STORES Magazine - May 2008 - (Page 14)

trEnDS COMPILED BY STORES EDITORS Contrasting Compensation for C-level Execs A recent survey by Mineola, N.Y.-based HVS Executive Search finds sharp disparities between the paychecks pocketed by C-level executives at specialty apparel and at big-box/department store chains. The figures, compiled as part of HVS’ annual Specialty Apparel and Big Box/Department Store Compensation Studies, are based on data from 128 companies across all market cap segments. Brad Ellman, author of the study, found that CFOs in the specialty apparel segment received base salaries of $386,606 — 23 percent less than the median base salary ($502,274) of their big-box/department store counterparts. Factor in short- and long-term incentives and the total compensation for specialty apparel executives was 58 percent less than for big-box/department store CFOs. At the CEO level, specialty apparel executives received median base salaries of $700,000 — 28 percent less than their colleagues at big-box/department store chains ($960,000). re you still wondering if your shoppers are Googling that bigscreen TV before they hand over their credit cards? Having doubts as to whether consumers have done their homework on the price of that new refrigerator? The latest survey data from BIGresearch should put an end to any residual speculation. Results of the March Consumer Intentions and Actions (CIA) research find that 90 percent of consumers regularly or occasionally research products online before purchasing them in a store. That rate increased one percentage point from a year ago. Among the most heavily researched categories are elec- Combine short- and long-term incentives and the total compensation for specialty apparel CEOs was 55 percent less than that of their big-box/department store counterparts. Moonlighting? Is Kristin Cavallari, star of the TV show “Laguna Beach,” moonlighting at a retail store? Could it be a Wal-Mart? Let’s hope not, because videos of her afterhours escapades at an unidentified retail store are all over the Internet — and she’d have a hard time proving her innocence to LP investigators. Truth be told, Cavallari is guest-starring as Gavin DeGraw’s love interest in the video for his song, “In Love with a Girl.” Wearing a Wal-Mart-like apron and a yellow smileyface button, Cavallari’s character and her boyfriend (played by DeGraw) romp through the store after closing, cavorting and filming themselves – smooching on the escalator, modeling in the lingerie department – even sleeping in a bedding display. Their antics catch the attention of a security guard, but the twosome manages to outwit him. From the looks of this video, it would seem safe to assume that DeGraw is a fan of the 1980s film “Mannequin.” tronics (44 percent) and appliances (22 percent), which seem pretty obvious, given consumers’ ability to compare different brands, models, specs and features with just a few clicks of a mouse. The third-most-popular category researched online is apparel (21 percent). This category is particularly interesting, given that shoppers generally try on a garment in order to decide whether or not they like it. It appears that online browsers are making use of the Internet not only to get a glimpse of current trends and styles, but also to view instore offerings at specific retailers. When it comes to purchasing online, 90 percent of consumers consider low prices to be ‘‘very important” or “important.” Free shipping (81 percent) rose slightly in importance to shoppers; flexible return policies, which take some of the risk out of buying online, are cited as very important or important by 79 percent of those polled – also a slight increase from a year earlier. A 14 STORES / MAY 2008 WWW.STORES.ORG http://WWW.STORES.ORG

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of STORES Magazine - May 2008

Stores - May 2008 Contents Executive Editor's Page President's Page Contrasting C-Level Compensation Across Segments What Shoppers Think 10 Things You May Have Missed Numbers Worth Counting Full Price/Markdown Retail People Cover Story: Concepts That Clicked Concept2Watch Kiosks Artificial Intelligence Tech Support Online LPinformation Data Synchronization Human Resources Site Selection POS Selection Communications Biometrics Networking Systems Credit Loeb Retail Letter Arts Update Point of View NRF News Retail Crossword Retail Industry Calendar Last Laugh

STORES Magazine - May 2008

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