| March 1, 2013 | News for the retail industry |
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- Sears reports higher-than-expected profits
Sears Holdings reported a higher-than-anticipated quarterly profit on Thursday, driven largely by cost-cutting measures as same-store sales fell 1.6%. CEO Edward Lampert said the retailer will continue a plan launched in May to boost sales with investments in in-store technology, online retail and the Sears customer-loyalty program. Reuters
(2/28)     
| Industry Watch | | |
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- Chico's to open shop in Canada
U.S. women's apparel retailer Chico's FAS will open its first three White House Black Market stores in Canada late this year, followed by larger namesake locations in 2014, the company said Thursday. Chico's, which operates 1,370 stores, has seen success during the downturn with new "slimming" clothing lines designed for women age 30 to 55. Financial Post (Canada)
(2/28)
| Retail Trends | | |
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- Financial stress sends more consumers to dollar stores
Family Dollar stores see more emphasis on consumables such as food and cleaning products among their typically low-income or financially stressed patrons, says Chief Financial Officer Mary Winston. Dollar Tree and Family Dollar both grew last year, with Family Dollar opening 475 stores in 2012 and planning 500 more this year. CNBC/Consumer Nation blog
(2/28)
| Retail Technology | | |
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- Twitter-triggered vending machine dispenses Hot Wheels
Twitter-enhanced vending machines dispensing Mattel's Hot Wheels may be coming to some Wal-Mart and Toys R Us retail outlets. First tested at the Canadian International Auto Show, the machines dispensed a Hot Wheels car when fans tweeted the correct message in front of the machine, according to Mark Stewart, director of digital for TrojanOne, maker of the vending machines. Adweek
(2/26)
| Policy & Government Affairs | | |
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- Office Depot has economic development ties to Fla.
Office Depot will have to pay back several million dollars in economic incentives to the state of Florida if it moves its headquarters after it merges with Illinois-based OfficeMax, economic development officials said this week. The Boca Raton-based retailer has received $3.35 million from the state and $1.59 million from Palm Beach County under programs designed to spur job creation. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
(2/28)
| NRF News | | |
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- The week’s biggest retail news from Washington
Decisions made in Washington can impact retailers’ bottom line just as much as those made on Wall Street. NRF Vice President for Government Affairs Public Relations J. Craig Shearman’s in-depth recap provides this policy update from Capitol Hill, including NRF’s testimony to a Senate committee on health care reform compliance and new legislation aimed at protecting merchants from “patent trolls” who threaten lawsuits over retail technology. Read more. Retail's BIG Blog
(3/1)
- Are your customers "in sync" with your experience?
In order to improve the customer experience, retailers must be clear on what they stand for, who their customers are, the problems they are trying to solve, and what customer-facing strategies differentiate them from the competition. A new white paper in the Shop.org library showcases L.E.K. Consulting’s Customer Excellence concept, explaining how retailers can keep business models sustainable and flexible now and in the future. Download the white paper.
| Chain Restaurant News | | |
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- Taco Bell blends cultures with Lionel Richie's "Hola"
Taco Bell is using a Lionel Richie song, sung in Spanish, in English-language commercials touting the Cool Ranch Doritos Locos. One comedy spot shows a sad man at a bus stop, trying to stuff Cool Ranch Doritos into his taco, only to be soaked by a passing truck, then learning from a bus ad of the upcoming product. "This is one of those [songs] you get without having to understand Spanish. It adds another level of context to the brand around the experience we're providing. It's blending cultures," Chief Marketing Officer Brian Niccol said. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model)
(2/28)
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| Position Title | Company Name | Location |
| Retail Communications Sr. Manager - Sunglass Hut | Luxottica Retail | Cincinnati, OH |
| Retail Systems Project Manager | System One | Hershey, PA |
| Client Manager | 4R Systems, Inc. | Berwyn, PA |
| Account Planners | MARC USA | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Director of Marketing | City Sports, Inc. | Boston, MA |
| Category Sales Analyst | The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. | South Deerfield, MA , MA |
| Corporate Recruiter- Merchandising | Burlington Coat Factory | Burlington, NJ |
| Assistant Implementation Manager | KWI | Greenvale, NY |
| Director of eCommerce | Belk | Charlotte, NC |
| Sr. Business Systems Analyst - eCommerce | Belk | Charlotte, NC |
| Sr. Systems Analyst - eCommerce | Belk | Charlotte, NC |
| Delivery Manager - Master Data & Merchandising Systems Support | Belk | Charlotte, NC |
| Delivery Manager - CRM | Belk | Charlotte, NC |
| Replenishment Manager | REI | Kent, WA |
| WW Director Digital Strategy & Platforms | Johnson & Johnson | Multiple Locations, United States |
| Vice President of Retail, Parks & Resorts | Delaware North Companies | Buffalo, NY |
| VP of Merchandising | University Co-operative Society | Austin, TX |
| Director of E-Commerce DC & Logistics | Francesca's | Houston, TX |
| CLIENT SERVICES BUSINESS ANALYST | KWI | Greenvale, NY |
| Chief Financial Officer | Kitchen & Company | Wilmington, DE |
| Director of E-Commerce | Kitchen & Company | Wilmington, DE |
| Senior Strategic Planner | TracyLocke | Wilton, CT |
| Director Loyalty Marketing | REI | Kent, WA |
| Director Internal Audit | Ulta Beauty | Bolingbrook, IL |
| Director, E-Commerce Marketing | The Yankee Candle Company | South Deerfield , MA |
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| | Recent NRF SmartBrief Issues:
- Thursday, February 28, 2013
- Wednesday, February 27, 2013
- Tuesday, February 26, 2013
- Monday, February 25, 2013
- Friday, February 22, 2013
| | | Lead Editor: Megan Conniff
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Almost one quarter of Americans polled ages 18-34 used their smartphone to purchase products during the holiday season last year. Source: 
