Design Studio18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDTGMDC Weekly Insightshttp://multibriefs.com/briefs/GMDC/GMDC.xmlenLarry Page recently called Google+ the company's "social spine." If that's the case, then Google's backbone might be much weaker than Page has been letting on, at least according to a new report from RJ Metrics.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb657731b5f31Want to keep your tweets among your tweeps and hidden from any old Google searcher? Twitter has some tips for you. The microblogging company's @Support account recently tweeted out a link to a help center page for Twitter users who want to keep their posts a bit more anonymous on Google. Given Twitter's high rank in Google Search, it's likely that your profile there will be among the top results for your name.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb6596bd29b02In the growing and ever-evolving world of mobile marketing, SMS text messaging continues to be the bellwether. And why not? SMS is easy and convenient for the consumer and provides the greatest reach for brands. It is extremely effective for connecting with a brand's most loyal and active consumers who are looking to engage with the brand.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb659a6a549f3Harris Teeter released an update to ht mobile, significantly changing its mobile application, both improving existing functions and introducing new features to make it easier for shoppers to use their smartphone to organize their grocery shopping.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb659c736eab4Daily deals giant Groupon once again is showing that mobile plays an integral role in its day-to-day initiatives by running an interactive mobile ad campaign that lets consumers browse ongoing deals, as well as sign-up to receive offers. The company is running expandable mobile ads within Pandora's iPhone application. The initiative is helping the company build its mobile database.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb659eda9a895A new study from the Interactive Advertising Bureau points to the strong use of mobile by consumers while they are inside a retail store, with 73 percent of respondents saying they have used their mobile in store.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65a1883d896C anada may not seem the most exotic or exciting location to expand internationally — but it may be the most logical. The country weathered the global economic downturn stronger than most and, according to a report by Collier International, per capita retail spending surpassed that of the United States last year. It's no wonder, then, that many U.S. retailers are looking to our neighbors to the north.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65c21eeeaa7Target won't arrive for another 10 months, but 61 percent of Canadians surveyed plan to shop there, according to market research released recently. Among cross-border shoppers who have visited a Target store in the U.S. in the past year the figure is even higher — 90 percent, suggesting that familiarity with Target breeds contented customers.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65c778896a8About 75 people gathered in front of the Devonshire Mall Zellers recently, demanding fair treatment for workers when it converts to a Target. Union representatives, Zellers workers and MP Brian Masse, L-Windsor West, marched across the parking lot, holding signs and chanting, "Zellers workers under attack! What do we do? Stand up, fight back!"18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65ce2671749The Yankee Candle Company has unveiled its first-ever, limited-edition Man Candles Collection, a line of scents inspired by and created uniquely for men. "We wanted to develop a collection of scents that men could strongly identify with," said Hope Margala Klein, senior vice president, brand, design and innovation.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65d900ce5010Once upon a time, somebody somewhere discovered that jabbing a hot dog with a skewer, coating it with batter, and then deep-frying it would be a delicious alternative to a bun. The Nostalgia Electrics SOS-600 Snacks on a Stick Maker brings home carnival flavors in one easy-to-use appliance. The clamshell contrivance features six cavities complete with a channeled groove to allow room for the all-important stick.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65e06eb13711Despite everything you've learned in the Super Mario Bro's video games, stomping and burning are not your only two options in the kitchen. When you need to chop that magic mushroom before wolfing it down, you can hack it up on this Coin Block cutting board.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65e418c2aa12Coty Inc. has withdrawn its nearly $10.7 billion offer for Avon Products. The fragrance maker said it was moving on to pursue other opportunities as Avon didn't come clean as to why it needed more time to respond to the proposal.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65ef5006ca13One of life's simple pleasures just got a little sweeter. After years of waffling research on coffee and health, even some fear that java might raise the risk of heart disease, a big study finds the opposite: Coffee drinkers are a little more likely to live longer. Regular or decaf doesn't matter.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65f2f50fd214Manufacturers of sunscreen now will have six additional months to meet the new labeling and testing requirements as imposed by the Food and Drug Administration, according to an announcement from the Federal Register.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65f4da526315Motherhood influences the way women shop, according to Mintel research. The research firm found that being a mother influences shopping habits as an increased emphasis is put on the safety, value and nutrition of everyday purchases.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65f85b8a9116U.S. consumer prices were flat in April as households paid less for gasoline and natural gas, possibly giving the U.S. Federal Reserve more room to help economic growth should the recovery stumble.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb65fd1c0e2517While the month-to-month rate of growth slowed significantly, U.S. retailers continued to enjoy the early-spring warm weather in April, posting sales of $408 billion, 0.1 percent greater than March retail sales and 6.1 percent ahead of April of last year, according to this morning's report on retail sales from the U.S. Census Bureau.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb6600152a1118The food safety world is Kroger's oyster. The Cincinnati-based grocery retailer has been named the 2012 recipient of the prestigious Black Pearl Award for advancing food safety and quality by the International Association for Food Protection.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb660e8b3cdf19Grocery distributor Nash Finch Co. says its subsidiary U Save Foods Inc. has agreed to buy Omaha-based No Frills Supermarkets. The deal adds 18 stores to the Nash Finch company. Fourteen are located in Nebraska, 12 of which are in the Omaha market. Four stores are located in western Iowa.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb661281f86d20With U.S. sales recording its strongest quarter in some time, Walmart posted a 9.2 percent gain in net income to $3.7 billion in its fiscal first quarter ending on April 30. Net sales at domestic Walmart stores rose 5.9 percent to $66.3 billion, including a same-store sales gain of 2.6 percent.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb6617dc43a521Smith's, makers of Edgeware knife sharpeners and kitchen tools, has named Margaret Ewing international sales manager. Ewing succeeds Samy Onsi, who left the company in late 2011, and reports to Mark Adkison, Smith's vice president of global sales.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb6620d8850d22Pendleton has appointed Robert Christnacht to the new position of director of wholesale sales. The move puts Christnacht over the company's wholesale distribution efforts worldwide.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb6623f1272623Publix Super Markets Inc. has promoted Gino DiGrazia to the position of vice president of finance. In addition to his current business analysis and reporting responsibilities, DiGrazia is taking on many of the duties formerly performed by Kelly Underhill, director of tax and treasury, who retired from Publix in March 2012 after 22 years with the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer.18 May 2012 10:17:39 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4fb66285ca1ae24