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2014 5281 Winners
Hyde Archuleta – Denver International Airport
At DIA integrating two separate business units -- Contract Administration and Contract Procurement -- into one unit was going to be a challenge. Getting the staff to buy into learning one system would take a true leader. Enter, Hyde Archuleta. She identified an immediate area of development in the training of the two teams. Since there were no documented user guides for the various systems, and having to learn the system herself; Hyde developed more robust "how-to" notes that employees from both units could understand. Because Hyde's notes worked so well, they served as the basis of the Contract Management unit's official user manual for four systems. Additionally, Hyde has been able to exceed expectations of Contract Administration by taking only 3.80 days to audit and process invoices versus the norm of seven days. And, in Contract Procurement, she has procured 56 contracts in just 194 days. As one of her team members said, "Hyde is one lean, mean Contract Management customer-centric machine!"
Dr. Nita Mosby Henry – Office of Human Resources
In 2012 Dr. Nita Mosby Henry spearheaded a critical agency redesign which focused on changing the look, touch, and feel of how Human Resources was delivered throughout Denver City Government. These changes included a name change from CSA to Office of Human Resources or OHR – to reflect the close strategic relationship with the agencies it served, and delivering a dedicated complete HR Service Delivery team for thirteen City agencies. She paved the way for City and County of Denver to become a true learning organization through the development of Denver City Employee University ("City U") - the first ever modernized training and development program for all city employees, and in just two months has reached over 900 employees, of which 171 employees have completed courses. She has also inspired a reformed city-wide wellness program that is on the path to becoming a national model. Her commitment to the community is found in two programs – the Inclusivity Project, which leads the City to be more inclusive of the community it serves, and Denver P.A.T.H.S. (Personal Advancement To Higher Success) which enables OHR to help program participants with the valuable stepping stones that lead to employment, professional success, and economic empowerment. Additionally, under Nita's leadership, OHR returned over $400,000 to the City's General Fund; processed over 88,000 employment applications; and in 2013 hired its first military veteran from the "Boots to Suits" program that is a partnership with the University of Colorado-Denver.
Sherri Ivy – Public Works
Sherri takes her job to the streets, literally. When Sherri, a Right-of-Way construction inspector, took on the Highpointe Development Project in Southeast Denver she became an integral part of the entire project. Due to the complexity of the project, and its close proximity to the residential neighborhood many challenges arose – from parking for residents and site workers, detours to other right-of-way issues. Sherri not only managed multiple contractors, but she assumed the role of "representative" for the City, District Four, and even the residents in the development area. Sherri spent many hours at the site working with contractors to correct the problems, but also worked on communication with the residents and was available to them at any time. She was in constant communication with the District 4 council office, to inform them about the project schedules and the daily concerns of the neighborhood. Her involvement and efforts helped smooth out a very contentious situation. As a result, Sherri's provided the highest level of service and helped the project moved forward in a timely manner, and created better communication between the Council office, the City, the contractors and the residents.
David Pickart – Office of Human Resources
David's combined respect for self and others, and ability to know almost everything about anything City related, puts him at the top of customer service delivery. David's knowledge of the City, its agencies, staff, and history is nothing short of amazing -- his team calls him, a "one-man Wikipedia." Employees from City agencies have relied on David to provide expertise in the area of training and development, and other software knowledge. In August 2013, David assumed the role of Program Manager of the newly created Denver City Employee University (CityU). It became his responsibility to advise, coordinate, and create new policies and procedures for the delivery and tracking of all Employee Training, all while integrating a new training service provider with existing City systems. Through his leadership, the entire Office of Human Resources Training team has learned to navigate the intricacies of multiple systems. He continues to travel throughout the numerous City agencies to ensure that they are introduced to and comfortable with the utilization of the City U programs and processes. With David's help the City and County of Denver is creating greater professional growth opportunities for all City employees.
Alex Polzine – Denver International Airport
Alex Polzine is a problem solver, no matter what it takes. In June of 2013, when he supervised the DIA Tower Road Snow Handling Facility Upgrade Project, he made some critical time and money saving decisions to get the project completed on schedule and under budget. Due to budget restrictions everything had to be done in-house from design, to equipment specs, purchases, construction and installation. Also, Alex and his team were fighting a hectic completion schedule through the rainiest season Denver had seen in years. All of this meant that Alex had to use his employees to peak advantage to deliver the highest quality of services as the lowest possible costs in order to get the project done before the snow season. Throughout the project Alex was faced with several challenges like an inoperative plumbing design issue, which his team was able to diagnose, fix and have working in just one day. Another challenge was retrieving a transmitter from on top of a pole. Now this is the interesting part of Alex's "get it done" work ethic. During the project the team was given a free transmitter to be used for the airport's de-icing control system. The problem was that the transmitter needed to be retrieved from a tall pole via a bucket truck. Due to the extremely rainy weather the truck couldn't be used, which kept delaying the process. As time became critical, Alex made a command decision. Not wanting to endanger anyone else, Alex safely climbed the pole himself and retrieved the transmitter. The team built a tower for the transmitter, and had it up running for the de-icing control system just in time for the snow season. The project manager estimates that Alex and his team's efforts throughout the project saved DIA over $250,000.
Curtis Subia – General Services
Curtis was nominated for his proven cost savings and possible revenue generating processes for the City and County of Denver. He was responsible for identifying the requirement for a new offender monitoring system for the City's Safety Department. Curtis developed a new Request for Proposal (RFP) procurement process that was not only for Denver vendors, but an opportunity for national vendors to win a contract with the City. Because of Curtis's vision to expand the RFP process, the City was able to obtain two systems that resulted in an estimated cost savings of $60, 000 in hard costs, and further soft cost savings associated with man-hours. Curtis's actions in the RFP process is being felt nationwide and have provided Denver an opportunity to generate additional revenue. In January of 2014, Curtis presented the bid results to the US Communities board of directors, and purchasing representatives from other US cities and counties. The pricing that was received from Curtis's process was very favorable, and if these other municipalities use Curtis's process 1% of the fees vendors receive will be submitted to Denver as the lead agency in the process. The estimated funds remitted to the City's General Fund may be as high as $100,000.
Ruthie Sullivan – Excise and License
Since the inception of voters approving Medical marijuana to be sold in the City of Denver, Ruthie had been the sole source of contact, expertise, willingness and licensing for the entire City of Denver. She kept Excise and License, and the City afloat during this process by being a consummate professional and exemplifying the STARS values through top customer services, planning and communication to everyone involved. Ruthie volunteered when no one else wanted to touch the new licensing process that would need to be created from scratch with no template to follow. She committed her days and nights to the project and stayed past midnight to ensure licenses were issued and customers were finger printed. Because of Ruthie's efforts both the marijuana industry and the City have seen a positive financial impact from this new niche market. Additionally, Retail marijuana is up running and successful in Denver and if it were not for Ruthie's dedication to developing a licensing process for the Medical marijuana industry, there would not be as many eligible Retail marijuana stores, which are also contributing to the City's financial impact.
Dave Thompson – Denver International Airport
Dave has always built excellent relationships with our internal and external customers. His conflict resolution, communication and customer service skills put him at the forefront of resolving one issue with an airline's concern over water quality for potable water cabinets for the airplanes. Dave immediately put the airline's concerns at ease by providing the water quality report and changing out sun damaged water hoses, which were discolored. Dave was also instrumental in the design of Tower Road Chemical Tank Project. The initial was bid for $413,000, and he was able to eliminate unnecessary cost and items bring the estimate cost down to $233,000 – saving DIA approximately 42% on the project. Not only are Dave's customer service skills top notch, but his ability to provide cost saving ideas on projects demonstrates his commitment to DIA and his department.
Amber Vancil – Public Works
Amber was actively engaged in reviewing processes and procedures related to Wastewater Management's lien notification mailings as part of her Peak Academy project. She found that Wastewater was spending up to $50,000 annually mailing notifications letters via certified mail versus first class mail. Amber coordinated with the City Attorney's Office and Wastewater financial management and determined that there were no legal requirements or financial constraints that would require Wastewater to continue using certified mailings. After submitting a suggestion to her supervisor to approve changing the mailing process for lien notifications, the process was approved. The City saw a hard cost savings of $46,000 in annual postage expenses and soft savings related to staff time and resources directed to more critical functions. She has received accolades from Public Works and Governing Magazine for her work.
Derek Woodbury – Office of Economic Development
Derek successfully communicated and designed several of the Office of Economic Development's programs and plans. His methods were instrumental in effectively reaching the internal City decision makers, the public, and businesses of OED's programs, services, efforts and outcomes. Derek worked closely with the City and OED Leadership, program staff and non-city partners to develop materials that helped communicate clear measurable outcomes, reports and metrics. Because of Derek's efforts, the results were -- increased city-wide awareness of OED programs like JumpStart 2013 (OED's annual work plan), OED's three-year strategy summary, Mayor Hancock's Smart Jobs brochures, and supporting presentations. Derek's ability to increase awareness around OED's programs, media briefings and social media highlights created an improved clarity and increased support coordination with other City agencies and community partners, and is being modeled with other City programs and partners.
Team Winners
Denver Human Services Lean Team
In 2013, Denver Human Services identified two main issues 1) customers were not getting public assistance benefits in a timely manner and 2) children were spending too much time in the child protection before finding permanent placements. DHS needed to find a way to address these issues without increasing staff costs. DHS formed a LEAN Team comprised of four individuals who were responsible for leading the charge to a massive improvement in the system. Over several months the LEAN Team conducted an outstanding 19 Rapid Improvement Events that helped remove waste from processes, engaged staff in business improvements and educated staff on implementing the outcomes of the RIE. Through the LEAN Team's work, DHS reached it's goals of creating a process that led to people receiving public assistance benefits in a more timely manner and kids spending less time in child protective services. The LEAN Team's leadership has inspired a vision that is taking Human Services to the next level of service delivery for the community they serve.
Tower Road Snow Facility Upgrade Handling Project Team – Denver International Airport
In the spring of 2013, DIA's Airport Infrastructure Management Division was given the challenging task of completing the Tower Road Snow Handling Facility Upgrade Project. The airport was being held to budget limitations and a tight schedule. The division had to do the project in-house, start to finish, from design to installation. The team faced many issues from a pumping system that needed to be upgraded, to installing a new a fluid monitoring system, and so much more. In other the words, the whole site needed to be demolished and rebuilt, all before the snow season started. The team worked out a plan and devised a strategic plan that would help them reach their goal. The project had three objectives: Meet the operational needs of the users, minimize material usage, and capture product spills during the truck loading operation, while providing environmental controls to help manage any tank or pipe leaks. Through the project, the team used their resources and expertise to do the project in-house. By doing all of the Engineering and Project Management themselves, the team saved a total of $1.1 million dollars.
Fees and Fines Committee – Finance and Management Office
The Fees and Fines Committee was a citywide committee that came together to recommend the Mayor waive credit card convenience fees from on-line payments from the public to the City and County of Denver. Removing this fee would incent customers to pay on-line, which is the cheapest and most efficient way for the City to do business. The committee reviewed a cost analysis of all tender acceptance types and also surveyed other jurisdictions in Colorado and across the country. They found that the City and citizens will save and estimated two million dollars annually. By eliminating the fee the City is now on par with private businesses, that don't pass along credit card fees to customers. Denver is well ahead of other governmental entities in this regard and is continuing to provide world-class customer service.
My Denver Recreation Team – Parks and Recreation
The My Denver Recreation Team was tasked with creating a brand new quality recreation program to serve over 60,000 Denver kids within a six month time frame as a result of the successful 2A Initiative. They had to determine a method to track and provide identification cards to every school-aged child in Denver that could also work as their library card. They had to develop a program that provided healthy, creative, structured programming at 24 recreation centers across the City. The team worked collaboratively with libraries, the Mayor's Office of Children's Affairs, and with other city experts. Recognizing that overcoming childhood obesity is a driving factor in program development, they consulted with Children's Hospital experts to assist in program development and tracking. Because of the My Denver Recreation team over 38,000 Denver kids have signed up for the My Denver card. To date, 60 percent of eligible children in Denver have accessed recreation centers.
Additionally, the United States Conference of Mayors awarded the "Livable City Award," to the City and County of Denver, on behalf of the My Denver Program.
Parking Operations and Planning – Public Works
Car Share companies had showed interest in entering the Denver market for a while; however, policy and rules and regulations didn't exist to support the permitting of the vehicles. Robert Ferrin and Cynthia Patton eagerly chose to tackle this project and implement policy to allow a vibrant car share system in Denver to compliment the current transportation infrastructure. This effort would spur economic opportunity and would re-energize the City's commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability to make Denver the most livable city in America. In 2009, Denver entered into a car share pilot program, and three years later Robert and Cindy started to formalize the policy and attract local and national car share companies. As a part of the process and to help guide policy, they worked with other cities to research car share programs. Implementation included a public hearing to adopt the policy, rules and regulations. The adoption of the new policy and rules & regulations resulted in several private car share companies entering the Denver market in 2013 with over 400 vehicles. The program has resulted in permit revenue to the City of $276,000 and $77,000 in estimated sales/ownership tax revenue. Car share companies that have recently expanded service to Denver include Ego, Car2Go, Zip Car, Hertz247, Occasional Car, and Enterprise Car Share. The program continues to grow and yields success in our city.
5281 Awards Ceremony Photos 2014


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Sleeveface to Appear at ROFLCon II
Categories: Getting People, ROFLCon II, Tim, Triumph
First off, some deep and enduring apologies for being off the grid for about two weeks — the ROFLCon crew has been razzlin' with the bureaucracy getting some boring logistical stuff together with MIT, so there hasn't been much to report on. I've also been borked with conference season lately (Toronto, Washington DC, Croatia), and have been trapped wrangling with angry customs people, ex-communists, and poor wifi connections. But I'm back, and the wave of e-mail invites should get things rolling again. Stay tuned.
With all that out of the way, glad to report today that I got in a good long chat with Carl Morris today — the creator of the amusing, fun, and sometimes downright unsettling site Sleeveface.
He's pretty excited about all the ROFLs and I'm glad to confirm in true style that he'll be attending ROFLCon 2010! Catch him (potentially) on our emerging single-serving blog panel — and otherwise hanging around, being awesome. I've added him, accordingly, to our updating guest list.
Incidentally, Carl's also a DJ, which has officially got the ball rolling on putting together that whole conference party/music show thing…more soon.

subset: commoncrawl


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Advancing the Internet of Things for Global Commerce
The Auto-ID Labs are the leading global research network of academic laboratories in the field of Internet of Things. The labs comprise seven of the world's most renowned research universities located on four different continents.
The labs believe that the next generation of the Internet of Things can revolutionize global commerce and provide previously unrealizable consumer benefits. The primary research partner is GS1 a not-for-profit organization that is renowned for establishing standards for global commerce such as introducing barcodes to the retail industry almost 40 years ago. The labs aim to add the consumer to the currently B2B-oriented business model of GS1 and explore opportunities for new hardware, software, business processes and applications including Linked Open Data for Products and Services.
The Auto-ID Labs have a long history in the field of networked RFID and emerged from the Auto-ID Center which pioneered the term Internet of Things almost 14 years ago. The labs also founded the world's first conference on Internet of Things. It is now a bi-annual gathering for researchers and thought leaders that is next scheduled for October 2014 at MIT.
Search the Auto-ID Labs research database
Find scientific publications in the world's most comprehensive database on RFID.
(for a more detailed search please click here)
Recent Research Papers
Visit our publications database for more!


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A Message To Kim Kardashian
March 29, 2012 by Wayne Allyn Root
"California is a bankrupt, insolvent, dysfunctional mess, just like so many actors and actresses is Hollywood: broke with no future," says Wayne Allyn Root in a commentary for Personal Liberty Digest™. The State's tax rates for the rich are exorbitant, and millionaires are fleeing the State. Root suggests millionaire Kim Kardashian leave California for Nevada, since the Silver State won't take her money.


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Galena, Illinois was once the largest port on the Mississippi north of Saint Louis. It was instrumental in trade and lead mining. Today, visitors to Galena vacation rentals can still see where some of this mining occurred, though it is not as prominent now. By the mid-1800s, about 80 percent of lead mining was done in Galena, which has left it rather barren. After the early 20th century, things began to change in Galena, turning it into a place for vacationers and family reunions rather than a mining town. Galena house rentals make it possible for visitors to be comfortable.
If you cannot live without your pet on vacation, pet-friendly Galena rentals are perfect. These Galena vacation rentals allow small dogs or cats for a small fee. This way your entire family can stay at Galena house rentals, and you can save the costs of putting your pet in a kennel while you're on vacation. Other amenities these houses offer include fully equipped kitchens, televisions and some have internet connections.
Besides the draw of pet-friendly Galena rentals, there are 150 miles of Galena Trail to enjoy. The trail and Coach Roads lead from Galena to Peoria; both are conveniently close to Galena house rentals. This path was notable during the 18th century when Native Americans and French fur trappers needed to move around the U.S. for business, trade and general life. A few minutes from Galena vacation rentals is the start of the trail and Galena's Old Train Depot, with a map of the trail and local visitor center.
Galena house rentals are near the Belvedere Mansion, which was built by Russell Jones in 1857. The mansion has 22 rooms with decorative arts, Liberace's estate items and draperies used in the film Gone with the Wind. Dowling House is the oldest house in the city and noteworthy for its original artifacts and woodwork. Admission for both can be combined for a full day of touring historical homes.


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Paese Ristorante Bathurst St.
- Address:
3827 Bathurst Street
Toronto, ON M3H3N1Neighborhood:
North York
- Cuisine:
ItalianPrice: CAN$30 and under
Paese Ristorante Bathurst St.
- Dining Style: Casual Elegant
- Website: http://www.paeseristorante.com/
- Phone: 4166316585
- Hours of Operation:
Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am -2:30pm; Dinner: Monday: 5:30pm - 9:30pm, Tuesday - Wednesday: 5:30pm - 10:00pm, Thursday - Fridays 5:30pm - 11, Saturday 5:30pm - 11:30pm, Sunday: 5:30pm - 9:30pm
- Payment Options: AMEX,MasterCard,Visa
- Cuisine: Italian
- Executive Chef: Chef Christopher Palik
- Dress Code: Smart Casual
- Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
- Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Chef's Table, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Area, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Wine, Wine Bar
- Catering: Please contact directly at 416.631.9226
- Private Party Facilities: For parties up to 60 guests, Paese's private rooms present an exclusive yet welcoming dining experience. Our highly experienced team will cater to your every need and customize a menu that best suits your specific taste, dietary restrictions and personal preferences. The private dining experiences are ideal for any special occasion, including: Corporate meetings, Wine tasting, Rehearsal dinners, Birthday parties, Anniversaries, Family celebrations, Cocktail parties, Sunday brunch, Breakfast meetings & Luncheons
- Private Party Contact: Sharon Correia 4166319226x239
A word from Paese Ristorante Bathurst St.
With regulars referring to Paese as their "kitchen away from home", Paese Ristorante has been serving Italian inspired food made from the finest local ingredients for the past 21 years. Attention to quality of ingredients and healthy alternatives sets Paese apart. Paese Ristorante"s food philosophy, as directed by executive chef Christopher Palik and owner, Tony Loschiavo, is driven by a passion for bringing a modern twist on traditional favorites to North Toronto. Paese also boasts one of the city's most diverse lists of major producing wine regions. Paese also has three sommeliers on staff to assist with creating the perfect marriage of food and wine. Whether you're in the mood for a delicious meal, share a pizza at the bar with a glass wine from the list of 10 glasses, Paese Ristorante's elegantly contemporary environment offers the idyllic backdrop for a truly tempting evening. Wine Spectator 'Award of Excellence' from 1997 - 2010 consecutively.Continued
Foodspotting photosSee all photos
Paese Ristorante Bathurst St. reviews from OpenTable diners
31 reviews since June 4, 2014
- Food4.4Service4.3
- Ambiance4.1Noise LevelModerate
neighborhood gem (22)fit for foodies (13)special occasion (13)good for groups (10)notable wine list (10)great for lunch (7)romantic (7)kid-friendly (3)hot spot (2)great for brunch (1)Show More
- Consistently greatLGeeDined on 9/2/2014Consistently great food and service for many years. We went for a birthday and they brought a complimentary piece of cake and sang happy birthday.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Great food, service and environmentOpenTable Diner Since 2014Dined on 8/22/2014We frequent this restaurant, which always offers great Italian food, excellent and fast service, superb wine. I suggest making reservations, especially for Friday evenings when they are packed.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Always perfectAPM1023VIPDined on 8/13/2014Throughly enjoyed the Salumi pizza and the daily "really good soup." Food is very fresh and service perfect. Very wine friendly for their list or if you want to bring your own. Highly recommended! Manager Sal is a diamondSpecial Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Italian restaurant for dinnerTryitDined on 8/10/2014Very pleasant Italian restaurant. Food was delicious. Very professional service and although it was crowed no delays for bringing food. Tried several dishes, as we were party of six and everyone was satisfied, no errors whatsoever.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- wonderfulsaftiDined on 7/27/2014Very attentive service. Great variety of meal choices and good specials. Every meal at the table was delicious. Always dependable so we go often. Also very well priced.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Dinner July 23rdchcknmanDined on 7/23/2014Liked the menu as usual the food was good and fresh, the waiter was knowledgeable and helpfulSpecial Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- The following 182 reviews are from the Paese Ristorante Bathurst St. reviews archive.
- Service was incredibly slowluv2dineDined on 5/30/2014I've been to Paese many times & I've used them to cater before but this isn't the 1st time we've had service issues. It was our wedding anniversary & the place wasn't full at all. The man who seated us was great & said our server would be at our table shortly but nobody came.After about 20 minutes, the same guy apologized and took our order instead and to their credit, didn't charge us for the drinks because of the wait.Our real server brought the food but he wasn't friendly and pretty much grunted at us.He brought a piece of cake on the house & mumbled happy anniversary as he put it down, but when we were done,we never saw him again & couldn't find him to get the bill. We had to get a diff server to bring it to us. A disappointing evng.
- OverpricedO2flossVIPDined on 5/21/2014Although the food is tasty, it's overpriced for what and where it is and the portions are small.
- Yes it is worthed.OpenTable Diner Since 2014Dined on 4/19/2014My friend and I went to this restaurant and enjoy a lot. The ambience and service were excellent. The food was excellent also but the quantity a little small in some case. Waiter was the best and interact with the people. Wonderful and would recommend to my friend for sure.Special Features:
- Black cod perfectly cooked.biscottiVIPDined on 4/13/2014Black cod perfectly cooked. Tender but with crispy skin.Special Features:
- Always a pleasant dining experiencehawthorneDined on 4/8/2014Always a pleasant dining experience. Consistently good food. Service is very good. Would recommend to, friends.Special Features:
- Always great at PaeseMikeDined on 4/4/2014Paese is about the only high end Italian restaurant in the northwest part of Toronto where you can consistently rely on getting an excellent lunch or dinner, well prepared, tasty, with top notch service and in a quiet environment. I have always had excellent meals there.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Over-ratedMax56Dined on 3/29/2014Restaurant was out of certain foods listed on menu by 8pm. They were also out of one of the specials by 8pm. Not very impressive!! Food we ordered was so so. Wine list is expensive. Service was good.
- Lovely DiningCindyDined on 3/25/2014Paese is a lovely restaurant offering an excellent menu where everyone is easily able to find a delicious meal regardless of dietary restrictions. The staff are knowledgeable, and very energetic and the meal portion sizes were perfect. Thanks for a very nice evening. Cindy S.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Didn't disappointgourmandVIPDined on 3/13/2014Great neighbourhood restaurant; we enjoyed good food & good service in an otherwise desolate area of places to eat!. Excellent cocktails and wine listSpecial Features:
- Dinner with friends at PaeseluvgoodfoodDined on 3/8/2014WE enjoyed our meals of fresh, fish, and a perfectly done steak. Several appetizers prolonged the dining experience. The stuffed olives and fried polenta sticks were excellent . Our salads were fresh and creatively prepared and presented.The wine steward chose a memorable wine for us, and the only negative from the entire experience was the fact that the wine is not available at the LCBO..... i guess we will have to come back and have another bottle soon. The noise level was a little high, so i guess we were not the only ones enjoying ourselves that night. I highly recommend Paese, it is our "go to" place whenever we need a break from home cooking. P.S. our servers made us all feel special and welcome.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Celebration nightchcknmanDined on 2/28/2014It was my parents birthdays and anniversary, I called in to have desserts ready which they were and were very well received by all. I was called by name when we arrived and it was very nice touch on your part. It has been a while since we have visited the restaurant and we all said that we will be returning shortly.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Celebrate a birthday here;gourmandVIPDined on 2/12/2014Celebrate a birthday here; food & wine were really good. Happy to have it in the areaSpecial Features:
- good Italian food in an areagourmandVIPDined on 1/26/2014good Italian food in an area where there's not much else. Excellent wine list and helpful staff. very enjoyable evening.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Nice place, Okay FoodopentabledinerDined on 1/25/201414 parking spots for a restaurant that can seat 3x that many people. So tip: CAB. Caesar salad had too much dressing and used powered parmesan cheese (compared to grated parm which is almost expected for a nice restaurant). The pizza (roasted red peppers and chicken) was bland, but the dough & sauce were very good. When we took the pizza home we found a chicken bone ON THE PIZZA. Disgusting and scary to say the least. The goat cheese salad on kale was good, but not worth the price tag. Our friend liked the octopus - he ordered a second serving. Sun-Friday you can bring a bottle of wine and there is no corking fee. Not sure if we'll be returning to this restaurant. The food was bland - and pricey considering the quality.Special Features:
- Great eveningThomDined on 1/22/2014We were greeted warmly (quite literally since it was -18C), our coats taken and ushered to our table. Specials that night ALL sounded great and I was astounded by the wine selection! Our bottle was de-canted and just got better as the meal progressed. Service was excellent ... attentive yet not inn-your-face annoying.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Just what I was looking forHappy2eatDined on 1/22/2014Loved Paesa and it really met my expectations when I took my friend there for her birthday. I was looking for nice quiet atmosphere, great food and good wine. The server was very polite and his timing was perfect. We ordered a roasted veggie soup with goat cheese. Good flavor and not heavy. For an appetizer we shared grilled calamari. It was really nice tender not over cooked with olives and spicy peppers. I have had excellent grilled calamari at Baton Rouge and this one was just as nice but with a lighter taste. We ended up splitting a Margarita pizza and it was very nice. My friend is Italian and knows her pizza she really liked this one. We had a bottle of red Montelpuccliano at 85.00 a bottle. Pricey but worth it.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Girls night outgirls3Dined on 1/17/2014Our server went over and above with service, kindness and attentiveness. Although, I would like to point out that my reservation on line specifically stated that I was lactose intolerant but when I went to order a latte there was no dairy substitute. I don't understand why I even bothered. I can't believe that in this era of food allergy the restaurant doesn't provide alternatives.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- New Years EveISpyDined on 1/13/2014Had dinner here on NYE. The food and service were fantastic. Regular menu was used so no exorbitant price cause it was NYE.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- last mealastridguyDined on 1/9/2014was at Paese on Bathurst , an early evening to enjoy the last night in Toronto. Service, food and wine was perfect for the occassion. When we arrived there were few people this being early evening and we noticed the background music was noticeably loud but within 30min the room was full and one could not hear a note of background music due to the conversations in the room. The food was very good and the wine was amazing. I really dont know how I could have enjoyed the meal better.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Always great foodrubbish82VIPDined on 1/4/2014We go here often. The food is always good. Service is usually good as well but this time wasn't great. Still a recommended spot.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Best Italian in the CityCitylightsVIPDined on 12/31/2013This is a great restaurant with authentic recipes but presented with modern ingredients and delicate tastes. Turkey Bolangese with potatoe cavetelli was wonderful.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- A disasterAppalledDined on 12/23/2013Walked in and were not acknowledged. Larger party came in later and were sat before us. We were told to sit right next to door. When we inquired about other tables nearby were told they were all reserved - we reserved as well, you know... when we decided to take our business elsewhere the person who "served" us turned and walked away, not even apologizing or wishing us a good night. We took ourselves and our money to Wildfire on Yonge St. where we were treated nicely and professionally. Folks, stay away from Paese.
- Fantastic againAPM1023VIPDined on 12/20/2013Food is always great and the service is impeccable. The meatballs appetizer is terrific as are the scallops and octopus. Every pasta is great, Cavatelli with Turkey Bolognaise is not to be missed, even if you just order it to share with your regular mains. Whole fish is always fresh. Special nod to pizzas-they have it down pat. A real treat is the Scamorza--smoky cheese with a house made veal sausage. This is a wonderful taste. Bravo again, Paese, I will be backSpecial Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Are able to accomodate groupsOpenTable Diner Since 2009Dined on 12/17/2013Are able to accomodate groups 8 at a square table as opposed to a long rectangle which is great. Wine list is good - fact you can bring your own in with no corkage Sunday- Thursday an added bonus.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- great resto!saftiDined on 11/19/2013We have been here many times. The food is always outstanding and the service is excellent.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Love this spot !JamjarVIPDined on 11/18/2013No matter what you select, the food is prepared individually..always hot and fresh and tasty. The service is impecable and all the wait staff is well-trained and accommodating.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Good Italian food and excellentgourmandVIPDined on 11/14/2013Good Italian food and excellent wines in an area where there is not much around. Staff very friendly & helpful.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Girls night outgirls3Dined on 11/14/2013Whenever my friends decide to go out - we choose Paese because it is awesome! If we should tell our server that we are celebrating a birthday or special occasion. They always acknowledge this we some delicious dessert.. This is so nice and personal as the world is becoming so impersonal! The guests are always very nice but because this restaurant is small, the noise level is loud at times.Special Features:
- Lovely eveningLuvgoodfoodDined on 11/9/2013We decided on Paese because we were going out with friends and we wanted good food and an unrushed dining experience. We got both. I highly recommend Paese. We all enjoyed our food and we did not feel rushed at all. We'll be back soon especially on a day other than Saturday when you can bring your own wine and drink it without paying a corkage fee. Great idea!Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Consistently excellent!JamjarVIPDined on 11/8/2013Wait staff at PAESE are knowledgeable and really good at what they do. I love a corner booth which provides privacy and quiet. The food is diverse, tasty and delicious. Chef Matt is so accommodating - I have a food allergy and he always makes me something unique and safe.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- DELICIOUS !JamjarVIPDined on 11/1/2013All aspects of this restaurant are consistently impeccable. Sabine is a great server and Matt the chef is outstanding! All wait personnel are attentive, smiling, welcoming and I love to go there.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Loved the entire meal. CorkageJrockDined on 10/2/2013Loved the entire meal. Corkage on the first bottle was free so our bill was very reasonable. This was our first time and I can guaranteed that we will be back.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- TerrificIanniDined on 9/20/2013As always, a perfect experience from start to finish.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.
- Neighbourhood favouriteFoodieDined on 9/19/2013Service was great - very engaging staff. Food was delicious and we would definitely go again. Wonderful beet salad The four of us loved the pasta special.Special Features:I would recommend this to a friend.


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Roundhouse is a full-service EDI provider in New York City's Garment Center with clients world-wide. Companies outsource their EDI and data processing to Roundhouse so they can focus on what they do best. Here you can find the latest EDI-related news.
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December 27, 2010
The recent global economic downturn has left its mark on the retail industry and marketplace. As global companies emerge from the recession, CXOs of various Fortune 1000 companies across the globe representing the consumer-packaged goods, retail, quick service restaurants and other sectors have passionately articulated a common set of needs: to leverage their scale, to be truly global and to use their information as an asset. These needs have led to an increased interest in a global shared services model. CXOs want to use this recovery phase to drive global shared services to consolidate, define and possibly centralize key functions and services in the company to help leverage efficiencies of scale globally, reduce costs and deliver competitive advantage.
Shared services is an innovative service delivery model to provide administrative, support and maintenance services of enterprise applications to multiple customers delivered by a common pool of resources around-the-clock that could include employees, consultants, infrastructure, technology, reports, transaction and processing services,etc. The interest is there, but the concept can sound complex. The understanding, or lack of understanding, of the shared services concept often impede companies selling shared services internally, although the model has been employed successfully and has benefitted many companies.
Once you have decided that the shared services model is a good course for your company to take, the biggest challenge is gaining support from management. Convincing the boardroom to sell the shared services concept internally can be intimidating and most often, unsuccessful. Advocates that take up the shared services mandate are faced with skeptics that have a counter-argument ready. Most of these companies are grappling with three key questions: What does it mean to be a truly global company with global shared services? How do they convince their board on the vision, scope, nature and benefits of this strategy? How can they begin?
When they think of shared services, they often think of the potential challenges – external perception from customers that support is not exclusive or unique, change management, the cost to implement such strategy and whether or not this model would achieve immediate benefits, unique local practices in different regions and countries and how they would change in a global shared services model, local staff and their continuity, etc. Every cost saving business case is met with an alternative that ultimately puts the initiative on the back burner. For instance, one country head of a global beverage company explained that while his board loved the business case of immediate cost savings, once the topic of organizational change was brought up, the discussion was stopped short.
One approach that has worked for several companies is abandoning "shared services" all together. What they've done is deliver the concept by replacing the "shared services" label to "business enablement initiatives" or "platforms." It may sound strange, but many advocates have succeeded in selling the idea to the company board by using this approach. For example, one CPG company we worked with looked at a completely non-traditional process – marketing – for which to create shared services. They set up a standardized technology platform for all their digital marketing needs and a "factory" of talented individuals who followed strong processes and methodologies that would help increase reuse and improve speed to market for their brand managers each time they wanted to launch an ad campaign. The creative ad agencies involved loved the model, and the metrics have helped this company demonstrate the power of shared services to the top line of the company. The critical win here is that the team never called this a "shared service," but promoted it as a new "platform" that they wanted to adopt. Another company that set up a global shared service helping their front-line business development teams all over the world centralize administrative activities, called their initiative "Enabling the Sales Force."
In summary, the recession and the recovery we are now experiencing has only strengthened the case for shared services to be an important initiative. There are numerous benefits to shared services. Those that have achieved some extent of truly global shared services are enjoying fantastic benefits of large cost savings, improved speed to market, better business user experiences of these services and more aggressive adoption of the model. In fact, the president of a highly successful CPG giant publicly explained that with shared services his company has saved more than $500 million, integrated acquired companies faster than usual, made their value chain more efficient, flatter and simpler, and now moving to digitize that value chain end-to-end.
Shared-services champions are creating momentum within their companies by using business-enabling initiatives to further prove that shared services have a strong business case across most company processes. For most companies, traditional approaches to internally sell shared services in the boardroom are difficult and they have to resort to new, innovative methods. That can be as simple as leaving out the "shared services" in your shared services initiative.
For more information, visit: http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/shared-services-boardroom-dilemma?ad=apparel-accessories
No matter what the politicians in Washington are saying, the United States is married to China. And, this relationship has been nearly 40 years in the making. Ever since Nixon visited China, the United States has become more and more reliant upon low-cost Chinese goods. Indeed, according to The United States Trade Representative, the United States imported nearly $300 billion worth of goods from China in 2009 alone. To the extent an economic recovery in the United States depends on consumers spending at retail, the ability of U.S. importers and retailers to secure financing with respect to goods manufactured and exported from China is of critical importance.
While we all wear Chinese clothing, watch Chinese TV, and listen to Chinese manufactured mp3 players, the basic paradigm of financing imports from China has changed dramatically over the past two decades. What once was a transaction based upon letters of credit and payment upon shipment, is today a constant struggle between U.S. importers and their Chinese manufacturers/suppliers. Importers want to pay later in the process, sometimes as long as three months after the goods are shipped, while suppliers understandably want to be paid as soon as possible.
However, Chinese-based banks are hesitant to accept open account customer credit risk and in the current economic climate exporters are demanding payment as soon as possible after the goods are shipped to the United States. In some cases, due to slim margins and raw material price volatility, Chinese producers ask for deposits even before product leaves Chinese ports.
For retailers and importers, managing trade finance risk has never been more important due to persistent margin pressures and consumers unrelenting quest for value, a key component of which is price.
Historically the financing was assumed by large banks and factors such as CIT. Today these banks have either left the business, curtailed lending to only large, investment grade companies, restricted leverage, or have not changed fast enough to understand the new dynamic and offer the products that importers as well as exporters need to keep the retail supply chain functioning efficiently, effectively and without delay.
This new financial paradigm is only one side of the problem facing importers and exporters. On the other side of the equation is the consolidation in the American retail, apparel and furniture sectors. This consolidation has increased importers' buying power, forcing Asian suppliers to use open account terms when financing trade with their U.S. clients. Because of this increased clout, importers not only are putting pressure on their suppliers to trade on open accounts, but also to pay as slowly as possible. Today, it is not uncommon for the order-to-cash cycle to be between 120 and 150 days from the date the purchase order is placed in China. This timeframe puts a significant financial strain on the supplier who typically desire payment when goods are shipped.
To help solve this tension between importers and suppliers, non-bank lenders have entered the marketplace. Non-bank lenders are not subject to the strict requirements that often limit the amount of unsecured credit banks will offer to many in the retail supply chain.
It's why Capital Business Credit, a supply chain finance company historically focused on working with importers and their U.S.-based retail customers, decided to launch a new division called, CBC Trade Finance. Our objective was simple: to address the unmet needs of suppliers and importers in a complex and dynamic marketplace. The model is simple. CBC buys Chinese exporter's receivables at the time of shipment, paying the supplier as soon as the goods leave for the U.S. The importer then negotiates with CBC a timeframe to pay the invoice – up to 120 days.
As the global economy improves, China and other manufacturing countries like Vietnam, Pakistan and Bangladesh will continue to produce the majority of goods sold in the United States. The ability for U.S. importers to secure incremental financing and to satisfy the demands of foreign exporters and manufacturers is critical not only to the success and working relationship between importers and supplier/manufacturers, but also to an eventual and sustainable economic recovery.
For more information, visit: http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/hidden-risk-imports
New York City — Sunday's east coast snowstorm disrupted sales throughout the entire area and disrupted one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Sections of New York and New Jersey got as much as two feet of snow over the past few days, keeping many shoppers at home. Spending may shift into January, Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at Port Washington, N.Y.-based NPD Group, told Bloomberg on Monday.
"Look for sales to be repeated by retailers. They're going to be more aggressive," Cohen said.
The day after Christmas is one of the five busiest shopping days of the year, and it may take retailers two weeks to capture sales lost yesterday, Cohen told Bloomberg. At the same time, shoppers may lose their enthusiasm as the holiday season wanes, he said.
For some retailers, however, the storm brought benefits. Home Depot and Lowe's Cos. sold out of snow blowers and shoppers bought more shovels and ice melt, Craig Johnson, president of New Canaan, Conn.-based Customer Growth Partners, told Bloomberg. The storm also likely will give online sales "a slight bump" on Sunday and Monday, he said.
The Standard & Poor's 500 Retailing Index dropped 3.16 points, or 0.6%, to 508.67 at 10:39 a.m. EST on Monday. The index had gained 25% this year before Monday, compared with a 13% increase for the S&P 500, according to the Bloomberg report.
Consumers may temper their spending if the storm's aftermath stalls shopping for several days and the frugality of New Year's resolutions kicks in, Michael Dart, the San Francisco-based head of private equity at the New York consulting firm Kurt Salmon Associates, told Bloomberg.
New York City had 18 inches to 20 inches of snow by 7:30 a.m. local time Monday as the storm's center shifted north and east, commercial forecaster AccuWeather said. The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for Boston and into Maine.
For more information, visit: http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/blizzard-hurts-retailers-post-christmas-shoppers-stay-home
December 22, 2010
Walmart, Target and Best Buy attracted record levels of customers to their websites during November, according to data released this week by the online measurement firm comScore. Retailers have come to expect a surge in traffic to their sites as the holiday approach and during November that proved to be the case and then some.
Walmart and Target both experienced a 44% increase in the number of unique visitors to their sites during November when compared with October. The surge pushed Walmart to the 20th spot on comScore's ranking of the top 50 U.S. online properties with a total of nearly 52 million unique visitors, while Target landed in the 27th position with nearly 40 million unique visitors. The number of visitors to Best Buy's website grew at an even faster 75% when comparing November to October, which gave the company 28 million unique visitors and a 41st ranking on the comScore top 50 list.
"As the holiday season kicked off in November, Americans were quick to take advantage of retailers' early promotions and saving in crossing a few items off their shopping list," said Jeff Hackett, EVP comScore Media Metrix. "Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, came in as the heaviest online spending day on record in the U.S. which contributed a strong portion of traffic growth at retail and coupon sites."
While Walmart, Target and Best Buy advanced their position on comScore's top 50 list dominated by the likes of Yahoo, Google, Microsoft and Facebook, Amazon.com remains king of the retail hill. It attracted roughly 84 million unique visitors during November, placing it 10th on the top properties list.
The November figures are impressive when compared with October, but less so when compared with November 2009. In fact, unique visitor growth on a year-over-year basis has moderated somewhat, with Walmart, Target and Best Buy posting increases of 5%, 2% and 7%, respectively. Amazon.com's unique visitor growth increased 8% when compared with November 2009.
For more information, visit: http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/online-2010-holiday-winners-emerge?ad=apparel-accessories
December 21, 2010
With only a few days to go until Christmas retailers are already positioning themselves for post holiday success by touting promotions to capitalize on gift card redemptions. Target and JCPenney this week announced special incentives that begin the day after Christmas when both plan to open at 7 a.m.
Target said it planned to offer free shipping on certain online purchases and would extend store hours until 11 p.m., while JCPenney said is employing a similar strategy, featuring more than 100 doorbusters in a 48-page sales circular. Those who can't wait until the day after Christmas can visit jcpenney.com to begin shopping the post holiday specials on the retailer's website where free shipping will be offered on various items.
"Target makes shopping fun, fast and festive for our guests throughout the holiday season," said Target merchandising VP Nik Nayar. "Most holiday gift cards are redeemed in our electronics department so we are gearing up for great deals on some of our guests' favorite products such as video games, TVs and cameras."
According to JCPenney, the day after Christmas is quickly becoming the retailer's second busiest sales day after Black Friday.
For further information, visit: http://www.retailingtoday.com/article/post-holiday-promotional-push-begins?ad=apparel-accessories
October 21, 2010
J.C. Penney Co. Inc.'s transition from "Big Book" catalogues to "look book" mailers is now complete.
The Plano, Tex.-based retailer ended its Big Book catalogue earlier this year. J.C. Penney will still be in the print media business, but the new books will become "specialty in-store" mailers showcasing select fashion looks or must-haves to encourage consumers to shop in-store or online. The traditional catalogue format featured everything in a particular category.
Speaking last month at the Telsey Advisory Group's Consumer Conference, Myron E. "Mike" Ullman 3rd, chairman and chief executive officer of Penney's, told attendees, "Our strength ended up being a limitation at some point. Our being in 77 different catalogues, [speaking] to a lot of narrow audiences — frankly, it tied up a lot of inventory and got us kind of supporting multiple businesses that probably weren't necessary."
Penney's catalogue dates back to 1963 and grew to a $1 billion in 1979, according to Penney's.
Walter Loeb, former retail analyst and head of the consulting firm that bears his name, said, "This is the end of an era. Penney's was great with their catalogue and it is the last of the cataloguers getting out of the business. Given the economic environment, it is probably more profitable for them to use the Little Red Book format as a marketing tool."
"We made approximately 25 catalogue mailings in 2010, which was less than we've had in previous years as we've been replacing our traditional 'big book' catalogues with more focused cross-channel marketing pieces sent to customers on a targeted basis," a Penney's spokeswoman told WWD. "We mailed seven Women's Little Red Books in 2010 and we'll increase to nine to 10 in 2011. We mailed five Men's Matters of Style books in 2010 and we'll increase to six to seven in 2011."
Shoppers who relied on the catalogues for their purchases can either go to jcp.com or contact a Penney customer care center, which will input the order through the Web site.
One source familiar with the change said increasing printing and postage costs "would soon be a considerable drag" on the retailer's business. In addition, the catalogue operation had its own inventory system that was not connected with inventory at the stores or at jcp.com. Another source said the move will allow the retailer to better manage inventory and allocation levels for its stores and Web site.
The spokeswoman noted that one new feature online is the ability to input a zip code to find out if an item is available in a nearby store.
October 8, 2010
A sleepy September rounded out an uninspiring back-to-school season, as shoppers held off on purchases until the last minute — and laid the groundwork for a highly promotional holiday.
Analysts and other experts preparing for Thursday's reports on September same-store sales from major retailers believe the heavy-handed promotional cadence established this year during b-t-s will carry into holiday. This would appear to make it virtually certain that the robust gains of the first half, achieved against anemic prior-year results, won't carry into the second six months of 2010 in regards to sales, margins — or profits.
"The 2010 holiday shopping season will be spectacularly unspectacular for many consumers, but that will suit retailers who remember well the turbulence of holiday '08," Janet Hoffman, managing director of Accenture's retail practice, said Tuesday, adding that her firm's data suggest consumer spending will be flat versus last year.
That's slightly good news compared with the debacle that was 2008, but not great news when stores recall the halcyon days of 2007 and earlier.
The importance of Black Friday may also be diminished this year, as retailers "maintain their discounts" throughout the season rather than "focus on activity" around the day after Thanksgiving, said Hoffman, noting that shoppers are choosing to shop online more.
However, two retail industry associations weighed in Tuesday with holiday forecasts that, while conservative, predicted better results than last year.
The National Retail Federation projected a 2.3 percent gain in total sales to $447 billion, while the International Council of Shopping Centers forecast a 3 percent to 3.5 percent increase in comparable-store sales at chains and a 2.5 percent rise in general merchandise, apparel, furniture and other categories, or GAFO, sales.
The forecasts are tempered by the unemployment rate sticking at 9.5 percent, and declining confidence in the economy and increased savings among consumers.
The bright side — especially with respect to the bottom line — is that retailers are able to do more with less, according to Matthew Shay, president of the NRF.
"They've found ways to operate innovatively in terms of inventory control, having the right mix, promoting and pricing," he told WWD. Shay also said while there's still going to be plenty of promoting during Christmas, in many cases it will be preplanned with markdowns that still generate profits. "It's a more sophisticated approach."
In addition, Shay said that b-t-s numbers were slightly better than expected, that there's some pent-up demand among consumers who have been saving and paying down debt, and that apparel and electronics could have a decent season and appear to be driving the business currently. However, the stubborn unemployment rate "gives consumers pause."
While cautiously managing inventories, some retailers could get caught short on certain items, Shay noted. "The challenge is how to manage out-of-stock versus excess inventory."
NRF's 2.3 percent forecast for holiday, defined by the association as sales during November and December, is slightly lower than the 10-year average holiday sales increase of 2.5 percent, but a marked improvement from last year's 0.4 percent uptick and dismal 3.9 percent holiday decline in 2008.
"Though the retail industry is on stronger footing than last year, companies are closely watching key economic indicators like employment and consumer confidence before getting too optimistic that the recession is behind them," Shay said.
Michael Niemira, chief economist and director of research for the ICSC, also sees more good than bad as holiday approaches.
"The key story is that the retail recovery continues and that bodes well for the upcoming holiday shopping season," he said. "Additionally, we expect holiday hiring to improve moderately over last year and overall employment growth to improve as well, which in turn should support increased spending."
If the holiday forecast of 3 to 3.5 percent is hit, it would be the largest since 2006.
Meanwhile, while expectations for September results are modest — Thomson Reuters projected an average comparable-store sales increase of 2.1 percent for the month — the numbers could provide something of an upside surprise. That was the case Tuesday when Walgreen Co. reported that same-store sales for the month, expected to decline 1.3 percent, came in 0.4 percent ahead of September 2009.
According to SpendingPulse, which estimates total U.S. retail sales made by cash, check or credit card, apparel sales improved 3.8 percent in September, buoyed by a 2.3 percent rise at children's apparel retailers and a 7.9 percent jump at teen retailers. Women's apparel sales slid 0.2 percent, while sales at men's apparel retailers declined 3.4 percent.
Michael McNamara, vice president of MasterCard SpendingPulse, said the positive sales at kids' and teen retailers could be attributed to the highly promotional b-t-s climate. If September is any indication, even if consumers spent more, they were likely to favor retailers offering promotions as many stores turned to discounts last month to rouse thrifty, budget-conscious shoppers of various age groups.
Brean Murray, Carret & Co. analyst Eric Beder said September results were "not a disaster" and will "confirm that the current retailing environment will be one of low growth and high Darwinian competition."
However, competition remains heated in the teen sector, and he expects American Eagle Outfitters Inc. to revise third-quarter earnings guidance downward since discounts deepened "as the month dragged on."
But Weeden & Co. analyst Amy Noblin said she expects AEO to upwardly revise guidance, as the retailer took fewer markdowns than anticipated.
The promotional tug-of-war over consumer dollars was more heated between Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Aéropostale Inc., she said, while retailers like Gap Inc. used heavy discounts to clear inventory. Gap Inc. promoted "fairly heavily" because of weightier inventory, Noblin said.
Needham & Co. analyst Christine Chen is concerned Gap's Banana Republic unit, which has promoted at 40 percent off to drive sales, may have overdone it and put itself at risk of brand deterioration. "They have trained the customer to want that sale," she said. "The merchandise is not a disaster, but it's clearly not amazing enough to pay full price."
Such discounting not only makes it hard to retrain the Banana Republic customer, but it also pressures rivals J. Crew Group Inc. and AnnTaylor Stores Corp. Aggressive promotions may be around for a while, as comps become more difficult and consumers purchase closer and closer to need. And while inventories seem to be in better shape than a year ago, there's still the possibility that retailers, anxiously awaiting consumers come holiday, will pull the promotional trigger earlier, according to Weeden's Noblin.
"There's a valid need for market share gains," she said. "We expect holiday 2010 to look a lot like back-to-school 2010."
Markets rallied around the world Tuesday as Japan's central bank moved to support the country's economy and the U.S. service sector showed signs of strengthening. The S&P Retail Index advanced 1.9 percent, or 8.40 points, to 462.95, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.8 percent, or 193.45 points, to 10,944.72, inching closer to the 11,000 level not seen since May 4.
For further information, visit: http://www.wwd.com/retail-news?module=tn#/article/retail-news/sept-discounts-provide-preview-of-holiday-3328797?full=true
WASHINGTON — Specialty retailers added jobs in September while department stores eliminated positions, the Labor Department said Friday.
Specialty retailers added 2,500 jobs to employ 1.39 million in September. Department stores eliminated 2,100 positions to employ 1.49 million. General merchandise stores, which include department stores, added 1,300 positions to employ 2.95 million.
In the broader economy employers cut 95,000 jobs in September, driven in part by the elimination of a significant number of temporary census jobs. Unemployment remained unchanged at 9.6 percent.
Deeper in the pipeline, textile mills making apparel fabric cut 500 jobs to employ 121,900. Textile product mills, which make mostly home furnishing and industrial fabric, added 200 jobs to employ 122,200. Apparel manufacturers eliminated 900 workers to employ 163,100.
For further information, visit: http://www.wwd.com/retail-news?module=tn#/article/business-news/specialty-retailers-add-jobs-3333146?navSection=retail-news
October 4, 2010
Jones Apparel Group is changing its name, slightly.
As of the end of October, the company will go by The Jones Group, reflecting the company's brand portfolio, which includes not just Jones New York, but also Nine West, Anne Klein, Rachel Roy, Robert Rodriguez and Stuart Weitzman.
Its stock ticker, JNY, will not be changed.
"This new name embraces Jones' heritage while signaling our vision for the future," said Wesley Card, chief executive officer. Card said the company is well positioned to take advantage of its expertise in apparel, footwear, jeans, jewelry and handbags.
"With these resources, we can not only cultivate our existing brands to their full marketplace potential, but also discover and nurture new brands and design talent into high-demand, global branded businesses," Card said.
Jones has $133 million in cash on its books and a history of acquisitions. This summer the company snatched up Stuart Weitzman.
For further information, visit: http://www.wwd.com/business-news?module=tn#/article/business-news/jones-apparel-group-changes-name-3324779?navSection=business-news
October 1, 2010
One day after J.C. Penney Co. Inc. revealed plans to open new stores, Kohl's Corp. said it unveiled 21 units in 15 states on Wednesday. Kohl's said the new stores will add 3,000 jobs in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The move comes at a time when many retailers are curtailing growth or developing smaller store formats.
Kohl's on Wednesday also opened a new customer and operations center in San Antonio for its charge card business and kohls.com, which saw a 38 percent jump in revenues last year. Kohl's operates two existing customer service and operations centers in Corsicana, Tex., and Menomonee Falls, Wis., where the company is based.
So far this year, Kohl's has opened 30 stores, bringing the total units to 1,089 in 49 states.
Both Penney's and Kohl's are remodeling stores with an emphasis on fashion. Kohl's is targeting 85 stores for facelifts this year, a 66 percent increase from 2009.
The fourth-largest department store chain in the U.S., Kohl's sells national and exclusive brands aimed squarely at middle income shoppers, including Levi's, Nike, Adidas, Simply Vera Vera Wang, LC Lauren Conrad, Elle Contemporary Collection, Dana Buchman, Candie's and apt. 9. The retailer in June moved to a larger design office at 1400 Broadway in Manhattan with 60,000 square feet compared with the 20,000 square feet of the former office. Kohl's said the new office would help accelerate its strategy for private and exclusive brands.
In August, Kohl's reported second-quarter earnings of 84 cents a share, compared with the year-ago period's 75 cents, yet cut its full-year guidance to $3.57 to $3.70 a share. Penney's returned to profitability from a year-ago loss, earning 6 cents a share in the second quarter, but reduced its full-year guidance to $1.40 to $1.50.
For further information, visit: http://www.wwd.com/retail-news?module=tn#/article/business-news/kohls-opens-21-new-stores-and-a-new-customer-service-and-operations-center-3310743?navSection=retail-news


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Blues legend Graeme Sharp assesses this weekend's key battles.
Everton head down the M62 on Saturday lunchtime looking to protect their record as the Premier League's only unbeaten side.
It will be a tough ask against a Manchester City outfit who are not only tipped as serious title contenders but licking their wounds following Wednesday's Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.
The Citizens will also be looking to eradicate the memories of a 3-2 reverse at Aston Villa last weekend and produce more of the form that saw them swagger to a stunning 4-1 triumph in the Manchester derby six days earlier.
Ahead of this weekend's meeting, Everton legend Graeme Sharp assesses the key battles that could affect the outcome at the Etihad…
Sharpy says: Romelu Lukaku's start to life at Goodison Park has been awesome, to say the least. He's a real handful - but on Saturday he's up against one of the best centre-backs in the league. They're international teammates as well, so that makes the battle between them that little bit more interesting, and, personally, I can't wait to see how it unfolds. I've been most impressed by Romelu's ability to hold up the ball because he gives us a focal point in attack. His strength means he can bring others into play and that's something we've perhaps missed in the past.
Sharpy says: Roberto Martinez will be desperate for Kevin Mirallas to shake off his little knock and the stats show why. More than that, you could see in his last two games that he's starting to get back to his best. He's quick going through the gears and he will be a threat to Kolarov with his direct running. Kolarov likes to get forward and Mirallas can exploit that on the counter because it won't be a surprise to see City having a lot of the ball.
Sharpy says: For me, Seamus Coleman has been outstanding so far this season. I made him my Man of the Match against Newcastle on Monday. He did really well against a tricky customer in Hatem Ben Arfa and now he's going to find himself up against another. Nasri is a good footballer but Seamus has improved defensively this season and he's always going to offer that threat going forward. It's a tough test but Seamus is in the right kind of form to handle it.
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michael Jack petersonColman has picked up where he left off last season,has matured in the pros & cons of his game. Never thought two seasons ago he would end up;one of our star players. COYBThursday 3rd October 17:36 Report Comment
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Calories in
Kraft Italian Vinaigrette w/EVOO
Nutrition Facts
Calories in Kraft Italian Vinaigrette w/EVOO
Serving Size: 1 tbsp
Amount Per Serving
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
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