 | February 23, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Retail executives look ahead and share lessons in leadership
 Retail leaders gathered at NRF's Big Show last month to share tales of the experiences that shaped their leadership and entrepreneurial styles and to offer insight into the future of retail. Catch up with this video clip of the session, which features CEOs including Crate & Barrel's Gordon Segal, HSN's Mindy Grossman and Gilt Groupe's Kevin Ryan. NRF Blog (2/23)        | 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! |
 - Macy's shares plan to build on 2010 growth
Macy's, which reported a 50% profit increase in the last quarter of 2010, is moving ahead with growth plans this year. The company, which debuted its first international location with a Bloomingdale's in the United Arab Emirates last year, is considering overseas expansion for both of its department store brands. Macy's also plans to open three Bloomingdale's outlet stores this year and spend about $800 million on technology and store remodels. The Wall Street Journal (2/23), Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (2/22) - Abercrombie to consolidate 2 distribution centers
Abercrombie & Fitch said it will spend about $26 million during the next two years to consolidate two Ohio distribution centers into one multi-purpose facility. One center ships global online orders and merchandise for its namesake store and the second facility serves Abercrombie's Hollister and Gilly Hicks stores. InternetRetailer.com (2/21)  | To become a top-performing distributor, you must:
• Achieve 98% inventory accuracy.
• Reach 95% on-time and complete shipment rates.
• Maintain 12-hour order-to-shipment cycle times.
• Achieve 13% cycle-time reductions from ERP use.
Distributors, how do you stack up against top performers? View the Aberdeen webcast to find out. | | Retail trends |  | | | - Big-ticket spending boosts sales at home-improvement stores
Sales of appliances, windows and other big-ticket items led to higher fourth-quarter sales and profit growth at Home Depot, and analysts say Lowe's is likely to report similar results this week. Since much of the sales growth likely stemmed from an appliance tax credit that ended Dec. 31 and strong sales of snow-removal equipment, analysts are unsure whether the trend will continue. MarketWatch (2/23) - Survey: More Americans plan to take their tax refunds and go shopping
About 13.2% of U.S. consumers plan to spend this year's tax refunds on big-ticket items including TVs and furniture, up from 12.5% last year, according to a survey from NRF, and more people plan to use the money to splurge on vacations. "Despite the difficult unemployment situation across the country, Americans receiving a tax refund this year seem eager to plough this money back into the economy," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. CNBC/Consumer Nation blog (2/22)  | "Hypertension: Controlling the 'silent killer'" — This special report from the experts at Harvard Medical School lays out a step-by-step lifestyle program you can use to lower your blood pressure, improve your health and increase life expectancy. 30% off the cover price and free shipping for SmartBrief readers. Click here to order. |
 - Report offers merchants tips to win over mobile users
The percentage of consumers interested in receiving location-based retail promotions on their mobile phones hovers in the single digits, according to a report from Forrester Research. The report offers retailers tips on how to attract mobile users to the growing array of location-based services, starting with the importance of ensuring that every offer includes something of value to the consumer. "Location-based upsell offers should be used to convert customers who may exhibit signs of leaving empty-handed," the report says. InternetRetailer.com (2/22)  | 2011 planning for social media made simpler
94.1% of businesses use social media to build brand awareness — does yours? Get insights into business trends and best practices for social media from SmartBrief's State of Social Media for Business. Make your 2011 social-media strategy count with data from 6000+ business execs. Get the report today. |
 | Main Street | | | | - Alabama sock maker seeks survival in a more upscale niche
The number of sock factories in Fort Payne, Ala., has dropped from 125 to 14 in the past decade, as U.S. companies increasingly moved production to lower-cost foreign mills. Terry Locklear said he is determined to stay and modernize the business, upgrading the product lines at his Emi-G Knitting factory from the standard white athletic socks to pricier organic hosiery that can sell for $16.50 a pair. The Wall Street Journal (2/22) | Policy & Government Affairs | | | |
| NRF News | | | | - Report finds consumers investing in small luxuries again
Unpredictable economic conditions in 2009 forced many consumers to reevaluate whether their manicures, new handbags and even their cable TV service were worth the expense. Recently released research from STORES Media examines what is "untouchable" and what is "expendable" for consumers as they adjust to the current economic climate. The survey, conducted by BIGresearch, shows small luxuries, like gourmet coffee and casual dining, may be back on buyers' lists. Read more. - NRF SmartStat: Feb. 23, 2011
 More than one-third of retailers reported spending more that 45% of their budget on direct mail activities in 2010, compared to 24% in 2009. Source: Retail Horizons 2011 - NRF: Fed proposal to lower debit card swipe fees not enough
In comments filed with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors on Tuesday, NRF stated that the current proposal to cap debit card swipe fees at 12 cents per transaction does not go far enough, and that banks should honor debit transactions at or close to face value, the same as checks. NRF is strongly urging the Fed to further reduce the cap "toward a level that more accurately reflects the actual costs." Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Dunkin' Donuts to debut single-serve Keurig cups
Dunkin' Donuts has partnered with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters to bring its signature coffee to single-cup servings. The chain will roll out K-Cup portion packs for Keurig coffee makers this summer in five flavors, including original, French vanilla and hazelnut. The announcement fueled speculation on whether Starbucks would do a similar deal with Green Mountain as it plans to build its single-cup business. Boston Herald (2/22), The Wall Street Journal (2/22) | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | |  |  Merchandise Planning and Inventory Management Senior Manager | Kurt Salmon | Multiple Locations, United States | | Product Development and Sourcing Senior Manager | Kurt Salmon | Multiple Locations, United States | | Buyer/Headquarters Level-Marine Corps Exchanges | Headquarters Marine Corps Community Services | Quantico MCB, VA | | District Sales Manager- Texas & Oklahoma Market | Lakeshore Learning Materials | Houston, TX | | Director of Merchandising | Lakeshore Learning Materials | Carson, CA | | VP MS, SOFTLINES DIV | AAFES | Dallas, TX | | BUSINESS PLANNING BRANCH MANAGER | AAFES | Dallas, TX | | SR IT AUDIT ANALYST | AAFES | Dallas, TX | | Associate Creative Director: In-home Communications | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Project Manager, Multi-Channel POS | Sports Authority | Englewood, CO | | Buyer (Consumer Electronics) | Purchasing Power | atlanta, GA | | Vice President, Sterling | Sterling Shoes Inc. | VANCOUVER, Canada | | Multi-Channel Strategy Sr. Manager | Deloitte Consulting LLP | Nationwide, United States | | Senior Vice President, Communities & Networks and Executive Director, Shop.org | National Retail Federation | Washington, DC | | | |  | |  |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | The thing that I have done throughout my life is to do the best job that I can to be me."
--Mae C. Jemison,
American physician and astronaut  |
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| | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Tuesday, February 22, 2011
- Monday, February 21, 2011
- Friday, February 18, 2011
- Thursday, February 17, 2011
- Wednesday, February 16, 2011
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Contributing Editor: Faye Rapoport
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