Research Topic

Chicago -- According to a survey released Monday by CareerBuilder and conducted by Harris Interactive, 80% of retail companies report that a bad hire has adversely affected their business in the last year, meaning that hiring the right employees will become a top priority in 2011.

Nearly one-quarter (23%) of the 254 U.S. retail hiring managers surveyed said that one bad hire cost their business more than $50,000 in the last year. One-third (33%) said that one bad hire cost them more than $25,000.

If the eyes are the window to the soul, then Walmart’s suppliers are the window to its future thanks to the truly unique relationship the retailer enjoys with its trading partners. Walmart brought new meaning to the concept of collaboration when it pursued a strategy of data transparency decades ago that enabled fact-based decision making.

BRUSSELS - Ikea announced that it has been named the winner of 'Retailer of the Year Europe' 2010. Retailer of the Year is the largest consumer survey in Europe and this year the survey was held in no less than 10 European countries. More than 1.45 million consumers participated in the consumer survey and assessed over 1,100 retail chains, according to the company.

In seven out of the 10 countries, Ikea is in the top five of the 'best' retail chains, the company reported.

Washington, D.C. -- Tuesday’s report by the U.S. Department of Commerce showed a fifth straight month of sales gains in November for U.S. retailers. Monthly retail sales figures for November were up 0.8% over October and 7.7% over November 2009.

Retail sales excluding auto sales were up 1.2% over the previous month and 6.7% over November 2009.

Department stores were the big November winners, recording the biggest sales rise in two years of 2.8%.

Washington – After a solid start to the holiday season, the National Retail Federation announced that it is revising its holiday forecast to 3.3%, up from 2.3%. The upward revision is due to improvement in a variety of economic indicators including stock market gains, recent income growth, savings built up during the recession - all giving consumers the capacity to spend.  

According to The NPD Group, 49% of respondents surveyed on holiday entertaining plans said they plan to entertain family or friends in their home during the upcoming holiday season. Furthermore, casual dinnerware sales growth in the double digits in the past 12 months ending September 2010 show that the trend is toward less formal dining. Sales in the formal fine dinnerware segment remain down year-over-year.

Thirty-two percent of respondents told NPD that they entertained at their home less over the past year than in previous years, however, 11% said they entertained more.

Cincinnati -- A survey released Monday by Convergys said that many consumers have yet to complete their holiday shopping -- and many of those will do that shopping online.

According to Convergys’ 2010 Holiday Shopping Season Research, which polled 500+ consumers on their holiday shopping plans; 18% of consumers have already completed their holiday shopping; but 27% have not yet started; and 50% are only half done.

BOSTON - A recent survey regarding memorable product launches in 2010 found that -- not surprisingly -- the Apple iPad secured the number-one spot. At number two was Windows 7, followed by Pretzel M&Ms at number three, Motorola Droid at number four and McDonald's Smoothies rounding out the top five.