Top Story

• Best Buy founder becomes chairman emeritus
  Best Buy founder Richard Schulze has decided to return to the retailer in the role of chairman emeritus, weeks after ending his attempt to assemble an investor group to buy the company. Schulze, the largest shareholder with a 20% stake, also named long-time colleagues Brad Anderson and Al Lenzmeier to the board of directors. The Wall Street Journal (3/25)     

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Industry Watch

• Cabela's works to win over outdoorsy women
  Outdoor gear retailer Cabela's keeps women in mind when it stocks and staffs new stores, such as the one that opened recently in Grandville, Mich., which sells jewelry and pink NRA T-shirts alongside its regular hunting and fishing gear. "Even with camo (camouflage) we are making new designs and cuts that are created specifically for women," said spokesman Wes Remmer. MLive.com (Michigan) (free registration) (3/24)     

• Mango takes success lessons from Zara
  Inspired by successful Zara and its parent Inditex, Mango has moved away from party dresses to more casual styles, cut prices about 20%, moved to adopt a fast-fashion model and increased efforts to expand outside of Spain. Mango, which plans to open 300 new stores this year, has also added new accessories and men's brands and plans to add several other new brands including plus-size styles. Bloomberg Businessweek (3/24)     

• J. Crew maps growth plans for 2013
  J. Crew, which booked an 11% rise in fourth-quarter same-store sales and $2.23 billion in 2012 sales, plans to invest between $135 million and $145 million in capital expenditures this year. The fashion retailer expects to open 46 new stores and will also invest in expanding its international online retail and digital marketing efforts. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (3/22)     

• Other News

• Actor Wendell Pierce debuts grocery for low-income neighborhood
  Supermarket News (free registration) (3/22)     

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Retail Trends

• Dollar stores stay popular as economy improves
  The popularity of discount chains including Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and Dollar General skyrocketed during the recession and is continuing to grow even as the economy improves as consumers in markets such as Lake County, Fla., look to stretch their budgets. "As the economy's improving, these customers have found they're willing to shop across all segments," said NRF vice president Dan Butler. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (tiered subscription model) (3/24)     

• Supermarkets up the ante on prepared foods
  Grocery store chains including Whole Foods, Fairway and ShopRite have been stepping up their prepared food offerings with hot bars and salad bars that rival the menu at many restaurant chains. "Prepared foods are the future," said Joe Gozzi, director of food service for ShopRite. "It's been growing double digits for us." NorthJersey.com (Hackensack, N.J.) (free registration) (3/24)     

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Retail Technology

• Is it the end of the cash register?
  Retailers including Barneys New York, J.C. Penney and Coach are experimenting with tablets, iPods and other mobile gadgets that may one day soon replace bigger, bulkier cash registers. "Consumers want the retailer to bring the register to them," said Lori Schafer, executive adviser at retail software provider SAS Institute. Green Bay Press-Gazette (Wis.)/The Associated Press (3/22)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by NRF SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Lululemon to focus on supply management to ease growing pains (The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (tiered subscription model))

• Francesca's to hit 400-store milestone (American City Business Journals)

• Lampert to stay on as Sears CEO (Bloomberg)

• Why Lululemon fans are passionate about the brand (USA Today)

• Belk's next generation looks to the future (Women's Wear Daily (subscription required))

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Policy & Government Affairs

• Online sales tax sees bipartisan support in Senate
  The Senate has approved a nonbinding budget resolution with an amendment allowing states to require online retailers to collect sales tax. The amendment, which echoes the Marketplace Fairness Act, gained support from both parties. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (3/23), Reuters (3/22)     

NRF News

• Senate overwhelmingly approves marketplace fairness amendment
  Leveling the playing field between online and Main Street retailers earned a symbolic victory over the weekend when the Senate approved a sales tax fairness amendment to the FY14 budget resolution by a 75-24 vote. The budget resolution is non-binding, so additional action will still be required before the sales tax could become law, but NRF plans to make it a top priority. Read more.     

• NRF SmartStat: March 25, 2013
  Among students who attended Retail’s BIG Show Student Program, 78% of those surveyed said they are more excited about a career in the retail industry. Source: NRF Foundation. Retail's BIG Blog (2/19)     

• Infographic: How Americans will shop this Easter
  NRF’s annual survey found Americans will spend a more than $17 billion on Easter items this year. NRF’s latest infographic explores how much shoppers will spend and where they’ll find deals on chocolates, candy and colorful apparel. View the infographic. Retail's BIG Blog (3/25)     

Chain Restaurant News

• Darden's future tied to specialty chains
  Darden Restaurants' growth strategy hinges on turning around its biggest brands including Olive Garden and Red Lobster by keeping menu prices steady and cutting back on expansion, while at the same time focusing on faster growth among its specialty brands, CEO Clarence Otis said Friday. The 168-unit specialty group, which includes Yard House, Bahama Breeze, Eddie V's, Capital Grille and Seasons 52, has positive same-store sales and room to grow. The Wall Street Journal (3/23)     

Position Title Company Name Location Buyer - Basketball Category Footlocker.com/Eastbay Wausau, WI Client Manager 4R Systems, Inc. Berwyn, PA Compliance Manager- Program Assessment and Engagement Gap Inc. San Francisco, CA Merchandise Replenishment Analyst job#3769 Headquarters Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) Quantico, VA Retail Store Manager The Orvis Company Memphis, TN Retail Planning Manager The Orvis Company Sunderland, VT Retail Fishing Manager The Orvis Company Pasadena, CA Retail Fishing Manager The Orvis Company Lombard, IL Allocation and Replenishment Manager Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc. Birmingham, AL Director of Marketing City Sports, Inc. Boston, MA

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SmartQuote

A thing is mighty big when time and distance cannot shrink it." --Zora Neale Hurston, American author