| March 5, 2012 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
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 | Industry Watch |  |  | | - Neiman Marcus maps growth strategies
Neiman Marcus is evaluating its options for future growth after a strong holiday season, including making decisions on whether to expand internationally and either commit to or cut newer concepts Cusp and Last Call Studio. The luxury department store will also focus on strategies aimed at attracting younger customers and online shoppers. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (3/5)      - Ross Dress for Less is in growth mode
Ross Dress for Less has added more than 200 stores in recent years, making it the country's largest off-priced apparel store, and it's not done growing, said Midwest vice president Fred Shuey. The stores keep prices low with a no-frills operation, keep inventory fresh with daily deliveries and change up the merchandise mixes to meet local market demands. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (3/3) - D.C. neighborhood to welcome Costco
A Costco-anchored shopping center is under construction in the Fort Lincoln planned community in Northeast Washington, D.C., decades after the first of the development's 3,000 residents moved in with the promise of being able to shop and dine where they live. The 430,000-square-foot retail center also will include a Marshalls and a Shoppers Food Warehouse. The Washington Post (3/2)  | The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN
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  - Report: Shoppers embrace "showrooming"
A growing number of consumers have mastered the art of "showrooming," heading to brick-and-mortar stores to check out prospective purchases before turning to mobile or online stores to find the best deal, according to NPD Group. "We're seeing this trend especially in categories where they might not understand exactly how a product works, and they want a demonstration, such as stand mixers or robotic room cleaners," said NPD's Perry James. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (3/1) - Report: Retail challenges reflect downturn's fallout
The economy has been slowly improving, but significant challenges remain for U.S. retailers, according to a new study from WSL Strategic Retail, which found that 52% of Americans still struggle to buy necessities. Consumers age 18-to-34 have been the hardest hit, the study found, and shoppers are less likely to trade up to more expensive brands they would have purchased before the recession. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (3/2)  | A large men’s apparel retailer has found the key to loyalty success with an initiative that allows customers to engage with the brand on their terms, not based on a time sensitive promotion. Download A Cross-Channel Loyalty Case Study to learn how this retailer has ensured that its brand is aligned across channels for a cohesive loyalty program. |
 - Square aims to replace the register for small merchants
Square has unveiled Square Register, a new Apple iPad application the company says replicates and enhances the point-of-sale system for small retailers. Square Register lets merchants accept cash and credit-card payments and track customers' purchasing histories. Only about 6% of retailers use mobile POS devices now, but half expect to add them in the next 18 months, according to an NRF survey. USA TODAY (3/4)  | The Business Case for Mobile and Tablet Shopping
Is mobility an out-of-reach luxury or could it really improve your business? Get the facts! Aberdeen’s Analyst Insight examines the impact of mobile solutions on retail transactions, customer expectations, and important profit opportunities. This research – a $399 value- is yours free! Download your copy here! |
 | 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 | | | | - California lawmakers look to limit ID swiping
A growing number of retailers are swiping customers' driver's licenses to protect themselves from fraudulent returns. Two California lawmakers want to curtail the practice, saying it puts consumers at greater risk of identity theft, but retailers say the practice helps stores and consumers. "It's all an effort to control losses and reduce the unnecessary price increases for legitimate consumers," said NRF's Joseph LaRocca. KGO-TV (San Francisco) (3/2) | | | Most Popular Headlines from Last Week Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. |
| NRF News | | | | - Retailers, let your stories shine: Submit your "This is Retail" video now
Tens of millions of American jobs depend on the retail industry. And with stores in every town, retail has become the nation's largest industry sector woven into the fabric of communities across America. Beginning today, March 5, videos can be submitted for our "This is Retail" nationwide video contest, where retail employees are given two minutes to share stories of innovation, inspiration and opportunity that make the American economy thrive. Submit your videos by March 16 to be eligible to join the top three finalists flown to Washington, D.C. to compete for $50,000 in prize money. Read more. - How Under Armour and Warby Parker win with social media
Social networks have become a fixture in our everyday lives, and consumers are spending four to ten hours a day on Facebook, Twitter, and niche social sites such as Pinterest. With this phenomenon likely to grow, how can retailers cleverly reach and engage this captive audience? In a post on the Shop.org blog, Shop.org's Artemis Berry explains how two very different brands focused on consumer engagement to engender word-of-mouth marketing that traditional advertising can't buy. Read more. Shop.org Blog (3/1)
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Papa John's aims to avoid deeper discounts
As larger rivals continue to offer deep discounts, Papa John's has largely stuck to milder deals and focused marketing messages on quality rather than price. Industry experts say price-cutting can backfire by training consumers to shop for the lowest price, but rivals including Pizza Hut and Domino's have seen the strategy pay off in higher sales. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (3/5) | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Business Analyst | QuantiSense | Atlanta, GA | | Implementation Consultant | QuantiSense | Atlanta, GA | | Director, Store Environment & Merchandise Planning | Harbor Freight Tools | Calabasas, CA | | Email Marketing Manager | Golfsmith | Austin, TX | | Vice President of Human Resources | Teavana | Atlanta, GA | | Merchandise Planner | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Assistant General Manager of Merchandising (AGMM) | Saks Fifth Avenue | Atlanta, GA | | Talent Acquisition Manager - Stores | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Merchandise Planner | Kohl's Department Stores | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Merchandise Buyer | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee/Menomonee Falls, WI | | Director, Online Marketing | Bath & Body Works Direct, Inc. | Columbus, OH | | Category Manager (Consumables/Home Division) | Navy Exchange Service Command | Virginia Beach, VA | | Director of Operations | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Vice President Real Estate | Pier 1 Imports | Fort Worth, TX | | Manager Training & Development | Naarjtie Kids | Salt Lake City, UT | | Global Insights Manager | Burt's Bees | Durham, NC | | Designer - Footwear/Girlcare | Tween Brands Service Co. | New Albany, OH | | Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Demand Planner | Staples, Inc. | Framingham, MA | | Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Buyer (Missy & Special Size Separates) | Navy Exchange Service Command | Virginia Beach, VA | | Direct Marketing Manager | RadioShack | Fort Worth, TX | | National Advertising Sales Manager | Intent Media | New York City , NY | | Maintenance Associate | Rooms To Go | Charlotte, NC | | The North Face: Customer Relationship Management Manager | The North Face | San Leandro, CA | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next 10."
--Bill Gates,
American businessman, software engineer and philanthropist  |
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- Thursday, March 01, 2012
- Wednesday, February 29, 2012
- Tuesday, February 28, 2012
- Monday, February 27, 2012
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Contributing Editor: Faye Rapoport
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Buoyed by the improved business climate, 46% of retail executives indicated that they hope to deploy capital into new store build outs in 2012. Source: 
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