STORES Magazine - June 2008 - (Page 80)

INSIDE TRACK Compiled by Anastasia Van Engelen NRFnews Washington Leadership Conference NRF’S 73rd annual Washington Leadership Conference, held May 12-14 at the National Press Club, welcomed more than 150 retail industry lobbyists and state retail association executives for three days of briefings, meetings with policy makers and lobbying on Capitol Hill. Keynote speaker Nancy Nord, acting chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, sharply questioned product safety legislation pending in Congress, saying some provisions would add to the already overburdened agency’s workload while doing “little or nothing” to improve safety. & WHO WHAT WHEN initially focus on NRF’s Loss Prevention Conference & EXPO, which will be held June 2325 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The blog is being billed as a great way to keep plugged in before, during and after major NRF events. Before the show, check out information about the keynote speakers and program highlights, do’s and don’ts for first-time attendees and suggestions about what to do while visiting Orlando. During the show, NRF’s blogger will post a synopsis of educational sessions and other highlights. Stay connected at www.nrfblogs.com. CMO Summit NRF’S CMO Summit, a DECISIONMAKER Series event produced by the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, provided a networking and discussion forum for senior retail marketing executives in Sonoma, Calif. Held May 1415, the invitation-only, exhibit-free event welcomed chief marketers from Kohl’s, ULTA Beauty, Sears, Bon-Ton, MSN Shopping and other retailers. Featured speaker Mark Simmons, author of “Punk Marketing,” reminded CMOs to focus on creativity. While every store cannot be the “best” at everything, Simmons encouraged CMOs to focus company attention on being the best at one thing (he provided examples, such as offering the best shopping carts, the best in-store lighting or the best checkout experience). He also suggested that CMOs divide Mark Simmons company executives into two teams and hold a contest, a la “The Apprentice,” to see which group could generate a greater increase in sales. The CMO Summit also featured a 45-minute open discussion called “What’s on Your Mind” that focused on issues facing CMOs in the retail industry, such as the economy and developing new talent. In addition, a case study about the Nintendo Wii was shared, and B.J. Bueno, author of “Why We Talk” and “The Power of Cult Branding,” hosted a conversation about consumer insights and understanding what customers feel about a brand. WWW.STORES.ORG Nancy Nord She welcomed increased funding proposed under the bills, but said the CPSC needs to be given discretion in applying new lead restrictions for toys and expressed concern about whistleblower protections, dramatically increased fines and giving state attorneys general the right to sue over safety violations. Nord said retailers can help by holding suppliers to tough, specific safety standards and setting up systems to deal with recalls, such as an electronic lock-out that would keep a recalled item from being rung up at the cash register. Attendees also heard from political pundit Norm Ornstein, who analyzed the potential impact of the coming congressional and presidential elections on the retail industry; Senate Republican Policy Committee chairwoman Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas); and Assistant Commerce Secretary David Spooner, who updated retailers on the Bush administration’s international trade efforts. NRF Launches Events Blog NRF recently launched a blog to help members and the retail industry stay informed about NRF events. The blog will 80 STORES / JUNE 2008 http://www.nrfblogs.com http://WWW.STORES.ORG

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

STORES Magazine - June 2008 Contents Executive Editor's Page President's Page Tesco Tests Carbon Labels What Shoppers Think 10 Things You May Have Missed Numbers Worth Counting Full Price/Markdown Retail People Cover Story: Boom - or Bust Green Retailing Concept2Watch Online Marketing Building Traffic Water Management Branding Digital Marketing Loyalty Programs Special Report: Taking on Teens Supply Chain - Robo Crop Human Resources Supply Chain - Directory Assistance Loeb Retail Letter Arts Update Point of View NRF News Retail Crossword Retail Industry Calendar Last Laugh

STORES Magazine - June 2008

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