| November 30, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Consumer electronics sell big at airports
Retail sales of consumer electronics are rising rapidly at airports, and merchants are planning new stores designed to cater to a tech-savvy captive audience. APW Brands, which started in 1997 at Philadelphia International Airport as a cart selling cellphones and grew into a 35-store chain, plans to launch a new concept next year that lets shoppers research products on wall-mounted touch screens and try out new gadgets in stores. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (11/28)       | How can you turn store visits into purchases during the holidays? Historically, shopper conversion rates – those who make a purchase when visiting a store – drop during the holidays. Shopping Activity Services from The NPD Group can help you understand shopping conversion, marketing effectiveness, and much more. Download a free report. | - OfficeMax to cater to small-business customers
OfficeMax plans to add new features and services to cater to small business customers, its fastest-growing online customer base. Earlier this year the office-supplies chain launched wholesale small-business site Reliable.com which offers deals, tiered pricing and loyalty rewards. InternetRetailer.com (11/28) - J. Crew jumps into footwear with both feet
J. Crew is raising the profile of its footwear offerings as it expands internationally, with plans to make shoes a standalone retail segment rather than a companion to the chain's apparel and accessories, said Tom Mora, head of women's design. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (11/28)  | Retail Analytics in the Cloud at
The Yankee Candle Company
Discovering and distributing accurate and timely information across the enterprise to identify and support emerging retail opportunities is the objective of every retail supplier. Register for this free webinar to learn how The Yankee Candle Company was able to successfully develop and execute collaborative retail intelligence strategies. | - Strong Black Friday weekend spurs mixed holiday predictions
Record traffic and sales from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday have retailers optimistic and some industry watchers wondering whether the results represent the start of a stellar season or a rush by cash-strapped consumers in search of the best deals. In this story, retail store workers tell their Black Friday stories. National Public Radio (11/29) - NRF expects continued slow growth next year
 Retailers have seen 16 consecutive months of sales growth and slow, steady growth is likely to continue in 2012, says NRF Vice President Ellen Davis in this video interview. NRF expects to see cumulative growth of 4% for 2011, and will release 2012 predictions in the middle of January. MainStreet.com (11/29) - Security cameras show supermarket theft
Supermarket theft typically increases by about 25% in the holiday season, said an expert, and this report shows people getting caught in the act. According to the National Retail Federation, employees accounted for 40% of the $6 billion stolen last year from supermarkets. ABC News/"Nightline" (11/23)  | Form the huddle now for 2012. You can create an effective game plan for the next year by using procedural review audits to examine successes, to identify failures and to focus on known areas of loss. Learn this retail operations strategy to prepare for the new year in Wren Solutions’ whitepaper and begin tackling loss and scoring better profits. |
  | 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! |
 - How to build relationships with bloggers
Interacting with bloggers can allow small-business owners to get involved with conversations about their brands. After creating a list of bloggers in your industry, reach out to them without immediately pitching your product, recommends Lisa Barone of Outspoken Media. When it comes time to ask for coverage, tailor your messages to their recipients, she writes. Small Business Trends (11/29)  | Reward and motivate your employees with Target GiftCards®
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 | Policy & Government Affairs |  |  | | |  |  | Make your business phone system decision much easier. Not sure what your buyer type is? Need a better understanding of the features available? Download this free guide to get access to Focus' Short List as well as our side-by-side assessment of all of the key vendors in the space. |
| NRF News | |  | | - NRF says online sales tax advantage is "stifling" local stores
NRF today urged the House Judiciary Committee to support legislation that would require Internet retailers to collect sales tax the same as local merchants, saying online sellers have a price advantage that is "stifling" Main Street stores' ability to compete. "As retailing evolves and Internet sales become a more prominent portion of total retail sales, it is critical that Congress address the sales tax collection discrimination that exists between brick and mortar and remote retailers," NRF's Chief Lobbyist David French said. Read more. - How digital retailers are investing in U.S. jobs in 2012
The retail industry is playing an integral role in the U.S. economic recovery -- and a very important part of that is the double-digit growth area within the digital space. In a recent post on Shop.org's blog, Artemis Berry details web retailers' hiring plans for 2012 and how NRF's digital division provides support to help those in the industry find and hire the best talent around. Read more. Shop.org Blog (11/30)
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Burger King revamps fries amid growing rivalry
Burger King has changed its recipe for french fries for the first time in 13 years, frying up thicker, less salty spuds with a coating designed to keep them hot and fresh for a longer period of time. The new fries, created as competition between quickservice burger chains heats up, will be available at 7,000 North American Burger King stores next week. Reuters (11/29) | | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Assistant General Manager | Saks Fifth Avenue | Tulsa, OK | | Brand Ambassadors- Escada, Cartier and Burberry | Saks Fifth Avenue | Tulsa, TX | | Personal Shopper/Stylist - Saks "Fifth Avenue Club" Consultant | Saks Fifth Avenue | Sarasota, FL | | Sales Associate - Contemporary, Women's Designer, Jewelry | Saks Fifth Avenue | Naples, FL | | Director, Marketing Analytics | Saks Fifth Avenue | New York, NY | | Coordinator, Communications and Public Affairs | National Retail Federation | Washington, DC | | Sr. Corporate Internal Auditor | PetSmart, Inc. | Phoenix, AZ | | Director of Learning and Development | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Director of Store Operations | Francesca's Collections | Houston, TX | | Alterations Associate | Saks Fifth Avenue | Miami , FL | | VP DMM Boys | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Category Manager - Copy & Print | Staples | Framingham, MA | | Manager, Retail Communications/Training | L.L. Bean | Freeport, ME | | Director, International Government Affair | The Clorox Company | Oakland, CA | | Paralegal III | The Clorox Company | Oakland, CA | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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Amazon.com, JCPenney, Kohl's, Lands' End, L.L.Bean, Newegg, Nordstrom, Overstock.com, QVC and Zappos were selected by shoppers as finalists for having the best retail customer service. Source: 
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