| December 28, 2012 | News for the retail industry |
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- What were 2012's hottest holiday retail trends?
Surging online traffic, more Black Friday leaks and the reemergence of layaway are a few of the 10 biggest retail trends of the season, according to Time. This year also saw rises in self-gifting and the popularity of gift cards, which topped the list of most-requested presents according to an NRF survey. Time.com
(12/28)     
| Industry Watch | | |
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- Wal-Mart to keep a closer watch on warehouses
Wal-Mart will develop an auditing system to monitor U.S. warehouses operated by subcontractors in a manner similar to the company's oversight of vendors' overseas factories, the retailer said Thursday. The move comes in response to complaints about working conditions at warehouses that sort and ship goods to Wal-Mart stores and fulfill online orders, work that's increasingly outsourced to third-party logistics companies. The Wall Street Journal
(12/27)
| Retail Trends | | |
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- Savvier stocking boosts holiday profits
Shopper traffic and sales growth may have slowed this season, but many retailers including Macy's, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren and Coach are on track to see higher profits as a result of better ordering and inventory systems that will allow them to avoid deep discounting, analysts say. "The retailers coming out of the holiday season on top have done an excellent job with their inventories," said strategist Megan Donadio. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model)/Bloomberg
(12/27)
- Merchants move toward more same-day delivery
Hints that Amazon aims to increase its same-day delivery options have retailers of all sizes, from Wal-Mart to Shoptiques, scrambling to compete. The services required, however, are often money-losing and may not even be perks customers want, analysts say. "There's lots going on in this space, and it's all driven by Amazon," said Tom Allason, founder and CEO of Shutl, a U.K.-based delivery service. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(12/27)
| Retail Technology | | |
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- Push notifications come into fashion for Cache
Cache's use of mobile push notifications typifies how the marketing tactic came of age in 2012, writes Christopher Heine. Cache establishes user preferences on frequency when consumers download the application, and it employs location-based push notifications of promotions when shoppers are in proximity to one of Cache's 262 retail stores. "It no longer feels like an invasion. It's feeling more like an invitation. It's signaling a greater degree of personalization in the app experience," says Usablenet Chief Marketing Officer Carin van Vuuren, adding that half of the company's app launches in 2012 have included push. Adweek
(12/27)
| Policy & Government Affairs | | |
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- NRF CEO shares insights on port strike, "fiscal cliff"
 A longshoremen's strike at 15 East Coast and Gulf ports would have a ripple effect through the entire economy, piling on troubles at a time when the economy is struggling to recover, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in this Bloomberg interview. He also offered insights on the failure to find a resolution to the "fiscal cliff" issue and shared concerns about the impact on consumer confidence and retail spending if the budget problems drag on next year. Bloomberg
(12/27)
| NRF News | | |
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NRF SmartStat: Dec. 28, 2012
 More than 4,500 people like NRF on Facebook. View the group.
- How the Renewable Fuel Standard mandate impacts chain restaurants
Though implemented with good intentions, energy policies encouraging the use of ethanol not only impact the corn market but have unintended consequences for other parts of the economy. A recently released study from The National Council of Chain Restaurants and PricewaterhouseCoopers combines existing private-sector, academic and government studies to show how the Renewable Fuel Standard drives up costs for corn and other agricultural commodities and the effect that has on chain restaurants. Download the report.
| Chain Restaurant News | | |
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- Burger King signs 6-country Central American franchise deal
Burger King has signed long-time franchisee Beboca Ltd. to a joint-venture agreement making it the master franchisee in six Central American countries. Beboca will take over 178 restaurants in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, and will have exclusive rights to develop new units in those countries, the company said. The Wall Street Journal
(12/27)
 | The Main Street retailer's guide to social media and more at Retail's BIG Show
Retail's BIG Show, Jan. 13-16 in New York, features a special day of programming designed for small- and mid-sized businesses. The Main Street Retailing Forum, sponsored by American Express, features best practices presented by retailers and experts. Learn more.
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| Position Title | Company Name | Location |
| Assistant Buyer | Everything But Water | Orlando, FL |
| Merchandise Buyer | Everything But Water | Orlando, FL |
| Regional Loss Prevention Manager, St. Louis, Mo | Victoria's Secret | St. Louis, MO |
| Site Support Engineer/Developer-Omni Channel | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ |
| Solutions Architect/Analyst (Integration)-Omni Channel | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ |
| Solutions Architect/Analyst (Functional)-Omni Channel | PetSmart | Phoenix, AZ |
| AVP of Marketing | West Marine | Watsonville, CA |
| Risk Manager | West Marine | Watsonville, CA |
| Director of Compensation & Benefits | West Marine | Watsonville, CA |
| Assistant Designer | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee , WI |
| District Manager | Francesca's Collections | Raleigh, NC |
| Oracle Retail Business Consultant | Oracle America, Inc. | Nationwide, United States |
| Human Resources Business Partner | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ |
| E-Commerce Merchandiser | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ |
| Strategic Sourcing Manager - Indirect Categories | Ross Stores Inc. | Pleasanton, CA |
| Director, Merchandising Operations | REI | Kent, WA |
| Director Retail Operations | HMSHost | Detroit, MI |
| Merchandise Buyer - Multiple Categories, Multiple Channels | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee/Menomonee Falls, WI |
| Merchandise Planner - Multiple Categories | Kohl's Department Stores | Menomonee Falls, WI |
| Director, Event Licensing & Direct to Retail | Viacom | New York, NY |
| E-Commerce Merchant | Kohl's Department Stores | Milwaukee / Menomonee Falls, WI |
| Oracle Retail Technical Consultant | Oracle America, Inc. | Nationwide, United States |
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| SmartQuote | | |
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 | If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart."
--Socrates,
Greek philosopher
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| | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues:
- Thursday, December 27, 2012
- Wednesday, December 26, 2012
- Monday, December 24, 2012
- Friday, December 21, 2012
- Thursday, December 20, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: Megan Conniff
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