 | October 1, 2010 | News for the retail industry |  |  | | - Kmart builds on popular holiday layaway program
Kmart has extended the length of time customers have to pay for products they put on layaway to between 10 and 12 weeks, up from eight last holiday season, the company said. Shoppers will also find more big-ticket items eligible for layaway this year, including washers and dryers. In another nod to tough economic times, the retailer said it hopes to gain a competitive edge by opening on Thanksgiving Day. Los Angeles Times (9/30)       - Wal-Mart worker tally to hit 3 million worldwide by 2015
Wal-Mart expects to increase its workforce by 36% in the next five years, to 3 million employees worldwide, as it capitalizes on growth opportunities abroad, the company said. The retail giant's international sales have grown at almost triple the rate of U.S. sales, and the chain expects most of the new hires to come in international markets. Bloomberg (9/30) - Walgreen helps dispose of unused medications
Walgreen has begun selling envelopes consumers can use to mail unused or expired medicines to an incinerator facility. Sharps Compliance, which runs the facility, said about 200 million pounds of drugs are improperly disposed of annually, and the Drug Enforcement Administration held a recent collection event. Yahoo!/The Associated Press (9/30) - Growth at dollar stores may start to slow
Dollar stores posed serious competition to more traditional discount chains during the downturn, with big players Dollar General, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree booking stellar sales growth as results at chains including Wal-Mart and Target were less rosy. Now, a more crowded field and ongoing financial pressures on the companies' core low-income customers may mean slower business, especially on higher-margin discretionary items. The Wall Street Journal (9/29) - Forecast: Promotions will drive traffic to stores this season
Retailers need to devise smart holiday promotions now if they hope to bring in flocks of seasonal shoppers, say Kantar Retail analysts in a new report. The group predicts a 2.5% increase in sales in the quarter, but newly thrifty consumers will be comparison shopping online and heading to stores that advertise the best deals, especially on coveted items such as consumer electronics. CNBC/Consumer Nation (9/30) - Retailers to give lift to mobile wallet next year
Merchants increasingly will back mobile payments next year under a system in which consumers will be able to pay for products by swiping their handsets instead of their credit cards, according to a report from an industry event. The report says three of the leading U.S. carriers are testing such programs. PC World/Today @ PCWorld (9/30)  | On-Demand Web Conferencing and Collaboration-Anywhere. No need to scramble for conference rooms when you can instantly connect employees, customers or students online. Cisco WebEx supports 10 million subscribers each month with web applications specifically tailored to industry needs. Via computer or Smartphone, you can discover the benefits of WebEx with a Free 14-day trial. Register now. |
 - Best Buy to build on success of Twelpforce
Best Buy plans to expand its popular Twelpforce program, which enables staffers to tweet replies to product and service questions. The retailer, which says the 14-month-old program has succeeded in driving new customers to the company's website, plans to launch a variation of the service on Facebook and other social networking sites next year, as it aims to reach beyond the 7% of the population that uses Twitter. InternetRetailer.com (9/29)  | Increase Sales with the TRUSTe Seal
Download this case study to see how one company added the TRUSTe seal to lead registration forms and their shopping cart, and saw an enormous 84% lift in purchases, and a 72% increase in revenue per visitor lift. Learn how a consumer-facing seal can accelerate a transaction, and why visitors feel an increased level of trust upon seeing the TRUSTe seal. |
 | Policy & Government Affairs |  |  | | |  | - HHS secretary has discretion in applying new health care law
The Department of Health and Human Services must consider guidance in drafting regulations to implement the nation's new health care law, but Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will have the power to make decisions when it comes to granting waivers to McDonald's and other restaurant chains, the White House said Thursday. The administration said it wants to avoid coverage disruptions for workers whose health plans could be impacted by changes in the law. The Wall Street Journal (10/1)  | Supercharging the Online Channel
Getting to the right shoppers and then converting them to buyers in your online store is every retailer's key objective. Short purchase windows, impatient buyers, and new mandates around security are creating unprecedented demands on commerce sites. Learn how to attract customers to your site, optimize their online shopping experience and drive more transactions. Watch the webinar NOW! |
| NRF News | | | | - Give us 15 minutes. Win an iPad.
Survey collection for Retail Horizons, NRF's most illustrious industry benchmarking report, is officially under way. Retail department heads, take 15 minutes to complete your section of the survey by Oct. 15 and you'll automatically be entered to win an iPad. Retailers who complete the report will also receive a customized company report with key metrics to compare their company against the industry standard. Learn more. - Get a glimpse into the future of shopping
Want to know what the not-so-distant future of shopping looks like? Resource Interactive shared a powerful, three-minute video at Shop.org's Summit demonstrating how shopping as we know it is changing. Some of these statistics will truly amaze you. Watch the video.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - McDonald's may seek alternative plans on health benefits
McDonald's confirmed that it is in talks with the Department of Health and Human Services to seek a waiver to a provision in the new health care law, but said in a statement that the company remains committed to offering competitive pay and benefits. A Wall Street Journal story this week that said the chain was threatening to drop health coverage if it doesn't get a waiver was "wrong," an HHS spokeswoman said. Chicago Tribune (9/30) - KFC to debut reusable takeout containers
KFC will replace single-use takeout food containers with reusable bowls at locations throughout the country. The new side-dish containers, which recently won a Greener Package Award for sustainability, are microwave and dishwasher safe. "We found that consumers prefer reusable containers because it gives them control of how the item is reused or disposed of after purchase," said engineering manager Susan Miles. QSRWeb.com (9/30) | Career Track | | | |
 | |  | | | | | | |  |  Human Resources Director, Merchant Development | Wal-Mart | Bentonville, AR | | Director of Merchandising | Total Wine & More | Potomac, MD | | Retail Solution/Application Consultant | MicroStrategy | Chicago, IL | | Director of Stores | A'GACI, LLC. | San Antonio, TX | | General Merchandising Manager (GMM) | A'GACI, LLC. | Los Angeles, CA | | Retail Merchandise Manager | Hallmark Cards | Kansas City, MO | | Controller | Pacific Gateway Concessions | South San Francisco, CA | | Web Analytics Manager | Neiman Marcus | Dallas, TX | | Online Buyer - Home Electronics | Sears | Hoffman Estates, IL | | Analyst | Oakley, Inc | Foothill Ranch, CA | | Inventory Accountant - Intermediate | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Manager, Strategic Retail Pricing | CVS Caremark | Woonsocket, RI | | Senior Retail Marketing Manager | Cabela's | Sidney, NE | | Database Marketing Analyst | CSN Stores, LLC | Boston, MA | | Sales Forecast Manager | Carolina Pad | Charlotte, NC | | Head of eBusiness Operations | Crate and Barrel | Northbrook, IL | | North America Retail Accounting Manager | Nike, Inc. | Portland, OR | | eCommerce Web Buyer | Belk | Charlotte, NC | | Website Analyst | Follett Higher Education Group | Oak Brook, IL | | Director of Strategic Pricing | Guitar Center | Westlake Village, CA | | Category Manager | CVS Caremark | Woonsocket, RI | | Principal Business Consultant | Oracle Corporation | Atlanta, GA | | Innovation Leader - Maximizer | Hallmark Cards | Kansas City, MO | | VP of Business Systems & Process Implementation / Administration | Dick's Sporting Goods | Pittsburgh, PA | | Retail Buyer | University Co-operative Society, Inc | Austin, TX | | | |  | |  | |
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Buzz Lightyear and Alice in Wonderland made the list of top Halloween costumes this year. Source: 
