 | October 21, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | | - Aeropostale to open Times Square flagship
Aeropostale's new flagship, slated to open Friday in New York's Times Square, aims to be a cutting-edge brand ambassador that will introduce the concept to international visitors and ease overseas expansion efforts. The store welcomes visitors with a 120-foot animated billboard that's illuminated by 2 million LEDs and capable of broadcasting content that includes shoppers dancing with virtual models in a room set aside for entertainment. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (10/21)       - Limited Brands sees significant potential for global growth
Limited Brands is reporting stellar early success with small, travel-focused Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works stores, boding well for the company as it ramps up international expansion, CEO Leslie Wexner said this week. Global growth is a key part of the company's expansion plans, and sales outside North America have the potential to bring in up to $20 billion in new sales, he said. MarketWatch (10/20)  | 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. | - Don't let the bedbugs bite
Andrew Klein's 76-year-old pest-control company has become much more well known to a host of high-profile New York retailers this year, as merchants work to fight a growing bedbug infestation that forced some stores to temporarily close during the summer and fall. In this interview, the man Women's Wear Daily dubs the "Bedbug Whisperer" says heat is the best weapon in the fight against the pests and advises merchants worried about outbreaks to get proactive with regular inspections by dogs trained to sniff out the bugs. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (10/21) - Elite U.S. stores open their online arms to customer reviews
A growing number of luxury retailers are creating space online for customer reviews, amid a growing understanding that high-end shoppers want the chance to take advice from their peers, The Wall Street Journal reports. Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus have already launched customer-review features, and Saks is expected to follow suit by month's end. The Wall Street Journal (10/16) - Merchants have online opportunities to boost holiday sales
Merchants have increased opportunities to build online sales as more shoppers start the season doing online product and price research, says NPD analyst Marshal Cohen. "As consumers 'pre-search' by scouring websites for the best prices and deals, they will likely discover that shopping online offers not only competitive prices, but a whole lot more convenience and they decide to buy online." CNBC (10/20)  | |  | | | Contribute your spark to our success.
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 | In any industry, operational excellence revolves around key business outcomes including productivity, cost control, and quality of service. For retailers, all of these outcomes are highly, if not entirely, dependent on the quality of the workforce and how it is managed. Find out what challenges retailers are facing, and what a workforce management solution can do for your bottom line. |
 - Do you really know what your customers want?
Americans list customer service as very important to winning their business, but only about a third of consumers feel they're getting it, according to a survey by American Express. Many small-business owners aren't maximizing this key differentiator because they don't know what kind of service their customers want, said Alice Bredin. She recommends using technology to find out what customers are saying about you and asking satisfied customers to spread the word. Bloomberg Businessweek (10/15) - Business owners struggle with tax planning as uncertainty looms
Political and economic uncertainties are making tax planning more difficult for small businesses. Many accountants expect taxes to go up next year, but where those increases will hit is less clear as Congress delays a vote on extending Bush-era tax cuts. Accountants interviewed by ABC News say proprietors should take steps that are good for their businesses rather than making decisions solely for tax reasons. They also give tips for hedging the uncertainty. ABC News/The Associated Press (10/20)  | What could be better than supporting and managing your BlackBerry smartphone deployment, for free? Nothing.
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 | Policy & Government Affairs |  | | | - Massachusetts town moves to restrict Black Friday shopping
Lawmakers in Dartmouth, Mass., have approved new rules restricting retailers that want to open early on Black Friday. Beginning next year, stores that want to open between midnight and 4 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving will have to apply for a waiver and submit a detailed safety plan under the new bylaw, which is designed to protect shoppers and store employees from stampedes. Boston Herald/The Associated Press (10/20)
| NRF News | | | | - Online retailers expect strong holiday sales this season
Nearly two-thirds of retailers expect their company's online sales to grow by 15% or more compared with last holiday season, according to Shop.org's eHoliday study, released today. The survey, conducted by BIGresearch, also found that 80% of retailers will begin their online holiday promotions by the first week in November. Read more. - Creative Summit early registration ends tomorrow
RAMA's Creative Summit is the first step to bigger creative ideas and better ways to think about retail advertising. Attendees making their way to Dallas for the Nov. 11 event can still save by registering before the Oct. 22 deadline. The Summit is open to all retail advertising creative leaders and their industry partners. Register or learn more.
- Starbucks adds value to free Wi-Fi with new content service
Starbucks has partnered with Yahoo! to launch a new online service that offers free music, e-books and news. The service includes access to subscription sites including The Wall Street Journal, as well as advance copies of new books from HarperCollins and Penguin. Customers can view content for free while in the store and pay to download it for later reading, a move the chain hopes will spur repeat business and add to the company's revenue. ABC News/The Associated Press (10/20) - Bravo Brio aims for $80 million IPO
Columbus, Ohio-based Bravo Brio Restaurant Group plans to go public this week with an initial public offering it hopes will raise up to $80 million. The company, which operates 85 Bravo! Cucina Italiana and Brio Tuscan Grille restaurants, said it expects to combine the IPO proceeds with a new $45 million loan and use funds to pay down existing debt. CNBC (10/20)  | 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 | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  Inventory Control Analyst | Castle Megastore Group | Tempe, AZ | | Senior Ecommerce Manager | Expedia | Seattle, WA | | Senior Director - Retail Applications | DSW, Inc. | Columbus, OH | | Division Merchandise Manager | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | Human Resources Manager | Neiman Marcus | Dallas, TX | | Senior Planner | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Senior Retail Marketing Manager | Cabela's | Sidney, NE | | Inventory Accountant - Intermediate | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Head of eCommerce Operations | Crate and Barrel | Northbrook, IL | | Product Development Foods Associate | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Merchandise Planner - Emblematic Apparel and Gifts, U.S. Stores | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Controller | Pacific Gateway Concessions | South San Francisco, CA | | Foods Product Development Associate Sourcing Manager | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Foods Product Development Sourcing Manager | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Senior Merchandise Planner - Emblematic Apparel and Gifts, U.S. Stores | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Senior Marketing Manager-Customer Experience | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Website Analyst | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Manager of Associate Relations | Chico's FAS, Inc. | Fort Myers, FL | | Category Manager - Own Brands (Food & Consumables) | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | | |  | |  | |
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