  | July 5, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Wal-Mart, Kroger, Target top NRF's Top 100 list
The first 10 spots on the annual Top 100 retailer list done by Kantar Retail for STORES magazine hold the same names as last year in pretty much the same order, except that Sears and Best Buy swapped the 9th and 10th positions. Wal-Mart, Kroger and Target once again took the top three places, but pressures from the uncertain economy and the impact of online retail are forcing them to make changes to stay ahead. STORES magazine (7/2011)       - Amazon, Apple jump ahead in annual retail rankings: Wal-Mart kept the top spot on STORES' annual list of Top 100 retailers, while Amazon's 46.2% increase in sales sent it soaring up to number 19 from 26 last year. Apple also moved higher on the list. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (7/1), TheStreet.com (7/1), CNBC/Consumer Nation blog (7/1)
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 - Saks burns "bridge," breathes new life into Wear
Saks stopped using the term "bridge" to describe fashions between upscale designer and contemporary casual two years ago, and the department store's renewed focus on its Wear category will be obvious this fall when the chain's New York City flagship debuts its remodeled Wear department, says senior vice president Joseph Boitano. "We have a major designer business and a strong contemporary business. We would like to see Wear be of equal importance." Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (7/5) - Steinhafels' move into mattress stores pays off
 Family-owned Wisconsin furniture chain Steinhafels decided to begin manufacturing mattresses about three years ago and has since launched eight stores that sell only mattresses, the sole category that didn't see sales decline during the downturn, says CEO Gary Steinhafel. The chain is also moving ahead with plans to launch new furniture super-stores, including a 103,000-square-foot store slated to open this summer. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (7/3) - Craftsman reaches out to DIY dummies with online show
Sears' Craftsman brand of tools is seeking a few good dummies for an online reality series designed to appeal to the unhandy would-be do-it-yourselfer. Entrants are being asked to relate their embarrassing experiences with household projects. The winner will be featured in a live online show in which he or she will be given a crash course in carpentry and then challenged with a project. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (7/4)  | Ad Compliance Best Practices Kit — Stay ahead of consumer concern and government regulation with TRUSTe. Gain an overview of what Behavioral Advertising (OBA) is, why it is important, and what your options are. Insights from the FTC, DAA, TRUSTe, Forbes, Publisher's Clearing House and more. Register Now. |
 - Merchants gear up for high-tech battle with retail thieves
Organized retail thieves using increasingly sophisticated methods from foil-lined bags to fake price tags have retailers beefing up security and using increasingly high-tech methods to foil criminals, including special shelving units and more discreet anti-theft tags. "Most people think about little Johnny stealing a pack of bubble gum. This is anything but that -- these are professional criminals," said NRF's Joseph LaRocca. Los Angeles Times (7/2) - Mall owners try different tactics to boost traffic
Suburban shopping centers are losing ground to online retailers and off-mall stores, and a growing number of empty storefronts make the centers even less attractive to consumers, according to Morningstar's Philip Martin. Some malls aim to reverse the decline by boosting entertainment offerings, beefing up food courts and promoting mall-wide gift cards that can be used at any of the center's stores. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/3)  | 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! |
 - Study: Consumers use Facebook pages as retail circulars
About 25% of consumers surveyed in a recent study visit a retail or consumer product Facebook page at least once a month, with more than half of those using retailers' Facebook pages to stay current on new products, promotions and deals. Additionally, 29% said they visit Facebook pages to learn more about a specific retailer, and 20% said pages on the social site have been influential in their purchasing decisions. MediaPost Communications/Research Brief (7/4)  |  |  | | AOL Reduces Data Center Energy Consumption With Raritan's Help
AOL needed accurate power measurements of servers, routers & switches to improve their data centers’ overall energy efficiency. They also wanted to measure energy consumption at each power outlet to gather an accurate picture of energy usage. Find out how Raritan answered the challenge with a solution providing management, charting and reporting capabilities. | |  |  |  |
 | Main Street |  | | | - 5 rules of the new lending scene
The rules for getting a small-business loan have changed dramatically in past few years, experts say. New sources of financing have emerged, and getting funds through methods such as factoring and private lenders has grown in popularity. But the experts here also remind business owners to ask themselves whether they really need to take on debt before spending the time to search for and secure a loan. Inc.com (6/29)  | |  | | The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
HIRING RETAIL SALESPEOPLE? You’re probably getting it WRONG!
Join retail authority Harry J. Friedman’s Complimentary Webinar tomorrow JULY 6 and discover how to interview and hire high-performance retail salespeople. To register your team or for more info call 800-351-8040 or go to Hiring Retail Salespeople Webinar
 | | | Interested in learning more about advertising in NRF SmartBrief? Contact Susan W. Kim at (202) 407-7877 or skim@smartbrief.com.  | | |  | |  |
| NRF News | | | | - STORES releases annual ranking of Top 100 U.S. retailers
The view from the top hasn't changed much, but America's largest retailers are keeping a watchful eye on two companies that continue to make significant advances on their coveted territory, according to the STORES Top 100 Retailers list, which ranks U.S. retailers by domestic sales. According to the report, Wal-Mart, Kroger and Target continue to top the list, but companies like Amazon.com and Apple Stores are quickly gaining ground. Read more. - NRF SmartStat: July 5, 2011
 Most retailers will report monthly sales for June on July 7. Source: NRF 4-5-4 calendar. - What's hot in retail
From a blog post on five leadership tips from GameStop CEO Paul Raines and results from the seventh annual Organized Retail Crime Survey to NRF's Loss Prevention Conference & EXPO in Dallas, the month of June was filled with research and retail education. View a complete list of the most popular resources and articles in retail from last month. Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Subway's marketing chief on health and the brand
Health is a key part of Subway's brand message and marketing strategy, including partnerships with groups such as the American Heart Association to promote healthier eating, says CMO Tony Pace. Pace shares some of the chain's strategies for feeding demand for healthier food without scaring off patrons, a strategy that often employs the element of surprise. QSRMagazine.com (7/1)  | |  | | | | |  |  Merchant Opportunities | Kohl's | Milwaukee, WI | | Retail Business Analyst | Claire's | Hoffman Estates, IL | | New Account Sales Representative | One Step Retail Solutions | Nationwide, United States | | Merchandise Planner Analyst | Headquarters Marine Corps MWR & Business Operations | Quantico, VA | | Senior Merchandise Planner Administrator | Headquarters Marine Corps | Quantico, VA | | Senior Manager, Training & Development | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Manager IS Data Center & Windows | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Store Infrastructure Architect | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | 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 | | Business Intelligence Sr Retail Industry Analyst | Army & Air Force Exchange Service | Dallas, TX | | Senior Internet Buyer | Tween Brands | New Albany, OH | | IS Manager Store & DC Support | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Fashion Buyer | Target | Minneapolis, MN | | Project Manager | Limited Brands | Columbus, OH | | Manager General Merchandise #792BR | Harley-Davidson | Milwaukee, WI | | | |  | |  |
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| | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Friday, July 01, 2011
- Thursday, June 30, 2011
- Wednesday, June 29, 2011
- Tuesday, June 28, 2011
- Monday, June 27, 2011
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