Barnes & Noble debuts Nook tablet

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November 8, 2011 News for the retail industry   Top Story    Santa goes digital in J.C. Penney ads J.C. Penney is launching a massive holiday shopping campaign from Saatchi & Saatchi in New York that will include both traditional pitches and plenty of new media, including a Facebook game on the retailer's fan page, QR code gift "Santa Tags," which will let gift buyers record a minute-long voice message to the recipient, applications and a presence on Google+. At the core of the campaign is the idea that shoppers can buy great gifts at reasonable prices. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Media Decoder blog (11/8)      Want to be a hero to your customers and avoid chaos in your stores? BearCom and Motorola, your wireless communications specialists for the retail industry, can help. Watch how our hero Wireless Woman swoops in and saves the day at the Pampered Pets store with the uber-cool Motorola CLS two-way radio from BearCom!   Industry Watch    Barnes & Noble debuts Nook tablet Barnes & Noble unveiled its first entry into the tablet market Monday. At $249, the Nook tablet is $50 more than Amazon's Kindle Fire; it comes with twice as much memory as the Fire and includes movie-streaming applications from Netflix and Hulu Plus. The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)/The Associated Press (11/7), The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (11/8)      The Limited launches plus-size fashion brand The Limited's new Eloquii branded apparel launched with several hundred items in sizes 14 to 24, designed using a spectrum of body-type models to offer plus-sized women fashionable choices that fit, said Limited consultant Kate Shevack. The line is only available online for now, but it may eventually grow to include brick-and-mortar stores. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (11/7)      High bank fees work in Wal-Mart's favor Higher bank fees are turning off a growing number of consumers, many of whom are dropping their banks and turning to Wal-Mart for their financial services. For a flat fee, Wal-Mart shoppers can cash payroll and government checks, and they can also pay bills, wire money and load up pre-paid debit cards. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (11/7)      Other News Fashion retail veteran, FIT professor William Lynch dies at 71 Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (11/7)      Top 5 Need-To-Knows About Tablets in Retail What are the consumer trends driving the adoption of tablets in retail? Which features are critical to stand up to the tough retail environment? Register for this free webinar to learn how tablets are changing the way you relate to your customers and the future of your business.   Retail trends    Retailers seek the sweet smell of success Retailers are pumping smells like pine, cinnamon and mulled cider into their stores this holiday season to get customers in the mood to spend money. Experts say festive scents entice shoppers, and that other tricks such as soundscapes, color choices and feng shui can have a similar subconscious effect. Inc.com (11/3)      Cotton supply chain faces long-term challenges Cotton prices may have stabilized for now, but the industry is in the midst of big changes as entities along the supply chain, from farmers to retailers, seek ways to deal with challenges including sustainability issues, increased competition from synthetics and shifting markets, said experts at a recent conference. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (11/7)      Restaurants, retailers add virtual gift cards for last-minute shoppers Retailers and restaurants including Starbucks, Best Buy and Gap are increasingly adding virtual gift cards that users can instantly send via e-mail. "We added the (e-gift card) option because we increasingly see our customers access our brand through mobile and online means," said Pizza Hut spokesman Chris Fuller. Fox Business/Bankrate.com (11/7)      Report: Daily-deal sites may face business falloff Business at daily deal sites could drop as merchants realize that most of the customers using the deep discounts would have paid full price if that were the only option, according to a new study from Forrester Research. The study found that 51% of daily deal users would have made the purchase even without the offer. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)/Digits blog (11/7)      Which retailers are winning with better customer engagement? Aberdeen’s connected store survey shows how top-performing retailers are boosting profits by personalizing the shopping experience, and what other retailers are doing to catch up. This White Paper provides a practical roadmap for what Aberdeen identifies as a fundamental transformation in retailing. Today, it’s yours at no cost! Download your copy now!   2012 Predictions    What will be the most important 2012 election issue for the retail industry? View the results of this poll in the NRF SmartBrief Best Of 2011 Send on Dec. 13. The economy Health care Jobs Corporate tax reform Swipe fee reform Beyond the Hype. Social Commerce Made Real. Venda’s convergent commerce platform empowers brands to attract, interact, and transact with shoppers effectively on social networks including Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Venda’s expertise and advanced tools maximize brand awareness, customer engagement, and revenue. Visit to learn more.   Retail Technology    Google+ opens up to retailers Google officially opened up its Google+ social network to retailers on Monday, and Macy's had signed 5,300 followers within six hours of joining. Once users add a retailer or brand to one of their circles on Google+, the company can then interact with the person via the site and video chat. InternetRetailer.com (11/7)      Key Steps Business Owners Should Know About Successful International Payments. This American Express® guide helps you streamline FX payments. Includes FX payment provider profile, how to simplify payments, and insightful FAQ.   RFID News    Corporate tax cuts key to jump-starting jobs, McDonald's CEO says The success of a U.S. economic recovery hinges on the government cutting taxes, public debt and federal spending, McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner said Monday. "In order to create jobs in America, you're going to have to cut taxes ... particularly in the business community," he said. United Press International (11/7)      Are you prepared? Representing the biggest, longest and busiest time of year, the holiday season is an exciting time in retail stores. However, the opportunity for increased revenue from higher than normal traffic also increases the risk for potential loss. Read Wren’s white paper to learn how to out-think the Grinch, and manage holiday shrink.   Sponsored Content    How Important Are You? An Interview With Bill Jula, CEO Of PROskore Shira Levine Let Someone Else Ship Your Stuff Julie Bawden-Davis Kauffman Economic Outlook: Bloggers' Optimism Takes A Nosedive Anita Campbell Ashton Kutcher Is Not The Answer Courtney Rubin 5 Tips On Getting New Business Through Teaming Karen-Michelle Mirko   NRF News  Retail shines as October employment figures released Last week’s monthly employment report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics was met with mixed reviews, but one thing is certain: retail still shines as a steady and significant contributor to employment. In a recent post on Retail’s BIG Blog, NRF’s Tita Freeman shares why the strength of America’s retail industry should not be underestimated. Read more.      NRF SmartStat: Nov. 8, 2011 While half of Americans with smartphones will use their devices for holiday shopping this year, only 16% will actually make purchases with the device. Source: Shop.org's 2011 eHoliday survey.        Classic style meets futuristic technology at Brooks Brothers As America's oldest clothing retailer, Brooks Brothers keeps its styles classic but embraces new technology. Brooks Brothers executives will join a panel at Retail's BIG Show in January to discuss a new store environment where consumers drive self-checkout with smartphones, interact online with friends, and receive personalized pricing and discounts as they shop. Learn more.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  CEO: TCBY stays relevant amid growing rivalry All but one of the top 10 fastest-growing frozen deserts/snacks concepts are frozen-yogurt brands, a marked increase in the 30 years since TCBY launched its first store. CEO Tim Casey talks about how the brand has changed in three decades and how it has managed to remain relevant amid a sea of new players. QSRWeb.com (11/4)        Other News Private-equity firm to acquire Pizza Hut's biggest franchisee Bloomberg (11/7)      Position Title Company Name Location Retail Due Diligence Examiner Spain, Price, Reader & Thompson, PC Nationwide, United States HR Director, Retail Stores SalonCentric Based in NJ & NYC, NJ Paralegal III The Clorox Company Oakland, CA Talent Development Director Saks Fifth Avenue- Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Assistant General Manager Merchandise - Hackensack, NJ Store Saks Fifth Avenue Hackensack, NJ Lead Analyst, Point-of-Sale Configuration Total Wine & More Potomac, MD Manager, Retail Communications/Training L.L. Bean Freeport, ME Director, International Government Affair The Clorox Company Oakland, CA Category Manager - Copy & Print Staples Framingham, MA Marketing Director - Bala Cynwyd, PA - Saks Fifth Avenue Saks Fifth Avenue Bala Cynwyd, PA Store Director - Las Vegas, NV Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH Las Vegas, NV Director- Marketing Saks Fifth Avenue- Palm Desert, CA Palm Desert, CA Fashion Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN Enterprise Architect Manager Cabela's Sidney, NE Merchandise Buyer - Fashion Apparel Kohl's Department Stores Menomonee Falls, WI Costume Designer/Sr. Manager Spirit Halloween Egg Harbor Township, NJ Logistics Operations Manager Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween Egg Habor Township, NJ Director of Operations Five Below, Inc. Philadelphia, PA Selling Director - Intimates - New York, NY Saks Fifth Avenue New York, NY Selling Director - Men's Luxury Apparel - New York, NY Saks Fifth Avenue New York, NY Director - Asset Protection - New York, NY Saks Fifth Avenue New York, NY Sr. Systems Training and Communications Specialist Bj's Wholesale Club, Inc. Westborough, MA Buyer - Junior Tops, Dresses and Related Separates Bealls Bradenton, FL Director, Store Planning and Project Development Ross Stores, Inc. Pleasanton, CA Recruiting Manager - Atlanta Area Saks Fifth Avenue Atlanta, GA Click here to view more job listings.   SmartQuote  But the delights of solitude don't only consist of dreaming. Next in enjoyment, I think, comes planning." --Anna Neagle, British actress        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. Kim (202) 407-7877 Download Media Kit Job Board:  Jackie Basso (202) 407-7871       Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: Monday, November 07, 2011 Friday, November 04, 2011 Thursday, November 03, 2011 Wednesday, November 02, 2011 Tuesday, November 01, 2011     Lead Editor:  Megan Conniff Contributing Editor:  Faye Rapoport     Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004     © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information