 | March 16, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- J.C. Penney to build on the success of exclusive offerings
 J.C. Penney's growth plans for this year rest heavily on the expansion of exclusive offerings in the Liz Claiborne lines, in-store Sephora shops and fast-fashion MNG by Mango brand, said CEO Myron "Mike" Ullman. As cotton and other commodity costs continue to rise, the chain expects to raise prices on some of the aspirational items consumers are willing to spend more on while keeping the basics more affordable, he says. TheStreet.com (3/15)       - White House|Black Market sees success with back-to-basics strategy
White House|Black Market was suffering from growing pains and getting lost amid a growing number of similar specialty apparel offerings when parent Chico's FAS hired Donna Noce as president in 2007. The former Ann Taylor and Lerner executive pared down the decision-making team and took the concept back to its roots, focusing on making the stores more fun and the offerings more aspirational, boosting sales along the way. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (3/16) - New name signals the start of big changes at Ann Taylor
 Shortening Ann Taylor's corporate name to Ann Inc. is likely to be the least noticeable of the changes in store for the women's apparel chain, which doesn't plan to change the names of existing namesake and Loft stores. Less symbolic and more visible changes will include a smaller footprint and more boutique-like feel for Ann Taylor stores, and ongoing expansion of online and mobile shopping efforts. BNET (3/15)  | Personalization Webinar — Join Netshoes and Ecommerce experts for a case study of business success through delivery of a more personalized customer experience. You'll get the whole story; from investment justification to execution for a complete understanding of what it takes to build a best-in-class personalized experience and where to start. Register | - Analyst: Long-term effect on retail from Japan disaster is unclear
Although Japan is a player in the worldwide supply chain, moves by manufacturers to diversify production geographically is minimizing the affect of the earthquake and tsunami, said Brian Sozzi, a StarMine top-ranked Equity Research Retail analyst. However, the luxury segment may feel the pinch because of the psychological impact of the disaster. "How will the devastation in Japan weigh on consumer spending in the United States, specifically as the wealth effect is diminished with the pullback in equities markets and $4.00 a gallon plus gasoline?" CNBC (3/15) - Men are shopping more, but women are spending more
Men are heading to the grocery store more often, but women are still handling the big weekly shopping trips, according to data from Nielsen. Women spend more than men spend and still do most of the shopping, but men may be doing more because of their unemployment. "Men have increased trip shares between 2004 and 2010 in all retail channels but drugstores," reported Todd Hale, senior vice president for consumer and shopper insights. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (3/15) - Rural stores could get a lift from gas prices
Rural grocers might benefit from higher gas prices, as residents shop closer to home instead of driving to a larger store, said a Kansas State University professor. The university's Center for Engagement and Community Development, which works to keep small-town stores from closing, counted 213 rural groceries in the state in 2006, compared with 131 last year. Journal Star (Peoria, Ill.) (3/15) - Companies fight to offset consumers' price resistance
Cotton, food and gas prices are leading manufacturers to shrink product sizes, and retailers are offering incentives such as "buy one, get one free" to coax shoppers to part with their cash. "It's so tough holding prices that dollar stores must get creative or rethink their name," said Steve Kirn, executive director of the University of Florida retailing program. St. Petersburg Times (Fla.) (3/15)  | Exercise Your Bottom Line — EXPERIENCE PLAYTIME! Today's play areas are profit-makers! When you create a kid-friendly environment, you create a stress-free shopping experience for the entire family. PLAYTIME customizes play areas for every budget. Visit www.experienceplaytime.com or contact David O'Niones (DavidO@ExperiencePlaytime.com, 303-662-0302). | - Google gears up to test in-store mobile payment system
Google reportedly plans to start testing a payment system that will let shoppers in stores in New York and San Francisco use their mobile phones to pay for purchases, using near-field communication technology from partner VeriFone Systems. Google plans to install thousands of VeriFone's cash-register systems at select merchant locations in the two markets in advance of the launch. Bloomberg (3/15)  | Supercharging the Online Channel
Getting to the right shoppers and then converting them to buyers in your online store is every retailer's key objective. Short purchase windows, impatient buyers, and new mandates around security are creating unprecedented demands on commerce sites. Learn how to attract customers to your site, optimize their online shopping experience and drive more transactions. Watch the webinar NOW! |
 | Main Street |  | | | - Retail experts stress employee safety in wake of clerk's murder
Retail experts weighed in on safety issues this week, as police in Bethesda, Md., continued to search for suspects in the death of a store clerk. The safety of store employees is more important than money or merchandise, and there are several steps retailers can take to keep workers safer, including storing money out of sight, keeping stores well-lit and making sure employees are aware of their surroundings, said the National Retail Federation's Joe LaRocca. WUSA-TV (Washington, D.C.) (3/15)  | Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN®
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  | Policy & Government Affairs | | | | - Debate rages over bill to delay new debit-card fee rules
Sen. Jon Tester officially proposed a bill, dubbed the Debit Interchange Fee Study Act, that would delay implementation of new rules to limit bank fees on debit-card transactions that are currently slated to take effect in July. Banks and credit unions support the measure, saying the issue requires further study, while retailers are discouraged by moves to put off the changes they fought for last year. "We are extremely surprised to see a bill introduced that favors Wall Street banks and price-fixing card companies over Main Street merchants and their customers," said NRF general counsel Mallory Duncan. Retailing Today (free registration) (3/15), The Wall Street Journal (3/16)
| NRF News | | | | - Explore lessons learned from the global financial crisis
During Friday's webinar, NRF and KPMG will provide a complete overview of the tactical decisions and strategies retailers across the globe have implemented in the face of a downed economy. Based on the findings of the ninth annual Retail Horizons: Benchmarks for 2010, Forecasts for 2011 report, the webinar will also cover how retailers will try to maintain customer focus while placing a greater emphasis on the bottom line. Register or learn more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Pinkberry sees rosy prospects for Russian expansion
 Frozen-yogurt chain Pinkberry opened its first franchise in Moscow this week, saying the time is ripe for growth in Russia as more consumers focus on healthier dining options. Other U.S. chains Cinnabon and Papa John's also are in expansion mode in Russia, where consumers' demand for dining-out options is growing along with their household incomes. "The Russian consumer is ready to graduate to the higher level of consumption," said Deutsche Bank chief economist Yaroslav Lissovolik. The Moscow Times (3/16) | Career Track | | | |  | |  | | | | |  |  Merchant Opportunities at Kohl's | Kohl's | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Senior Buyer, Sports & Outdoors | Amazon.com | Seattle, WA | | Vice-President 24HourFitness.com | 24 Hour Fitness | San Ramon, CA | | Softlines Sourcing Manager | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Sr. Labor/Employment Attorney | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Product Development Foods Associate | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Senior Marketing Manager, Search Engine Optimization | macys.com | San Francisco, CA | | General Manager, Merchandise | Smithsonian Enterprises | Washington, DC | | Multi-Channel Strategy Sr. Manager | Deloitte Consulting LLP | Nationwide, United States | | Retail Manager | Tri-County Feeds | Marshall, VA | | | |  | |  |
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