  | February 4, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Target, RadioShack drive business with gadget buybacks
Retail chains including Target and RadioShack have launched buyback deals to spur traffic and sales among consumers who want to upgrade their gadgets. The stores work with websites including NextWorth, Gazelle and CExchange to organize the resale of the used items on established e-commerce sites such as Amazon and eBay. USA TODAY (2/2)       - Gap moves creative center to New York
Gap will move Pam Wallack, the head of its namesake brand's North American adult apparel business, to New York to head a new global creative center aimed at revitalizing the flagging brand. The move is one of several changes announced this week, including the appointment of Art Peck to replace Gap North America President Marka Hansen and a plan to merge the management of its outlet division with the Gap and Banana Republic brands. Yahoo!/Reuters (2/2) - H-E-B leader vows "restless dissatisfaction"
Craig Boyan, president and chief operating officer of H-E-B, said the grocery chain, based in San Antonio, is defined by a "restless dissatisfaction" that fuels improvement. The company, with stores in Texas and Mexico, faces competition from Wal-Mart, but Boyan said it continues to expand because it tailors its product mix to specific neighborhoods. San Antonio Express-News (2/2)  | Attend Webinar: Maximize Revenue Performance from Product Recommendations
Join Forrester Research eCommerce expert, Sucharita Mulpuru, and Certona CEO, Meyar Sheik, as they share best practices and key success strategies that drive incremental sales and boost average order values from personalized product recommendations! REGISTER | - Higher commodity costs may affect retail's rebound
January retail sales beat analysts' expectations but rising commodity costs that promise to drive up retail prices this year have merchants concerned about a possible backlash by budget-conscious consumers. "Is the consumer going to pay more? [The] consumer hasn't had to do that for a long time," said Pacific Sunwear of California CEO Gary Schoenfeld. "I don't think any of us have a perfect crystal ball to know exactly how that is going to play out." The Wall Street Journal (2/4) - Top cotton market aims to curb speculators
Speculators buying up cotton supplies to create further scarcity and drive up prices will be under stricter scrutiny this spring, says top cotton-futures exchange IntercontinentalExchange, which plans to enforce rules that say prospective buyers that want to hold more than 300 futures contracts must request approval and demonstrate an economic need. The number of outstanding cotton contracts, which represent supplies that mills don't have access to, has risen 21% during the past year. The Wall Street Journal (2/4) - Boutiques build sales with replicas of vintage styles
Fashion fans tired of hiding in modern layered looks are opting for vintage shape-showing dresses from the '40s, '50s and '60s, a trend that's boosting business for shops selling replicas of the originals. Merchants and manufacturers including Blue Velvet Vintage, Bettie Page Clothing and ReVamp have annual sales increases of between 25% and 30% during the past four years. The New York Times (free registration) (2/2)  | Xerox® ColorQube® solid ink printers, starting at $699.
With 90% less waste and speeds up to 40 ppm, ColorQube® is your perfect solution for affordable color printing. Plus, save up to $300 with a trade-in rebate. Enter to win an Apple® iPad™. |
 - Woolworths adds POS system to cut theft
Almost a year ago, South African retailer Woolworths added a point-of-sale system from Massachusetts-based Profitect that's designed to cut fraud and theft at the register. A 13-store test cut shrinkage 10% and uncovered 550 cases in the first three months, 20% of which resulted in recovery of the items and action against the perpetrators. STORES magazine (2/2011)  | Gain insight into the overall health of U.S. businesses and how to leverage new tools to better manage business, while reducing risk exposure. View our on-demand Webinar Gain a clearer picture of small-business risk in an uncertain market. |
| NRF News |  | | | - Former White House official pushes VAT at Senate hearing
Former Bush Administration economic policy adviser Lawrence Lindsey told the Senate Budget Committee this week that "all roads" lead to a value added tax. But committee member Sen. Ron Wyden said a VAT is "just a backdoor way to hike taxes" and noted bipartisan support for a Senate vote against a VAT last year. Read more. - NRF SmartStat: Feb. 4, 2011
 The average consumer is expected to spend $59.33 on Super Bowl-related merchandise, apparel and snacks this year. Source: RAMA survey conducted by BIGresearch. - Mobile, social top of mind on BIG Show '11 EXPO hall floor
What were retailers talking about on the BIG Show '11 EXPO hall floor? Mobile, social media and then more mobile. Watch a 3-minute video featuring industry executives on the EXPO hall floor, including Jill Puleri of IBM and Bill Martin of ShopperTrak, as they discuss the hottest trends from the show. Watch the video.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Quiznos plans for 20 Indian locations in 3 years
 Colorado-based Quiznos has sealed a franchise deal to open 20 locations in India during the next three years. Quiznos plans to debut its first stores near information technology offices to attract lunch crowds of residents and workers who may be familiar with the concept after spending time working in the U.S. Offerings would appeal to Indian consumers' tastes, leaving off beef and pork and adding at least eight vegetarian options. The Wall Street Journal/India Real Time blog (2/3)  | |  | | | | |  |  Product Manager | EcoQue | Seattle, WA | | Vice President - Divisional Merchandise Manager | The Vitamin Shoppe | North Bergen, NJ | | Retail Consulting Affiliate | Management One | Multiple Locations, United States | | Women's Buyer/Category Manager | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Divisional Merchandise Manager (2 positions) | Headquarters Marine Corps-Marine Corps Exchanges | Quantico, VA | | Project Manager, Multi-Channel POS | Sports Authority | Englewood, CO | | Operational Initiatives Manager | Ross Stores, Inc. | Pleasanton, CA | | Store Operations Manager - dd's DISCOUNTS | Ross Stores, Inc. | Pleasanton, CA | | Manager of New Store Openings & Operations | Ross Stores, Inc. | Pleasanton, CA | | Divisional Merchandising Manager - Men's Sportswear | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, Florida, FL | | Divisional Merchandising Manager - Home Decor & Gifts | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, FL | | Vice President, Sterling | Sterling Shoes Inc. | VANCOUVER, Canada | | VP of Marketing | Teavana | Atlanta - Buckhead, GA | | Telecom Business Manager | AAFES | Okinawa, Japan | | Lead Analyst, Paid Search | Target Corporation | Minneapolis, MN | | Senior Manager, Site Planning | Target Corporation | Minneapolis, MN | | | |  | |  |
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