Neiman Marcus

It has been about five months since the Target data breach made the vulnerability of retail POS data a hot topic. Investigation has since shown the Target breach did not involve POS terminals. However, high-profile thefts of customer payment card data from Target and other retailers including Neiman Marcus, Michaels and Sally Beauty Supply have highlighted the need for U.S. retailers to adopt the global Europass, MasterCard and Visa (EMV) standard for accepting payments from cards that store consumer information on secure embedded microchips, rather than on magnetic stripes.

Discount retailing has undergone a major transformation in recent years

Toward the end of 2008, it became painstakingly obvious to retailers that impulse spending was out and frugal saving was in. Faced with an imminent recession, staggering job loss and quickly depleting discretionary and savings accounts, consumers began to shift their focus to value. The impact of such a large-scale economic event and an abrupt consumer focus shift would appear to alter the fundamental realities of retail.

By Jason Fredrickson, Guidance Software

The recent cyber attacks on Target, Neiman Marcus and Michaels Stores had an immediate and profound impact on sales, as well as a widespread and ongoing ripple effect on consumer confidence in the safety of credit-card information at point-of-sale (POS) terminals.

By Mike Gregory, Kurt Salmon

As consumers busy themselves with spring gardening and plans for summer travel, their favorite retailers are already planning for back-to-school and the 2014 holiday season. And after delivery delays during holiday 2013 left many customers fuming, a core issue for retailers is how to optimize their peak-season order fulfillment and related customer service.

Boston – Online clothing donation service Fashion Project is partnering with Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman to provide a personalized charitable clothing donation service for customers who participate in the InCircle loyalty program. All members, regardless of their annual spending, can utilize the White Glove Clothing Donation service to donate used luxury clothing, shoes, and accessories to a charity of their choice.

Atlanta -- Boutique accessories and jewelry designer Kendra Scott will add two new Atlanta-area stores – one in Buckhead at The Shops Around Lenox, and the other in Alpharetta, at the Avalon Center.

The Shops Around Lenox store opens April 26, and will feature an interactive Kendra Scott Color Bar, where customers can design and personalize one-of-a-kind jewelry.

The Avalon Center store in Alpharetta is slated to open fall 2014.

As retail executives, our people come first: finding, training, mentoring, helping them grow to get to the next level and realize a fulfilling career in an industry we love. Our people are absolutely crucial to delivering on customer expectations. And, as we all know, those expectations only continue to rise.

New York – Faith Hope Consolo, chairman, and Joseph Aquino, executive VP of Douglas Elliman's Retail Group are bringing Philadelphia-based, international Society jeweler, Paul Morelli, to 895 Madison Avenue, at the intersection of 72nd Street.

The jeweler has been a presence at Bergdorf Goodman since 1981. The multi-level first New York store will offer 40 feet of double frontage and face two Ralph Lauren mansions.