| April 9, 2012 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Toys R Us works on revamp as rivalries grow
Increased competition from brick-and-mortar rivals, including Wal-Mart Stores, and online giant Amazon ate into holiday sales at Toys R Us. The 1,500-store chain is working to reinvent itself. "This is a very crucial year for [Chairman and CEO] Jerry Storch and Toys R Us -- there have been expectations for them going public, and it hasn't happened yet," said Jim Silver, editor of TimeToPlayMag.com. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (4/6)       | Which seniors are most profitable for you?
When you segment seniors by affluence, education, employment, lifestyle, and geography, you find vast differences in their preferences and spending habits. Download this white paper to learn more about analyzing and segmenting this fast-growing and increasingly profitable consumer group. | - Consumers respond to Penney's new pricing strategy
Some consumers are still confused three months into J.C. Penney's new everyday low-pricing strategy. Analysts say the retailer's changes will pay off in the long run, if the company offers fashions shoppers can't find anywhere else and authentic value that resounds with increasingly skeptical younger consumers. The Oregonian (Portland) (4/7)  | Create a Shopping Cart that Converts Browsers to Buyers
When a shopper starts the checkout process, retailers typically need to get out of the way. Find out how to create a clear path to checkout and get tips on how to reduce cart abandonment during a free webinar on Thursday, April 12, at 2 p.m. EDT, featuring Cam Jensen from Lands' End. Space is limited. Register today. |
 - Merchants make moves to slow self-checkout lane thefts
Retail theft is up to five times higher in self-checkout lanes than in lanes operated by cashiers, according to one estimate. While some grocers are phasing out self-checkout lanes, others are adding them and working toward more sophisticated anti-theft technology; workers are also getting better at detecting intentional and accidental thefts, says NRF's Joseph LaRocca. "There are ways to distinguish between someone who accidentally forgets to pay or intentionally moves the item so it isn't scanned." USA TODAY (4/9) - Bakeries, boutiques vie for NRF's top prize
Wilmington, N.C., boutique Monkee's, Honolulu shop Eden in Love and Danvers, Mass., bakery Cakes for Occasions are in the running for the top $25,000 prize in NRF's "This Is Retail" contest. The public can vote for their favorites online, and NRF will announce the top three winners on May 1. KHON-TV (Honolulu) (4/9), Star-News (Wilmington, N.C.) (4/6), Wicked Local (4/7) - U.S. malls saw a slight drop in 1st quarter vacancies
Vacancy rates at U.S. malls dropped slightly in the first quarter, to 9% from 9.2% in the fourth quarter of last year, and the average lease rate rose 0.2%, according to research company Reis. "I think we're on the precipice of a recovery, but it's a little too soon to call it that," said senior economist Ryan Severino. The Wall Street Journal (4/5)  | 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! |
 - The intersection of video and commerce
Videos are motivating shoppers to spend more time on product pages and purchase more frequently at Pexsupply.com, an online retailer of plumbing and heating supplies. The retailer has been using manufacturer- and user-generated videos on the site for the past two years, with much success. "We have definitely seen a trend in time spent on the product page and increased conversion since we've added videos," noted Lauren O'Toole, marketing manager. O'Toole and a number of other retailers recently joined PowerReviews and Liveclicker at a luncheon in New York City to analyze the positive impact of video on retail commerce. Learn more. |  | Transforming spreadsheets: planning, budgeting and forecasting for midsize companies
A spreadsheet-based approach to performance management won't meet the challenges facing growing midsize businesses. You need confidence in the information you're using for critical decision-making. Read this white paper to see how IBM® Cognos® Express can transform the spreadsheet-only process. |
 - Mobile gadgets help Nordstrom boost sales
Nordstrom has armed its sales staff with 6,000 mobile devices that make it easier for shoppers to complete their transactions from anywhere in the store, a move the upscale department store says is helping boost sales. Preliminary figures show a 15.3% rise in first-quarter revenue. Forbes (4/6) - Tracking mobile data in the physical store
Online retailers have access to reams of data that's key to their customer-targeting strategies, but brick-and-mortar retailers haven't yet figured out how to harness similar data to boost sales. A company called Qubulus is focused on creating web analytics for stores based on the fingerprints of mobile devices that customers use inside the store. Forbes (4/8)  | Gain valuable insight on how to build an HR strategy that produces results in any economy. Notable CEOs of quickly-growing companies outline their winning HR strategies in this must-read whitepaper for small businesses in growth mode. Learn more 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 | | | | - N.J. law prompts InComm to remove gift card malls
A New Jersey law requiring gift card retailers to gather consumer information at the point of sale is prompting InComm to remove its gift card program from about 2,500 locations in the state. "Because InComm is unable on behalf of its third-party gift card partners to ensure compliance with this law, we unfortunately have no choice but to remove all our gift cards and gift card destinations from retail locations in the state of New Jersey," said President and CEO Brooks Smith. Progressive Grocer (4/6) | | | Most Popular Headlines from Last Week Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. |
| NRF News | | | | - Just announced: "This is Retail" Top 10 finalists revealed
During the first week of public voting, more than 245,000 votes were cast in NRF's "This is Retail" contest for the Top 20 finalists. The Top 20, who received support from their local communities and public officials, have now been pared down to the Top 10, who now have one day to breathe before the voting madness begins again at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, April 10. See which videos made the Top 10. - How Hudson's Bay Company boosts sales and lowers costs with item-level RFID
At the NRF Global Supply Chain Summit, May 6 to 8 in Atlanta, Dan Smith, CIO of Hudson's Bay Company, will partner with Joe Andraski, president and CEO of VICS Association, to present how retailers are improving inventory accuracy and increasing sales by deploying item-level RFID. Register by April 13 to save $200 off the cost of on-site registration. Learn more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Darden to launch lobster farm in Malaysia
Red Lobster parent Darden Restaurants plans to create what it says will be the world's largest lobster farm in Malaysia, a move that would allow the company to sell lobster in Asia and provide its U.S. restaurants with a steady, less-expensive supply. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (4/8) - Outback parent outlines plans to go public
Outback Steakhouse parent Bloomin' Brands has filed plans to raise up to $300 million in an initial public offering, at a time when casual-dining chains are struggling to boost traffic. Bloomin' operates about 1,200 restaurants under several brands including Outback, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill. The Wall Street Journal (4/6) | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | VP Retail Merchandising | Little Switzerland | St. Thomas, USVI, USA Virgin Islands | | Senior Buyer | Floor and Decor Outlets of America, Inc. | Smryna, GA | | Director of Advertising Production | The Bon Ton Stores, Inc. | Milwaukee, WI | | Senior Manager, Training & Development | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | District Manager | Hallmark | Nashville, TN | | Director of [RE]FRESH (a store supporting Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition) | [RE]FRESH: A Fashion Coalition | St. Louis, MO | | VP eCommerce | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Senior Vice President - Human Resources | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Enterprise Architect – Global IT Omni-Channel | Levi Strauss & Co. | San Francisco, CA | | Sr. Business Analyst, Multi-Channel Retail IT | Levi Strauss & Co. | San Francisco, CA | | Director of Online Marketing | The Men's Wearhouse | San Francisco, CA | | Director of Marketing | Moosejaw | Madison Heights, MI | | Business Analyst-Supply Chain | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Systems Analyst | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Merchandise Planner | Kohl's Department Stores | Menomonee Falls, WI | | Merchandise Buyer - Multiple Categories | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee/Menomonee Falls, WI | | Director of Real Estate | Burlington Coat Factory | Los Angeles, CA | | Cosmetics Buyer (Experience Required) | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee, WI | | E-Commerce Merchant | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee / Menomonee Falls, WI | | Director of Operations | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Manager of Store Communication | American Eagle Outfitters | Pittsburgh, PA | | Buyer - Youth, Girls | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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