| January 30, 2012 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Menards strikes balance between small town, big box
Wisconsin-based home-improvement retailer Menards has been investing to build super-sized stores at a time when other retailers are looking at downsizing their brick-and-mortar spaces. Analysts say the chain is taking market share from Home Depot and Lowe's in the markets where it operates, using a successful combination of giant stores and small-town, family-owned ambiance. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (1/28)       - Retail veteran Joseph E. Brooks dies at 84
Joseph E. Brooks, who earned a reputation as a retail legend in the 1970s and '80s while at the helm of Lord & Taylor, died of leukemia Thursday at age 84. Brooks, who previously ran Filene's, Rike's and Burdines for Federated Department Stores, is credited with building Lord & Taylor's annual sales from $200 million to $900 million before leaving the company in 1986. Three years later, he became chairman of Ann Taylor. Palm Beach Daily News (Fla.) (1/27), Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (1/29) - NRF launches contest to find the best retail stories
NRF has invited retailers to tell their stories in two-minute videos and will award the winning entry with a $25,000 prize. The contest is part of the ongoing Retail Means Jobs campaign. "NRF's This is Retail contest will put a face on an industry that is seamlessly woven into the fabric of America and influences every aspect of our life and culture, from commerce and fashion to real estate and public policy," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. AccessoriesMagazine.com (1/27)  | Learn How to Cut HR Costs Without Cutting Production
Entrepreneurial execs know that they need to follow the rules, but they may not realize which decisions will lead to the two vital components that help keep HR costs low. The following paper focuses on minimizing human capital expenses in four key areas. Download the white paper, An Executive’s Guide to Cutting HR Costs to learn more. |
 - U.S. retailers plan for Chinese New Year factory closures
U.S. retailers plan ahead for the Chinese New Year celebrations that close down factories in China for 15 days, but post-holiday ordering has become more complicated in recent years. Factories typically wait a few weeks to determine which workers aren't going to return after the holidays, and they're finding it tougher to fill the jobs as more young workers opt for white-collar tech jobs, says Brooke Minteer, senior buying director for The Container Store. DailyFinance.com/The Motley Fool (1/27) - More chains move into Utah
Retail is making a strong post-recession recovery in Utah, as existing players expand and others make their entrance into the state. Crate & Barrel, H&M and Marshalls recently opened their first stores in the state. Tiffany & Co., Michael Kors and sporting goods merchant Scheels are poised to do the same, and national chains including The Container Store reportedly are scouting for locations. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah) (1/28) - Fashion chains turn up the voltage for spring
Retailers including Target and Saks Fifth Avenue are rolling out dramatic neon hues on everything from tote bags to men's and women's fashions this spring, hoping bright pinks and vibrant greens encourage spending. "If it is successful, the retail segment will have a very good year. It's a radical change," said retail analyst Eric Beder. CNBC (1/27)  | Costs are rising in China and Japan, prompting high-tech firms across Asia to consider new sourcing locations so they can remain efficient, while focusing more on service. What will be the impact of this behavioral shift? Learn about the findings in this free white paper. |
  | Case Study: McCormick and Schmick's
In the highly competitive restaurant market, McCormick & Schmick's needed to understand and respond to dining trends in real time. Read this case study to see how IBM® Cognos® Express enabled a set of automated dashboards that integrate both general ledger and point-of-sale data from the company's individual stores to drive better decisions. |
 | Main Street |  |  | | - 96-year-old store says good-bye to Brooklyn neighborhood
After 96 years in business, Brooklyn sporting goods and apparel store Triangle Sports has put itself up for sale as a giant multi-use complex rises across the street. The timing is right, says co-owner Henry Rosa, as the nearby Barclays Center arena complex has restaurant and retail chains looking for space in the neighborhood. The Wall Street Journal (1/28) | 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.
| | | Most Popular Headlines from Last Week Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. |
| NRF News | | | | - Leaving a legacy, NRF's Kathy Mance retires after 35 years
It's rare story to hear about someone who has worked for the same company for nearly 35 years, but the NRF Foundation's Kathy Mance is no ordinary individual. In a post on Retail's BIG Blog, Foundation colleague Angela Elder shares how the retiring executive director has impacted the industry in every field, from public affairs to retail education. Read more. Retail's BIG Blog (1/30)
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Friendly's, Burger King try co-branded concept
Friendly's Ice Cream and Burger King have partnered to test a co-branded restaurant called Friendly's Scoop. The first location launched in New Jersey, and the companies expect to open 10 more in the next year, with the goal of using the concept to raise brand awareness beyond the 16 states where Friendly's now operates. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model) (1/27) | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Divisional Merchandise Manager | West Marine | Watsonville, CA | | Marketing Manager | West Marine | Watsonville, CA | | Merchandising Director | Stein Mart | New York, NY | | Footwear Buyer | Big 5 Sporting Goods | El Segundo, CA | | Retail Analytics Specialist | QuantiSense | Atlanta, GA | | Corporate Retail Visual Presentation Manager | Soft Surroundings | St. Louis, MO | | VP, Division Planning Manager | The Bon Ton Stores, Inc. | Milwaukee, WI | | Inventory Manager - Accessories | Hanna Andersson, LLC | Portland, OR | | Retail Allocation Planner | Hanna Andersson, LLC | Portland, OR | | VP Customer Strategy | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Planogram Specialist | Headquarters Marine Corps, Semper Fit and Exchange Services | Quantico, VA | | Merchandise Replenishmnet Analyst | Headquarters Marine Corps, Semper Fit & Exchange Services | Quantico, VA | | Buyer | Jeans Warehouse | Los Angeles, CA | | Merchandise Planner | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Buyer - Men's Personal Furnishings | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Director of Procurement Services | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | VP eCommerce | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Contract Recruiter - Merchandising | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Senior Marketing Strategy & Loyalty Consultant | Alliance Data | Columbus, OH | | Merchandise Manager - Housewares | Pier 1 Imports | Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX | | Software Developer | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Business Developer | IKEA Trading Services Inc. | Houston, TX | | Pricing Analyst | Barnes & Noble, Inc. | New York, NY | | Handbag Buyer | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Merchandise Planner-Contemporary Handbags | Saks Fifth Avenue | New York , NY | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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