NRF News
As shoppers favour holiday discounts, gift card spending to fall again this year
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 20, 2009
Despite their popularity among recipients, gift card spending is expected to drop. According to a recent survey, holiday shoppers plan to spend slightly less on gift cards, with the average person spending $139.91, compared with $147.33 last year. Gift cards to department stores and restaurants will be most popular. Read more.
Five holiday trends you need to know this week
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 20, 2009
Got 30 minutes? Join NRF for a series of Monday webinars as our experts discuss the most pressing consumer trends based on NRF and BIGresearch findings. On 23 Nov., NRF's Ellen Davis and BIGresearch's Pam Goodfellow will discuss how shoppers plan to pay for holiday gifts, ways retailers are compensating for a decline in gift card spending, and Black Friday expectations. Learn more.
How to create Web copy that customers want
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 19, 2009
As the power of search increases the likelihood that shoppers will bypass a retailer's home page and land directly on the product page, the importance of content has grown exponentially. In the newest white paper in NRF's Reference Center, "The Content Dilemma -- Consumer Insights and Merchant Execution", learn about the challenges, execution and implementation required to produce the quality and quantity of content that customers are looking for. Learn more.
Three steps to driving profit in challenging times
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 18, 2009
Join a 19 Nov. STORES Knowledge Series webinar to learn best practices for driving profit during the downturn, how a leading European retailer with 700+ stores actively manages risk with real-time incident data, and ways retailers prevent loss across hundreds of locations with automated store auditing. Learn more.
NRF Foundation announces top 10 retailers for customer service
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 17, 2009
The NRF Foundation, NRF's research and education arm, has announced the top 10 finalists selected by shoppers in the annual NRF Foundation/American Express Customers' Choice survey. The survey, which asked 8,526 shoppers which retailer provides the best customer service, was conducted by BIGresearch. See who made the cut.
Sir Terry Leahy, Tory Burch, Jon Luther to speak at Retail's BIG Show
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 16, 2009
NRF will welcome some of the world's most influential retail leaders during its 99th Annual Convention and EXPO at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, 10 to 13 Jan., 2010. Sir Terry Leahy, CEO, Tesco, will discuss how Tesco has positioned itself for strength through the downturn and what the world's third-largest retailer has in store for the future. During the event, attendees will hear from retail executives, world-renowned authors and retailers' corporate partners on topics including the economy, sustainability and retail technology trends. Learn more.
Where the deals are this holiday season
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 13, 2009
Start your online shopping at Shop.org's CyberMonday.com, which offers great deals from more than 650 retailers. Take advantage of Deals of the Hour on Cyber Monday and Black Friday, stretch your dollar with regular updates on money-saving specials, and take advantage of coupons, sales and free shipping. Keep up to date on the best holiday promotions all holiday season long through our new Facebook and Twitter pages. Connect with us.
NRF Foundation, Castle Worldwide bring retail manager credential to China
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 12, 2009
The NRF Foundation, the research and education arm of NRF, and Castle Worldwide, a leading provider of testing and assessment products and services, announced a new partnership with Greater Business Solutions Global of Beijing to deliver retail training and certification examinations in China. Design and development activities are under way and will target corporate employers, vocational students and graduates of retail university programmes. Read the news release.
Submit retail ads, commercials, digital efforts by 20 Nov.
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 11, 2009
The Racie Awards honor the best retail ads, commercials, digital efforts and other communication materials that consumers first experienced during the past year. The deadline for 1st-3rd quarter entries is Friday, 20 Nov. Enter any one category for $75 and receive one free entry to the RAMA Board of Directors Creative Award. Learn more.
NRF releases crowd management guidelines for retailers
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 10, 2009
As the holiday season approaches, retailers around the world are focusing on one key component of their holiday plans: crowd control. With the help of several retailers and their loss prevention teams, NRF has released Crowd Management Guidelines in addition to a step-by-step checklist for retailers planning for holiday crowds. The guidelines also address unexpected emergency management of crowds. Read more.
STORES November issue available now (and it's free!)
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 09, 2009
This month's issue of STORES magazine features three hot countries retailers need to watch, a feature on crowd control, and an article about how Columbia Sportswear made the jump to multichannel. Learn more.
Sustainability expert Wendy Evans discusses "Greening Retail"
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 06, 2009
In a recent blog post, Wendy Evans, co-author of a study identifying sustainability practices in retail, talks about how green initiatives have changed over the past few years, why the grocery sector has led the charge, and ways to measure success. Read more.
Cirque du Soleil reaches new heights at NRF's BIG Show
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 05, 2009
At NRF's BIG Show, 10 to 13 Jan., the DESiGN STUDiO will play host to the creative minds behind Cirque du Soleil's reinvented front-of-house experience. Hear about Cirque's approach to their space, its importance to the brand, the sources of inspiration used in the creation of a sky-breaking design, and how operational realities were addressed and engineered. Learn more.
NRF updates "Buyer Beware" list of products on auction sites
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 04, 2009
NRF has added new products to a consumer alert about common household items being sold through some online auction sites, warning that these items could be stolen or tainted, posing health risks to consumers. New products on the list include Alli weight loss aids, Pureology and Dyson vacuums. Read the news release.
Get the inside scoop on what's hot in retail
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 03, 2009
What did retailers find most valuable last month? October's biggest news included a blog post about 10 holiday trends, a webinar on how going green can save companies money, congressional testimony about swipe fees, and information on how retailers can control crowds. Check out the hottest news from October.
What happened on day 2 of the Global E-Commerce Summit
NRF Global SmartBrief | Nov 02, 2009
On the second day of the Global E-Commerce Summit, a Tommy Hilfiger executive discussed how retailers could centralise areas to gain efficiency and brand consistency, but also addressed why it was important to keep the local flavor. In addition, the CEO of Rakuten spoke about the future of e-commerce and the MOBshop co-founder made a bold statement about mobile. Read more.
Japan's Fast Retailing to receive International Retailer of the Year award
NRF Global SmartBrief | Oct 30, 2009
Fast Retailing CEO Tadashi Yanai will accept NRF's International Retailer of the Year award at NRF's Annual Convention and EXPO this January in New York. In addition, the Zappos.com CEO will accept the Innovator of the Year award and the COO of Polo Ralph Lauren will accept the Gold Medal award on behalf of the company. Read the news release.
Speaking submission deadline approaching for NRF LP conference
NRF Global SmartBrief | Oct 29, 2009
Retailers, industry leaders and educators, submit a session proposal by tomorrow, 30 Oct., for NRF's Loss Prevention Conference and EXPO. The conference, 14 to 16 June 2010 in Atlanta, offers more than 40 educational sessions and more than 2,400 attendees. Learn more.
Retailers discuss the industry at Global E-Commerce Summit in Monaco
NRF Global SmartBrief | Oct 28, 2009
Shop.org's Scott Silverman recaps the first day at the Global E-Commerce Summit in Monaco with photos and a rundown of speaker presentations. François Momboisse, vice president of EMOTA, and Susanne Czech, secretary general of EMOTA, told attendees that Europe is expecting 12% e-commerce growth in 2009. Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne shared concerns about the US capital markets. Read more.
How Marks & Spencer used the downturn to get close to customers
NRF Global SmartBrief | Oct 27, 2009
At NRF's BIG Show, 10 to 13 Jan. in New York, hear from Marks & Spencer customer service head Jo Moran about how the company is using customer-centric strategies to reach its shoppers during the recession. Learn more.
10 tips for adopting a consumer-centric approach
NRF Global SmartBrief | Oct 26, 2009
The focus on price as the basis for competition is not a desirable, long-term strategy for most organisations. Instead, learn how to adopt a comprehensive customer-centric approach to business in the newest white paper posted in NRF's Reference Center, "Winning at Consumer Centricity". Learn more.
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