Sears taps new CMO with online expertise

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August 4, 2011 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch    Tesco to launch smaller-format Fresh & Easy Express A Tesco spokesman said the U.K. retailer will test smaller-format Fresh & Easy Express stores in the U.S. that will be about 3,000 square feet each. The company, with about 175 U.S. stores, has struggled to be profitable in the U.S. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/3)      Sears taps new CMO with online expertise Sears Holdings has tapped Monica Woo, formerly CMO for the FreshDirect online grocer, to serve as vice president and CMO, starting Aug. 15. The move is seen as indicative of the focus Sears plans for its online retail efforts. Reuters (8/3)      Nordstrom shops for Manhattan site again Nordstrom has searched Manhattan on and off for 10 years to find the perfect site for a full-size department store and, while it still hasn't identified a location, the luxury chain will launch a two-story charity shop in the SoHo neighborhood this month. Fans of the chain are pushing for a full store. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/4)      J.C. Penney announces early-retirement plan J.C. Penney has begun a voluntary early-retirement plan for over-55 staffers in specific parts of the organization who have put in 20 years or more with the company. "We're looking at our organization to make sure we have the right people in the right place," a spokeswoman said. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/3)      Other News How luxury brands help Jones Group combat cost pressures Forbes/Great Speculations blog (8/3)      Don’t miss DMA2011— The Global Event for Real-Time Marketers. You’ll hear thousands of practitioners and experts discuss solutions and best practices to achieve optimal channel mix and integration that lead to measurable results and increase real-time customer engagement. Save an extra $300 when you register now with Keycode SMB3.   Retail trends  July sales show a strong back-to-school season start Several retailers reported better-than-expected July sales growth that signaled a strong start to the back-to-school season. "We are encouraged by our July sales results as we begin the back-to-school season," said Wet Seal CEO Susan McGalla. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/4), Google/The Associated Press (8/4)      Department stores make a comeback A survey from NRF showed department stores are second in popularity only to discounters among back-to-school shoppers, and strong sales gains at Macy's, Nordstrom and Kohl's show department stores have figured out how to reignite interest in their offerings. Their scale, exclusive in-house lines and network of third-party vendors have proven to be strong points, and the ability to update merchandise quickly can keep them competitive with specialty and big-box stores. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/4)      Wealthy shoppers are willing to pay full price or more Luxury shoppers are spending at close to pre-recession levels, and some upscale merchants are finding they can raise prices on in-demand items without hurting sales. Nordstrom customers are on a waiting list for a $9,010 sequined tweed coat from Chanel, and Neiman Marcus can't keep $775 Laboutin platform pumps in stock. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/3)      Linen: From muddy fields to high-fashion houses Linen has become an increasingly popular and more environmentally friendly alternative to cotton and wool, and more designers are featuring the fabric in their upscale collections. Most of the world's linen begins in the flax fields of Europe, and the limited growing area provides a rich story for designers and retailers such as Japan's Uniqlo, which last year sold a linen line labeled as grown in France. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/3)      The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN Spending power for your business. Premium benefits for you. Access a portfolio of 30+ premium benefits, including: • Membership Rewards® points that pay for flights, hotels, and more • 24/7, 1-on-1 Concierge for help with your life and your Business • Annual $200 Airline Fee Credit for any airline Business Platinum Card APPLY NOW   Retail Technology    Sears launches social promotions aimed at Hispanic consumers Sears has launched a new Twitter feed and Facebook page aimed at connecting with Hispanic consumers. On Facebook, the retailer has partnered with appliance maker Whirlpool to offer new fans a chance to win a washer and dryer, and a promotion planned for next month will include new kitchen appliances for the fan whose comfort-food recipes win the most online votes. InternetRetailer.com (8/3)      Smart data center actions your CFO will love In today's environment, organizations are looking to reduce costs — not just acquisition, but also ongoing energy and management costs as well. Read this document to see how IBM can help you extend the life of existing equipment, improve operational expenses by as much as 50%, and create a new infrastructure that is flexible and responsive to change.   Sponsored Content    What I Learned From A Mouse With Big Ears Guy Kawasaki 7 Things You Never Have to Do Scott Ginsburg The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Truth About Payroll Services Barbara Weltman 5 Things You Are Micro-Managing, But Shouldn't Be Mike Michalowicz The Trials And Tribulations Of The Pinball Entrepreneur Shira Levine   NRF News  Emerging technology: Exec shares where Google is placing its bets Technology has developed to the point that retailers can now use it to enhance the customer experience at all touchpoints, not just during an online transaction. During an upcoming Shop.org Annual Summit keynote, Google executive Stephanie Tilenius will share which technologies the company is betting on and why local, mobile and payments are important themes going forward. The Shop.org Annual Summit, Sept. 12 to 14 in Boston, attracts 3,500 retail professionals to digital retail's most influential event. Learn more.      NRF SmartStat: Aug. 4, 2011 Almost half of college-aged students said they will buy their back-to-college items from discount stores. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch.        NRF releases top 10 back-to-school trends This year's back-to-school shoppers looking for deals but saving where they can -- and retailers in nearly every category can benefit. After poring over dozens of pages of back-to-school data, NRF has released its top trends for the second biggest shopping season of the year. Trend #8? This year, think beyond denim. Read more.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  McDonald's promotes "Smurfs" with augmented reality McDonald's is using augmented reality and mobile check-ins in several global markets to boost Happy Meal sales with a tie-in to the "Smurfs" movie from Sony, including digital menu boards that bring animated video to restaurants. The campaign includes both in-store mobile activations and online augmented-reality games that put children into the world of the little blue characters. MobileCommerceDaily.com (8/3)      Sr. Pricing Analyst Office Depot Boca Raton, FL Director, Safety and Health OfficeMax Naperville, IL 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 Associate Saks Fifth Avenue Phoenix, AZ Sales Associate Saks Fifth Avenue- San Francisco, CA San Francisco, CA 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 Store Manager - Bealls Bealls Orlando, FL Senior Retail Marketing Advertising Manager Cabela's Sidney, NE SALES ASSOCIATES AND BEAUTY SPECIALISTS SAKS FIFTH AVENUE STAMFORD, CT SALES ASSOCIATES AND SALES SUPPORT ASSOCIATES SAKS FIFTH AVENUE HUNTINGTON STATION, LONG ISLAND, NY SALES ASSOCIATES SAKS FIFTH AVENUE TROY, MI Business Services Specialist Headquarters, Marine Corps Community Services Quantico, VA   SmartQuote  Growth itself contains the germ of happiness." --Pearl S. Buck, American writer        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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