsuits. People are beginning to realize this is unacceptable behavior," said National Retail Federation general counsel Mallory Duncan. Los Angeles Times (10/5) , The New York Times (free registration) (10/4)
| NRF News | | | | - Justice Department reaches settlement overturning Visa/MasterCard rules blocking cash discounts
The Justice Department has reached a settlement with Visa and MasterCard in a two-year antitrust investigation into practices that have blocked retailers from offering discounts or other incentives to retail customers who pay by cash, check or types of credit cards that cost merchants less to accept than other cards. NRF expects the settlement will result in increased competition that will help bring down the swipe fees charged to merchants to process card transactions. Read more. - NRF SmartStat: Oct. 5, 2010
 Almost 70% of 18- to 24-year-olds will dress in a costume for Halloween this year, the highest of any age group. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch - KPMG retail leader discusses industry trends, challenges
In a wide-ranging Q-and-A, KPMG partner Mark Larson discusses the biggest issues in retail today, from hiring trends to social media to lease accounting regulations. As a partner of NRF's prestigious Retail Horizons survey, Larson outlines reasons for and provides insight on the industry trends -- and challenges -- that he thinks will emerge when the report is released in January. Read more.
- Yum! Brands builds on success overseas
Yum! Brands' latest earnings announcement is expected to reveal this week that sales in China are edging closer to U.S. numbers and may be poised to exceed sales at home as soon as next year. The parent of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC is seeing success overseas as the growth of consumer spending abroad outpaces U.S. growth rates. The Wall Street Journal (10/5) - Atlanta Bread Co. to expand store base in Baltimore
Upscale fast-casual chain Atlanta Bread Co. is making an aggressive push in the Baltimore market, hoping to sign franchisees to open up to 40 new locations there. The chain recently revamped its menu to add gourmet coffee, a move aimed at competing with coffee chains including Starbucks. The company is focused on expanding in markets where it already has a presence; in addition to Baltimore and its hometown of Atlanta, the company plans to add stores in the Carolinas, Arkansas, New York and New Jersey. American City Business Journals/Baltimore (10/1)  | 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 | | | |
 | |  | | | | | | |  |  Branch Head, Field Operations | Headquarters Marine Corps/Marine Corps Exchanges | Quantico, VA | | Merchandising Branch Head | Headquarters Marine Corps/Marine Corps Exchanges | Quantico, VA | | Inventory Control Analyst | Castle Megastore Group | Tempe, AZ | | Retail Solution/Application Consultant | MicroStrategy | Chicago, IL | | Buyer/Merchant (Foods Merchandising) | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Lead Business Systems Analyst - CRM | Chico's FAS, Inc. | Fort Myers, FL | | Branch Head Logistics & Communication | Headquarters Marine Corps/Marine Corps Exchanges | Quantico, VA | | 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 | | Category Manager | CVS Caremark | Woonsocket, RI | | Director of Strategic Pricing | Guitar Center | Westlake Village, CA | | | |  | |  | |
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