STORES' Top 100 list includes Ascena Retail Group, Amazon

Reading this on a mobile device? Try our optimized mobile version here: http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dcgyCaiGapCarjbKCidarfCicNDFsu

August 1, 2011 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch  New Gap campaign eyes U.S., global markets Gap's fall campaign looks past the U.S. market with a global appeal. Ads will target international markets including China, Australia and Japan. The campaign, the first from new agency Ogilvy & Mather, includes a focus on social media and custom content. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (8/1), The Denver Post/The Associated Press (7/31)      Wal-Mart shifts strategy to include more locally grown produce Wal-Mart Stores is adding more locally grown produce, reducing transportation costs and giving consumers what they want. Wal-Mart's goal to make 9% of its produce local by 2015 is being scrutinized, as critics suggest that the chain is using the "locally grown" label for food that is produced hundreds of miles away. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (8/1)      GameStop makes digital downloads available in-store GameStop is capitalizing on its acquisition of Impulse Inc. to sell digital versions of games in-store. Impulse is providing the technology. The digital versions also can be purchased through GameStop's website. Yahoo!/Digital Trends (7/29)      Other News Best Buy uses TiVo platform to promote Insignia Connected TV VentureBeat (7/31)      Target to drop iPhone prices by up to $40 Electronista (7/30)      Office Depot invests in sales center in Texas Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (7/29)      The Business Platinum Card® from American Express OPEN Spending power for your business. Premium benefits for you. Access a portfolio of 30+ premium benefits, including: • Membership Rewards® points that pay for flights, hotels, and more • 24/7, 1-on-1 Concierge for help with your life and your Business • Annual $200 Airline Fee Credit for any airline Business Platinum Card APPLY NOW   Retail trends    STORES' Top 100 list includes Ascena Retail Group, Amazon NRF's STORES magazine has released its list of Top 100 Retailers, which includes Ascena Retail Group, Amazon and Tesco's Fresh & Easy in its top three slots. "Innovation is paying dividends to retailers, even in this economy," said Susan Reda, editor at STORES Media. "Many of today's shoppers are making purchasing decisions not only on price, but also based on how connected they feel to brands." STORES magazine (8/2011)      Turning Online Shopper Uncertainty into a New Source of Sales and Profits. Eliminating consumer uncertainty is a challenge for all online merchants. The question is, how can you address shoppers' concerns and increase sales and profits in the process? Download the buySAFE white paper to learn more NOW!   Retail Technology    Shanghai shoppers test tablet attached to grocery carts SK Telecom is testing a tablet installed on grocery carts in Shanghai to improve shopper experience. A shopper downloads a "smart cart" application to a smartphone, which syncs with the tablet to offer coupons, create a shopping list and alert customers to an offer as they come near a product. Real-time updates can be sent to the tablet. So far the technology is being planned only for China and South Korea. Yahoo!/Digital Trends (7/30)        Other News Aeropostale targets teens with mobile-phone apps MobileCommerceDaily.com (8/1)      White Paper: The Sustainability Advantage in CPG — Accelerating Success with Eco-Design. Learn how CPG manufacturers, private label providers and retailers can gain valuable time and a competitive edge by developing and executing a cohesive sustainability strategy across the enterprise, leveraging PLM. Download it now.   Hot Topics  Top five news stories selected by NRF SmartBrief readers in the past week. How Karl Lagerfeld's 45-piece collection will benefit Macy's (Forbes) Macy's, H&M, Saks to star in new NBC reality show (Variety) Teenager is 5th victim of mall slashings since February (The Washington Post) Michaels rolls out new mobile tools to aid in-store experience (MobileCommerceDaily.com) 2011's top back-to-school trends include deals, survey finds (Retail's BIG Blog) Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.   Sponsored Content    The Leader's Checklist For The Startup Manager Michael Useem The Best Advice I Ever Received: 3 Top Executives On Tips That Count Leo Bottary Top 10 Excuses For Not Going Global Laurel Delaney 4 Marketing Ideas That Are Sure To Make A Splash Susan Kuchinskas How To Take Advantage Of A Captive Audience Rohit Bhargava Most Popular Headlines from Last Week 9 Ways To Write Great E-mail Subject Lines Helen Jane Hearn How To Recognize-And Avoid-Office Jerks Patricia Laya Why A Former Starbucks Exec Opened His Own Coffee Shop Shira Levine Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.   NRF News  Dress Barn, hhgregg, Netflix among fastest growing retailers in U.S. A fresh batch of retailers is benefiting from precise market segmentation, innovative solutions and good old-fashioned popularity among consumers. According to the STORES Hot 100 Retailers list, published in the August issue of STORES Magazine, the fastest-growing retailers in the country are thinking outside the box -- and seeing big rewards. Read more.      NRF SmartStat: Aug. 1, 2011 Almost 30% of consumers said they would be making do with last year's school items in order to save money during back-to-school shopping. Source: NRF survey conducted by BIGresearch.        Improve your sales team's performance with University wired From tips on how to build customer loyalty to selling strategies for new associates, NRF's University wired offers a variety of sales courses for your retail associates and managers. Featured sales courses include "Selling Essentials" and "An Introduction to Selling and Service." University wired also features online training in retail management, operations and loss prevention. Learn more.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  "Smurfs" Happy Meal goes green, stays healthy A new Happy Meal promotion running through Aug. 25 ties into the movie "The Smurfs," promoting healthy eating and environmental responsibility. As part of a partnership with Keep America Beautiful, children can "Smurf the Earth" when they get Apple Dippers; the packaging comes with a code they can enter at HappyMeal.com, then the company will plant a tree. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (7/29)      Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants thrive despite recession Sally Smith, CEO of Buffalo Wild Wings, talks about how she grew the business from a few college bars to a successful chain of 750 restaurants. Revenue at the public company rose 14% last year despite the downturn that hurt other chains. Smith attributes some of the success to the company's culture of motivated, high-energy employees who connect well with customers. The Sun Herald (Biloxi-Gulfport, Miss.)/The Associated Press (7/28)      Cheesecake to offer reduced-calorie "SkinnyLicious" menu The Cheesecake Factory is set to announce today a plan to introduce a "SkinnyLicious" line of 40 dishes with calorie guidelines. The chain is bowing to consumer interest in healthier food, and choices will include 15 entrees that contain fewer than 590 calories. USA TODAY (8/1)      Director, Safety and Health OfficeMax Naperville, IL Sales Associate Saks Fifth Avenue Phoenix, AZ Sales Associate Saks Fifth Avenue- San Francisco, CA San Francisco, CA Sales & Education Executive Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics Nationwide, United States Business Analyst Five Below, Inc. Philadelphia, PA District Manager Five Below, Inc. Philadelphia, PA Loss Prevention Exception Reporting Manager Stein Mart Jacksonville, Florida, FL SALES ASSOCIATES AND BEAUTY SPECIALISTS SAKS FIFTH AVENUE STAMFORD, CT SALES ASSOCIATES AND SALES SUPPORT ASSOCIATES SAKS FIFTH AVENUE HUNTINGTON STATION, LONG ISLAND, NY SALES ASSOCIATES SAKS FIFTH AVENUE TROY, MI Department Manager - Designer - Saks Fifth Avenue Chicago Saks Fifth Avenue Chicago, IL Senior Retail Marketing Advertising Manager Cabela's Sidney, NE Manager, Product Training Samsung Electronics America, Inc Ridgefield Park, NJ Sales Associate UNIQLO Manhattan, NY IT Opportunities Belk Inc. Charlotte, NC Store Manager - Bealls Bealls Orlando, FL Fashion Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN   SmartQuote  The theory seems to be that as long as a man is a failure he is one of God's children, but that as soon as he succeeds he is taken over by the Devil." --H.L. Mencken, American journalist and essayist        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 Grab our News Widget Publish your Press Release   Advertise Associate Publisher:  Susan W. Kim (202) 407-7877 Download Media Kit Job Board:  Jackie Basso (202) 407-7871       Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: Friday, July 29, 2011 Thursday, July 28, 2011 Wednesday, July 27, 2011 Tuesday, July 26, 2011 Monday, July 25, 2011     Lead Editor:  Megan Conniff Contributing Editor:  Faye Rapoport     Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information