  | November 24, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Macy's high-tech holiday windows hark back to roots
Only seven Macy's locations throughout the country still boast seasonally decked-out store windows. This year, the displays use modern technology to animate a familiar old story, based on a letter written in 1897 by 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon who questioned the existence of Santa Claus. "I spend my time after they've been installed out in the crowd, watching people's faces as they look at the windows. That's the biggest thrill and how I know we've done a good thing," said Paul Olszewski, who oversees the chain's displays. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (11/23)       - Wal-Mart gets aggressive in competitive holiday push
Wal-Mart has ramped up its holiday efforts this year, in an effort to boost flagging U.S. sales with a slew of new online deals and an offer to match competitors' prices. The chain has seen sales growth slow in recent months, as more lower-income consumers struggle to make ends meet. The aggressive promotional moves put pressure on rivals, including Target, says analyst Ken Perkins. "There's a good ongoing battle between those two retailers, which I think will be good for consumers." Boston Herald (11/23)  | Did you know that 89% of consumers started their holiday shopping online? Or that searches for 'coupons' peak on Saturdays? If not, you should visit our ThinkHoliday site: www.google.com/thinkholiday where you'll be privy to a wealth of exclusive information on consumer shopping behavior, hot products and the latest holiday insights from Google. | - NRF releases list of Top 10 retailers for customer service
The NRF Foundation released the results of a survey of about 9,000 consumers, aimed at determining the top 10 retailers for customer service. Listed alphabetically rather than by rank, the list begins with Amazon and ends with Zappos, the online shoe merchant Amazon acquired. The names in between are a mix of perennial favorites such as Nordstrom and L.L.Bean and newer players including Newegg.com and Overstock.com. Los Angeles Times/Money & Company blog (11/23) - More merchants to open their doors on Thanksgiving Day
A growing number of retailers from Sears to Old Navy are getting an earlier-than-ever start on their holiday selling with plans to open on Thanksgiving, a day traditionally set aside for family, feasting and resting up for pre-dawn Black Friday excursions. "Thanksgiving has quickly become a popular day for retailers, largely because it provides an added feel of convenience," said NRF spokeswoman Kathy Grannis. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (11/23) , The Wall Street Journal (11/22) - Merchants cut back on mail-in rebates
Some retailers eliminated the practice of offering discounts available only through mail-in rebates amid consumer complaints and, while other merchants still offer them, the practice has been on the decline. Shoppers say the practice is deceptive, because it allows merchants to advertise lower prices that aren't immediately available, and several states have enacted laws requiring merchants to make the lower prices available at the time of purchase. USA TODAY (11/23) - Violent retail crimes illustrate need to stress safety
 A Pennsylvania store worker was shot and wounded Sunday as he attempted to apprehend two suspects in a retail theft. This case, along with other recent incidents of violence, serves as a reminder to retailers and their employees to keep personal safety top-of-mind as they carry out their loss-prevention policies, writes NRF's Joe LaRocca. NRF Blog (11/24)  | Increase Profitability and Productivity in 2011
Download this free Aberdeen report to learn how Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) can help improve operational performance, and differentiation. As capital and credit become readily available again, use ERP to gain the competitive advantage. |  | Durable Data Security: Tokenization vs E2EE. How can you stop chasing the moving target of PCI compliance and secure your cardholder data once and for all? This new 14-page White Paper from Retail TouchPoints compares the pros and cons of today's two leading approaches, to help you decide which one will work best in your retail organization. Download your copy now! |
| NRF News |  | | | - What retailers can expect in stores and online this weekend
As Americans start preparing for their Thanksgiving feast, millions have set their sights on shopping either in stores or online throughout the weekend and beyond. For a look at NRF's projections for Black Friday shoppers, research on retailers' plans for Cyber Monday, and the top toys list for 2010, visit NRF's Holiday Headquarters. Visit the HQ. - NCCR, NRF take CEOs to White House to illustrate health care burdens
A day after the Obama administration issued new rules that grant a reprieve to "mini-med" plans NCCR and NRF have fought to preserve, the organizations took several restaurant CEOs and senior executives to the White House to discuss health care reform with senior health care staff. "This was largely a listening session where restaurant CEOs demonstrated the diversity of the chain restaurant industry and the greater retail community," NCCR Vice President Scott Vinson said. "NCCR members are greatly concerned about the effect of health care mandates on the restaurant industry." Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Chain restaurants expect Black Friday boost
Mall-based casual restaurants are likely to see the biggest boost in sales from Black Friday shoppers this weekend, according to industry analysts. The weekend's crowds are expected to grow about 4% over last year, spurring optimism at chains such as Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang's and California Pizza Kitchen, which boast the bulk of their locations in malls. TheStreet.com (11/23) - Panera launches its second "pay-what-you-can" cafe
Panera Bread transformed a restaurant in Dearborn, Mich., into a Panera Cares Cafe, the second of the chain's attempts to better serve communities in need by asking guests for "suggested donations" rather than charging set prices and allowing those down on their luck to dine for little or no money. The chain saw success with the first experimental cafe launched near St. Louis, where about 60% pay the suggested donation, 20% pay less and 20% pay more. Detroit Free Press (11/23) | Editor's Note | | | | - SmartBrief will not publish Thursday or Friday
In observance of Thanksgiving in the U.S., SmartBrief will not be published Thursday and Friday. Publication will resume Monday. | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | | | |  |  Senior Executive Assistant | Chico's FAS Inc., | Fort Myers, FL | | Product Marketing Manager | RPI | Seattle, WA | | Manager, Web Merchandising Intelligence | Kohl's Corporate Offices | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Buyer | Art Van Furniture | Warren, MI | | Director of Marketing and Licensing | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Merchandise Planner | Kohl's Corporate Offices | Milwaukee, WI | | Director of E-Commerce | The Wet Seal, INC | Foothill Ranch, CA | | VP of Marketing | Teavana | Atlanta - Buckhead, GA | | Buyer IV - Mens Softlines | Exchange (Army Air Force Exchange Service) | Dallas, TX | | Regional Manager Development Program | Follett Higher Education Group | Multiple Locations, United States | | Retail Construction Project Manager | Teavana | Atlanta, GA | | Project Manager 2 | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Director of Display Advertising - ProFlowers, RedEnvelope and Shari's Berries | RedEnvelope / ProFlowers | San Diego, CA | | Director of Field Construction | Rent-A-Center | Plano, TX | | Manager, Home Office Human Resources (Recruitment & Employee Relations) | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Senior Planner - Toys | Walmart | Bentonville, AR | | Associate Merchandise Manager, RedEnvelope | RedEnvelope | San Diego, CA | | Senior Product Development Analyst | The TJX Companies, Inc. | Framingham, MA | | Retail Marketing Director | OfficeMax, Inc | Naperville, IL | | Assistant Category Manager - Reader's Market | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | Business Process Analyst | QVC | West Chester, PA | | | |  | |  | |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | There is one day that is ours. There is one day when all we Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat saleratus biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old pump looks than it used to. ... Thanksgiving Day ... is the one day that is purely American."
--O. Henry,
American writer,
quoted for Thanksgiving in the U.S., Nov. 25, 2010  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com | | | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Tuesday, November 23, 2010
- Monday, November 22, 2010
- Friday, November 19, 2010
- Thursday, November 18, 2010
- Wednesday, November 17, 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 40% of consumers will shop online this holiday season. 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.