  | March 1, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
- Urban Outfitters' new HQ incorporates former naval yard's history
Urban Outfitters has spent about $120 million so far to turn the 1,200-acre former Philadelphia Navy Yard into its sprawling new corporate campus, using a design that was carefully planned to incorporate elements of the site's history. The company restored the site's rusting landmark buildings, transforming them into funky warehouses and office space, where the mix of old and new represents the flavors of Urban Outfitters stable of brands. Bloomberg (2/28)       - Gap maps Japan expansion with plans to debut Old Navy
 Gap plans to bring its Old Navy brand to Japan in the near future as part of an aggressive international expansion effort. The country is home to the chain's largest number of namesake stores in Asia, and this week Gap will open a four-story Gap flagship in Ginza's upscale shopping district. "We are still bullish about Japan. We still think there are tremendous opportunities here with online, Old Navy, more stores ... we're not done," said John Ermatinger, Gap's president of Asia Pacific. The Wall Street Journal (3/1) - Macy's gears up for spring break in Chicago
Macy's will host a Star Beach Party at its downtown Chicago store this weekend featuring clothing, food, live music and giveaways. The event, produced by Marc USA, is being promoted online and through text messages and to local students via a roving ad van. The party could be the first of a series of spring break-themed events in college towns, the retailer says. The New York Times (free registration) (2/28)  | How can you help your company get well sooner?
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 - Retail coalition aims to assign green scores to apparel
A new coalition of high-profile retailers, apparel manufacturers and environmental groups has plans to create a database cataloging the effect on the environment caused by each manufacturer and piece of clothing they make. Chains including Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney and H&M are part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which hopes to create a "sustainability score" and corresponding label for each garment that retailers sell. The New York Times (free registration) (3/1) - Merchants say marketing efforts had a hand in higher January sales
Retailers say marketing efforts aimed at combating post-holiday slowdowns were a key factor in boosting sales in January, including Macy's "Million Dollar Makeover with Clinton Kelly" contest. "Consumers have had spending power for a while. In January, retailers did a great job providing consumers with the incentive to use it," said NRF's Scott Krugman. DMNews (3/1) - Wealthy consumers steer post-recession retail recovery
Upscale retailers Nordstrom and Tiffany saw larger-than-expected sales increases last year as wealthy consumers displayed a renewed willingness to pay full price amid the recovery. It's the latest sign that much of the retail recovery is being driven by those in the top income tier, while middle-income consumers remain more cautious. The wealthiest 5% of Americans accounted for 35.5% of consumer spending in the third quarter of last year, up from 28.5% in the last quarter of 2007, just before the recession started, according to data from Moody's Analytics. MSNBC (2/28)  | Stop Being Ripped-off Twice
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Deloitte predicts businesses will purchase 25% of the electronic tablets sold this year, and major retailers are now using devices such as the iPad to engage the customer, gather customer data and check inventory to further sales. Nordstrom, J.C. Penney and Sephora are already using the tablets in some stores. "This is not going to be a novelty. It's going to be a sea change in how retailers transact and interact with customers," said Ken Nisch, chairman of retail design firm JGA. Los Angeles Times (2/28)  | Keep business cards and notes together — Everyone has experienced the frustration of returning from a meeting, trade show,
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 | Main Street |  | | | - 10 ways to survive the off-season
Most of us are ready for spring to arrive, but none so much as operators of seasonal small businesses that thrive in warmer weather. Rhonda Abrams gives tips for owners of seasonal businesses on managing cash flow, when to start marketing and what to do during the off-season. USA TODAY (2/24) - 6 ideas to find help without hiring
As the recovery picks up steam, many businesses need more workers, but they are still uncertain or financially unable to hire. Inexpensive ways to get the help you need include hiring an intern or a contractor, outsourcing abroad or hiring a teenager, Carol Tice wrote. Entrepreneur.com/Daily Dose blog (2/28)  | |  | | The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
Fast-fashion business models require retailers to turn over their inventory two to three times faster than traditional stores. This places a huge emphasis on selecting the ideal mix of sizes for each location. Learn how one company increased sales and reduced losses by optimizing its size profiling process. Read the success story.
Interested in learning more about advertising in NRF SmartBrief? Contact Susan W. Kim at (202) 407-7877 or skim@smartbrief.com.  | |  | |  |
| NRF News | | | | - NRF SmartStat: March 1, 2011
 Almost 15% of Americans will spend their 2010 tax refund on a big-ticket item, such as a TV, furniture, or a car. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch - Economics 101: Retail industry committed to job creation
While retail has been at the forefront of the economic recovery, NRF has been at the forefront of providing resources to aid the industry. Visit NRF's Retail Creates Jobs headquarters -- a place to view retail employment data, insights from top executives on retail as a career and government resources for small stores and big brands alike. Visit the HQ.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Taco Bell's new ads feature employees talking up the beef
Taco Bell has launched an aggressive multichannel ad campaign starring actual employees and franchisees, the latest move in the chain's high-profile push to defend its beef. A lawsuit filed in January alleges the chain's beef is more filler than meat, claims the chain moved swiftly to counter with a full-page newspaper ad and a social media push. The Wall Street Journal (2/28) - KFC shares recipe for social media success
 KFC's ambitious social media marketing efforts have proven a hit with consumers by connecting in a genuine, fun way that also offers concrete rewards. A recent scholarship contest on Twitter drew almost 3,000 entries, says the chain's public relations manager Rick Maynard. The company plans to create further brand awareness via Twitter, Facebook and other social sites this year by telling compelling stories about Colonel Sanders. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Restaurants (3/1) | Career Track | | | |
 | |  | | | | |  |  Senior Buyer, Sports & Outdoors | Amazon.com | Seattle, WA | | Merchandise Planning and Inventory Management Senior Manager | Kurt Salmon | Multiple Locations, United States | | Product Development and Sourcing Senior Manager | Kurt Salmon | Multiple Locations, United States | | National Account Manager | Specialty Store Services | Nationwide, United States | | Senior Marketing Manager, Search Engine Optimization | macys.com | San Francisco, CA | | Manager, Merchandising Initiatives | Total Wine & More | Potomac , MD | | District Sales Manager- Texas & Oklahoma Market | Lakeshore Learning Materials | Houston, TX | | Director of Merchandising | Lakeshore Learning Materials | Carson, CA | | VP MS, SOFTLINES DIV | AAFES | Dallas, TX | | BUSINESS PLANNING BRANCH MANAGER | AAFES | Dallas, TX | | SR IT AUDIT ANALYST | AAFES | Dallas, TX | | Associate Creative Director: In-home Communications | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Buyer/Headquarters Level-Marine Corps Exchanges | Headquarters Marine Corps Community Services | Quantico MCB, VA | | Multi-Channel Strategy Sr. Manager | Deloitte Consulting LLP | Nationwide, United States | | Senior Vice President, Communities & Networks and Executive Director, Shop.org | National Retail Federation | Washington, DC | | Retail Manager | Tri-County Feeds | Marshall, VA | | | |  | |  |
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--William Shakespeare,
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