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Most Clicked NRF SmartBrief Stories


1. How Wawa keeps customers -- and employees -- cheerful

NRF SmartBrief | Jun 29, 2009

Wawa's rate of growth may have slowed, but the grocery retailer continues to expand despite the recession. CEO Howard Stoeckel credits the company's success to its commitment to the brand, its focus on customer service and its employee stock options. Philadelphia Daily News (06/25)


2. Retailers aim to get rid of summer inventory

NRF SmartBrief | Jun 30, 2009

Retailers including Macy's and Bergdorf Goodman are discounting more than in previous summers even though they have less inventory than before. U.S. consumers continue to stick to purchasing necessities because they remain worried about unemployment and the economy. News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), The (06/30)


3. Wal-Mart supports employer health-insurance mandate

NRF SmartBrief | Jul 01, 2009

Wal-Mart, in a letter to President Barack Obama, said it supports an employer health-insurance mandate that is "fair and broad in its coverage." The support is counter to other major companies and employer groups, which oppose the idea of a mandate. Wall Street Journal, The (07/01)


4. Crabtree & Evelyn files for bankruptcy

NRF SmartBrief | Jul 02, 2009

Crabtree & Evelyn has filed for Chapter 11 protection. The company had been hurt by changes in strategy, a court filing said. Miami Herald, The (07/01)


5. Pier 1 CEO focuses on turning sales around

NRF SmartBrief | Jul 02, 2009

Pier 1 CEO Alex Smith has made a lot of progress for the company by renegotiating leases with landlords and resolving short-term liquidity issues, but he still is faced with reversing a sales decline. The company reported better-than-expected earnings in June, and Smith told shareholders this week that "there's light at the end of the tunnel." Dallas Morning News, The (07/02)


6. Coupon fraud grows

NRF SmartBrief | Jun 30, 2009

Coupon fraud is on the rise and costing retailers millions of dollars, according to industry watchers. A National Retail Federation executive said retailers can limit the number of times a customer can use a coupon or give each coupon a unique code. CNNMoney.com (06/29)


7. Urban Outfitters focuses on mobile marketing

NRF SmartBrief | Jun 30, 2009

Urban Outfitters is expanding its mobile-marketing efforts, which so far have been confined to text messaging customers. The brand eventually plans to offer mobile shopping and geo-targeted marketing. MarketingVOX (06/30)


8. Sears gives jobless customers a break

NRF SmartBrief | Jun 30, 2009

Sears is allowing customers who lose employment after purchasing new appliances to suspend payments or simply keep the appliances without cost. "We thought this would be a way to get folks to jump in where they'd been a little reluctant," a Sears executive said. Bloomberg (06/29)


9. States seek to claim revenue from unused gift cards

NRF SmartBrief | Jun 30, 2009

Some states want to claim the value of unused gift cards -- which they claim to be abandoned property -- to boost state revenue. Several states are considering legislation that addresses the practice, which the National Retail Federation opposes. "One of the benefits of offering gift cards which never expire is that it affords the guest the opportunity to use them at any time," a Target spokesman said. "The proposals under consideration would essentially impose an expiration date on our gift cards." Wall Street Journal, The (06/30)


10. Starbucks remakes menu

NRF SmartBrief | Jun 30, 2009

Full-page newspaper ads are announcing the launch of new menu items at coffee chain Starbucks. The move is designed to attract customers interested in more healthful, low-fat options without artificial flavors and colors. The new ad from BBDO, New York, is part of the chain's overall plan to ratchet up flagging sales. Advertising Age (06/29)




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