STORES Magazine - February 2008 - (Page 18) trEnDS raditional media still drives online searches, but once shoppers begin clicking around the Internet they quickly become absorbed in online activities. That’s just one of the findings from BIGresearch’s Simultaneous Media Usage Study (SIMM). The survey, now in its 11th iteration, reveals several interesting insights about consumers’ use of media and technology. The top media likely to trigger an online search are magazines, reading an article, a TV show or a newspaper. While survey participants were able to choose multiple answers from a lengthy list of responses, each of these was cited by T more than four in 10 survey respondents. After searching online, 67 percent share what they’ve learned using face-to-face communication and 50 percent pick up the phone to pass along the news. Yet new media technologies are quickly gaining acceptance: The research finds 53 percent of those polled communicate information via e-mail, 30 percent use cell phones and 14 percent rely on instant messaging. When consumers go online, they’re often interacting with other media at the same time. The SIMM data finds that 42 percent are simultaneously watching television, 27 percent are reading the mail and 24 percent are listening to the radio. And, as if those distractions were not enough, it turns out many media users are also multi-tasking. More than twothirds (69 percent) eat while performing activities such as surfing the web, talking on their cell phones or reading a newspaper or magazine, and 58 percent do housework like laundry or cooking. gentleman . . . He loved Sears with a passion and had equally deep affection for Chicago.” Ongoing Quest for Retail Talent Last month, STORES’ cover story (“Fishing for Talent”) focused on efforts to attract, train and promote the next generation of retail leaders. According to the latest research from CareerBuilder.com, there will be plenty of lures in the retail waters for some time to come. The research reveals that 47 percent of retail employers have open positions for which they cannot find qualified candidates. Adding to their hiring concerns is that fact that 21 percent plan to increase the number of full-time, permanent employees in 2008. “In retail, employees truly are the brand, and recruiting and retention efforts should be considered part of the marketing strategy,” says Jason Ferrara, vice president of corporate marketing for CareerBuilder.com. “To be more competitive and effective in attracting talent, many retailers are enhancing benefits, compensation and career growth opportunities.” While 60 percent of retail workers polled said they are satisfied with their jobs, nearly a quarter (23 percent) plan to leave their jobs in less than a year. The primary motiva18 STORES / FEBRUARY 2008 tors for leaving are better pay or career advancement, cited by 42 percent of the retail workers surveyed. Given the findings, CareerBuilder outlined four recruitment and retention strategies for 2008: bigger paychecks, career advancement, improved benefits and perks and rehiring retirees. Nearly three-quarters say they will increase salaries for existing employees in 2008; 23 percent expect to raise salaries by more than 3 percent. Perks (10 percent) and more flexible work schedules (45 percent) rank high on the list of lures retailers plan to dangle in front of potential candidates. Letter to the Editor This letter is to inform you of a discrepancy found in the 2008 CEO Pay Report supplement [to the January] issue of STORES Magazine. It is reported that Mr. Howard Levine of Family Dollar had a total compensation for 2006 of $799,929 and in 2007 it’s listed as $3,117, 263, for a 289.69 percent change. These numbers do not match our proxy statement dated December 7, 2007. The compensation number should be corrected to accurately reflect Mr. Levine’s pay for fiscal years 2006 and 2007. As reported pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, in our 2007 Proxy Statement, Mr. Levine’s total compensation for fiscal year 2006 was $3,059,941, compared to his total compensation for fiscal year 2007 of $3,900,911. That represents an increase of 27.48 percent. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Joshua Braverman Public Relations Manager, Family Dollar WWW.STORES.ORG http://CareerBuilder.com http://CareerBuilder.com http://CareerBuilder.com http://WWW.STORES.ORG
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