How Karl Lagerfeld's 45-piece collection will benefit Macy's

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July 25, 2011 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch    Michaels rolls out new mobile tools to aid in-store experience Arts and crafts retailer Michaels is using a new smartphone app to bring more customers to its stores. The app features mobile coupons, how-to videos for projects, store events and social networking tie-ins for sharing. "We've been able to add significant depth to our in-store experience by offering mobile versions of the project sheets to give customers ideas, instructions and inspiration whenever they want it," said senior director of digital marketing and public relations Anthony Price. MobileCommerceDaily.com (7/25)      How Karl Lagerfeld's 45-piece collection will benefit Macy's Karl Lagerfeld is collaborating with Macy's to launch a hip-yet-affordable line of clothing to help boost the retailer's contemporary department. Macy's is seeking to capture more of the 18- to 30-year-old demographic unable to spend on high-end brands but willing to buy above fast fashion retailers such as H&M. Pieces will average between $50 and $170. Forbes/Style Inc. blog (7/25)      5 keys to Costco's warm welcome in Australia Costco has done so well in the Sydney, Australia, suburb of Auburn that it has plans to open other stores in Sydney and Melbourne. In addition to offering prices on common items that are cheaper by up to 20%, its membership fee makes customers feel like part of an exclusive club and keeps them coming back often to get their money's worth on the membership. SmartCompany.com.au (Australia) (7/21)        American Apparel expands in Great Britain and France American Apparel is set to grow its presence in Europe as high-end retailers bring its hip fashions to at least seven more stores in the U.K. and France. Selfridge's in Great Britain and Galeries Lafayette in France, both previous American Apparel retailers, will expand the brand's presence in its suburban stores. New York Post (7/24)      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.   Retail trends    Footwear retailers hope for strong back-to-school season Major footwear retailers are rolling out marketing strategies for the back-to-school season that aim to help customers feel they are getting maximum value for their dollars. Wavering consumer confidence and tight budgets have retailers unsure how sales will fare this season. E-commerce and promotional plans will aim to convince consumers they are spending wisely. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (7/25)      Personalized shopping experiences help small boutiques thrive Personal shopping is making a comeback in small specialty boutiques across the middle of the country, where customers appreciate the long memory and detailed recommendations of boutique owners. Loyal customers appreciate the service and develop lasting relationships to boutiques. "A department store might buy 10 dresses from a collection but I'm buying specifically for Amy or Sarah," said boutique owner Kelly Golden of Winnetka, Ill. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/23)      India moves toward opening retail sector to foreign firms India's Committee of Secretaries has approved a proposal that would open up the country's retail sector to foreign direct investment. The government panel proposed that foreign investors would need to put $100 million or more into developing multibrand retail operations, according to an official. The stores would be required to be located in cities with at least 1 million people. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/23), Business Standard (India) (7/23), Bloomberg (7/25)        Other News Rebounds in consumer spending revive huge September fashion issues MediaPost Communications/Around the Net in Media (7/22) Utilize the Zurich Enterprise Risk Management Healthcheck assessment tool to get a better understanding of your current ERM strategy with recommendations for improvement. Sign up for FREE access today!   Retail Technology    Intel unveils digital out-of-home interactive shopping for retail Intel debuted its new digital out-of-home shopping platform, the Retail Interactive Fashion Experience, as part of its "Connected Store" concept. Shoppers will be able to use in-store interactive displays to sort through inventory, assemble outfits and share them with friends. Intel first showed off the platform at the National Retail Federation Convention and Expo in New York City and the Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas. MediaPost Communications/Digital Outsider (7/22)      Turning Online Shopper Uncertainty into a New Source of Sales and Profits. Eliminating consumer uncertainty is a challenge for all online merchants. The question is, how can you address shoppers' concerns and increase sales and profits in the process? Download the buySAFE white paper to learn more NOW!   Hot Topics  Top five news stories selected by NRF SmartBrief readers in the past week. J.C. Penney's CMO leaves the company after 33 years (Women's Wear Daily) Borders plans to liquidate after failing to find another buyer (The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)) Reinventing the department store for a digital age (Knowledge@Wharton) The gadgets are genuine Apple, but the stores are fake (The New York Times (tiered subscription model)) Wal-Mart to start providing retail data to Nielsen (Crain's Chicago Business) Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.   Sponsored Content    8 Top Online Backup Services For Small Business TJ McCue Locavesting: 6 Ways To Pool Your Local Resources For Funding Anne Field Give Users Incentives For Online Action Ramon Ray 11 Ways To Incorporate Video Into Your Business Justine Grey Building A Plan To Achieve Financial Independence With Your Business NELL MERLINO Most Popular Headlines from Last Week How To Avoid 4 Losing Groupon Strategies Rohit Bhargava What Not To Do: The Most Important Decision You'll Make John Mariotti 7 Unwritten Rules Of Social Media Rajesh Setty Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.   NRF News  House to hold hearing on VAT, national retail sales tax Proposals to create a jobs-threatening national retail sales tax or an equally damaging value added tax will be back in the news this week as the House Ways and Means Committee holds a hearing on consumption taxes as part of its ongoing exploration of federal tax reform options. Among the scheduled witnesses is Ernst and Young economist Robert Carroll, chief author of a 2010 study commissioned by NRF that found a value added tax would cause the loss of 850,000 jobs in the first year, reduce GDP for three years and reduce retail spending by $2.5 trillion over the first 10 years. Read more.      NRF SmartStat: July 25, 2011 Parents of students in K-12 will spend an average of $600 on back-to-school items this year. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch.        A back-to-school headquarters -- for retailers! Learn why department stores are making a comeback, how electronics purchases will play out among the college crowd, and when retailers can expect the biggest crowds for the 2011 back-to-school season. Check out NRF's Back-to-School Headquarters -- designed with retailers in mind -- to view blog posts, media coverage, consumer research and historical data. Visit the HQ.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  Dunkin' prepares for IPO with expansion in mind Dunkin' Brands' plans for company expansion include increasing store numbers to more than double its U.S. locations in the next 20 years and surpass Starbucks. In an initial public offering set for Tuesday, the company seeks as much as $401 million, selling 22.3 million shares for $16 to $18 each. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/25), Bloomberg (7/25)      Red Lobster ads take customers behind the scenes Red Lobster is looking close to home for inspiration for a new campaign that will focus on the workers who help the seafood restaurant chain serve its customers, including fisherman and menu designers. The "Sea food differently" campaign, which also will give Red Lobster a greater presence in the social media sphere, is by Grey New York. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (7/24)      Director, Safety and Health OfficeMax Naperville, IL Merchant Opportunities Kohl's Milwaukee, WI Sales & Education Executive Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics Nationwide, United States Business Analyst Five Below, Inc. Philadelphia, PA District Manager Five Below, Inc. Philadelphia, PA IS Manager Store & DC Support PetSmart Phoenix, AZ Loss Prevention Exception Reporting Manager Stein Mart Jacksonville, Florida, FL Department Manager - Designer - Saks Fifth Avenue Chicago Saks Fifth Avenue Chicago, IL Senior Retail Marketing Advertising Manager Cabela's Sidney, NE Manager, Product Training Samsung Electronics America, Inc Ridgefield Park, NJ Planogram Specialist Headquarters Marine Corps Quantico, VA Buyer-Young Men's and Men's Collections Headquarters Marine Corps Quantico, VA Sales Associate UNIQLO Manhattan, NY IT Opportunities Belk Inc. Charlotte, NC Manager of Human Resources Chico's FAS, Inc. Ft. Myers, FL Career Event - Charleston, SC Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH Charleston, SC VP Divisional Merchandise Manager - Men's Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH New York, NY Saks Fifth Avenue - Sales Associate - Career Day July 21st Saks Fifth Avenue Boston, MA Applications Manager-Distribution & Transportation PetSmart Phoenix, AZ Store Manager - Bealls Bealls Orlando, FL Fashion Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN   SmartQuote  How can you say luck and chance are the same thing? Chance is the first step you take, luck is what comes afterwards." --Amy Tan, American author        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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