| April 4, 2012 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Small retailers vie for votes in NRF's "This Is Retail" contest
Nancy Turner almost passed on the chance to enter her Tallahassee, Fla., stationery shop in NRF's "This Is Retail" contest, but she finally gave into daughter Kim Williams' persuasive arguments. The Polka Dot Press is one of 20 finalists in the video contest, as are Louisville-based local food retailer The Root Cellar and Market Alley Wines in Monmouth, Ill. American City Business Journals/Business First (4/4), Tallahassee Democrat (Fla.) (subscription required) (4/2), WFSU-FM (Tallahassee, Fla.) (4/3), The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.)/Watchdog Earth blog (4/3), The Register-Mail (Galesburg, Ill.) (4/3)      - Wal-Mart's "Get on the Shelf" contest draws 4,000 entries
Wal-Mart drew more than 4,000 videos from inventors looking to get on the retailer's shelves with products including shorts made from beach towels and scarves called Scrats that do double duty as hats. The public will vote on the video entries this week, to choose the 10 finalists in the contest that was designed to raise the retailer's presence on social media. The Wall Street Journal (4/3) - J.C. Penney's revamp includes search for new vendors
J.C. Penney is looking for new vendors, but they must submit detailed plans by May 1 of how their lines will look and sell. The search for new vendors heralds a new tactic for Penney, which plans to section off its stores into shops and boutiques to highlight each vendor. "This strategy is unique in every way. It's nothing short of reimagining American department stores," said Penney's president Michael Francis. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (4/4) - 1 Bergdorf associate's service strategy for success
Mamadou N'Diay began his retail career as a dishwasher at Barneys after arriving in New York from Senegal more than 15 years ago, but he quickly learned English and moved up the ranks. Today, as a Bergdorf Goodman sales associate with a roster of between 50 and 75 regular clients, N'Diay says he succeeds with a strategy of treating each customer like a member of the family. The Business Insider (4/3) - Austin police bust big shoplifting ring
Police in Austin, Texas, busted an eight-person shoplifting ring accused of stealing $50,000 worth of Tide, paper towels and other products during the past year, for resale at flea markets and in Mexico. Almost 95% of retailers surveyed last summer said they had been targeted by shoplifters in the previous year and 85% said incidents are on the rise, according to an NRF survey. The Huffington Post (4/3)  | Let's Build A Smarter Planet Together
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 - In-store health clinics on the rise
Grocery store health clinics have come along way since QuickMedx launched the first one at a Cub Foods store 12 years ago. Retailers ended last year with 1,355 in-store clinics, up 11.2% from 2010, spurred by higher health-care costs, physician shortages and several other factors. Retailers say the clinics help boost pharmacy business and over-the-counter sales. STORES magazine (4/2012) - Brands learn the value of college-campus ambassadors
Brand ambassadors and street teams have become more prominent on college campuses since the days of promoting record labels for swag. Still unpaid, but given titles such as "director of social media," armies of budding marketers are boosting their resumes for tech startups such as Foursquare and dress-rental outfit Rent the Runway. The Wall Street Journal (4/3)  | 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. |
 - Why in-store apps can be problematic
 Retailers including J.C. Penney, H&M and Barnes & Noble have all promoted in-store mobile applications to their customers, but there's a piece missing, according to new study from Deloitte. About 37% of shoppers who tried to use in-store retail apps were thwarted because the stores had no Internet connections, the study found. The Business Insider (4/3)  | 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. |
| NRF News |  |  | | - The madness doesn't end in March: Vote now for America's Best Retail Story
With the men's and women's NCAA Championships coming to climatic ends, NRF has created its own bracket-style tournament to keep the madness going into April. With the Top 20 "This is Retail" finalists selected, a first-round quarter final has pitted America's best retail stories in one-on-one matchups. By logging in with your favorite social media site, you can vote up to 10 times each day for your favorite story -- and play an important role in whittling down our contestants until the public decides which retail employee will receive the $25,000 grand prize. Learn more or vote. - How retailers can turn the Tide on organized retail theft
When it comes to organized retail crime, criminals are quick to get their hands on the hottest-selling merchandise because of its high resale value. In a post on Retail's BIG blog, NRF's Senior Asset Protection Advisor Joe LaRocca explains how a recent rise in Tide detergent theft calls attention to what retailers can do to build their defenses against the growing problem of ORC, which costs merchants tens of billions each year. Read more. Retail's BIG Blog (3/14)
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Starbucks offers daily deal via Google Offers
Starbucks will offer $10 gift cards for $5 via Google Offers this week, the coffee chain's first national daily deal. Google will donate $3 for each offer sold to the Opportunity Finance Network, which makes loans available to low-income people and communities. Internet Retailer (4/3) | |  | | 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 | | 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 | | Corporate Recruiter | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Project Manager | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | 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 | | 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 Operations | Spencer Gifts | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | Visual Manager | Saks Fifth Avenue | Huntington Station, NY | | Manager of Store Communication | American Eagle Outfitters | Pittsburgh, PA | | Buyer, Petites | Stein Mart | Jacksonville, FL | | Buyer - Youth, Girls | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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| | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Tuesday, April 03, 2012
- Monday, April 02, 2012
- Friday, March 30, 2012
- Thursday, March 29, 2012
- Wednesday, March 28, 2012
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