Macy's, Polo raise outlooks for the year

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August 11, 2011 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch    Macy's, Polo raise outlooks for the year Macy's and Polo Ralph Lauren both lifted their forecasts for the rest of the year after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profits this week. Despite recent market downturns, the companies expressed a belief that wealthier consumers will continue to shop this year. Reuters (8/10)      Macy's feeling elfish after banner sales season: Macy's is launching a contest that asks shoppers to help give the store's signature elf balloons that make their usual appearance during Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade a makeover. Consumers can use clues posted each day on Facebook and Twitter to help lead them to an elf and give it a new look, with the winning entry made into a full-size balloon on parade day. The contest comes on the heels of Macy's posting its best quarterly results in more than 10 years. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (8/10)      Saks personal shopper puts her stamp on clients' styles Saks personal shopper Fay Ricotta caters to an elite group of 27 wealthy and mostly size 4 clients who share her belief that "a woman should dress like a lady." This behind-the-scenes profile shares some of the secrets that go into selecting just the right looks for customers eager to spend their average annual budgets of between $150,000 to $200,000. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/11)      Coach identifies a modern market for man bags There's a group of modern men who can't get enough of bags, and Coach aims to cater to them with new styles that go beyond the traditional black or brown leather briefcase. The company defines the new Coach man as younger, less serious and more creative, and he holds the key to growth for the company's plans to expand its men's accessories business. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/11)      Other News Gap accelerates growth plans for Athleta women's apparel brand MarketWatch (8/10)      H&M to open first permanent store in Texas this month Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas) (8/10)      The risks associated with energy are both dangerous and profit-killing. Know the risks and learn how to protect against them with Zurich's FREE energy safety guide!   Retail trends    In some ways, the holidays are already here Officially it's back-to-school season and most consumers are still enjoying summer, but the holidays are fast approaching and this story identifies five indicators that, in the retail world, they may already be upon us. Halloween candy is out, costume stores are starting to hire temporary workers and shoppers at eLayaway are in the thick of the season with offers that let budget-conscious consumers make payments now on gifts and gift cards from retail partners including Macy's, Sears and Saks. TheStreet.com (8/10)      Apparel manufacturing sows seeds of renewal in N.Y.C. and L.A. Once-thriving apparel manufacturing districts in New York and Los Angeles are working to come back, a trend that may be helped by a renewed interest in U.S. manufacturing as overseas costs rise and brands seek more control over their supply chains. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (8/9)      Other News Developers plan new Chicago-area outlet malls Chicago Tribune (8/10) Your customers move fast. Can your POS keep up? Today's shoppers are fully connected, highly informed, omni-channel and fast — and they expect nothing less of you! Learn how mobility can meet their demands by enabling richer engagement, instant information, seamless service and enhanced functionality. This new RTP White Paper explains your options and opportunities. Get your free copy now!   Retail Technology    Founder's son takes a digital approach to keep Polo Ralph Lauren fresh Polo Ralph Lauren is an iconic $13 billion brand that has to stay ahead of consumers to avoid the perception that it has become stale. Founder Ralph Lauren's son David is leading the effort, with a digital strategy that goes beyond merely creating a website and includes innovative fashion shows featuring 4D light shows, holographic videos and the scent of Big Pony cologne sprayed into the crowd. FastCompany.com (8/10)      White Paper: The Sustainability Advantage in CPG — Accelerating Success with Eco-Design. Learn how CPG manufacturers, private label providers and retailers can gain valuable time and a competitive edge by developing and executing a cohesive sustainability strategy across the enterprise, leveraging PLM. Download it now.   Sponsored Content    How To Get Celebrities To Promote Your Business Mike Michalowicz 8 Ways Entrepreneurs Should Be Networking Right Now Kim Bhasin How To Audit-Proof Your Hobby Business Barbara Weltman Why We Should Keep Wi-Fi Off Airplanes Scott Belsky 7 Ways To Inspire Others Julie Rains   NRF News  Retail container traffic to remain low through summer, rise as holidays approach Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports will remain below last year's levels for the remainder of the summer before seeing year-over-year gains again this fall as retailers begin to stock up for the holidays. According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates, the first half of 2011 saw an increase of 3.9% from the first half of 2010. Forecasting for 2011 shows a year-over-year increase of 3.6%. Read more.      NRF SmartStat: Aug. 11, 2011 Retailers report that 21% of mobile traffic comes from tablets. Source: Shop.org State of Retailing Online.        "Serial motivator" John Kao to speak at NRFtech 2011 He's been dubbed "Mr. Creativity" and "serial motivator" by The Economist. John Kao, a trusted adviser to Nike, Intel and BASF, will discuss his practical and pragmatic approach to "getting innovation done" at next week's NRFtech in Lake Tahoe, Nev. Kao will also share his insights on innovation, organizational transformation and emerging technologies. Learn more.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  Singer and restaurant empire team up to feed the hungry Christina Aguilera and Yum! Brands are in a partnership aimed at combating world hunger, with their latest project being a music video whose production was arranged by the restaurant company and features the singer, who has been a global spokeswoman for Yum!'s hunger-relief efforts for the past two years. Aguilera also will take part in KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell spots raising awareness for the campaign. Bloomberg (8/10)      Other News Sbarro files reorganization plan to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcy Bloomberg (8/10)      Position Title Company Name Location Sr. Pricing Analyst Office Depot Boca Raton, FL Sr. Internet Buyer Tween Brands Direct, LLC New Albany, OH Sales Associate- Part Time Saks Fifth Avenue Houston, TX Houston Sales Associate Career Days!! Saks Fifth Avenue Houston, TX VP Business Intelligence Army & Air Force Exchange Service Dallas, TX Manager, Help Desk Total Wine & More Potomac, MD Regional Visual Trainer Victoria's Secret Dallas/Houston, TX Sales Associates, Saks Fifth Avenue Las Vegas Saks Fifth Avenue Las Vegas, NV REGIONAL RECRUITING MANAGER SAKS FIFTH AVENUE TAMPA OR SARASOTA, FL Director of eCommerce Technology Moosejaw Madison Heights, MI Loss Prevention Exception Reporting Manager Stein Mart Jacksonville, Florida, FL Sales & Education Executive Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics Nationwide, United States Fashion Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN Sales Associate UNIQLO Manhattan, NY IT Opportunities Belk Inc. Charlotte, NC Manager, Product Training Samsung Electronics America, Inc Ridgefield Park, NJ Senior Retail Marketing Advertising Manager Cabela's Sidney, NE Business Services Specialist Headquarters, Marine Corps Community Services Quantico, VA Click here to view more job listings.   SmartQuote  One must always maintain one's connection to the past and yet ceaselessly pull away from it." --Gaston Bachelard, French philosopher        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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