NRF News
6 principal issues (or opportunities) for international expansion
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 30, 2012
With fierce and frequent changes in the global marketplace, there are many lessons that can be learned and applied from European retailers or those that have already expanded internationally. Shop.org Executive Director Vicki Cantrell identifies the first of many considerations a company must make before going global. Read more.
Bare Necessities CMO talks "transmedia" and the new rules of mobile and social
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
With the emergence of new social media platforms and mobile gadgets, retail marketers have an ever-expanding arsenal of ways to creatively reach customers. To get a CMO's perspective on where the social and mobile wave is taking the industry, Bare Necessities CMO Jay Dunn explains how brand consistency across all channels and a "transmedia" marketing model must go hand-in-hand for retailers to effectively reach the super-connected shopper. Read more.
Do you have what it takes to speak at retail's biggest event?
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
The call for speakers is now open for NRF’s signature event -- Retail's BIG Show 2013. The event has more than 130 education programs and attracts more than 25,500 attendees from across the globe, and you could be a part of it. Submit your proposal by 1 June to be considered. Learn more.
The proof is in the packaging when shipping internationally
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
E-retailers are constantly walking the fine line of providing reliable shipments to international customers while not compromising their bottom line. In a recent addition to the Shop.org white paper library, Bongo International analyzed how 16 U.S. retailers managed packaging inefficiencies and refined their strategies. Learn from their results and grow your international customer base. Download the white paper.
One Kings Lane CEO shares which retail trends will sink or swim
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
Today's hot topics in retail include all things mobile, tablet, social and flash. But not all efforts in these spaces will flourish over the next few years. In a Shop.org Q&A, One Kings Lane CEO Doug Mack shares his views on innovation, embracing technology and optimizing customer experience -- and how to ensure efforts in the mobile, tablet, social and flash arenas succeed. Read the Q&A.
Why retailers need a digital signage strategy
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 22, 2012
From the movie screen to mobile phones, there are many different channels for retailers to deliver their brand messages in unique ways. But why has the retail industry been slower to implement digital signage compared to other industries? In an addition to the NRF Retail Reference Center, Platt Retail Institute outlines ways retailers can use digital signage to enhance their communication strategies to deliver choice and personalization to consumers across different media. Download the white paper.
NRF and Shop.org head to Barcelona for Global E-Commerce Summit
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 21, 2012
E-commerce leaders from around the world will gather at the 4th Annual Global E-commerce Summit in Barcelona, Spain, June 4 to 6. Shop.org, NRF's digital division, is partnering with Summit organizers on programming and speakers. NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay will open the event, and Vicki Cantrell, Shop.org's Executive Director and NRF's SVP, Communities, will serve as the Global Retailing Chairwoman and Social Commerce Chairwoman. Learn more.
How Lowe’s uses mobile apps to manage store operations
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 18, 2012
Mobile technology isn't just revolutionizing sales and customer interaction for Lowe's; its award-winning "mobileDART" application is also changing the way store managers run their stores. In a 31 May STORES webinar, Lowe's Director of Enterprise Information Services Steve Cornett and MicroStrategy's VP of Retail Industry Solutions Frank Andryauskas will share seven key attributes for high-return mobile store operations and provide best practices for industry leaders of mobile ops solutions by retailers across the globe. Learn more or register.
How to prepare for Store 3.0
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 17, 2012
Store 3.0 is already here, and retailers who are leveraging all channels and technologies are in a prime position to grab those essential sales from the highly-connected and savvy consumer. In a session recap from Retail's BIG Show, Deloitte's Alison Kenney Paul shares statistics about the changing retail landscape and how to alter your core brand elements to stay relevant in the coming years and beyond. Read more.
When retailers will report monthly sales in 2012
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 16, 2012
NRF's 4-5-4 calendar serves as a voluntary guide for the retail industry and ensures sales comparability between years by dividing the year into months based on a 4 weeks/5 weeks/4 weeks format. The 4-5-4 calendar also establishes sales release dates, which have historically been on the first Thursday following the month's end. NRF has released calendars for 2012, 2013 and 2014. View the calendars.
How Sears adjusts the supply chain model for an omnichannel reality
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 15, 2012
Fulfilling the marketing promises made to customers often relies on the effectiveness of the retailer's supply chain model, and according to Sears Holding Corp. SVP and Supply Chain President Raj Penkar, supply chain professionals have to be a little more innovative to meet these demands. At NRF's Global Supply Chain Summit in Atlanta, Penkar explained how Sears' new distribution strategy has enabled it to meet these challenges and deliver on more than 90 percent of online orders the next day. Read more.
How cloud technology can revolutionize the supply chain
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 14, 2012
In the retail supply chain, it's essential to know what's going on and what is where at any given moment. At NRF's Global Supply Chain Summit in Atlanta, GT Nexus co-founder and CMO Greg Johnsen explained how cloud technology is changing the supply chain industry and presented steps for easing your company into this very complex solution. Read more.
What US military leadership skills can bring to the retail supply chain
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 11, 2012
In times of crisis, it's training, leadership and personal accountability that help bring about speedy resolution. As NRF's Global Supply Chain Summit came to a close on Tuesday, Ret. Commander Kirk Leopold of the US Navy shared his experience as commanding officer of the USS Cole including how military leadership skills helped bring an end to a terrorist attack on his ship as well as how these types of experiences enable veterans to excel in the very complex supply chain field. Read more.
Crate & Barrel, Sterling Jewelers, and The Children’s Place discuss the raw material truth of corporate social responsibility
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 10, 2012
Complying with corporate social responsibility policies are a no-brainer for retailers, but more often than not, meeting these requirements is often easier said than done. At one of the opening day sessions at NRF's Global Supply Chain Summit in Atlanta, a panel of retail executives outlined tactics that can come in handy for retail supply chain executives to comply with daunting federal regulations such as the Lacey Act. Read more.
Nominate your choice for NRF's International Retailer of the Year Award by 25 May
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 09, 2012
Presented before thousands of retailers at Retail's BIG Show in New York City in January, NRF's International Retailer of the Year award honors a non-U.S. retail chief executive for their substantial contributions to the industry through excellence in retailing, innovation, and other successes in their native company or in a multi-national environment. Nominate your favorite retailer to be considered for this prestigious award by 25 May. Learn more.
NRF Global Supply Chain Summit kicks off in Atlanta
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 08, 2012
Retail supply chain professionals and strategic partners from across the globe gathered for an opening night reception in downtown Atlanta to commemorate the start of the second annual NRF Global Supply Chain Summit and EXPO. Over the next few days, attendees will discuss current issues in supply chain management, including a focus on the regulatory environment, corporate social responsibility and global trade management. Read more.
5 tips to leverage integrated retail and business intelligence
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 07, 2012
Technology has given consumers 24/7 accessibility, prompting a mainstream shift for shoppers to use their devices for cross-channel comparisons of prices, reviews, and more. So what techniques can retail executives use to understand this "mix and match" consumer behavior? In a 10 May STORES webinar, executives from CitiXsys will share how retailers can prepare their infrastructure to adapt to rapid changes in customer affinity for sales channels while also creating a seamless omnichannel shopping experience. Learn more and register.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection shares new initiatives for retailers
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 03, 2012
As CBP begins to examine its role in the retail supply chain, the agency is planning several initiatives to better align with how retailers do business. At the NRF Global Supply Chain Summit, May 6 to 8 in Atlanta, Allen Gina with U.S. Customs and Border Protection will explain the new programs and how retailers can help assist in their evolution. Read more.
How Hudson’s Bay Company boosts sales and lowers costs with item-level RFID
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 02, 2012
At the NRF Global Supply Chain Summit, May 6 to 8 in Atlanta, Dan Smith, CIO of Hudson's Bay Company, will partner with Joe Andraski, president and CEO of VICS Association, to present how retailers are improving inventory accuracy and increasing sales by deploying item-level RFID. Register your retail team for this event and save! Learn more.
KPMG global retail director talks trends for 2012
NRF Global SmartBrief | May 01, 2012
With cost-containing initiatives out for retail executives in 2012, many will look toward investing in strategies that will optimize their online and mobile platforms to increase sales and customer satisfaction. In a post on Retail's BIG Blog, KPMG's Global Head of Retail Mark Larson discusses retailers' most important initiatives for 2012 and top themes in NRF Foundation's "Retail Horizons: Benchmarks for 2011, Forecasts for 2012" report. Read more.
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