Neiman Marcus to debut Last Call Studio concept

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October 26, 2010 News for the retail industry     Industry Watch    Office Depot chairman and CEO steps down Office Depot chairman and CEO Steve Odland has resigned effective Nov. 1, amid a stalled effort to turn around sales at the office supply chain. Lead director and former NFL President Neil Austrian will take over as interim chairman and CEO, while it searches for a permanent replacement. USA TODAY/The Associated Press (10/25) Neiman Marcus to debut Last Call Studio concept Neiman Marcus will launch a new store concept this fall aimed at boosting sales among less-wealthy consumers than those who typically frequent the chain's luxury department stores. Unlike its outlet stores, Last Call Studio locations will feature first-run lines of moderately priced styles and will be located in suburban shopping centers and non-outlet strip centers. The New York Times (free registration) (10/22) Toys R Us to add in-store pickup for online purchases Toys R Us is launching a service that allows shoppers to buy online and pick up their purchases at 260 brick-and-mortar locations in major U.S. markets, the company said. Participating stores in cities including Chicago, Boston and Seattle will guarantee availability within two hours; the company plans a nationwide rollout next year. InternetRetailer.com (10/22) Other News Walgreen is said to be seeking bids for benefits unit Reuters (10/25) Talks are at a standstill between Kenneth Cole and Iconix The New York Times/Dealbook (10/25) 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.   Retail Trends    Retailers take a more cautious approach to inventory levels Merchants who significantly restocked their shelves after better-than-expected post-recession sales earlier this year are once again casting a cautious eye on inventory levels, causing a slowdown in orders from manufacturers. Companies including Stanley Black & Decker and Briggs & Stratton Corp. say they're seeing renewed caution among their retail customers. The Wall Street Journal (10/26) Shortage of electronic components could cast holiday pall Gadgets of all sorts are on wish lists this holiday season, but a shortage of the components that make the machines run could put a hitch in retailer's plans for a hot holiday season, writes blogger Elizabeth Woyke. Many of the component factories in Asia that closed down when business took a hit during the 2008 downturn have yet to reopen and ramp up production. Forbes/Mobilized blog (10/25) Retailers should use the Internet as a bellwether for expansion Participants at a recent conference said retailers in Europe and the U.S. need to invest in innovation and emerging markets and consolidate or they face the threat of stagnating as demand in their domestic markets likely will remain modest. Many retail companies in the past have tried to expand internationally, but failed as they were unable to adapt to different cultures and tastes. But the Internet has given retailers a powerful tool for testing new markets at little risk, according to Marks & Spencer Chairman Stuart Rose. "It's the advance guard [for overseas expansion]," Rose said. Reuters (10/25) Mall fire may prove a severe setback to struggling California town A fire last Thursday closed the 1.3 million-square-foot Westfield Galleria mall in Roseville, Calif., for an indefinite period, threatening hundreds of jobs and adding a big hit to tax coffers in a town that has just begun digging out from the recession. "The merchandise, the sales tax loss, the retailer loss before Christmas -- it's going to be devastating," said city spokeswoman Megan MacPherson. NPR.org/The Associated Press (10/22) , The Sacramento Bee (Calif.) (free registration) (10/25) 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.   Retail Technology    The Body Shop opts to become next national Groupon Groupon launched its second big national deal in partnership with The Body Shop, sending e-mails Monday that offered $40 worth of beauty products for $20. The deal, which had attracted about 80,000 takers by 3 p.m., was already in the works when Groupon offered its first national deal with Gap in August, which sold to 445,000 consumers. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (10/25) Gain Critical Market and Retail Intelligence on POS. How are your competitors leveraging POS, and which systems do they rely on to advance in today's markets? Get fresh insights into today's POS priorities, technology and market trends, plus in-depth vendor comparisons from this new 55-page report from IHL Group. This outstanding value is yours at no cost.   Main Street    Small-business round table: The pros and cons of Twitter Some small businesses are still on the fence about Twitter: Is it worth the time to learn the ropes, build up a following and so forth? Erica Swallow rounds up three business insiders to discuss what they get out of the micro-blogging service -- and what they have to put into it. While they all agree Twitter is time-consuming, they also see it as an important way to build community and promote their brand. "Figure out what you want to do with it, find the right people, find your space and it will all fall into place," said restaurateur Alexandra Moskovitz. Mashable (10/21) 7 causes of data insecurity, and 15 ways to eliminate them Data-security problems can stem from accidental disclosure, intentional actions or lost or stolen property. The first line of defense is to hire people you trust, have a good security policy and use common sense, says Jennifer L. Schiff, but small-business owners should also inventory, isolate and encrypt sensitive data as well as protect laptops and mobile devices and be careful about where they are used. Small Business Computing (10/19) Supercharging the Online Channel Getting to the right shoppers and then converting them to buyers in your online store is every retailer's key objective. Short purchase windows, impatient buyers, and new mandates around security are creating unprecedented demands on commerce sites. Learn how to attract customers to your site, optimize their online shopping experience and drive more transactions. Watch the webinar NOW!   Featured Content    Make More, Save More With Project-Based Accounting Julie Rains Part I: Distilling the Essence of Your Value Proposition Bill Reichert 7 Things You Can Do to Create a Remarkable (Not Meh) Panel Presentation Ann Handley The Small Business Innovation Research Program Gets a Makeover Anita Campbell Running a Business from Your Mobile Shira Levine   NRF News  Everything you need to know about the holidays in four minutes NRF Vice President Ellen Davis appeared on CNBC's "Power Lunch" to discuss findings from NRF's first holiday survey, outlining why there is more room for optimism this year, where people are shopping, and which Americans will be the biggest spenders. Watch the video. NRF SmartStat: Oct. 26, 2010 More than half of retailers surveyed dedicated more resources to integrating their company's online and offline presence in 2009 than in previous years. Source: Retail Horizons 2010   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. Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  Moe's exec welcomes employees to his home to improve engagement One of the best ways to connect with your workers is by inviting them to your house, says Paul Damico, president of Moe's Southwest Grill. "That really takes down everybody's guard. It strips away everybody's title, and it brings the team together in a comfortable setting," Damico says. Smart Business (10/2010) Other News Starbucks expands mobile payment test to New York stores InformationWeek (10/25) The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) Learn how improving forecast accuracy enables better decision making, allocation and replenishment, and reduces stock-outs and manual intervention within the supply chain. In this research report, retailers share insights on how advanced demand forecasting and modeling tools help predict and grow future profits. Click here to download report. Interested in learning more about advertising in NRF SmartBrief? Contact Susan W. Kim at (202) 407-7877 or skim@smartbrief.com.     Career Track  Behler Named New SRC President & CEO Office Depot Announces Departure of Chairman and CEO; Names Neil R. Austrian as Interim Chairman and Chief Executive Officer The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. Provides Update on Turnaround Plan and Announces Second Quarter 2010 Results: Acumen Solutions Names Todd Richman to Lead Their Boston Office Publix Real Estate Vice President to Retire Inventory Control Analyst Castle Megastore Group Tempe, AZ Systems Analyst-Labor Applications PetSmart Phoenix, AZ Director, Strategic Communications and Campaign Universal Technical Institute Inc. Phoenix, AZ Senior Ecommerce Manager Expedia Seattle, WA Senior Director - Retail Applications DSW, Inc. Columbus, OH Division Merchandise Manager Sears Hoffman Estates, IL Senior Marketing Manager-Customer Experience PetSmart Phoenix, AZ Product Development Foods Associate Meijer Grand Rapids, MI Merchandise Planner - Emblematic Apparel and Gifts, U.S. Stores Follett Higher Education Group Oak Brook, IL Foods Product Development Associate Sourcing Manager Meijer Grand Rapids, MI Foods Product Development Sourcing Manager Meijer Grand Rapids, MI Senior Retail Marketing Manager Cabela's Sidney, NE Senior Merchandise Planner - Emblematic Apparel and Gifts, U.S. Stores Follett Higher Education Group Oak Brook, IL Category Manager - Own Brands (Food & Consumables) Sears Hoffman Estates, IL System Analyst- SQL and Microsoft Dynamics The Hershey Company Hershey, PA   SmartQuote  Probably my worst quality is that I get very passionate about what I think is right." --Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. secretary of state, quoted for her birthday, Oct. 26, 1947   This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com   Subscriber Tools       Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy   Advertise Senior Account Director:  Susan Kim (202) 407-7877 Download Media Kit Job Board: Lee Vanderwerff (202) 737-5500 ext. 248       Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: Monday, October 25, 2010 Friday, October 22, 2010 Thursday, October 21, 2010 Wednesday, October 20, 2010 Tuesday, October 19, 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