L.L. Bean finds new fans for retro boots

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December 30, 2011 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch  Lowe's acquires online retailer ATG Stores Home-improvement chain Lowe's has acquired online home-furnishings merchant ATG Stores for an undisclosed amount. The brands will continue to operate separately, Lowe's said, but the acquisition of ATG's 500 websites and 3.5 million products is expected to boost Lowe's online offerings. The Wall Street Journal (12/29)      L.L. Bean finds new fans for retro boots L.L. Bean's practical 100-year-old rubber-soled duck boot is getting a new life as a fashion statement on U.S. college campuses, the company says. The outdoor apparel retailer says sales have grown from 150,000 pairs four years ago to about 400,000 this year, and it expects to hit half a million in 2012, driven in part by new versions of the classic style, including bright blue and pink pairs due out this spring. ABC News/The Associated Press (12/29)      Sears releases list of planned store closures Sears released a list of 79 namesake and Kmart stores slated for closure, the first round of a plan announced earlier this week to close between 100 and 120 locations. Florida will lose 11 stores, the most of any state on the list, and six stores each will close in Ohio, Michigan and Georgia. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (12/29)      Sears Canada won't close any stores: The announcement earlier this week that Sears plans to close up to 120 U.S. namesake and Kmart stores won't affect locations in Canada, a spokesman said Thursday. Sears Canada is the U.S. retailer's Toronto-based subsidiary. The Brandon Sun (Manitoba) (12/29)      Earn 2X rewards points on advertising costs with The New Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN. Designed to earn Membership Rewards® points faster: • 3X points on airfare • 2X points on advertising, gas, shipping • 1X points on everything else LEARN MORE AND APPLY   Retail trends    Department-store restaurants become dining destinations Department-store restaurants were once upscale places to stop for a bite while shopping. They hit hard times in the '70s and '80s, but they're back on top at upscale New York stores including Saks, Bloomingdale's and Macy's. Bergdorf Goodman's Manhattan flagship boasts two eateries, including BG Restaurant where shoppers pay $35 for afternoon tea and scenic views of Central Park. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (12/29)      Holiday shopping season marked by ups and downs Two high points with a lull in the middle marked the holiday shopping season, as bargain-hungry consumers started strong on Black Friday weekend, took a break and then swarmed back to snap up last-minute deals just before Christmas. "The downs and ups were much more accentuated," said economist Michael P. Niemira. St. Louis Post-Dispatch/The Associated Press (12/29)      Consumer Insights Your Brand Needs to Know: Latest Trends in Behavioral Advertising Learn what brand managers, advertisers, as well as networks, agencies, and publishers need to know about consumer survey insights into behavioral ad serving, also known as interest-based advertising. Learn more today!   Policy & Government Affairs    West Coast merchants navigate growing maze of local laws Retailers operating on the West Coast are coping with a growing number of local laws in cities such as San Francisco, where governments push through new environmental and consumer-focused policies that come at a cost to business. "It has almost become a format now where advocates of a cause introduce legislation at the state level, they lose and then they turn around and jam it through at the local level," said Bill Dombrowski of the California Retailers Association. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (12/28)      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!   Sponsored Content    Small Business Week In Review Kalina Mazur 5 Reasons People Resist Change an OPEN Forum Expert 6 Important Marketing Trends to Watch in 2012 Matthew E. May 5 E-Mail Marketing Services Help Businesses Grow Ramon Ray Why You Have To Hire Young Workers, And How To Do It Karlee Weinmann   NRF News  Designing with the tablet consumer in mind With one out of five U.S. purchasers intending to buy a tablet in the next six months, retailers have to understand the key differences and opportunities between engagement on PCs, tablets and smartphones. Experts will discuss engagement methods across platforms at a Shop.org First Look Track session at Retail's BIG Show, Jan. 15 to 18 in New York City. Learn more.      NRF SmartStat: Dec. 30, 2011 Four in 10 shoppers say they follow retailers on social networking sites for information on contests and events. Source: 2011 Social Commerce Study        Be the first to know about what's happening in retail Whether you are tweeting, updating your Facebook status or connecting professionally on LinkedIn, we've got a group for you. Learn where to connect with NRF and its divisions through a comprehensive list of social networking groups. Learn more.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News    McDonald's goes mobile to sell hot beverages McDonald's has launched a mobile-advertising campaign around its McCafe and hot chocolate beverages that uses localized iPhone ads to drive in-store sales. The ads -- which follow similar campaigns publicizing the restaurant's breakfast items -- give users information about the nearest location and allow users to communicate via social media. The fast-food giant is distributing the ads via Pandora. MobileCommerceDaily.com (12/28)      How are technology leaders adapting to the change and complexity that mark today’s economic landscape? Read this white paper to identify the 4 patterns, or mandates, employed by CIOs when leveraging business and information technology to innovate. Learn how each pattern indicated a distinct approach to IT leadership, and are derived from specific organizational needs.   Editor's Note  SmartBrief will not publish Monday In observance of the New Year's holiday, SmartBrief will not publish Monday, Jan. 2. Publication will resume Tuesday. Enjoy the holiday!      Position Title Company Name Location Buyer Jeans Warehouse Honolulu, HI Footwear Buyer Forman Mills Pennsauken, NJ Sales Associate - RTW Women's WEAR/Contemporary Saks Fifth Avenue Tampa, FL Assistant Controller Brooks Brothers Enfield, CT Mens Sweater Buyer Burlington Coat Factory Burlington, NJ Buyer - Maternity/Petite Sportswear Burlington Coat Factory Burlington, NJ Senior Buyer, Fine Jewelry Kohl's Department Stores Milwaukee, WI Buyer - Shoes Burlington Coat Factory Burlington, NJ Regional Manager Aspen Dental Tampa, FL VP DMM Ladies Shoes Burlington Coat Factory Burlington, NJ Assistant (Associate) Buyers - Brick & Mortar and Ecommerce Kohl's Department Stores Milwaukee, WI Manager, Brand Marketing & Public Relations La-Z-Boy Monroe, MI Brand Ambassadors- Escada, Cartier and Burberry Saks Fifth Avenue Tulsa, TX Director of Digital Marketing Strategy The Limited Columbus, OH Visual Merchandising Manager Castle Megastore Tempe, AZ VP DMM Boys Burlington Coat Factory Burlington, NJ Logistics 3PL Manager Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween Egg Harbor Township, NJ Mens Buyer Burlington Coat Factory Burlington, NJ Click here to view more job listings.   SmartQuote  Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor." --Francis Bacon, British philosopher and statesman        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:  Dena Malouf (202) 407-7837 Download Media Kit Job Board:  Jackie Basso (202) 407-7871       Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: Thursday, December 29, 2011 Wednesday, December 28, 2011 Tuesday, December 27, 2011 Friday, December 23, 2011 Thursday, December 22, 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