Sears chairman maps turnaround strategy

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

May 3, 2012 News for the retail industry   Top Story    Target decides to stop selling Amazon's Kindle Target, the first retailer outside Amazon to sell the Kindle, will phase out the e-reader but continue stocking Barnes & Noble's Nook and testing an enhanced display for Apple's iPad, the company said. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (5/2)      Licensing Apparel and Footwear Products? Get to Know KIDS. Learn how, why, and where kids up to age 14 are buying and using fashion products, and which licenses they love. With the Kids Industry Data ServiceSM (KIDS), you can make licensing decisions with confidence. Download a free report excerpt and join us for a complimentary Webinar.   Industry Watch    Sears chairman maps turnaround strategy Sears plans to invest millions in its Shop Your Way customer rewards program and improve store layout and design as part of a proactive strategy to improve sales, chairman Edward Lampert told shareholders at the retailer's annual meeting Wednesday. "We are not here to just survive. We are here to transform." Reuters (5/2)      Best Buy's chief marketing officer resigns Best Buy ice president and chief marketing officer Barry Judge has left the company to "explore the next chapter in his career," a spokesman said Wednesday. Judge's resignation follows the departures of CEO Brian Dunn and technology chief Robert Stephens, who created the Geek Squad. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (5/2)      Finish Line to add 327 jobs in Indiana Athletic shoe and apparel retailer Finish Line plans to expand operations at its Indianapolis headquarters and create 327 new jobs by 2015, the company said. The company currently employs 11,000 people worldwide, including 700 at corporate headquarters. The Indianapolis Star (5/1)      Other News Greenpeace recognizes Whole Foods, Safeway MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (5/2)      Tumi debuts revamped layout at new Flatiron store Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (5/2)      Which do you choose: Customer frustration…or channel integration? Today's consumers expect to shop the way technology lets them work and live: easily, efficiently and seamlessly across channels. Aberdeen's 2012 Analyst Insight on the Omni-Channel Retail Experience explains how your competitors make that happen – and how you can too! This $399 value is now yours free. Download the report now!   Retail Trends    3 top "This is Retail" winners share common traits Eden in Love's Tanna Dang, Market Alley Wines' Susan Kaufman and The Polka Dot Press' Kim Williams are three local merchants whose small businesses give back to the community. The three winners of NRF's "This is Retail" contest beat out much bigger retailers in the contest by rallying their loyal customers, illustrating the vital role played by independent, small-town retailers. Retail's BIG Blog (5/3)        Men change the way they shop for underwear Sales of men's underwear rose 7% last year, according to NPD Group, and men are spending more on designer underwear, a boon for brands including Calvin Klein and Diesel. Some are dropping more than $100 a pair for Frigo No. 1 briefs, a new brand from Sweden that features an adjustable interior pouch and other high-tech features. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (5/2)      When flash mobs are a good thing for local merchants Flash mobs have become "cash mobs" in 35 U.S. cities, where groups descend on a specific local shop, each prepared to spend between $10 and $20 in what organizers are also calling "reverse Groupons." The events are a "chance for business owners to begin building a longer-term relationship with customers," said blogger Christopher Smith, who organized the first cash mob last year in Buffalo, N.Y. STORES magazine (5/2012)      Interactive marketers are feeling the pressure from government to offer clear, transparent privacy regulations for consumers. This free whitepaper, discusses various legislation, such as the EU Cookie Directive, and outlines how marketers must comply while offering a positive and enriching consumer interaction via the new paradigms of consensual targeting. Get the free whitepaper here.   Main Street    Spring organization tips for small-business finances To get your business' finances in order, it's a good idea to meet with a CPA and to make sure your business is structured properly, writes Nellie Akalp of CorpNet.com. "Sometimes an entity is formed with one income target in mind, and you might need to reconsider the entity for a different income level," she writes. It's also important to make sure your business and personal finances are separated from one another, she writes. Mashable (5/1)      The Essential Guide to Choosing a Web Analytics and Online Marketing Solution Today’s web analytics technologies are far superior to the relatively crude clickstream data capture of 10 years ago. Selecting a web analytics and online marketing solution is a high-stakes decision that can shape your company’s fortunes for years to come. Read this white paper to learn how to select the optimal solution for your needs.   Policy & Government Affairs    Retailers push for more flexibility in apparel trade rules Retailers and NRF are supporting a push by senators from both parties to urge President Obama to consider including textile and apparel rules in ongoing talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. "The U.S. trade representative should immediately heed congressional calls to reform these anti-free trade restrictions in the TPP, and reaffirm the nation's commitment to free and open trade," said NRF's international trade counsel Erik Autor. The Hill (5/2)      On the Internet, page-loading delays can stop customers from buying. Download our free report 3 Proven Ways to Boost Transactions with Web Acceleration and learn how Limelight Network's front-end acceleration technology can improve Time to Actions.   Sponsored Content    Top Employee Time-Wasters and How to Prevent Them Royale Scuderi 6 Business Lessons From 50 Shades of Grey Rieva Lesonsky Tory Burch: Ambition Is Not a Four-Letter Word Kim Bhasin Does Your Insurance Carrier Owe You Money? Courtney Rubin 3 Essential Financial Goals for Any Business Annie Mueller   NRF News  NRF releases 2nd quarter Retail Sales Outlook "There is no doubt that the economy is on the upswing, certainly compared to six months ago," writes NRF's Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz in NRF's most recent Retail Sales Outlook, a quarterly report on industry sales. The report uses recent economic data to analyze the impact of key indicators such as employment and the housing market on retail sales growth. NRF members, download a free copy of the report. Learn more.      NRF SmartStat: May 3, 2012 More than one-quarter of loss prevention executives said organized retail crime threats to their company can be rated as “severe” or “significant.” Source: NRF 2011 Organized Retail Crime survey.        Free live streaming of today's San Francisco digital retail marketing workshop Learn the latest tips and tactics on digital retail marketing from the comfort of your own office as executives from Gap and Sephora come together for a half-day workshop in San Francisco. Today's seminar presented by Shop.org and RAMA will be live-streamed -- and free! Take this opportunity to review the latest research on Internet trends, marketing innovation and what's next in social and mobile. The program runs 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. PDT. Learn more or register now.      Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  Former defense secretary joins Starbucks board Starbucks has named former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to its 11-member board of directors, a group that also includes former J.C. Penney Chairman and CEO Myron E. Ullman III. Gates spent five years as defense secretary under presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The Wall Street Journal (5/2)      Position Title Company Name Location Manager, Mast Global Operations & Integration Limited Brands Columbus, OH Customer Intelligence Strategist GFS Marketplace Grand Rapids , MI Director of Catalog Merchandising/Creative Scrubs & Beyond, LLC St. Louis , MO Senior Buyer Floor and Decor Outlets of America, Inc. Smryna, GA Director of Payroll Burlington Coat Factory Burlington, NJ Merchandise Buyer Gorsuch Ltd. Vail, CO Senior Manager of Field Human Resources Ollie's Bargain Outlet Harrisburg, PA Senior Director of Quality and Product Safety Walmart Shenzhen, China Buyer, Hardgoods Moosejaw Mountaineering Madison Heights, MI Category Manager/Buyer The Vitamin Shoppe North Bergen , NJ Retail Merchandise Manager Le Creuset of America, Inc./Schiller Stores, Inc. Early Branch, SC Wholesale Visual Coordinator MacKenzie-Childs LLC New York, NY Director of Retail, Travel Hospitality Service Delaware North Companies Buffalo, NY Merchandise Planner Burlington Coat Factory Burlington, NJ Fashion Product Manager (Sourcing Manager) Target Minneapolis, MN Product Manager (Sourcing Manager) Target Minneapolis, MI Fashion Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN Target.com Merchandising Buyer Target Minneapolis, MN Retail Buyer - Home Target Minneapolis, MN Women's Designer Selling Manager Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills, CA Merchandise Planner Stein Mart Jacksonville, FL Click here to view more job listings.   SmartQuote  Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies." --Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist and poet        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:  Dena Malouf (202) 407-7837 Download Media Kit Job Board:  Jackie Basso (202) 407-7871       Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues: Wednesday, May 02, 2012 Tuesday, May 01, 2012 Monday, April 30, 2012 Friday, April 27, 2012 Thursday, April 26, 2012     Lead Editor:  Megan Conniff Contributing Editor:  Faye Rapoport     Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004     © 1999-2012 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information

Infrastructure issues at home, political issues abroad test the supply chain--STORES Weekly

Vol. 3, No. 18 May 3, 2012 follow STORES Media on    upcoming webinars How Chick-fil-A serves up customer satisfaction with Wi-Fi -- Sponsored by Aerohive When Chick-fil-A needed to upgrade its wireless networking infrastructure with fast, reliable Wi-Fi coverage to support drive-thru lanes for POS and back office network access across 100 of its stores, they went in search of a new WLAN vendor to fulfill all their requirements. Join us to hear their experience searching for the right Wi-Fi vendor for their stores and how they lowered their TCO and increased customer satisfaction by deploying Wi-Fi. Thursday, May 17 at 2 p.m. Eastern Bumpy Road Ahead Infrastructure issues at home, sourcing and political issues abroad test the strength of the supply chain Arguably the greatest challenge to retailers' supply chain is infrastructure investment, and while Congress acknowledges that this could play a significant role in the economy’s rebound and increase the competitiveness of American workers, passage of a long-term transportation bill remains uncertain. Operating Outside the Luxury Box Customizable, affordable jewelry fuels Pandora’s growth As the U.S. slipped into recession, Pandora was uniquely situated to offer customers affordable, customizable luxury. Pandora’s sales doubled between 2009 and 2010, and items are now available in 3,100 retailers across North America, including 250 concept stores. Both Guns Blazing Cabela’s gets organized to beat in-store, online retail theft A purveyor of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise, Cabela’s has created a team of asset protection professionals with twin focuses: combating ORC in its 34 stores across the United States and in Canada, and organized e-commerce crime (OECC) in its considerable online business. Menswear Made-to-Measure -- Two words keep popping up in trend reports -- customization and personalization. Gucci executives are heeding the call to action. A Shoe-in for Success? -- Madonna has dabbled in clothes, accessories, lingerie and fragrances. Now comes news that the pop icon has teamed with Aldo footwear to design her own shoe collection. Interest in Pinterest -- Tapping into consumers’ obsession for the social networking site Pinterest, Harrods recently invited users to design their own store window for the “Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party.”   California-based supermarket chain Raley’s Family of Fine Stores has expanded its use of Aldata Space Automation to create and maintain category- to store-specific planograms for high-volume categories, and, in turn, enable broader vendor collaboration. Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin has selected the Epicor suite of retail solutions to support its growing retail operations. Cabela’s Incorporated has selected the SAP Point-of-Sale application to support its retail expansion and enhance its customer experience.    view all whitepapers available for download Business and Strategy Reducing PCI Scope and Assessment Costs with Tokenization — sponsored by Intel Organizations that accept, capture, store, transmit or process a high volume of credit card and debit card data are required to complete annual onsite PCI DSS compliance assessments whose costs range from $225,000 - $500,000 depending on the number of systems in PCI scope. Available in multiple form factors and supported by world-class Intel engineering, Intel® Tokenization Broker reduces PCI scope, lowers assessment costs, and is the only product in the market to support Tokenization Proxy and Security Gateway on a single platform. Business and Strategy Retail Analytics: The Perfect Business Enhancement — sponsored by CitiXsys Holiday revenue from your e-commerce site can make your year – if you are prepared. Even one hour of downtime can mean a big loss – and a malicious attack could do serious harm to your business. Business and Strategy Understanding Kiosk Requirements — sponsored by Zebra Kiosks are increasingly common—hundreds of thousands of new units are being deployed each year, in a variety of retail, hospitality, healthcare and other environments—but are also increasingly complex, offering a range of applications, displays, multimedia capabilities and integration options. Information Technology The Wireless Revolution — sponsored by NCR In-store Wi-Fi is a unique way to deliver a more complete retail experience. Enabling wireless interactions gives retailers a competitive edge to better engage and influence customers at the moment of decision – inside the store. This whitepaper from NCR Corporation highlights how retailers can maximize in-store wireless deployments and highlights pitfalls and common mistakes. Marketing Harvard Business Review Insight Center Report, The Future of Retail — sponsored by SAS This Harvard Business Review report is packed with more than 30 thought-provoking articles that explore how advanced analytics is taking retail to a new tipping point. Category giants like Walmart, Best Buy, Staples, the Apple Store and Trader Joe’s are featured in case study after case study – as experts give their insights on such topics as customer engagement, social media, merchandise assortment and inventory optimization. Merchandising Reducing RFID Media Costs for Best Value — sponsored by Zebra There’s just so much you can manually do with your hiring process, and you’re tired of looking at the pile of paper resumes on your desk! There is a more efficient way go through these resumes: implement a recruitment technology. View the ULTIMATE checklist on what to look for in a HR technology. Supply Chain Ryder's Reverse Logistics - From Black Hole to Untapped Revenue Stream — sponsored by Ryder Recognizing that reverse logistics can drive real impact to the bottom line, this is an area of high priority for companies looking to reduce costs, add efficiencies, improve the customer experience and build sustainable supply chain practices. As a result, manufacturers are uncovering the hidden value of resturned assets and streamlining return, repair and product reallocation processes. Find out how you're company can benefit from effective reverse logistics management.   Pleased with the performance of MI9 Business Intelligence, Everything But Water plans expansion on the MI9 platform by purchasing MI9 Store POS and back office.

© 2012 NRF Enterprises

Unsubscribe from STORES communications Unsubscribe from all NRF email communications (including ARTS, LP Information, NCCR, NRF Foundation, RAMA, Shop.org, and STORES).