tagged w/ Retail
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Sam's Club is venturing into the world of liquor, launching a new store-brand vodka this month in more than 240 stores. The company says the Sam's Club store brand Member's Mark will add a premium French vodka under the name Rue 33. The vodka will sell in 1.75-liter bottles for about $28. It will be on shelves by the end of January.
Store-brand spirits are unusual, though Sam's competitor Costco has its own Kirkland label of vodka, scotch, tequila, wines and beer.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34731315/ns/business-consumer_news/Sam's Club is venturing into the world of liquor, launching a new store-brand... more
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jmsrmy
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3 years ago
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Health care providers are rolling out a different sort of stocking stuffer: Gift cards that can be used to pay bills and insurance premiums or for specific services at eye doctors and dentist offices. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida might have the largest program, selling cards at over 1,000 Winn-Dixie and CVS stores in the state.
(para. 1-2)
"The person can make the decision on where to use it. That is really the gift of it," said Sue Allen, a spokeswoman for Holy Family Memorial Health Network, a Wisconsin hospital and clinic chain that sells gift cards.
(para. 3)
Program details at the link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34572680/ns/health-health_care/Health care providers are rolling out a different sort of stocking stuffer: Gift cards... more
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jmsrmy
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At the Saks flagship store in Manhattan, a 23-year-old sales clerk was caught recently ringing up $130,000 in false merchandise returns and siphoning the money onto a gift card. “Gift card fraud is spiking,” said Joshua Bamfield, author of the Global Retail Theft Barometer, an annual international survey of retailers. “To employees, this is like currency. It’s almost as good as the U.S. dollar.”
(para. 1-2)
A 20-year-old cashier at a Best Buy on Staten Island was arrested two weeks ago and accused of fraudulently ringing up gifts cards for $600. A Kmart employee, 22, was arrested the same week in Hazlet, N.J., and accused of stealing more than $1,500, partly by diverting false refunds and layaway plans onto gift cards. Other schemes are slightly more complex: early this year, a 20-year-old worker at a Sears in Milford, Conn., was charged with manipulating the store’s computers to divert more than $35,000 onto gift cards that were fraudulently activated.
(para. 7-8)
More details at the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/business/30theft.htmlAt the Saks flagship store in Manhattan, a 23-year-old sales clerk was caught recently... more
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jmsrmy
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Last week's listings of the Top 50 bestsellers for the regions America, Japan and Europe on Amazon, for all systems combined.
For the USA the first 10 listed are:
1. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii)
2. New Super Mario Bros. (Wii)
3. Just Dance (Wii)
4. Hasbro Family Game Night (Wii)
5. Wii Play with Wii Remote (Wii)
6. Wii Sports Resort with Wii MotionPlus Accessory (Wii)
7. Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
9. The Biggest Loser (Wii)
10. Guitar Hero World Tour – Guitar Kit (Xbox 360)
http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2010/01/04/games-weather-report-of-2009s-last-week.htmLast week's listings of the Top 50 bestsellers for the regions America, Japan and... more
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MOST people think of the grand challenges in computing as big science projects, like simulating nuclear explosions or protein folding. But with the holiday shopping season just ended, consider another: retail marketing.
Retailing is emerging as a real-world incubator for testing how computer firepower and smart software can be applied to social science — in this case, how variables like household economics and human behavior affect shopping.
To be sure, major retailers like Wal-Mart Stores have long been sifting through in-store sales and demographic information to aim goods at different stores and to tightly manage supplies.
But what is changing, experts say, is the rapid surge in the amount and types of digital data that retailers can now tap, and the improved computing tools to try to make sense of it. The data explosion spans internal sources including point-of-sale and shipment-tracking information, as well as census data and syndicated services. Companies also track online visitors to Web commerce sites, members of social networks like Facebook and browsers using smartphones.
The better tools, they say, are ever cheaper and faster computers and so-called business intelligence or analytic software for finding useful information and patterns in that data.
Retailers are increasingly mining vast troves of digital information to improve the decisions they make about pricing, shelf-stocking and product offerings. “This huge and growing ecosystem of data is an asset that some retailers are really beginning to exploit for competitive advantage,” said Thomas H. Davenport, a professor of information technology and management at Babson College. “It brings more science into the business. Relying on gut feel is yesterday’s strategy in retailing.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/business/03unboxed.html?th&emc=th
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2010/01/03/business/03unboxed_CA0.htmlMOST people think of the grand challenges in computing as big science projects, like... more
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Bankruptcy has run rampant recently and no one is immune. This map depicts some of the biggest retail bankruptcies since 2008.Bankruptcy has run rampant recently and no one is immune. This map depicts some of the... more
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Buying a new notebook is a personal and important decision that shouldn’t be made on a whim. Even if you wind up purchasing your laptop online, the hands-on experience at a retail outlet could be an invaluable part of the shopping process. Ideally, you should be able to gauge a prospective system’s weight, check the display's viewing angles, hear the speakers, inspect the design, and test the keyboard and touchpad. Product reviews and image galleries are a necessary start, but they don’t always give you the complete picture.
That makes brick-and-mortar retailers potentially invaluable to the consumer. Not only should you find a location that will let you test drive a potential purchase, but the sales team should be able to answer your most important questions, such as, “Do I need an optical drive?” or “What is HDMI?”
To keep you from striking out on your next notebook hunting trip, we went undercover at the biggest national chains where laptops are sold, including the Apple Store, Best Buy, Costco, Staples, and Wal-Mart. The goal? To find a haven where we could lift a machine to gauge weight, type on the keyboard, see the screen and its viewing angles, and connect a flash drive full of documents and media to test the speakers. We visited two locations of each chain, quizzing the staff along the way to test their knowledge of the following topics:
• The differences between netbooks and notebooks
• The relevance of optical drives
• The definition of HDMI
• The benefits of discrete graphics
Click here to find out which brick-and-mortar stores soared and which ones sank:
http://www.laptopmag.com/mobile-life/best-and-worst-big-box-laptop-retailers.aspxBuying a new notebook is a personal and important decision that shouldn’t be... more
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...Animal advocate Larry Sullivan snapped this disturbing photo earlier today and captioned it "BBQ sauce? Looks more like blood splatter to me...
http://animalrights.change.org/blog/view/mmm_mcblood...Animal advocate Larry Sullivan snapped this disturbing photo earlier today and... more
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jmsrmy
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3 years ago
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Nothing much going to retail the rest of the year, the favorite of this week is Konami Classics Volume 1 on Xbox 360.
On the downloadable games front we’ve got today’s Wii Shop and DSiWare titles Earthworm Jim 2, Blaster Master, Stunt Cars, Diatomic, Moki Moki, Rubik’s Puzzle Galaxy: RUSH, Bejeweled Twist, Miami Nights, Littlest Pet Shop, Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam, Master of Illusion Express: Matchmaker, and Viva Pinata: Party Animals on Xbox 360 Games On Demand (updates Tuesday), as well as Alien Breed Evolution: Episode 1 and Puzzlegeddon on Xbox Live Arcade (updates Wednesday).
http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2009/12/14/new-video-game-releases-week-50-2009.htmNothing much going to retail the rest of the year, the favorite of this week is Konami... more
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jmsrmy
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A Connecticut Bath & Body Works staffer who practices witchcraft claims her boss put a hex on her career for using vacation time to attend Salem’s annual Halloween celebration. Gina Uberti charges in a federal lawsuit that Bath & Body Works fired her after she took a week off around Halloween 2008 to mark the Wiccan holiday of Samhain.
(Kronenberg, J., 2009, December 12, para. 1-2)
But in court filings, Uberti alleged that the chain canned her after eight years because she took time off for the holiday, also called “Witches’ New Year.” Uberti, a Bath & Body Works district sales manager, claims she’d taken vacation around Samhain for years, but said her new supervisor flipped out when learning why.
(Kronenberg, J., 2009, December 12, para. 5-6)
During a Nov. 4, 2008, phone call about her absence, Uberti’s boss allegedly said: “That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard,” adding, “Well, you will need a new career in your new year. . . . I will be damned if I have a devil worshipper on my team.”
(Kronenberg, J., 2009, December 12, para. 7)
More details at the link:
http://bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1218324
[courtesy of alanocu: digg]A Connecticut Bath & Body Works staffer who practices witchcraft claims her boss... more
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jmsrmy
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With holiday shopping in full swing, consumers may find that retailers’ customer service leaves much to be desired, according to new research. The Retail Service Quality Index, released [Tuesday]...pegs service at only 48.2 out of 100.
The index measured 1,027 interactions in 73 different retail stores over a four-month period. The data gatherers measured 39 separate kinds of service, from the store greeting, merchandise returns or exchanges, and how associates interact to solve customer problems.
Details at the link:
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/direct/e3i95d54a7400b0adb0c74b0e9766431bd8With holiday shopping in full swing, consumers may find that retailers’ customer... more
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jmsrmy
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Just Born, maker of the chick- and bunny-shaped marshmallow Easter favorites called Peeps, is officially opening the first store devoted to them on Thursday. The shop, in a mall near Washington, D.C., sells 850 different Peeps products, including plush toys, china and even a hand-blown glass Peep. "Our fans have asked us for years, 'What about a store?'" said Kathy Bassininski, who oversaw the creation of Peeps & Company stores for Just Born, based in Bethlehem, Pa.
(Gresko, J., 2009, December 09, para. 1-2)
http://snsimages.tribune.com/media/photo/2009-12/50979734.jpg
http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/sns-ap-us-peeps-store,0,6098405.storyJust Born, maker of the chick- and bunny-shaped marshmallow Easter favorites called... more
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jmsrmy
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This weekend I pumped myself up in the bathroom mirror and headed to the Best Buy and Bed Bath and Beyond for some anecdotal analysis ...This weekend I pumped myself up in the bathroom mirror and headed to the Best Buy and... more
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With thousands of messages vying daily for consumers' eyeballs, marketers have become even more desperate to reach audiences and are willing to take more risks. Sometimes it results in top-notch, pioneering ads. Other times, it fails miserably. When such a misstep occurs these days, however, it gets broadcast across the Internet. Unamused viewers post their critiques on social media sites and link to the video on video-sharing sites. So even though a spot may have been geared toward a specific demographic -- say men between the ages of 18 and 34 -- the social media effect means it's suddenly being viewed by a much broader audience.
(Picchi, A., 2009, December 2, 2009, par.4)
Indeed, a sub-category of media blogs have popped up to offer advertising critiques, ranging from Nielsen's AdFreak to the global advertising-focused AdLand. And then there's the spirited AdRants, not to be confused with the Ad Rant column that runs on DailyFinance's sister publication WalletPop.
(Picchi, A., 2009, December 2, 2009, par.5)
Get the full story:
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/12/02/when-sex-doesnt-sell-slew-of-bad-ads-backfire-in-the-blogosphe/With thousands of messages vying daily for consumers' eyeballs, marketers have... more
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jmsrmy
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The Rodarte for Target line doesn't hit stores until the 20th, but a select few items will be available at Target to Go, a three-day pop-up opening near the High Line next week. The shop will stock 50 giftable items in all — from toys to beauty products — and includes five pieces from the Rodarte collab: the sequin ribcage dress ($49.99), the black halter dress ($39.99), the coral slipdress ($39.99), and two bow belts ($12.99 each). The pop-up is designed for grab-and-go holiday shopping: Walk in, pick out your gifts from the list of items, and receive the swag already wrapped. A convenient concept, despite the crowd of women who will likely be beating down the door next Friday for their own piece of Rodarte.
From Retailing today:
Target announced that it is hosting three limited-time-only Target To-Go shopping events in New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The To-Go shops will feature 50 items, including toys, gadgets, home decor, beauty and fashion. Customers order the items by number, which come wrapped and ready for gift giving.
"This holiday, we wanted to give our urban markets a little slice of Target," said Shawn Gensch, VP marketing, Target. "We're always trying to reach our guests in new and interesting ways, and Target To-Go gives time-starved city dwellers a joyful, convenient and affordable holiday shopping experience."
Target To-Go will be open to the public from Dec. 11 to Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Read more: Get Your Hands on Rodarte for Target a Week Early -- The Cut http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/12/get_your_hands_on_rodarte_for.html#ixzz0Yx0ut7OPThe Rodarte for Target line doesn't hit stores until the 20th, but a select few... more
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jmsrmy
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Lisa Pierpont had just a weekend to put her Fort Point studio back in order after the shopping bonanza. Pierpont, the founder of Boldfacers.com, an online multimedia publication, hosted the pop-up shopping event as a way to generate new revenue and make up for sluggish advertising sales. Boldfacers took up to 50 percent of purchases made during the weekend. It launched the first pop-up event in September and is holding a chocolate-themed one in December. “I love the urgency about them. It’s gone in a flash,’’ Pierpont said. “These days, you can’t just open a store and expect a store to succeed. There’s a lot of competition, and they have to do more in the current climate.’’
(Abelson, J., 2009, November 30, p.2, par.13-15)
The whole pop-up story at the link:
http://theretailsector.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/pop-ups-filling-retail-space-for-the-holidays-testing-retail-strategies/Lisa Pierpont had just a weekend to put her Fort Point studio back in order after the... more
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jmsrmy
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The Strip (2009) brings together a great group of improvisers headed by the master, Dave Foley. Hilarity and friendship power this creative and realistic story that many will relate to. Mundane jobs, office pranks, dating, cheating, family, and dreams are all intertwined into an uplifting and funny tale of life and its challenges.
Full review: http://www.dainsmoviereviews.com/2009/11/strip-movie-review.htmlThe Strip (2009) brings together a great group of improvisers headed by the master,... more
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dbin78
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FROM THE NEWS BLOG: http://blogs.current.com/news/2009/11/25/hasnt-this-just-been-a-whole-year-of-black-friday-real-recovery/
Image: http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/11/25/the-5-rules-of-black-friday/
The end of this week will see the venerable American holiday tradition of Black Friday, when on the day after Thanksgiving, Americans rush to consume as many retail deals as possible. And if you're serious about Black Friday, then you're probably already looking for the deals. Online there's blackfriday.info, bfads.net (that's Black Friday Ads), black-friday.net, theblackfriday.com. But honestly, with nearly a fifth of Americans out of work (according to the broadest unemployment calculation), hasn't this just been a whole year of Black Friday deal-hunting?
I spoke with Loren Bendele of Savings.com (http://savings.com) a site that focuses on bringing their community together with savings and discounts. He said their site, which started in March of 2007, has definitely seen a big increase in users because of the recession. And as more people move online to find deals in tough times, more companies are looking to find them. "We're seeing aspirational brands that are offering deals now," Bendele said. "Consumers are more aware and merchants are embracing deals."
Savings.com has selected some users to be what they call "Deal Pros" - people who know how to find the best deals and share them with the rest of the community. Some of them, said Bendele, are people that are fine with money. But as the recession has gotten worse, many of them are people who are maintaining their quality of life through saving money.
Is that you? Have you been scraping by by clipping coupons? Tell us about on The Real Recovery.
So should you rush out and try to trampled this Friday? Though there are plenty of deals to be had one of the DealPros offers some sage advice on the savings.com blog:
"For me it has become a day to stay at home or look for alternative ways to enjoy the day. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a good deal. But Black Friday has become that day that turns every mall in America into some lost scene from the movie Dawn of the Dead. It's just too much chaos to deal with in-person. So join me in giving in to the post-turkey daze and just saying no to the zombie hordes running wild through the aisles of your local Wal-Mart."FROM THE NEWS BLOG:... more
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The supermarket chain promise to "bring a bit of Tesco value to the iPhone" as they plan to sell iPhones in December.
They're still negotiating the price and deals with Apple but plan to sell through 100 Tesco stores which have a dedicated telecoms department. The phones will also be available on the Tesco direct site, which already has a page for people to register their interest.
It's likely to lead to a price war, but it means that the phone is going to be on more people's Xmas lists
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/6652842/Tesco-poised-to-kick-off-iPhone-price-war.htmlThe supermarket chain promise to "bring a bit of Tesco value to the iPhone"... more
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