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January 21, 2009 News for the retail industry   Industry Watch    GameStop thrives on used games Thanks to its used-game business, GameStop is reporting a jump in sales while other video game retailers are struggling. The company lets customers sell games in return for credit toward other games. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (1/21) HBC pours cash into Canadian stores Hudson's Bay Co.'s parent company is pumping $70 million into its Canadian chains. It also is expanding the role of HBC's Jeffrey Sherman, who will oversee all the company's retail brands, which include Lord & Taylor. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (1/20) Shopper marketing stages a comeback While television audiences are increasingly fragmented, millions of shoppers walk through the doors of Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other big retailers each week. Shopper marketing can reach a large audience through in-store appeals including shelf talkers, end-aisle displays and in-store video networks. Brandweek (1/19) Jewel-Osco, Coke to offer Black History Month promotions Jewel-Osco and The Coca-Cola Co. are teaming up on in-store promotions for Black History Month. Consumers will be able to sample dishes prepared with products from African-American vendors, and they can enter a sweepstakes to win groceries for a year. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (1/20)   Retail trends    Inventories cut in response to consumer-spending shifts Retailers are cutting down on their inventory and trying to offer more affordable items -- and trying to determine customer satisfaction at the same time. But it'll be harder for consumers to find more one-of-a-kind items as inventory is streamlined. Los Angeles Times/The Associated Press (1/21) Consumers like the tried and true Rubbermaid, Whirlpool, Sony, Clorox and M&M's are among the brands that consumers name when asked to list their favorites. The BrandIndex poll, conducted by the YouGovPolimetrix research company, polls 5,000 consumers weekly, asking them to rate brands on quality, satisfaction and reputation. Brandweek (1/20) Cautious consumers expected for Lunar New Year "People are definitely being cautious about what they spend their money on," says one observer of this year's Lunar New Year, China's holiday-shopping season. Retailers are offering discounts and ramping up campaigns as China's economy slows. The Wall Street Journal (free content) (1/21) Register for APT's FREE Markdown Optimization Webinar: The Test & Learn approach to markdown optimization enables retailers to test the impact of timing and the amount of markdowns, correctly identify profitable discounts, and precisely maximize markdown revenue. Register for this free webinar or download APT's case study on Markdown Optimization.   Retail Technology  Credit card breach could be among largest Credit card processor Heartland Payment Systems disclosed a data breach that analysts said could be the biggest known. The company, which processes transactions for restaurants and retailers, is working with the Secret Service. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (1/20)   Sponsored Content    Tough Talk for Tough Times: What the CEO Should Be Saying Now Weekends For Inspiration, Weekdays for Execution Five Lessons Learned from my Startup And why I d Do It Again Are Your Sales Prevention Strategies Turning Away Customers? Don t wait until it s too late!   NRF News  NRF releases 4-5-4 calendars for 2009 and 2010 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 four weeks/five weeks/four weeks format. Many retailers rely on NRF's 4-5-4 calendar to determine sales release dates, which historically have been on the first Thursday after the month's end. The layout of the calendar lines up holidays and ensures the same number of Saturdays and Sundays in comparable months. NRF has released 4-5-4 calendars for 2009 and 2010. View or download the updated calendars. NRF SmartStat One-fifth of general-merchandise stores' sales come from apparel. Source: NRF Retail Industry Indicators 2008   Get insights from venture capitalists at Shop.org Strategy & Innovation Forum Join Shop.org board member Brett Hurt, CEO and co-founder of Bazaarvoice, at Shop.org's Strategy & Innovation Forum, Feb. 2 to 4 in Orlando, Fla., as he moderates a panel with leading Internet venture capitalists on the state of the economy, what they are investing in and what the future might hold for digital retailing. Register by the standard deadline, Jan. 30, to save up to $200. Learn more. Learn more about NRF -> Join NRF  |  Govt Relations  |  NRF Events  |  STORES  |  NRF Foundation   Chain Restaurant News  Restaurant chains beef up marketing Restaurant companies including Chipotle, Boston Market, Denny's, KFC and Pizza Hut are changing marketing strategies in hopes of winning back lapsed consumers. "Our marketing strategy has not kept pace," said Chipotle founder, chairman and co-CEO Steve Ells. Nation's Restaurant News (free registration) (1/20) Other News New restaurant chain hatching in tough times The Charlotte Observer (N.C.) (1/21)   Career Track  General Manager Bass Pro Shops, Inc Various Locations, US Director, People - Employee Relations PetSmart Phoenix Merchandise Planner Spiegel Brands Inc New York, NY Senior Manager,Consumer Insights & Market Research PetSmart Phoenix, Arizona Associate Relations Manager PetSmart Phoenix, Arizona Visual Merchandiser Castle Megastore Tempe, AZ   SmartQuote  The clash of ideas is the sound of freedom." --Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady of the U.S.   Subscriber Tools       Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Grab our News Widget Publish your Press Release   Advertise Associate Publisher:  Susan W. 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