| December 1, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
| Top Story |  |  | | - Strong holiday weekend buoys retailers' November sales
Retailers reported strong November sales growth on Thursday, boosted by the stronger-than-expected Thanksgiving weekend. Companies including Costco, Limited Brands, Macy's, Buckle and Wet Seal beat analysts' expectations for same-store sales growth. "A strong Black Friday punctuated our very positive sales performance throughout November at both Macy's and Bloomingdale's," said Chairman and CEO Terry J. Lundgren. Google/The Associated Press (12/1), The Wall Street Journal (12/1)       | Earn 2X rewards points on advertising costs with The New Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN. Designed to earn Membership Rewards® points faster:
• 3X points on airfare
• 2X points on advertising, gas, shipping
• 1X points on everything else
LEARN MORE AND APPLY |
  - Target bets on December discounts to boost holiday sales
Target aims to boost holiday sales and win back some of the market share it lost to Toys R Us last year with deep discounts on hot toys and other items throughout December. Target sells between 35% and 40% of its toys in November and December and the chain aims to better the 0.9% December sales increase it reported last year. Reuters (11/30) - Save Mart plans smaller format for Maxx Value
Save Mart Supermarkets plans to open more Maxx Value Foods stores, but at 20,000 square feet or less and with about 10,000 SKUs. Typical Save Mart stores are about 50,000 square feet, and the retailer opened a 34,000-square-foot Maxx Value store in 2010. "We need to make it smaller because customers really like a smaller footprint," said an executive. Supermarket News (11/30)  | Which retailers are winning with better customer engagement?
Aberdeen’s connected store survey shows how top-performing retailers are boosting profits by personalizing the shopping experience, and what other retailers are doing to catch up. This White Paper provides a practical roadmap for what Aberdeen identifies as a fundamental transformation in retailing. Today, it’s yours at no cost! Download your copy now! |
 - Most U.S. consumers buy some organic products
Organic-foods purchases have gone thoroughly mainstream, per a survey carried out by the Organic Trade Association in cooperation with KIWI Magazine, with the data showing that 78% of U.S. households buy at least some organic foods, although the poll did not specify how frequently such purchases are made. The survey looked at the purchasing attitudes and practices of about 1,300 U.S. families. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (11/30) - Does luxury footwear trend have legs?
Luxury footwear is on the upswing and department stores from Harrods to Neiman Marcus, but industry experts say one of the key things about shoes is how fast trends change. "The type of shoe category du jour is a fashion statement, and I expect this trend to last a few years and then shift elsewhere," said Paula Rosenblum, managing partner at RSR, Miami. Luxury Daily (11/30)  | Principles of Checkweighing - Building an Effective Program
This essential guide is an invaluable resource of checkweighing information and a definitive reference providing an insight into all aspects of checkweighing from basic principles to implementation of a comprehensive program. Request your free copy now! |
 - Wal-Mart debuts its first social-gifting app
 Wal-Mart launched a new service called Shopycat, a Facebook application that offers users gift recommendations for friends based on their behavior on the social site. In addition to recommending products the retailer sells, it will also offer up suggestions from more than 20 other merchants including Barnes & Noble, Hot Topic and RedEnvelope. TechCrunch (11/30) - Microsoft asks businesses to rethink Kinect
Microsoft has unveiled a business-centric campaign marketing its Kinect motion-sensing system, which was originally developed for gaming. The campaign pushes the motion sensing device in conjunction with Windows SDK, touting it as a development tool and inviting companies to be inspired by the platform's flexibility. The campaign's focus on imagination is a step forward for Microsoft, which in the past had trouble getting back listing features, writes Scott Gillum. Forbes (11/29)  | Logistics is much more than the movement of goods and services. It's also your pre-game strategy. Before you step on the court, you need the right players running the right plays at the right time. Learn more about those key plays in this free whitepaper from UPS and get in the game of logistics. |
  | How are technology leaders adapting to the change and complexity that mark today’s economic landscape? Read this white paper to identify the 4 patterns, or mandates, employed by CIOs when leveraging business and information technology to innovate. Learn how each pattern indicated a distinct approach to IT leadership, and are derived from specific organizational needs. |
| NRF News | | | | - Why industry executives find value in Retail's BIG Show
From Steve Sadove at Saks to Stephen Sparrow at SAP, industry executives head to Retail's BIG Show every January in New York for unsurpassed education, countless networking opportunities, and insight into what's on the horizon. In a short video, see why some of the industry's most prominent executives call the BIG Show "the mecca for retail." Read more. Retail's BIG Blog (12/1) - How to boost holiday sales with data you already have
Before shipping deadlines hit in a few weeks, historical patterns show that the next two Mondays may be significant sales days. Shop.org Head of Research Fiona Swerdlow says, "Retailers are sitting on a gold mine of sales data garnered over Black Friday weekend and Cyber Monday, which they should now use to make the most of the next few weeks." In a recent post on the Shop.org blog, Swerdlow shares 3 tactics to use now to boost sales between now and Dec. 24 with existing data. Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - San Francisco's "Happy Meal" toy ban starts today
McDonald's is no longer offering free toys with its Happy Meals in San Francisco to comply with a new city law that takes effect today, but the chain plans to sell toys for 10 cents upon request, with the proceeds going to support its Ronald McDonald House charity. The city won national attention for the ordinance, and similar measures are now pending in New York and Michigan. San Francisco Chronicle (11/30), Bloomberg Businessweek (11/30) - Restaurants see a strong start to the holiday season
Black Friday food and drink sales rose 11.7% compared with the same day last year, according to First Data. Quickservice chains can build business by encouraging consumers to "skip brown bagging," said an official with WorkPlace Media, which teamed with Technomic on a report finding people with jobs are 50% more likely to dine out over the holiday season compared with the rest of the year. QSR Magazine (11/2011)  | Wal-Mart, DSW and Winn-Dixie showcase solutions at Retail’s BIG Show
With 400+ exhibitors at Retail’s BIG Show, Jan. 15-18 in New York City, you’ll have ample opportunities to see cutting-edge solutions in action. Retailers get a free pass to the EXPO and programming on the EXPO floor. Register now. | | | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Sales Associate - Contemporary, Women's Designer, Jewelry | Saks Fifth Avenue | Naples, FL | | Director, Marketing Analytics | Saks Fifth Avenue | New York, NY | | Coordinator, Communications and Public Affairs | National Retail Federation | Washington, DC | | Assistant General Manager | Saks Fifth Avenue | Tulsa, OK | | Brand Ambassadors- Escada, Cartier and Burberry | Saks Fifth Avenue | Tulsa, TX | | Personal Shopper/Stylist - Saks "Fifth Avenue Club" Consultant | Saks Fifth Avenue | Sarasota, FL | | Director of Learning and Development | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Director of Store Operations | Francesca's Collections | Houston, TX | | VP DMM Boys | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | Manager, Retail Communications/Training | L.L. Bean | Freeport, ME | | Director, International Government Affair | The Clorox Company | Oakland, CA | | Paralegal III | The Clorox Company | Oakland, CA | | Alterations Associate | Saks Fifth Avenue | Miami , FL | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
 | |  | | The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
 | | | Interested in learning more about advertising with SmartBrief? Click here for detailed industry information and media kits.  | | |  | |  |
| SmartQuote | | | |  | A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying."
--B.F. Skinner,
American psychologist, inventor and author  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com
| | | | | | | | | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: - Wednesday, November 30, 2011
- Tuesday, November 29, 2011
- Monday, November 28, 2011
- Wednesday, November 23, 2011
- Tuesday, November 22, 2011
| | | Lead Editor: Megan Conniff
Contributing Editor: Faye Rapoport
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | | | | | | © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
Nearly one-quarter of Black Friday shoppers were at the stores by midnight on Black Friday. Source: 
