NRF and others boost holiday shopping outlook

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December 15, 2010 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch    Credit-card fee reform makes list of 2010 lobbying victories Businesses and trade organizations had several significant victories in Washington this year, including NRF's successful fight to limit the credit-card interchange fees that merchants pay to banks. NRF prevailed despite heavy lobbying against the measure by banks and credit unions. The Hill (12/14) NRF and others boost holiday shopping outlook NRF and other groups increased their projections for holiday sales growth after the Commerce Department reported higher-than-expected November retail sales on Tuesday. Higher incomes and increased consumer confidence have raised expectations for the season, and NRF now predicts a 3.3% increase in holiday sales, up from an earlier estimate of 2.3%. "The start to the holiday season has surpassed all expectations," said President and CEO Matthew Shay. He cautioned that sustained sales growth beyond the season depends on an improved employment picture. The Wall Street Journal (12/15) , The Washington Post (12/15) , Reuters (12/14) , Yahoo!/Reuters (12/14) Sources: Zale explores sale of Piercing Pagoda Zale reportedly is looking to sell its 680 mall-based Piercing Pagoda kiosks as part of an effort to focus resources on fine-jewelry operations at its Zales and Gordon's stores, which account for 85% of the company's revenue. Possible buyers for the brand include private equity firm Apollo Global Management. Bloomberg (12/14) Other News Ikea tops sustainability ratings list USA TODAY (12/14) Justin Timberlake to debut William Rast apparel line at Target AOL Small Business (12/13) Kohl's to add jewelry and makeup to exclusive Elle-branded line American City Business Journals/Milwaukee (12/14) Applying Social Data: 3 Best Practices Learn what it takes to create a positive experience for both your users and your business. Download a free whitepaper now.   Retail Trends    Retailers balance holiday discounts and profit margins The need to drive traffic spurs merchants to offer deep holiday discounts, but retailers also have to protect their profit margins. Some find innovative ways to strike a balance, such as Saks, which is offering discounts on cashmere sweaters and fall fashions but is cutting the number of sale days and other promotions. Psychology comes into play for many. Studies have shown that shoppers perceive a better deal when they see higher prices on unrelated products and when promotional prices have a "9" on the end. The Wall Street Journal (12/15) Luxury retailers report a return of full-price shoppers Luxury retailers say sales are increasing for indulgences such as jewelry and handbags, and customers are paying full price again. High-end sales are expected to increase 7% this year over last, as luxury merchants end recession-era discounting as demand returns. That's an encouraging sign for the overall economy, which counts on wealthy consumers for a large share of consumer spending, economists say. Los Angeles Times (12/15) Feds grab designer fakes in raids on Las Vegas vendors Federal agents confiscated 4,300 designer knockoffs valued at $350,000 in Las Vegas last week, as part of an ongoing crackdown on counterfeit sales. Fakes included clothing, accessories and jewelry bearing 25 upscale brand names, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Rolex. Las Vegas Sun (12/14) Other News Life gets better for surviving indie bookstores National Public Radio (text and audio) (12/14) European fashion retailers see rising input costs Reuters (12/15) Today's leading technologies provide new ways to solve old problems. See Joshua Jewett, SVP and CIO at Family Dollar discuss "Delivering Business Impact with SaaS." This NRFtech presentation describes how SaaS is a new tool in the IT arsenal and how Family Dollar quickly deployed a SaaS based inventory solution to drive significant results.   Retail Technology    American Apparel aims high with international Groupon offers American Apparel plans to launch its first international Groupon offers with deals in Europe, Brazil and Mexico this week. The California-based clothing company said a pre-Thanksgiving national offer with the daily-deal site attracted 130,000 U.S. shoppers and contributed to the company's best-ever Cyber Monday sales. Reuters (12/14)   Multichannel Retailing 2010: Facts, Issues, and Opportunities for Growth. Most retailers operate with a combination of stores, websites and other channels. But what is really being achieved with the extension of multichannel retailing, and which challenges and opportunities do you need to address now to stay competitive in 2011? Find out with this free, in-depth market research.     Featured Content    What's Your Response to 'I Can Get It Cheaper on the Internet'? Ann Handley 4 Web Apps for Managing Job Applications Sarah Kessler Adventures in Retail: Artists Selling by Text Message Miles Klee Be Inspired: 6 Places to Donate Laurel Delaney 7 Ways to Plan an In-Store Event on the Cheap Katie Morell   NRF News  Majority of shoppers have completed half of their holiday shopping NRF's most recent consumer intentions survey found that the average person is 49.5% done with holiday shopping as of the second week in December. The survey, conducted by BIGresearch, also found that 16.9% of shoppers (37 million people) had yet to begin buying gifts as of late last week. Read more. NRF SmartStat: Dec. 15, 2010 Almost a quarter of adults will purchase a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express gift card this year. Source: NRF Survey conducted by BIGresearch.   Wal-Mart's divulges sales gains from in-store digital marketing Campaign optimization, mobile integration and dynamic content have consistently delivered results for Wal-Mart. Attendees of Retail's BIG Show will learn how an interactive platform can increase sales, and how digital signs cause shoppers to deepen their engagement. Actual sales gains from optimization and technology will also be revealed for the first time. Retail's BIG Show centennial celebration takes place January 9-12, 2011 in New York City. Learn more. Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  McDonald's plans major growth in China McDonald's plans to increase its investments in China significantly next year, opening 200 new stores and remodeling existing locations with its new European bistro look. McDonald's faces fierce competition from quickserve rivals including Yum! Brands' KFC, which has about 2,000 stores in China, compared with McDonald's 1,100. The Wall Street Journal (12/15) Other News Chef Nate Appleman turns his talents to fast-casual burritos at Chipotle The New York Times (free registration) (12/14)   Career Track  Director, Guest Services Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween/ToyZam! Egg Harbor Township, NJ Director of eCommerce Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween/ToyZam! Egg Harbor Township, NJ Director of Marketing and Licensing Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween/Toyzam! Egg Harbor Township, NJ Executive Vice President, Merchandising & Marketing Total Wine & More Potomac, MD Vice President of Strategic Planning Rent-A-Center Plano, TX Buyer - Ladies Apparel - Special Sizes Stein Mart Jacksonville, FL Senior Software Engineer Bass Pro Shops Springfield, MO Store Technology Leader PetSmart Phoenix, AZ Regional Manager Development Program Follett Higher Education Group Multiple Locations, United States Retail Construction Project Manager Teavana Atlanta, GA Assistant Category Manager - Reader's Market Sears Hoffman Estates, IL Planogram Specialist (Temporary not to exceed 2 Years) Headquarters Marine Corps/ Marine Corps Exchange Quantico, VA Business Process Analyst QVC West Chester, PA Legal Counsel Kohl's Menomonee Falls, WI Branch Head/Field Operations (Marine Corps Exchanges) Headquarters/MCCS Quantico Marine Corps Base, VA   SmartQuote  Politeness is the slow poison of collaboration." --Edwin H. Land, American scientist and inventor   This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com   Subscriber Tools       Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy   Advertise Senior Account Director:  Susan Kim (202) 407-7877 Download Media Kit Job Board:  Celia Rothschild (202) 470-1159       Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 Monday, December 13, 2010 Friday, December 10, 2010 Thursday, December 09, 2010 Wednesday, December 08, 2010     Lead Editor:  Megan Conniff Contributing Editor:  Faye Rapoport     Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2010 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information

The risk of WikiLeaks: Association version

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December 15, 2010 CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF News for SmartBrief prospective partners Sign up Partner with us Publications About SmartBrief   What's Happening  4 tips to help candidates feel good even when they don't get the job Insights contributor Janet McNichol, SPHR, CAE, is human resources director at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. "Every year during our convention, I'm reminded of the importance of how we treat people during the recruitment process. I watch as unsuccessful candidates that are also members of our association approach Nina Kranz, our employment manager, and interact warmly with her and I stop to count my lucky stars. Nina is fabulous. "Like many of us, Nina wears a completely different hat during our annual convention. She staffs one of the information booths. Over the years, she's interacted with many members that have applied for vacancies in our national office. The unsuccessful candidates could easily feel angry or humiliated by the experience, but I see no signs of either. They actually seek Nina out and seemingly enjoy chatting with her. They say they have never felt so good about not getting a job." Learn how Nina makes people feel good about not getting a job, and contribute to the buzz this post has generated.   News and views from across the .org world Top 10 Insights blog posts and nonprofit news from the past two weeks: American Society of Travel Agents announces travel industry veteran as new CEO Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers CEO steps down, reportedly to take top American Gas Association post Blog: How the Culture of Rugby Parlays Into Business, Workplace and Hiring Character Convene Green Alliance is bought by ASAE The Digital IQ Index -- where does your association rank? Blog: Are mobile apps a waste of time for your association? Patrick Butler to take over at the Association of Public Television Stations AICPA's Barry C. Melancon is named TRENDS 2011 Association Executive of the Year Blog: What it took for NADP to roll out its new website National Association of Black Journalists snags new CEO from the National Bar Association   The risk of WikiLeaks: Association version Insights contributor Deirdre Reid, CAE, is a freelance writer who helps organizations create content and conversation. Connect with her at Reid All About It or @DeirdreReid. "The WikiLeaks are interesting reading, but a huge headache for the State Department. Can you imagine something similar at your association? An employee shares his relief about not being part of yet-to-be-announced layoffs on his Facebook page. One of his acquaintances shares that update with a friend who works at the same association. Or, an employee e-mails a former colleague about the delicate negotiations her team is having with a senator. Her e-mail is forwarded again and again until it reaches someone who works for the other party. The employees didn't realize they were doing something wrong. Now you're reaching for the Tylenol. "Many association employees have a big white binder labeled 'Employee Handbook' on their shelves that probably covers all these scenarios. But beyond a cursory skim during the first few days on the job, most don't return to it again except to check if they get Columbus Day off. "Anyone who has studied for the CAE exam can tell you there are two words that give CEOs goosebumps -- legal liability. Employees who work with members must learn how to avoid putting your association at risk. Don't rely on the handbook to do that. Invite your legal counsel in for a meeting or brown bag lunch so your staff can learn and ask questions about confidentiality, conflict of interest, antitrust and other liability issues. Read the complete post at SmartBlog Insights. Interested in contributing your thoughts in 2011? Drop us a note for details. And thank you to all of our contributors for their compelling, educational insights in 2010.   Top 5 most-clicked stories from 2010 As the year draws to a close, here's a look at what SmartBrief Insights readers were clicking on during the past 12 months: Do you know what your social-media-related legal risks are?  Association lessons from a peeved advertising genius What makes you volunteer? The slippery slope of association blogger outreach 7 tips to make your PowerPoints sing   Leadership Focus  The no-hassle guide to being a great mentor Mentoring people is a key part of being a good leader, but it can can also create headaches. Streamline the mentoring process by being clear from the outset about your role, time commitment and boundaries. "Make sure you start off on the right foot; the mentoring relationship will be fuss-free when you agree to some guidelines at the beginning of your relationships," writes Mary Jo Asmus. Aspire-CS.com (12/5) Use sticky notes to become a better boss in 2011 It's the time of year when business leaders start taking stock of their achievements and making sweeping plans for the months to come -- but most people won't follow through on their good intentions, writes Marla Tabaka. To keep your goals in mind in the new year, try plastering your office walls with sticky notes of various sizes and colors. Inc.com/The Successful Soloist blog (12/13) Drink your way to a more innovative workforce Hiring innovators can be tough, writes Pete Maulik, who suggests a couple of alcohol-themed hiring exercises to sort the watered-down wannabes from the premium-brand professionals. Ask potential hires to craft and present to you an innovation strategy for a beverage company of their choice, Maulik advises, or ask them to create a cocktail that expresses their personal and professional strengths. Harvard Business Review online/The Conversation blog (12/10) Other News 7 ways to inspire employees to deliver their best SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Workforce (12/2) Conquer fear to lead more creatively TanveerNaseer.com (12/6)   About SmartBrief  What we do SmartBrief publishes industry-specific e-mail newsletters in partnership with prominent associations, professional societies, corporations and nonprofits. More than 4 million executives and professionals rely on SmartBrief every day to stay informed and save them time. Visit here to view our partners, see samples and subscribe. For updates, follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook. Want to explore partnering? Let's talk.   Media 2.0  Forecasting where social-media marketing is headed in 2011 Integration will be the watchword for social-media marketers in 2011, predicts David Armano. Conventional and digital campaigns will become ever more intertwined; Facebook and Google will mingle search, social and location marketing; and branded websites will find fresh life as social-content hubs. "Even the most iconic of brands ... do not exist in their own walled garden. They must integrate to be relevant in a socially connected world," Armano writes. Harvard Business Review online/The Conversation blog (12/6) 3 rules for building word-of-mouth buzz To get your fans to talk about, tweet or otherwise share your content, you need to make the entire process as streamlined as possible, writes Andy Sernovitz. Use simple, obvious Web tools to enable sharing, and make your content compelling and concise enough that your fans keep coming back for more. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (12/9) Are you cut out to be a social-media star? To become a social-media superstar you have to show staying power, says social-media headhunter Jim Durbin. Durbin says that when he's hiring potential social-media talent, he looks not for applicants with vast Twitter followings but for those who have accrued a decade's experience in a single industry. "I base the work on length of time one can do the same thing. ... Social media is often used as a stepping stone to another job, so it's important to find someone who likes what they're doing now," he says. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (12/6) Other News Twitter tells brands how to break into the trending-topics list The Wall Street Journal/Speakeasy blog (12/8) How Tumblr beats Facebook and Twitter at their own game John Battelle's Searchblog (12/11)   SmartNugget  Is your online reputation out of your hands? It's just a matter of time before technology makes it possible for employers to pull together comprehensive profiles of job candidates based on data on the Web, Dawn Rasmussen writes. Careerealism.com (12/13)     Subscriber Tools Click here to unsubscribe from all future promotional messages. Sign up |  Print friendly format |  Web version |  Privacy policy SmartBrief Team Partnership Sales:  partnerwithsb@smartbrief.com (202) 407-7865 Senior Editor: Jessica Strelitz SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005   About SmartBrief® SmartBrief delivers the day's most important industry news to the desktops of key decision-makers. About SmartBrief All SmartBrief industry-specific publications SmartBrief in the news Partner with SmartBrief Follow us on Twitter @SmartBriefScoop Follow us on SmartBlogs   © 1999-2010 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information