Wal-Mart to launch minority supplier program in Chicago

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June 28, 2011 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch    Wal-Mart to launch minority supplier program in Chicago Wal-Mart plans to create a program aimed at increasing diversity among its professional services, food and general merchandise suppliers by boosting participation by minority-owned firms. The program, which aims to go national, will start in Chicago in the coming months. Crain's Chicago Business (6/27), Chicago Tribune (6/27) Chesapeake Bay Candle brings its manufacturing home Pacific Trade International has opened a new factory in Glen Burnie, Md., to manufacture its Chesapeake Bay Candles, marking the first time in 17 years the popular products sold at chains including Target and Kohl's have been made in the U.S. It's one of a growing number of U.S. companies that are bringing manufacturing back home as labor costs in China and other Asian markets rise. The Sun (Baltimore) (6/27) Lululemon soars as it takes increased competition in stride Nike and Adidas are ramping up the competition on Lululemon Athletica, but the Canadian yoga retailer isn't feeling too threatened. "We're not feeling it or seeing it on a global basis or even store by store," said John Currie, chief financial officer at Lululemon. "But you know, it's a competitive marketplace. So, the next competitor ... we have to worry about them just like we do about Nike and Adidas." The company is expecting to reach $1 billion in revenue soon. Reuters (6/27) Other News Nebraska Book files for Chapter 11 amid slowing sales Reuters (6/27) Seth wants you to poke the box Best-selling author Seth Godin's latest book provides you with inspiration and concrete recommendations for taking an entrepreneurial approach to everything. Stop hesitating or stop waiting for permission - and just go. SmartBrief readers receive exclusive access to a free excerpt of Poke the Box.   Retail trends    Shay shares career highlights in Ohio commencement speech NRF CEO Matthew Shay went back to high school earlier this month, sharing his career highlights and the commitment to public policy that led him to his current post in a commencement address at his alma mater, Newark Catholic High School in Newark, Ohio. "It was completely and totally unplanned, but fortunately it had a happy ending. I ended up with one of the best jobs in Washington." The Advocate (Newark, Ohio) (6/27) Apparel retailers find new ways to add value Apparel manufacturers and retailers are trading fancy embellishments for tech-driven features that add value, from butt-toning sneakers to caffeine- and shea butter-infused shorts that promise to slim thighs and moisturize skin, to win over budget-conscious shoppers. Uniqlo sells an apparel line with UV protection, Levi's sports cycling duds that resist dirt and bacteria and Timberland's new line of boots boasts odor-eating properties. CNBC (6/27) Consumers cut back in May due to unemployment, high gas bills Consumer spending was flat in May and rose less than initially forecast in April, amid an ongoing weak jobs picture and concerns about higher prices on gas and food, according to Commerce Department figures released Monday. Incomes rose 0.3% in May, and oil prices have declined in recent weeks, which could mean a rebound in spending later this year, economists said. Bloomberg (6/27), The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (6/28) THE COMPLETE RETAIL TAGGING SOLUTION Implement mobile printing capabilities that increase efficiency, accuracy and make customers happier. From the sales floor to the back of the store, see how advanced tagging solutions can boost your bottom line. Access our eBook now.   Retail Technology    Walgreen rolls out in-store pickup in Chicago for online orders Walgreen launched an in-store pickup program for online purchases at 300 Chicago stores and plans to roll it out to all 480 locations in the market by August. The chain, which said online sales have grown 50% in the past two years, will also offer curbside delivery at some stores for orders of $20 or more. Chicago Tribune (6/27) Despite being a backbone enterprise application, Enterprise Resource Planning is often misunderstood. In this guide from Focus, top experts provide their suggestions and recommendations to guide you through your evaluation of the best choices. Unravel the complexities of ERP once and for all to make an informed buying decision by downloading this free white paper.   Main Street    Productivity boosters for business owners on the go If your business has you out of the office for much of the day, then you need productivity tools that work on the go. Sarah Needleman reviews a host of mobile technology options for accounting, data storage, payment processing and more. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (6/27) 5 ways to give balanced feedback and get better results Some business owners believe the best way to improve employees' performance is to constantly point out the things they're doing wrong. But such negative motivation will eventually "suck the life and creativity out of your organization," writes Art Petty. Good feedback is a balance of praise and criticism, and Petty offers five tips for developing that balance. ArtPetty.com (6/27) Could your CRM deliver better ROI? Today's CRM systems can dramatically improve your bottom line through better customer marketing, engagement and retention — but only if your program is properly designed. Learn how one specialty retailer increased campaign results 300% through creative segmentation — as one of five proven strategies for CRM success. Download your copy now!   NRF News  NRF hires 2 Washington insiders to bolster advocacy team NRF has hired a veteran lobbyist and the manager of a major corporate political action committee to join its government relations team. Kelly Knott has been hired as senior director for federal government relations and will serve as NRF's primary House lobbyist, a new position directing engagement with House members and their staffs. Lisa Rice has been hired as senior director for political affairs and will serve as director of RetailPAC, NRF's political action committee. Read more. NRF SmartStat: June 28, 2011 95% of retailers say they have been the victim of organized retail crime in the last 12 months. Source: NRF 2011 Organized Retail Crime Survey.   Register for Retail's BIG Show by July 15 and save $450 NRF's 101st Annual Convention & EXPO will bring together more than 22,000 attendees, 500 solution providers and 150 speakers next January in New York. Register before July 15th and save $450 on the cost of a full-conference pass. Learn more. Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  Caribou Coffee to start southeast expansion in Atlanta Caribou Coffee could open up to 100 stores in the Atlanta area in the next few years, as part the Minneapolis-based gourmet coffee chain's push to expand in the southeastern U.S., CEO Mike Tattersfield said. Caribou already operates 11 stores in Atlanta, which compete with larger rivals Starbucks and McDonald's for coffee and breakfast customers. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (6/27) Other News IHOP campaign aims to brighten and brand your day MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (6/27) Sonic wins beer and wine license for Florida store Beverage World Publications Group (6/27) Retail Business Analyst Claire's Hoffman Estates, IL New Account Sales Representative One Step Retail Solutions Nationwide, United States Store Operations Analyst BevMo! San Francisco Bay Area, CA Manager Replenishment & Allocations Five Below Philadelphia, PA Learning Alignment Consultant (Performance Consultant) Petsmart, Inc Phoenix, AZ EH&S Manager Vera Bradley Designs Fort Wayne, IN Advanced Retail Manager (Training) Army & Air Force Exchange Service Dallas, TX Store Manager (Deploy) Army & Air Force Exchange Service Dallas, TX Business Intelligence Sr Retail Industry Analyst Army & Air Force Exchange Service Dallas, TX Senior Internet Buyer Tween Brands New Albany, OH Retail Training & Development Manager Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers Columbus, GA Senior Manager Retail Marketing The Timberland Company Stratham , NH IS Manager Store & DC Support PetSmart Phoenix, AZ Fashion Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN Licensed Product Manager Harley-Davidson Milwaukee, WI Project Manager Limited Brands Columbus, OH Manager General Merchandise #792BR Harley-Davidson Milwaukee, WI   SmartQuote  Materialism coarsens and petrifies everything, making everything vulgar, and every truth false." --Henri Frederic Amiel, Swiss philosopher, poet and critic   This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com   Subscriber Tools       Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Grab our News Widget Publish your Press Release   Advertise Associate Publisher:  Susan W. 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