| December 7, 2011 | News for the retail industry |  |  | |
 | Who Is Buying Your Products?
Whether it's women's clothing, electronics, or auto parts, Esri® Business Analyst OnlineSM identifies the consumer segments that buy your products and reveals where your customers live. Business Analyst Online even includes market potential data that identifies areas that are underserved. Learn more about your customers with a free 14-day trial. | | Industry Watch |  |  | | - Sur la Table curries favor with foodies
 America's growing desire to recreate gourmet restaurant meals at home is feeding Sur La Table's growing sales, distinguishing itself from competitors with a larger assortment of cooking gear and store associates who teach customers how to use the products, says CEO Jack Schwefel in this CNBC interview. CNBC (12/6)      - Apple to open its biggest store in NYC
An Apple store set to open Friday at New York City's Grand Central Station will be the company's biggest. The 23,000-square-foot former restaurant space takes the title from Apple's 16,372-square-foot Covent Garden store in London. The Huffington Post (12/5) - Sears Canada CEO maps turnaround strategy
Sears Canada CEO Calvin MacDonald is focused on turning around the struggling retailer with a return to basics that includes boosting sales of appliances, mattresses and other big-ticket items. The former Loblaw executive, who took the post at Sears six months ago, also plans to refurbish stores and fix a pricing strategy that has many shoppers conditioned to buy only when things are on sale. Financial Post (Canada) (12/6), The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (12/6)  |  |  | | How to turn money you already spend into points you can use:
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  - Americans grow blase about bargains
U.S. consumers have been shopping in record numbers, but they've become so accustomed to sales that retailers may have to cut holiday pricing even further to entice them to buy, say some industry watchers. On the flip side, some shoppers are passing up bargains to pay full price for the items they really want. The Sacramento Bee (Calif.)/The Associated Press (free registration) (12/7) - Toys grow more interactive in the quest for popularity
Toys increasingly are growing more complex and interactive, with technology that lets them respond to voices and mimic human behavior, such as Mattel's Fijit doll, which knows 125 phrases and responds to 30 different voice commands. Toy makers are depending more than ever on new technology in their quest to win elusive "hot toy" status. The Wall Street Journal (12/7) - Retailers return to retro as shoppers yearn for simpler days
Retailers are feeding consumers' yen for nostalgia with 1960s and '70s fashions and other products. J.C. Penney has brought back the whoopie cushion, Macy's is selling a cotton candy machine and Urban Outfitters is stocking Polaroid cameras and Super 35 mm movie cameras. "People are looking for a safe haven these days, and anything retro feels warm and safe in these roller-coaster times," said business and psychology professor Kit Yarrow. Houston Chronicle (12/6) - More stores welcome patrons' furry friends
A growing number of boutiques, department stores and specialty chains in the Atlanta area have become pet-friendly, welcoming shoppers who venture in with their well-behaved dogs. Bath & Body Works, Bloomingdale's and The Container Store are among the chains with dog-friendly locations. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (12/6)  | COMING SOON: The most valuable e-commerce conference of 2012, ChannelAdvisor Catalyst. Everyone who's anyone in e-commerce will be there. Follow @channeladvisor to find out the Where (hint: not NC) and When for Catalyst 2012 |
 
| NRF News | | | | - 6 in 10 holiday shoppers will accompany their gift-giving with return receipts
More than 60% of holiday shoppers say they'll provide a gift receipt most or some of the time when gift-giving this holiday season, according to NRF's 2011 Holiday Returns Survey -- the highest percent in the survey's history. The survey also found more people are paying attention to and agreeing with retailers' return policies as nine in 10 Americans say they find return policies to be fair. Coinciding with the survey data, NRF shares tips for stress-free returns after the holidays. Read more. - ARTS welcomes Costco, Genesco, Starbucks, Wal-Mart among newest members
The Association of Retail Technology Standards, NRF's technology standards division, announced this week the addition of several prominent companies to its growing membership, including Costco, Genesco, Starbucks and Wal-Mart. ARTS Executive Director Richard Mader noted, "ARTS membership growth parallels the increasing business role of IT in retail, moving from records-keeping to driving the business through e-commerce, price optimization, CRM, business intelligence and a menu of other IT applications."; Read more.
| Chain Restaurant News | | | | - Starbucks fans flock to mobile payment app
One-quarter of Starbucks customers now pay for their coffee with their Starbucks card, and a growing number of patrons are paying with the chain's mobile application. More than 26 million customers paid with the app since it was launched less than a year ago, the company said. Mashable (12/5)  | |  | | The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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| |  | | Position Title | Company Name | Location | | Footwear Buyer | Forman Mills | Pennsauken, NJ | | Finance Manager | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Sr. Director, Store Planning and Construction | Spencer Gifts/Spirit Halloween | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | IS Director of Operations | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Software Applications Architect-Merch/Marketing | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ | | Visual Merchandising Manager | Castle Megastore | Tempe, AZ | | Coordinator, Communications and Public Affairs | National Retail Federation | Washington, DC | | 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 | | 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 | | Paralegal III | The Clorox Company | Oakland, CA | | Alterations Associate | Saks Fifth Avenue | Miami , FL | | Buyer - Women's Accessories and Gifts | Pier 1 Imports | Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX | | Mens Buyer | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ | | DVP Spirit Halloween Marketing, Licensing & Creative Services | Spirit Halloween | Egg Harbor Township, NJ | | | Click here to view more job listings. | | |
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Forever 21 will open three stores in China, including a 24,000-square-foot flagship in Beijing's Wangfujing shopping district. The new stores mark the U.S. chain's first foray into China since closing a short-lived underperforming store in Changshu two years ago. 
Media Logic's recently launched Retail Social Juice Index measures the impact of social marketing efforts for 500 brands across Facebook and Twitter. The index measures fan growth and other aspects of brand/fan interactions, a strategy that rates relatively tiny Yankee Candle higher than social-media superstar Victoria's Secret, says executive Ronald Ladouceur. 
Eight in 10 holiday shoppers plan to give gift cards this holiday season. Source: 
