 | September 12, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
| - Toys R Us continues on the comeback trail
Toys R Us set out to prove its survival skills in the face of stiff competition from discounter Wal-Mart and online giant Amazon, with an aggressive store-remodel plan, hard-won exclusives on new toys and beefed-up online retail offerings. CEO Gerald Storch, who left a VP post at Target to head the toy chain in 2006, leads the turnaround. "We have a saying here, 'We play to win.' We're not playing defense. We're playing offense." Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (9/11)       | Empower your staff with processes and information to drive revenue. Retailers are striving to streamline business processes and empower staff with information needed to make timely, informed decisions to meet customer needs. Download this white paper to learn how leading retailers have boosted promotions by 50%, revenues by 30% and time to value by 80%. | - August brought retail sales slowdown, economists say
U.S. retail sales likely grew more slowly in August as the economy struggled and consumers continued to deal with high unemployment, said economists, who predicted a 0.2% increase for August, down from 0.5% in July. The Commerce Department will release official retail figures on Wednesday. Detroit Free Press (9/10) - U.S. retailers find ways to honor those lost on 9/11
 Retailers across the country found ways to honor the people lost on 9/11 with charitable events and volunteer efforts. Among them were Target, Best Buy and Neiman Marcus, which partnered with the 9/11 Day of Service project and other organizations to sponsor service projects, writes NRF's Kathy Grannis. Retail's BIG Blog (9/11)  | Comprehensive Business Solutions: Optimize Operations and Cut Costs
Prepare for the new economy by cutting costs, increasing efficiency, and building lasting relationships with your customers. Read this solution brief to learn how to optimize your operations for profitable growth, and gain competitive insights through better business intelligence. |
 - Companies make "serious moves" to more secure credit cards
The U.S. is behind much of the rest of the world when it comes to replacing traditional credit cards with more secure "smart cards" that use embedded chips instead of magnetic strips to contain data. Efforts from Visa and others may prove the incentive banks and merchants need to change. "The card system in this country has been dysfunctional for a long time. We have far, far too much fraud because we have a very antiquated payment system relative to the rest of the world," said NRF's Mallory Duncan. The Register-Guard (Eugene, Ore.)/The Associated Press (9/10)  | O-I, makers of pure, beautiful, sustainable glass packaging, is proud to sponsor GlassIsLife.com |
 | Hot Topics |  |  | | Top five news stories selected by NRF SmartBrief readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
| Policy & Government Affairs | | | | - Amazon's Calif. compromise could signal national sea change
The agreement Amazon hammered out with California lawmakers to drop a push to test a new online sales tax law with a voter referendum in exchange for a year-long reprieve from collecting sales taxes could signal a shift in the national sales-tax conversation, this story says. Amazon has already joined brick-and-mortar retailer groups including the National Retail Federation in supporting a federal bill that would replace the current patchwork of state laws with a national online sales tax collection system. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (free registration) (9/10) | NRF News | | | | - ARTS presents nine keys to mobile retail success
Earlier in 2011, NRF's Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) published a Mobile Blueprint to guide retailer in successfully implementing mobile and is now expanding mobile information to include best practices in use of social media. The Blueprint was developed by more than 40 companies, retailers, application providers, mobile networks and mobile association. During an Oct. 4 webinar, executives from ARTS and Push Science will identify nine key practices that retailers can quickly implement to start their transition into mobile straight from the Mobile Blueprint. Learn more. - NRF SmartStat: Sept. 12, 2011
 Three companies appeared for the first time this year on the list of shoppers' favorite 50 online retailers: Express.com, Aeropostale.com and Nike.com. Source: STORES survey conducted by BIGresearch - Google executive talks do's and don'ts of online marketing, search and holiday prep
According to Google's Industry Director for Retail Todd Pollak, digital marketing success is simple: "Apply everything you know about direct mail marketing to online marketing." In a recent Q-and-A, Pollak shares his thoughts on top trends for digital this year, common mistakes companies make when it comes to search optimization, and what to expect for the holiday season. Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Bravo Restaurants may bid for Giordano's chain
Bravo Restaurants, the Chicago-based owner of restaurant chains Gino's East, Ed Debevic's and Edwardo's reportedly plans to bid for Giordano's, the Windy City deep-dish pizza chain that's on the block as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. Chicago Tribune (9/10) | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | Forman Mills | Pennsauken, NJ | | Location Director - Home Delivery Organic and Natural Food | Suburban Organics | Ottsville, PA | | Vice President of Distribution and Logistics | Sleep Experts | Dallas, TX | | Visual Manager | Saks Fifth Avenue | San Francisco, CA | | Saks Fifth Avenue- Designer Sales Associate | Saks Fifth Avenue | Houston, TX | | Saks Fifth Avenue- Sales Associate Career Fair- New Orleans, LA | Saks Fifth Avenue | New Orleans, LA | | Candy Merchant | Five Below, Inc. | Philadelphia, PA | | Sales Associate Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills | Saks Fifth Avenue | Beverly Hills, CA | | Selling Manager - Shoes | Saks Fifth Avenue | New York, NY | | SALES ASSOCIATES - FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, SEASONAL | SAKS FIFTH AVENUE | TROY, MI | | Saks Fifth Avenue - FT and PT Sales Associates - Sales Support - St. Louis, MO | Saks Fifth Avenue | St. Louis, MO | | Sales Associate | Saks Fifth Avenue | ATLANTA, GA | | VP of Facility Management and Support | AAFES | Dallas, TX | | SALES ASSOCIATE | SAKS FIFTH AVENUE | SHORT HILLS, NJ | | MDSR Buyer-Fashion | Meijer | Grand Rapids, MI | | Senior Manager, Training & Development | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Various Retail Opportunities within | Deloitte Consulting LLP | Multiple Locations, United States | | Fashion Buyer | Target | Minneapolis, MN | | Regional Director | Francesca's Collections | Philadelphia, PA | | Product Creative Design - Manager/Specialist | Cabela's | Sidney, NE | | Merchandise Planner | Kohl's Department Stores | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Assistant Buyer | Kohl's Department Store | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Corporate Counsel - Employment Law | Ross Stores | Pleasanton, CA | | IT Business Analyst - eComm / Internet Marketing | Academy Sports & Outdoors | Katy, TX | | Director of Stores | A'GACI, LLC | San Antonio, TX | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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Luxury retailers worried during the downturn when industry experts wondered whether consumers would ever pay full price again, but upscale shoppers are back and they're not bargain hunting, says Saks CEO Steve Sadove. Saks sales rose 11% in the first half of 2011, the chain has returned to profitability and it has cut way back on discounting. 
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