| March 31, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Target revamps stores with a focus on food
Target is in the midst of renovating stores from Charlotte, N.C. to Rockford, Ill., with remodels aimed at adding about 40% to the stores' food selections and upgrading the beauty, home and baby departments. The chain joins a growing number of retailers, including Kohl's and Wal-Mart, that have undertaken aggressive remodels as the economy improves, and recent data shows the ranks are likely to grow -- 41% of those surveyed for NRF's Retail Horizons forecast said they'll make expansion a priority in 2011, up from 25% last year and 20% in 2009. Drug Store News (3/30), Rockford Register Star (Ill.) (3/30)       - Wal-Mart CEO sees inflation ahead for U.S. consumers
 Consumers face higher prices in the coming months for food, clothing and other goods, Wal-Mart's U.S CEO Bill Simon warned this week, adding that the chain is working with its suppliers to minimize the impact of higher costs on consumers. Major retail chains such as Wal-Mart are likely to be in the strongest position to do that, said John Long, a retail strategist at Kurt Salmon, but no merchants are going to be able to shield their customers from inflation completely. USA TODAY (3/30) - Will SK Telecom bid for part of Blockbuster?
SK Telecom may invest in the bankrupt Blockbuster video-rental chain, according to a published report, which quotes sources inside the South Korean carrier who also say the operator has not made a final decision on the move. Analysts say they can't see any synergies between the companies. Reuters (3/30)  | Akamai - The Right Partner with the Right Solution
Are you failing to to satisfy user expectations for an outstanding online shopping experience? Do you need to accelerate your dynamic content? Do you strive to be a retailer that pushes the envelope with site technology and offerings? Learn why the Akamai Dynamic Site Accelerator is the right solution for those issues and more. |
 - Interbrand names most valuable retail brands
Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Best Buy and CVS took the top five spots on Interbrand's annual list of most valuable U.S. retail brands. Technology played a role in the evolution of some retail brands in 2010, including Macy's and Whole Foods, which reaped rewards from branded iPad applications, new microsites and efforts to include online feedback in the development of new products. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (3/30) - Retailers watch as gas prices inch higher
Higher prices at the pump are driving some consumers back to the frugal ways they adopted during the recession, and retailers are keeping a cautious eye on how big a bite higher fuel costs are likely to take out of shopping. "It clearly has been having impact but not enough to throw off our [4% growth] forecasts. We are still seeing overall steady economic growth. So right now, we are still encouraged," said NRF spokesman Scott Krugman. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (3/31)  | Complimentary Aberdeen Cross-Channel Research
Learn what your competitors are planning and doing now to advance from multi-channel to integrated cross-channel retailing, and how you can keep pace. This in-depth, 30-page market research report - a $399 value - is now yours at no cost. |
 - How to use mobile apps to improve inventory accuracy
Retailers and product manufacturers have improved the quality of the information they share when it comes to keeping shelves stocked with the right number of right items, but estimates still see a margin of error of about 10%. Arming store employees with mobile inventory applications may go a long way toward further reducing errors in the ordering process that can take a bite out of sales, according to this story. TMCNet.com/4GWE (3/30)   | The retail industry has been redefined by macro-economics, socio-demographics and new consumer technology. Industry leaders remain competitive by redesigning the customer experience, reinvigorating operational excellence and reimagining growth. Download this white paper to learn how retailers should evaluate their strategic plans as they mobilize for a new era of retailing. |
| NRF News |  | | | - NRF releases updated active shooter response guidelines
Complete with the most up to date information about emergency response protocols, NRF has released the newest version of its active shooter emergency response guidelines. NRF's Senior Asset Protection Advisor Joe LaRocca said, "It's imperative for retailers to educate their employees with the latest updates on emergency situations, which include in-store shootings. By working closely with law enforcement, retailers are able to provide potentially life-saving information for their most valuable assets -- their employees and their customers." Learn more. - NRF SmartStat: March 31, 2011
 Despite the period's economic downturns, retailing accounted for 4.8% of all new jobs created from 1998 to 2008. Source: NRF's Retail Industry Indicators. - Shop.org's Online Marketing Month returns for second year
May is Online Marketing Month at Shop.org and includes weekly webinars, retailer networking dinners and two half-day workshops in New York City and San Francisco. Online marketers are encouraged to participate during the month to glean tips, best practices and strategies around four key areas: research, affiliates, mobile and SEO/e-mail. Learn more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - McDonald's works around supply-chain disruptions in Japan
 McDonald's Japan has begun importing supplies and ingredients that it typically makes or buys locally for its 3,300 restaurants in the country. Several of the chain's Japanese processing plants and a distribution facility sustained damage during the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and regular suppliers of milk, eggs and lettuce in the Sendai region were devastated when the wall of water swept through. The company estimates it will have to continue the costly practice for several months. The Wall Street Journal (3/31) - How Panera grew during the recession by serving its niche
Panera Bread Co. began as the St. Louis Bread Co., changing its name when then-Au Bon Pain owner Ron Shaich purchased the 19-store chain for $23 million in 1993, just as consumers were tiring of the sameness of chains and yearning for "specialness." In this profile, academics examine how Shaich has built the brand since, even growing as others struggled through the recession, by keeping a laserlike focus on its mission to provide healthy, affordable meals in a setting that encourages guests to gather and linger. Knowledge@Wharton (3/30) | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | |  |  Internal IT Auditor II | Dollar General | Goodlettsville, TN | | Senior Manager, Retail Operations | Total Wine | Potomac, MD | | Merchant Opportunities at Kohl's | Kohl's | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Vice President of Supply Chain & Replenishment | Total Wine | Potomac, MD | | Senior Marketing Manager | Stage Stores, Inc. | Houston, TX | | Director of Customer Loyalty | Aeropostale | New York, NY | | Vice-President 24HourFitness.com | 24 Hour Fitness | San Ramon, CA | | Senior Project Manager | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Energy Manager | Tractor Supply Company | Brentwood, TN | | General Manager, Merchandise | Smithsonian Enterprises | Washington, DC | | Inventory Manager | Tractor Supply Company | Brentwood, TN | | | |  | |  |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | You are never strong enough that you don't need help."
--Cesar Chavez,
Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist,
quoted for his birthday, March 31, 1927  |
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