Walgreens to start selling health insurance plans

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August 10, 2011 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch    Walgreens to start selling health insurance plans Walgreens reportedly plans to start selling health insurance plans to customers nationwide this fall, offering a host of options with different premiums and coverage levels. The nation's largest pharmacy chain is likely to be one of a slew of nontraditional players looking to create new health-insurance options as rules requiring the creation of government-subsidized health insurance exchanges take effect in 2014. CNNMoney.com (8/9)      Bloomingdale's partners with NBC on star-studded campaign Bloomingdale's fall catalog will feature some of the faces made famous in NBC TV shows as part of a new partnership that will also allow shoppers to send themselves to the red carpet via a mobile application. Also as part of the deal, NBC will set parts of its annual "Primetime Preview Show" in a Bloomingdale's store. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/9)      Kmart launches YouTube miniseries for Spanish-speaking customers Sears Holdings has launched a Kmart-branded YouTube miniseries for back-to-school that's modeled after Spanish-language TV's popular telenovelas and aimed at appealing to Spanish-speaking shoppers. "Madres y Comadres" is an eight-part series centered on two Latina moms holding onto their Hispanic identities while raising families in the U.S. Crain's Chicago Business (8/9)      Other News Wal-Mart plans to shut down 7-year-old MP3 store The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Media Decoder blog (8/9)      Sports Authority to debut 6 new stores on the same day American City Business Journals/Denver (8/9)      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 trends    Volatile markets may affect luxury retail Luxury retailers including Saks and Nordstrom depend on the wealthiest consumers, who in turn depend largely on the results of their investments. When markets decline, shrinking portfolios may force luxury shoppers, who account for almost half of all consumer expenditures according to one estimate, to tighten their belts, according to this article. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/10)      Is back-to-school still a barometer for the holidays? Consumers are waiting longer than ever to do their back-to-school shopping and, coupled with recent wild fluctuations in the stock markets and other economic uncertainty, experts question if retail performance in the back-to-school season will help in predicting holiday sales this year. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (8/9)      Shoppers favored department stores in July Department store chains from Nordstrom to Macy's saw sales increases in July, with upscale chains leading. The sector has been on the rise since the second half of 2009; last month, Saks reported a 15.9% increase in same-store sales, Dillard's booked a 9% jump, and Macy's saw same-store sales rise 5%. Investor's Business Daily (8/9)      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!   Spotlight on Location Data    Finding the perfect retail space with location data Choosing the right location is essential for expanding a retail business, but business leaders can't simplify the decision with a single data point, according to Robert Buckner of Intalytics and Sonny Beech of GIS. Factors such as competition and distance from target customers affect the performance of a retailer's location. Location data isn't a magic bullet; it should add to a leader's decision-making process rather than replacing it, Buckner said. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership (8/10)      Residents of Top Rung neighborhoods are always in style, preferring to shop at retailers such as Nordstrom and Macy's. They also shop online and are avid readers. How can you find this type of customer? Esri Business Analyst Online enables you to identify your best customers and find more like them. Check out the free Esri ZIP Code Lookup tool.   Retail Technology  Gilt Groupe debuts full-price men's fashion site Flash-sale site Gilt Groupe launched its long-awaited full-price men's fashion site this week, an online store that aims to attract male shoppers with a hefty dose of editorial content ranging from practical advice articles to trend stories and profiles. The new site, Park & Bond, will also feature virtual fitting rooms to let shoppers try on new looks. InternetRetailer.com (8/9), PaidContent.org (8/9)      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   Main Street  Entrepreneur lives her dream with recycled fashion line After years in the insurance industry, Cindy Muscarello was searching for something more out of life when she stumbled upon the idea of building her own business selling fashions created from recycled materials. Today, her Carmel, Calif.-based venture, LaLa Originals, is catching on quickly through her own website and growing sales at a handful of local boutiques. The Monterey County Herald (Calif.) (8/9)        Sponsored Content    Try Social Lending As An Alternative To Banks Thursday Bram Balance Of Work And Life Is A Myth STEPHEN SHAPIRO 25 Questions To Ask Before You Outsource HR Kate Lister 5 Ways The Kardashian Family Built A $65 Million Brand Shira Levine The 1 Question That Inspires Innovation Mike Michalowicz   NRF News  How near-field communications are impacting retail technology Short-range wireless interactions -- also known as near-field communications -- impact everything from customer engagement to secure mobile transactions. With the announcement of a recent partnership between NRF's Association for Retail Technology Standards and the NFC Forum, ARTS Executive Director Richard Mader shares why NFC is a big deal for retailers and consumers alike. Read more.      NRF SmartStat: Aug. 10, 2011 Almost 30% of consumers said they would be making do with last year's school items in order to save money during back-to-school shopping. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch.        What does the future hold for the state of the physical store? That's exactly the question Deloitte is answering with an in-the-field survey on current customer in-store experience and investments in the store channel. As a retail executive involved in shaping the shopping experience of tomorrow, share your views and receive a complimentary copy of the results. The survey will close August 31. Take the survey now.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  Former Applebee's executive aims to rejuvenate Mr. Goodcents Dave Goebel took the reins at Mr. Goodcents Subs and Pastas a year ago with a promise to breathe new life into a brand that had gone stale. Since then, the hybrid chain that's part quickservice and part fast casual has added a new toasted subs line that now makes up about 10% of total sales. Next up: redesigned restaurants, a shorter name and a focus on further growing the fresh sandwich business. The Kansas City Star (Mo.) (8/9)      Other News Pizza Hut rolls out Facebook promotion with free P'Zones PizzaMarketplace.com (8/9)      Position Title Company Name Location Sr. Pricing Analyst Office Depot Boca Raton, FL 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 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 Click here to view more job listings. The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS) International Bancard Partners with Staples to Launch Business Xpress Point-of-Sale Program Interested in learning more about advertising in NRF SmartBrief? Contact Susan W. Kim at (202) 407-7877 or skim@smartbrief.com.    SmartQuote  It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." --Henry Ford, American industrialist        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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