 | March 17, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- International equity firm Arcapita to acquire J. Jill
Private equity and venture-capital firm Arcapita plans to acquire a majority stake in specialty women's apparel retailer J. Jill from Golden Gate Capital, which paid about $75 million for the chain in June 2009. Arcapita, which typically buys and sells companies in the $50 million to $200 million range, has invested in several retail and restaurant companies including Loehmann's and Caribou Coffee. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (3/17), Bloomberg (3/16)       - Famous Footwear steps away from BOGO
Famous Footwear's parent company said this week that the chain doesn't plan to offer any BOGO deals this quarter, as part of an effort to wean consumers off recession-era discounts and boost profits. The company offered five weeks of the buy-one-get-one-half-off promotion during the same period last year. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (3/15) - A&P CEO shares his strategy
Sam Martin, who became CEO of A&P in July, said it was necessary for the supermarket chain "to have an articulated plan available to share robustly around the organization and with all our stakeholders." His strategy included closing 25 stores to "strengthen A&P's operating foundation," hiring strong management and articulating sharply defined goals. Forbes/The New Leader's Playbook blog (3/16) - Men's Wearhouse to remodel more than 100 stores this year
Men's Wearhouse plans to invest in store remodels this year, with plans to have about one-third of its 590 stores updated by the year's end. The clothing chain expects to spend up to $100 million in capital expenditures in 2011, which also will include opening 20 to 30 new stores and investing in new e-commerce technology and online retail efforts. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (3/17)  | Join FICO for an educational webinar focusing on how retail IT organizations can use best practices to implement predictive analytics and empower business owners with powerful solutions for pricing, inventory, and customer messaging. This webinar will feature real-world examples and best practices that leading retailers have implemented worldwide. | - Major chains back effort to get Amazon to collect sales tax
Major retail chains, including Target and Wal-Mart Stores, support an effort by the Alliance for Main Street Fairness to force Amazon to collect sales tax. The chains are increasingly getting involved in lobbying for the issue. Amazon said the shift is driven by brick-and-mortar rivals' goal of winning over its affiliates. The Wall Street Journal (3/17) - Retailers get eco-friendly with paperless receipts
Several retail chains including Apple and Urban Outfitters have added the option of paperless receipts for customers willing to give their e-mail addresses, and a growing number of chains from Whole Foods to the Container Store are testing paperless options aimed at making operations more sustainable. "In five years, up to 60 percent of retailers will go paperless," said Richard Mader, executive director for NRF's Association for Retail Technology Standards. Boston Herald (3/17) - Survey: Consumers air complaints about loyalty programs
About three-quarters of U.S. consumers have signed up for at least one retailer loyalty program, but a large number of them aren't happy with what they get in return, according to a new survey. About 85% of respondents said they never heard from the companies again after they signed up, 44% said the rewards they got were too small to be taken seriously, and 27% said they received offers for discounts on items they would never buy. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (3/16)  | 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. | - QR codes offer consumers messaging in the moment
A growing number of merchants and product manufacturers are including quick-response codes on packaging, ads and point-of-sale materials, to enable smartphone users to access additional information, website links and marketing videos at the time they're making buying decisions. "You are in that sort of purchase window with the customer, and you don't want to lose them," said Mike Gatti, executive director of NRF's Retail Advertising and Marketing Association. The Post-Star (Glens Falls, N.Y.) (3/16)  | 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. |
 | Main Street |  | | | - Would Warren Buffett approve of your rainy-day fund?
Warren Buffett's annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders is a must-read for many because of the wealth of business advice within. John Warrillow writes that this year, he was struck by Buffett's emphasis on cash reserves. With a cushion totaling almost two months of revenue, not only can Buffett sleep at night, but he can also "zig while others zag," Warrillow writes, urging other business owners to learn from Buffett's example. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (3/15) - Leading with honesty is the best policy
When Domino's Pizza CEO Patrick Doyle said the company's product tasted like "cardboard," he became a visible figure in the "out with it, on with it" management trend, John Gerzema writes. By admitting to widely perceived shortcomings, "a leader becomes authentic and expedient at once. The truth always gets out eventually, so why waste more time on obfuscation?" Inc.com (3/14)  | Business Gold Rewards Card® from American Express OPEN has unlimited Membership Rewards® points potential:
• Get 25,000 bonus points when you spend $50,000 or more per year
• Save 3%-10% automatically on business expenses from FedEx, Hertz®, OfficeMax®, and more with OPEN Savings®
• No annual Card membership fee the first year - a $125 savings
Apply Now. |
 
| NRF News | | | | - NRF collaborates with ICSC for its 2011 Loss Prevention Conference
To further our industry partnerships, the National Retail Federation is pleased to announce an expansion of its LP conference networking and education opportunities with members of the International Council of Shopping Centers Security Committee. The committee will now be joining retailers at the conference and jointly promoting key conference sessions. Read more. - NRF: The 2010 year in review
Now available for viewing, NRF has released a digital (and interactive) copy of its 2010 Annual Report. A look inside the 2010 edition showcases NRF's new strategic plan, including a renewed focus on advocacy, communications and education. The report also delves into NRF's work within varied retail communities such as e-commerce, marketing, loss prevention, information technology, sustainability, supply chain and more. View the Annual Report.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Morton's Steakhouse might put itself on the block
Morton's Restaurant Group said Wednesday it is exploring strategic alternatives that could include a sale, with the support of its top two shareholders, private-equity firm Castle Harlan and Laurel Crown Partners. Since the $4 billion sale of Burger King last fall, more restaurant chains have been looking to sell as a way to maximize shareholder value, including Yum! Brands, which has put Long John Silver's and A&W up for sale. The New York Times/Dealbook (3/16), Reuters (3/16) | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | |  |  Merchant Opportunities at Kohl's | Kohl's | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Senior Buyer, Sports & Outdoors | Amazon.com | Seattle, WA | | Regional Retail Point of Sale (ROPS) Coordinator/NTE 2 years | Headquarters, MCCS | Quantico, VA | | Industrial Engineer LOGS | Walmart | Bentonville, AR | | Sr. Strategy Project Manager, Logistics | Walmart | Bentonville, AR | | Senior Planner, Various Categories | Walmart | Bentonville, AR | | Replenishment Manager | Walmart | Bentonville, AR | | Distribution Center Area Director | PetSmart | Atlanta, GA | | Vice-President 24HourFitness.com | 24 Hour Fitness | San Ramon, CA | | Softlines Sourcing Manager | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Senior Marketing Manager, Search Engine Optimization | macys.com | San Francisco, CA | | Sr. Labor/Employment Attorney | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Product Development Foods Associate | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Multi-Channel Strategy Sr. Manager | Deloitte Consulting LLP | Nationwide, United States | | General Manager, Merchandise | Smithsonian Enterprises | Washington, DC | | Retail Manager | Tri-County Feeds | Marshall, VA | | | |  | |  |
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