  | July 8, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Wal-Mart: "a microcosm of American life"
 With 3,750 U.S. stores, Wal-Mart's size makes it a mirror of society at large, which often means births, deaths, weddings and the more bizarre happenings of the wider world, from scorpion bites to a man glued to a toilet seat, are all bound to happen there. "Wal-Mart has become a microcosm of American life. So it is not uncommon to see our share of the things that happen in every town across the country," said spokesman David Tovar. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/8)      - Retailers get a head start on back-to-school shopping
Consumers spent $55 million on back-to-school shopping last year, according to NRF figures, and retail chains who are eager to improve on that success are starting earlier. Walgreens has already unveiled back-to-school displays, Toys R Us is featuring backpacks and lunch boxes, and Staples kicked off its promotions Wednesday. USA TODAY (7/7)  | 3 Ways to Make Your Site Tablet-Worthy
Create your own tablet-worthy site, and make your marketing work harder. This report shows you how to:
• Take advantage of the tablet as a high-end media experience
• Create experiences that support unique tablet behavior
• Increase engagement by leveraging user-generated content |
 - Women seek a good fit; men focus on price
Men and women agree that past success with an apparel brand is the top reason they return to buy again from the same label, and both groups value comfort in their clothing, according to new research from NPD Group. However, when it comes to the importance of fit and price, the groups diverge. Women value a good fit over a bargain while men placed more emphasis on affordability and getting a good bargain. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (7/7)  | 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! |
 - How merchants can make the most of QR codes
Apparel retailers in the U.S. and Europe are moving to implement campaigns and point-of-sale efforts using QR codes, technology that has won plenty of media buzz in recent months, writes ClikGenie President George Hoffman. Campaigns work best when merchants start by clearly identifying their goals for QR campaigns to avoid focusing too much on the technology and not enough on what it can do to boost sales and brand awareness, he writes. MobileCommerceDaily.com (7/7)  | Keep Up with the Fast-Paced eCommerce Market
Stay current with trends in eCommerce, mobile and social commerce with the latest research from leading experts. Download the eCommerce Fact Kit to save time and effort, while gaining insight into trends your best prospects and customers are managing. |
 - Motivation can be cheap, but the outcome is priceless
Even when you don't have lots of excess cash lying around, you can still find plenty of ways to motivate your employees to do their best work, writes Charlotte Jensen. Among her 10 suggestions: Award paid time off to volunteer for a favorite charity, institute telecommuting when an employee has earned your trust, or sit down for a one-on-one lunch to discuss career goals or concerns. AllBusiness.com (7/6)  | As eCommerce has grown to represent a significant percentage of retail sales and profits, merchants should consider payment strategies that can enhance their online services, open new markets and protect the bottom line. Download this free white paper to learn more. |
 | NRF News |  |  | | - NRF welcomes progress on transportation reauthorization, expresses concern over funding
NRF welcomed a transportation reauthorization proposal released by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica but expressed concern over the measure's funding levels. "Retailers are among the nation's largest shippers, and the condition of the nation's transportation system is vital to our industry," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. "Unfortunately, the transportation system has suffered from decades of underinvestment to the point that is has become inflexible and a drag on the economy." Read more. - ARTS announces release of new Digital Receipts Standard
NRF's Association for Retail Technology Standards has announced the release of Version 2 of its Digital Receipts Standard. The ARTS Digital Receipt Committee involves retail technology experts from various members, including CellPoint Mobile, Escalate Retail, IBM, Lowe's, NCR, Sasktel Labs, Third Solutions, Trevarian, Verizon Business, ViVOtech and Wincor-Nixdorf, which participated in development of the standard. Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - How chains are finding and training the next generation
Quickservice chains have been recruiting young workers with industry-wide educational efforts to showcase the industry's potential for career advancement and campaigns by individual brands such as Chipotle's "Food with Integrity" push that appeal to the young. Some chains including California-based Hot Dog on a Stick say policies of hiring workers as young as 16, making it easy for them to transfer stores when they head to college, are helping cultivate the next generation of managers. QSR Magazine (7/2011) - McDonald's adds contactless payment option in Canada
McDonald's has installed PayPass point-of-sale terminals at 1,400 restaurants in Canada that give patrons the option of paying with a tap of their MasterCard or mobile phone. The chain has already set up contactless payments at its stores in the U.K. and Australia. QSRWeb.com (7/7)  | |  | | | | |  |  Merchant Opportunities | Kohl's | Milwaukee, WI | | New Account Sales Representative | One Step Retail Solutions | Nationwide, United States | | Retail Management | Jerry's Home Improvement Center | Eugene/Springfield, OR | | Store Manager - Bealls | Bealls | Orlando, FL | | Senior Manager, Training & Development | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Manager Replenishment & Allocations | Five Below | Philadelphia, PA | | EH&S Manager | Vera Bradley Designs | Fort Wayne, IN | | Store Manager (Deploy) | Army & Air Force Exchange Service | Dallas, TX | | Merchandise Planner Analyst | Headquarters Marine Corps MWR & Business Operations | Quantico, VA | | Senior Merchandise Planner Administrator | Headquarters Marine Corps | Quantico, VA | | Manager IS Data Center & Windows | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Store Infrastructure Architect | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Fashion Buyer | Target | Minneapolis, MN | | Project Manager | Limited Brands | Columbus, OH | | | |  | |  |
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95% of retailers say they have been the victim of Organized Retail Crime in the last 12 months. Source: 
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