  | April 6, 2012 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- U.S. retailers boosted Q1 jobs
 The U.S. economy added an average of 245,000 new jobs per month in the first quarter of 2012, with service businesses, restaurants, hotels and retailers doing most of the hiring. "What they're seeing is that many of our shoppers are confident right now in going to the stores, buying more, spending more on discretionary merchandise and that's helping as well," said NRF vice president Ellen Davis. KSDK-TV (St. Louis) (4/5)       | Small-business owners can seize opportunities to help reduce their taxes, lower their expenses and reinvest in their businesses this tax season. This free white paper brought to you by American Express OPEN, will help you learn how to navigate changes in tax legislation, leverage often overlooked deductions and strategize for the coming years. SmartBrief readers: Download your 2012 Small Business Tax Strategy white paper now. |
 - Sears licenses DieHard, Craftsman and Kenmore names
Sears wants to expand the brand value of names such as Craftsman, Kenmore and DieHard by licensing them to other manufacturers for products that don't need to be sold at Sears stores. "We believe some of the most successful and innovative companies in the world will be interested in licensing" the three brand names, said Allan Feldman of Sears' licensing partner. The Wall Street Journal (4/5) - Wal-Mart rolls out skills program for women factory workers
Wal-Mart has launched a five-year empowerment program designed to teach life skills to women who work in the factories that make goods for the retailer. The program, part of a larger global women's empowerment initiative, will roll out in Bangladesh and India this year, and will include leadership training for about 8,000 participants. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (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! |
 - Retailers stock up on in-store dietitians
Retailers are hiring more in-store dietitians, who serve as health and wellness experts by creating recipes, hosting nutrition-focused tours, giving advice to customers and employees, and interacting with the media. "Our goal is to have a dietitian in every store, and we are just short of reaching that goal," said Allison Yoder, a health and wellness supervisor at 245-store chain Hy-Vee. The Produce News (4/5) - Year of the Dragon drives home furnishings boom
Home furnishing retailers saw sales boom during the last Year of the Dragon 12 years ago, and this year is shaping up to boast similar growth, according to an IBM forecast that calls for 16.6% growth in home furnishing sales in the second quarter. Some consumers plan their weddings and births for the Year of the Dragon, considered the luckiest of all years on the Chinese lunar calendar. CNBC (4/5), Forbes (4/5)  | Let's Build A Smarter Planet Together
IBM Business Partners have access to a broad array of benefits. Whether you’re considering joining IBM® PartnerWorld® or are already an IBM Business Partner, read this program guide to navigate the support available to members, learn more about membership levels and consider the benefits the program delivers for marketing, sales, technical support, training and collaboration. |
 - Shopkick adds 375 ExxonMobile stations to rewards program
Shopkick, a mobile application that rewards users for checking in at retailers including American Eagle and Target, has added 375 ExxonMobile gas stations to the program. Users who check in at the pump won't earn ExxonMobile rewards, but they will earn "kicks" that can be used at other stores. Internet Retailer (4/5)  | What Data Thieves Don’t Want You to Know:
How a multi-layered data security solution, including encryption and tokenization, protects data in transit, in use and at rest. When combined, these two technologies provide a powerful method for securing sensitive data wherever it exists. Get proof here. |
  | Data powers all your online channels and as a marketer you are involved with how this information is being used to reach customers. Federal regulations require protection of that consumer data to avoid potential risks and lawsuits. Watch these videos to learn how to create a comprehensive data privacy strategy. |
| NRF News |  |  | | - Why you should get to know NRF's "This is Retail" finalists
Of the 20 videos in the running for NRF's "This is Retail" grand prize, 15 states are represented in the contest. As the excitement and coverage begins to spread locally and nationally, there are common threads that tie each video together -- but it's the unique connections and contributions to their communities that these retail businesses display that shows the true value of retail in more ways than one. Read more. Retail's BIG Blog (4/6) - The importance of employment screenings to the retail industry
When it comes to the safety of a merchant's shoppers and associates, background screenings are essential to ensuring hiring the right employees for your business. In a post on Retail's BIG Blog, NRF's VP of Loss Prevention Rich Mellor explains that new guidelines being contemplated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission this month could severely restrict or even remove the pre-employment screening process. Read more. Retail's BIG Blog (3/13)
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Ruby Tuesday to pay $24 million for Lime Fresh
Ruby Tuesday, which reported a 72% drop in third-quarter net income on Thursday, said it will acquire the Lime Fresh Mexican Grill brand for $24 million and open six to eight new Lime eateries this year. The casual chain acquired the development rights to brand in 2010; the new deal includes seven company-owned restaurants. The Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tenn.) (free registration) (4/5) | |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | VP Retail Merchandising | Little Switzerland | St. Thomas, USVI, USA Virgin Islands | | Planner | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, FL | | Director of Advertising Production | The Bon Ton Stores, Inc. | Milwaukee, WI | | Senior Buyer | Floor and Decor Outlets of America, Inc. | Smryna, GA | | 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 | | Corporate Recruiter | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Director of Online Marketing | The Men's Wearhouse | San Francisco, CA | | Director of Marketing | Moosejaw | Madison Heights, MI | | 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 | | 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 | | 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 | | Manager of Store Communication | American Eagle Outfitters | Pittsburgh, PA | | Buyer - Youth, Girls | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof."
--John Kenneth Galbraith,
Canadian-American economist  |
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This Easter, Americans intend to spend an average of $53.82 on clothing, up from $48.86 last year. Source: 
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