Topic Hot Store All Close Up State 40 and 50 Next New Year 2011 Era End.

[Warlord838]

Store Closings: Hot Topic and Duckwall-ALCO to Shutter 45 Stores Each

Mall-based Hot Topic sells trendy fashion to teens and young adults; Duckwall-ALCO sells groceries, paper products, jewelry and electronics in small Midwestern markets. The two retailers couldn't be more different, but their announcements were almost identical: both will shutter 40 to 50 stores in the coming few months.

Hot Topic, which operates 680 Hot Topic stores and 156 Torrid stores, will close 40 to 50 underperforming locations by the end of the first quarter of 2011, the company recently announced. The closings are part of cost-cutting measures that include reducing capital expenditures in 2011 to approximately $20 million from an estimated $30-32 million in 2010. Hot Topic also expects to reduce about 14% of its home office and field management positions. The various cost reduction efforts are expected to result in an estimated pre-tax income improvement of $13 million.

Duckwall-ALCO will close 44 Duckwall stores as part of a reallocation of resources toward its 214 broad-line ALCO stores, which operate in 23 states. The small, limited-selection Duckwall stores, which average 6,755 square feet, account for only 3.9% of the company's sales, according to president and CEO Rich Wilson.

"The necessary technology upgrades to bring these stores into the corporate IT infrastructure would be cost-prohibitive," said Wilson in a statement. "We expect that redeploying the resources used in the Duckwall stores to our more productive ALCO stores will improve the company's earnings."

The ALCO stores have been upgraded during the past eight months. They average 25,446 square feet and offer expanded selections of food and consumables. The store closings will be accompanied by a corporate name change to ALCO Stores, which will likely take place in fiscal 2012. The company expects to record expenses of about $1.8 million in Q4 related to the store closings, and then to redeploy approximately $4 million in capital to the ALCO stores.

Reading More:
http://risnews.edgl.com/retail-news/...ores-Each56965

[Warlord838]

Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010

Jason Lamb: Staying on topic
By Roger Yale - For Weekly Surge


Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/12/16...#ixzz19XlgZeVr


Jason Lamb, originally from Cumberland Gap, Tenn., first visited Myrtle Beach in his early 20s, and the area gave him an interesting contrast. "I was very captivated by the ocean, being that I grew up in the mountains," he says. In 2005, he went to work as store manager for Hot Topic in Greensboro, N.C., and stayed the course until an opportunity came up for a transfer to the retail chain's Myrtle Beach location at Coastal Grand Mall in June 2009. Beach life beckoned, and Lamb was ready for a new challenge in his career. "The transition was easy, but it was a little hard getting used to the business trends here."

But what motivated Lamb to work for Hot Topic in the first place?

"I used to drive five hours to the closest Hot Topic when I was growing up," he says. "My best friend and I would make a road trip once a month - we loved to drive up and check out all of the new and interesting fashion. And I also had a desire to keep my hair vampire red at the time." Apparently, Hot Topic was fine with that.

Lamb's duties involve managing nine employees and making sure the store remains a cutting-edge hub for all things hip - including music, apparel, novelties, shoes, and licensed gear. "Hot Topic is all about music and pop culture," he asserts. "Right now we are featuring Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary merchandise, Invader Zim, Nightmare Before Christmas - and we've brought in an assortment of product for the new 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie that will come out in May 2011 - but if I told you all of our amazing secrets, would you come see for yourself?'

But music has been the jumping-off point since the inception of Hot Topic - and it runs the gamut, offering something for all types of music lovers - including vinyl. "The Myrtle Beach location is a true CD store, which means we get vinyl as part of the selection as well. All stores have access to vinyl through HT Connect, which are kiosks in stores, which double as listening stations and a platform from which to place orders." Customers have the option to order from www.hottopic.com or www.shockhound.com.

Lamb, 30, sees the value of social media for the Myrtle Beach location. "We currently have a Facebook page and will be adding a Twitter account soon." He adds that all Hot Topic stores are taking part in an app called SCVNGR - a location-based gaming platform for the Android and iPhone.

And since music is the cornerstone of Hot Topic, all locations host in-store concerts. "The program is called Local Static - and we also refer to it as HT Unplugged because it's really about an intimate, low-key performances in the store for fans of a band. What we are trying to do here is to push local bands that are starting to have a footprint in and around Myrtle Beach. We have featured bands from the New York and New Jersey area as well. Some of our more recent performers were A Million Years, Broadside, This American Life, Hey Dude! and Attalaya."

To recharge his batteries, Lamb enjoys hanging out and socializing with his friends. "During the summer we like to hang out at Broadway at the Beach - in and around Fat Tuesday. There's an awesome Karaoke joint there as well. Other than that I play 'World of Warcraft' - I'm a big ol' gamer nerd." And he has not forgotten the main appeal of the coastal life. "I tend to walk the beach a lot at night - just to go there and be alone with my thoughts." He enjoys soaking up the sun as well. "I keep thinking that I might try surfing at some point."

Lamb is content on the Grand Strand. "I'm taking it one day at a time right now," he says. "We will see where the future leads me. I believe that every day is a new challenge to learn and gain experiences from. There is nothing put before you that you cannot handle. People and places come into our lives for a reason. We just have to choose to accept them and move forward."

Know of a local with an interesting job or career that should be given the Working 4 A Living treatment? Contact Roger Yale at rgyale@**********.



Read more: http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/12/16...#ixzz19Xlm7eeY

[Warlord838]

Hot Topic stores in Midland, Bay City malls set to close

The Hot Topic stores in the Midland and Bay City malls are set to close their doors after being pegged as some of the company's lowest performing.

The stores, located at 6800 Eastman in Midland and 4101 Wilder in Bay County's Bangor Township, are hosting closeout sales as Hot Topic, Inc. aims to close 40-50 under-performing stores by the end of the first quarter in 2011.

Hot Topic is a mall and web-based retailer of pop-culture accessories, apparel and more, according to the company's website.

The Hot Topic store in the Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw Township is not among those closing.

More Reading:
http://www.mlive.com/business/mid-mi...idland_ba.html

[Warlord838]

Unemployed, Fat and Happy

The unemployment rate in has been a debated hot topic in politics for a while now.

Unemployment rates have been climbing due to a substantial loss of jobs between 2008 and 2010.

Republicans and Democrats have been arguing about the economic problems facing our country. Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have claimed that unemployment helps to create a prosperous economy.




Millions of Americans have filed for unemployment and are scouring through newspaper ads and online job listings to find employment. But what about those who are content sitting at home?

A native, Justin Time, said, “I was laid off five years ago from my job in a meat packing plant. I was worried at first that I wouldn’t be able to provide for my family, but now I see being unemployed is the best way to go. I can sit around all day and still receive checks in the mail from the government. How can life get any better?”




Along with an unemployment crisis, millions of Americans are struggling with obesity.

Clothing companies in have started raising the prices of their products being exported to because they are using more fabric to make bigger sizes.




Some radical groups are popping up around the country, claiming to have the answers to ’s problems. One such group, The Anorexians, out of , say that food should be rationed by the government to allow each American to consume only 300 calories a day and to get rid of all power plants and make Americans generate their own electricity by running on treadmills.

Regardless of what the best solution is for these problems, one thing is for sure, Americans are getting fat and lazy…and like it.




Time said, “I don’t plan on going back to work anytime soon. I’m enjoying life. My wife recently quit her job and is collecting unemployment as well. We’ve decided to go on welfare also and have recently adopted five Ethiopian babies to collect money off of them too. is the best country in the world!”


Tag :
fat happy unemployment democrats republicans nancy pelosi americans. china anorexic


Email to friend

More Reading:
http://www.spooftimes.com/NewsDetail...5-812b215e766e

[Warlord838]

Fans outraged over ‘Hot Topic’ selling K-pop music

International K-pop fans have been in an uproar over the alleged ‘unauthorized’ sales of various K-pop albums through the American retail chain, ‘Hot Topic‘.

‘Hot Topic’ is an American clothing chain that specializes in ‘punk rock’, ‘hipster’, and ‘geek chic’ fashion. Though the store’s main focus is on novelty clothing and accessories, they also vend ‘licensed music’ in the form of either CDs or individual downloadable tracks.

Recently, however, the legitimacy of their music department’s practices and products has come under fire, as K-pop fans have discovered that the retail chain is selling music that may not be entirely authentic.

The site boasts albums from ‘SHIN LEE‘ [sic], Big Bang, and 2NE1, just to name a few. From these artists, Hot Topic advertises that they’re selling a ‘2NE1 Acapella’ album, the ‘Big Bang 2010 Big Show’ album, and a ‘SHIN HEE Lucifer Tribute’ album.



Of course, there is no ‘2NE1 Acapella’ album, and Big Bang’s ‘BIG SHOW 2010 BIGBANG LIVE CONCERT’ doesn’t have that cover. The ‘Label’ information for both the 2NE1 and Big Bang albums also point out a glaring disparity, since the label has been listed as ‘2NE1′ and ‘Robert Blackwell’, instead of ‘YG Entertainment‘.

Hot Topic also has K-Pop compilation albums available for purchase, which features mixes from ‘Baek Ji Young‘ (pictured as Lee Hyori), ‘SHIN HEE’ (pictured as TVXQ), and ‘Rainbow‘ (pictured as ‘SNSD‘).





What’s interesting to note here is that the ‘Label’ information is incorrect once again, and on top of it all, the covers used for these albums appear to be fan-made wallpapers, which were then matched inaccurately.

Due to such striking errors, international K-pop fans have become concerned about the overall legitimacy of these items. Did they pay for the rights to the music, and if so, how much of those proceeds did the K-pop artists and their agencies receive from the sales?

allkpop has contacted the administrators of Hot Topic’s official website, and we plan on following up on this recent development.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More Reading:

http://www.allkpop.com/2011/01/fans-...ng-k-pop-music

[Warlord838]

WRAPUP 1-Zumiez Dec same-store sales miss est, Hot Topic beats

* Zumiez Dec comp sales up 9.2 pct vs est 11.5 pct

* Hot Topic Dec comp sales fell 1.7 pct vs est -2.2 pct

* Zumiez shares down 1 pct after market

Jan 5 (Reuters) - Teen retailer Zumiez Inc (ZUMZ.O) posted December same-store sales that missed market estimates for the first time in 8 months, while Hot Topic Inc (HOTT.O) beat estimates for the crucial holiday season.

Zumiez, which sells clothing and equipment for skaters, snowboarders and other action sports, reported a 9.2 percent rise in December same-store sales. Analysts were looking for a 11.5 percent rise, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Hot Topic, known for its licensed music and movie apparel and accessories, posted a 1.7 percent fall in December same-store sales, better than a 2.2 percent drop expected by analysts.

For Reuters Insider video: r.reuters.com/zaq84r

Shares of Zumiez, which have fallen 16 percent since the company's third-quarter results in early December, were down 1 percent after the bell. They closed at $26.67 Wednesday on Nasdaq.

Hot Topic's stock, which has been largely flat over the past year, closed at $5.95 Wednesday on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Mihir Dalal in Bangalore; Editing by Unnikrishnan Nair)


Reading More:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE7040B420110105

[Warlord838]

Which Retailers May Close More Stores


Now that the holiday numbers are in for US retailers, it’s time again for the annual ritual of shuttering some under-performing stores. One of the first is J.C. Penney Co. (NYSE: JCP), which has announced the appointments of two new directors to its board. Another company that can expect to see some changes soon is Radio Shack Corp. (NYSE: RSH), which has announced the retirement of its CEO in May. And other changes are sure to follow.
At Penney’s, the new directors, activist investor William Ackerman and Vornado Realty Trust chairman Steve Roth, have already had an impact even though they won’t be officially seated until the board meeting on February 22. The retailer plans to close six department stores and 19 outlet stores, as well as consolidate its call center operations. Radio Shack’s earnings have suffered, and the store has been a takeover target for the last year, but there hasn’t been a lot of interest.

Some other retailers having earnings difficulties and that may be in for some changes include American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO), Hot Topic, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTT), Aeropostale, Inc. (NYSE: ARO), and The Wet Seal, Inc. (NASDAQ: WTSLA).

American Eagle’s December same-store sales fell -11%, and sales fell by -6% across all stores. Whether the chain will have to close stores could be a decision for a new owner. Morningstar has listed American Eagle as its most likely retail takeover target for 2011. A buyer, presumably from among the private equity funds, would almost certainly reduce the number of stores.

Hot Topic has probably overbuilt and its poor showing in same-store sales for both November and December underscore the issue. For some reason company management has not reduced the number of stores and it continues to invest in an online music business that hasn’t got a chance of being successful.

Aeropostale posted weaker same-store sales in December, down 5% from a year ago. The company operates more than 900 stores, but if sales continue to decline, the company may have no choice but to close some stores. On the upside, the company has no long-term debt. Aeropostale’s stock trades about 10% higher than it did a year ago, but a poor same-store sales report for January could turn that around in a hurry.

Wet Seal has just named a new CEO, the former president and chief merchandising officer for American Eagle. Wet Seal’s P/E ratio for the trailing twelve months is just 4.31. The company has failed to grow sales and its operating margins are low. This company may have no other choice but to close stores to increase profitability. If it does that, however, its sales will suffer. The new CEO has her hands full with this one.

Rising prices for cotton will put a lot of pressure on profitability in the retail clothing sector. These companies have to hope that consumers are getting back into a buying mood again if the retailers expect to see growth in sales. Otherwise, store closings could become the path to profitability, sales be damned.

Paul Ausick




Read more: Which Retailers May Close More Stores - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2011/01/24/whic...#ixzz1C63YHP1m

[Warlord838]

FYE to close Sunday at The Empire Mall

The Empire Mall’s last music specialty store, FYE, is closing.




The store sells new and used CDs, DVDs, games and books.


The Sioux Falls store is one of 60 that the company is closing company-wide, said James Dean, store manager in Sioux Falls. The last day of business will be Sunday.


FYE has been in the mall for about 10 years, though for several years it was known as Disc Jockey.


Though FYE is the mall’s only specialty music store, Hot Topic does offer a limited music selection.


Chrissy Spoo, the mall’s marketing manager, said they have had some interest in the space from some companies for short-term leases

Read More:
http://www.argusleader.com/article/2.../1003/business

[Warlord838]

Another store leaving Mt. Shasta Mall in Redding
Clothing shop Torrid has 13 workers
By David Benda
Record Searchlight
Posted January 14, 2011 at 11:16 p.m.
.

Another store is closing in the Mt. Shasta Mall in Redding.

Torrid, which sells plus-size clothes for teens and young women, will shut its doors after business Sunday, Redding Manager Morgan Herrmann said Friday.

The clothing store opened in October 2007 and is next to Old Navy near the north end of the mall. Torrid has 13 employees.

Herrmann said she was not at liberty to say why the store is closing and referred questions to company headquarters in City of Industry. She said employees learned the store was closing around Thanksgiving.

A phone message left late Friday afternoon with Hot Topic Inc., parent company of Torrid, was not returned.

On Thursday, Anchor Blue announced it was closing all 117 of its stores, including its location in the Mt. Shasta Mall, where it has been since 1996.

Anchor Blue filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy again on Tuesday. The company had restructured out of a bankruptcy in 2009.

Known as Miller's Outpost when it opened in 1972, Anchor Blue is one of four stores that take up space in the Mt. Shasta Mall's high-profile center court area.

Anchor Blue will close its Redding store within six to eight weeks.

Mt. Shasta Mall General Manager Doug Pattison was out of town Friday and unavailable for comment.

Herrmann said Torrid customers can use their gift cards at torrid.com or they can drive to its sister store in Sacramento.

Torrid also is closing its store in Medford, Ore., Herrmann said.

News of the Anchor Blue and Torrid closures comes as the National Retail Federation reported Friday that preliminary figures show retailers had their best holiday sales gain since 2004, when they jumped 5.9 percent. Sales rose 5.7 percent to $462 billion in 2010, surpassing the industry group's forecast of 3.3 percent.

The figures exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants.

"While the worst appears to be behind us, we are not out of the woods yet," National Retail Federation chief economist Jack Kleinhenz said in a statement.

Some retailers are reporting disappointing holiday sales.

Best Buy, which has a store on Hilltop Drive in Redding, said that year-over-year sales at U.S. stores open at least a year fell 5 percent. The biggest drop came in entertainment software and consumers electronics, where sales fell 15 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

Reuters reported that GameStop Corp.'s same-store holiday sales "rose a less-than-expected 3.4 percent." GameStop has a store in the Mt. Shasta Mall.

Meanwhile, Hot Topic Inc. reported last week that revenue from stores open at least a year fell nearly 2 percent. The company operates Hot Topic and Torrid stores.

© 2011 Record Searchlight. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read More:
http://www.redding.com/news/2011/jan...releavingmall/

[Warlord838]

January 24

Welfare a hot topic in Augusta
By Rebekah Metzler [email protected]
MaineToday Media State House Writer

AUGUSTA -- First-year Rep. Stephen Wood, R-Sabattus, was waiting to purchase groceries when he watched a woman receive $30 back from the cashier, after swiping her government-issued electronic benefit card.


PROGRAM DEFINITIONS

• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families — or TANF — is a cash benefit for families with children. Applicants must show the family has a very low-income and the children are deprived of support from at least one parent to be eligible. The parent also has to participate in an education, re-training and work program known as ASPIRE to receive the TANF benefit.
• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — or SNAP — is the new name of the federal food supplement program formerly known as food stamps. Participants must meet income eligibility requirements and are banned from using the benefit on a variety of items, including alcohol, tobacco and all other nonfood items.

WELFARE REFORM BILLS

From Republicans:
• Rep. Rich Cebra, R-Naples — LR 59, An Act To Enact a 5-point Welfare Reform Program
• Rep. Rich Cebra, R-Naples — LR 78, An Act To Require Drug Testing for Medicaid Recipients with Prescriptions for Scheduled Drugs
• Rep. Rich Cebra, R-Naples – LR 81, An Act To Require an Applicant for State Assistance To Show Proof of Legal Residence in the United States and Proof of Residency for at Least the Previous 90 Days in This State
• Rep. Kenneth Fredette, R-Newport — LR 562, An Act To Establish a Residency Requirement To Receive State Assistance
• Rep. Douglas Damon, R-Bangor — LR 643, An Act To Improve Anti-fraud Efforts in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program
• Rep. Stacey Guerin, R-Glenburn — LR 882, An Act To Impose a 60-month Lifetime Maximum on the Receipt of Welfare Benefits
• Rep. Stacey Guerin, R-Glenburn — LR 883, An Act To Establish a Work or Volunteer Service Requirement for Welfare Recipients
• Rep. Stacey Guerin, R-Glenburn — LR 884, An Act To Impose a 90-day Residency Requirement in Order To Receive Welfare
• Rep. Meredith Strang Burgess, R-Cumberland — LR 1069, An Act To Build Accountability into the General Assistance Laws
• Rep. Andre Cushing, R-Hampden — LR 1261, An Act To Improve the General Assistance Program
• Sen. Rodney Whittemore, R-Skowhegan — LR 1839, Resolve, to Require the Department of Health and Human Services To Request a Waiver To Limit the Foods That May Be Purchased Using Food Stamps

From Democrats:
• Rep. Jon Hinck, D-Portland — LR 39, An Act To Reform Maine’s Welfare System
• Rep. John Tuttle, D-Sanford — LR 251 An Act To Establish a Public Service Workfare Component of the Food Supplement Program
• Rep. Maegan Maloney, D-Augusta — LR 488, An Act To Reform Welfare
• Rep. Peter Stuckey, D-Portland — LR 1292, An Act To Establish Standards for the Administration of the General Assistance Program
• Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland — LR 1724, An Act To Encourage the Use of Electronic Benefit Transfer Funds at Farmer's Markets
• Rep. Alex Cornell Du Houx, D-Brunswick — LR 1748, An Act To Require Community Service under Certain Circumstances
• Rep. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston – LR 1813, Resolve, To Create a Working Group To Make Recommendations To Improve the Efficiency, Accountability and Proper Administration of the General Assistance Program
• Sen. Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford – LR 1886, An Act To Create More Client-level Accountability in the General Assistance Program

Minutes later, he said, he saw the same woman at a nearby gas station.

"I got my gas, went inside and this woman was purchasing a 12-pack, cigarettes and lottery tickets," he said. "I don't begrudge anybody smoking, I used to smoke a long time ago and I still enjoy a good cigar. But I don't think the state should be paying for alcohol or tobacco products or lottery tickets. That I have a problem with."

Vows by the new governor and Legislature to reform welfare have actors on all sides now prepping for public debate.

Republican lawmakers have submitted a flurry of bills to alter how the state administers its welfare programs, from imposing time limits for eligibility to establishing residency requirements before receiving services.

Meanwhile, advocacy groups are poised to release new studies about Mainers who are dependent on welfare to combat what they say are falsehoods about the programs, based on misleading anecdotes, instead of the full facts.

Based on his experience, Wood has proposed legislation, LD 75, to prevent people from taking cash out against their food supplement benefits.

Federal law, however, already bars people from withdraw cash against their benefits -- if they receive food stamps.

People who receive a cash assistance benefit, however, like the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, are allowed to use their electronic benefit card to take out cash.

The two programs are funded through federal block grants, reducing the benefit or its enrollees would not result in savings for Maine taxpayers. The total TANF grant has also not been increased since its inception in 1996.

Wood said it does not matter whether it comes from the federal or state budget -- it's all taxpayer money.

"Which pocket are you taking the money out of? You taking the money out of my right pocket or my left pocket? It's still going to the state or the feds. It's still taxpayer money," he said.

Steven Bowen, a senior policy adviser for LePage, previously worked at the Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative think tank that has strongly advocated for welfare reform.

"There's just a sense that no one is minding the store, just generally speaking, and I think that's a concern you are going to hear in what the administration puts forward," Bowen said. "(LePage's) real goal is to make it so people who need that benefit can get it to get on their feet, get themselves together and get the education training they need and get out of the system. That's going to be the challenge."

Bowen said administration officials are also convinced there needs to be a "culture change" at the Department of Health and Human Services.

"The goal is not to maximize enrollment, the goal is to give people the resources they need to get people back on their feet and become productive citizens, and that doesn't seem to be the goal at DHHS," he said. "One of the reason why finding a DHHS commissioner that the governor is comfortable with is taking longer than some people seem to think it should, is because that position is so critically important to that culture piece."

Another senior LePage adviser, Mary Mayhew, was recently nominated for DHHS' top post. Mayhew previously served as president of the Maine Hospital Association for 11 years and has vowed to lead the agency in a new direction.

"Everyone agrees (DHHS) must be held more accountable to families and taxpayers," she said at a press conference last week.

Bowen predicted welfare reform proposals from the LePage administration would likely be separate from the upcoming biennial budget, so they would receive a full public vetting through the committee process.

"Right now the budget issues and the job issues are dominating, but I think once we get into February, we'll be in a position where we start to roll out some policy pieces and some legislation," he said.

Meanwhile, a new report by the Maine Women's Lobby and Maine Equal Justice Partners that analyzes what Mainers are receiving TANF benefits is ready to be presented to lawmakers and the public.

Representatives of the groups said the goal for the study, conducted in 2010 by professors from the University of Maine and the University of New England, is ground the upcoming policy debates about welfare with facts.

A similar report was released in 1995 and helped shape the way Maine structured welfare programs after the federal reforms.

"Back then it was a very similar time, there were a lot of stories and anecdotes and decisions being made on the basis of those, but there was very little real information about who these families were," said Chris Hastedt of Maine Equal Justice Partners, an advocacy group for low-income Mainers.

One of the most striking finding of the new report, Hastedt said, was the amount of disabled Mainers receiving benefits now, versus 1995.

"There's twice as many families that are coping with serious disability than there were in 1996," said Hastedt. It makes sense, she added, because Maine emphasized access to education and transitional benefits when it structured its welfare programs. "So families that have been able to work have largely left."

Sixty-seven percent of families surveyed had someone who is disabled, Hastedt said. "When you get to families that have been on the caseload for more than 5 years, it's 88 percent," she said.

Figures like this may complicate efforts to reform the system, as lawmakers balances a responsibility to care for certain populations, like the very young, disabled and the elderly, against rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.

"I'm not against helping needy people," said Wood, the Sabattus lawmaker. "But I do have a problem with someone that has the ability to work that is not working because they can make more money on welfare."

[Warlord838]

Hip, edgy clothes carry spiritual message

11:10 PM PST on Sunday, January 16, 2011

By DAVID OLSON
The Press-Enterprise


C28 blends in easily at the Galleria at Tyler mall in Riverside. The store window features edgy styles similar to those on display at the No Fear shop across from it.

But look more closely at C28 products and you'll spot biblical verses, crosses and "Praise the Lord" amid the graffiti-like designs on the T-shirts, hoodies and sneakers.

C28 is hip, but it's also Christian. It operates under a philosophy that accepting Jesus as your savior doesn't mean you have to dress in boring clothes.

Story continues below

David Bauman / The Press-Enterprise
Aurelio Barreto, CEO of C28, a Christian-lifestyle retailer based in Corona, stands in the company display room with many of the T-shirt styles that are popular with young people. "When God put it in my ear to reach kids with the gospel, he wanted me to do this in malls," Barreto says.
Aurelio Barreto III opened his first C28 at Tyler in 2001 and later expanded to Temecula, six other California cities and two franchise locations in Virginia. The Riverside resident also founded the Not of This World merchandise line that includes the NOTW logo -- the T is a cross in the O -- visible in countless car windows and bumpers cruising down streets in the Inland area and throughout the country.

The phrase is from Colossians 2:8 -- the inspiration for C28 -- a biblical verse that teaches that Jesus' followers don't belong to the world but to Christ.

Barreto, 51, views his Corona-based company as a ministry. Employees pray with customers and keep track of those who dedicate their lives to Jesus. Barreto deliberately opens C28 shops in malls to reach people who wouldn't otherwise set foot in a Christian store.

"When God put it in my ear to reach kids with the gospel, he wanted me to do this in malls," Barreto said.

RICH BUT EMPTY

Before Barreto created C28, he co-founded Dogloo, which made igloo-shaped doghouses and other pet products. He sold the Corona company in 1998 for more than $20 million and prepared to retire at age 38 and live off his fortune.

Barreto thought he had it made: A beautiful wife, a $150,000 Porsche Turbo, a life of leisure ahead of him. But after jetting off to Hawaii and then New Zealand to begin his retirement, Barreto became so depressed that he contemplated suicide.

"I said, 'God, if this is all you have for me, I want to die,'" Barreto said. "Once you get the American dream, it doesn't make you happy. You don't worry about bills, you can fly first class, you can have nice meals. But that doesn't give you peace."

At the time, Barreto was donating hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to charities. He sent his kids to an evangelical Christian school and attended an evangelical church every week -- although looking back, he said it was to "earn my points. I clocked in and I clocked out."

THE AWAKENING

Barreto later realized that he was a Christian in name only. After an intense discussion with the principal of his children's school, he dedicated his life to Jesus and, coming back from a dirt-biking trip to the High Desert, noticed a tiny, hip-looking Christian store in Victorville. That gave him the inspiration for C28.

Barreto said he started Not of This World because he couldn't find enough cool clothes to fill his store.

Not of this World and Truth Soul Armor -- a Christian-clothing company that Barreto is in the process of buying -- are now online and in 3,000 stores, including non-Christian outlets such as No Fear, Buckle and Tilly's, Barreto said.

At the Riverside location of the Berean Christian-store chain, Not of This World is by far the biggest seller, store manager Nancy Walden said.

Walden, who has worked in Christian retail for 25 years, said Not of This World was the first Christian clothing line to frequently update styles to keep pace with fashion trends.

C28 is the only Christian-store chain geared toward young people, said George Thomsen, chairman of CBA, a Colorado-based Christian retailers association.

"It's unique in that he's created an environment where kids feel welcome," said Thomsen, general manager of The Harvest Store in Riverside. "It kind of has the cool factor. It's not just the message. The message is paramount, but it comes in really nice packaging."

PURITY RINGS

Mixed among the clothes at C28 are stainless-steel rings with "True love waits" messages of sexual purity; writing journals; "Forgiven Energy" drinks, and youth-oriented Christian books, CDs and DVDs.

Some clothes are bolder than others, like a blue T-shirt with "Live Without Jesus Die Without Jesus" in big white letters. Others have subtle messages, such as "Truth" patches on plaid shirts.

Story continues below

Frank Bellino / The Press-Enterprise
The C28 store in Temecula's Promenade mall looks like many trendy youth fashion sites.
Adam Gelbach, 23, regularly shops at C28.

"I like it because it's Christian stuff but it's cool," the tattooed Gelbach said as he perused shirts at C28 in his torn jeans, keys hanging out of a back pocket. "There's a lot of stuff at other stores with skulls and crossbones, but I don't like the design and it's not the message that I want to send."

Mary Anne Stephens, 57, said C28's styles aren't for her. But the Victorville woman likes bringing her two teenaged daughters to shop there, because she doesn't have to worry about foul words or low-cut blouses.

"It reinforces what I've told them all their lives," Stephens said.

Next to her at C28 on a recent afternoon was 16-year-old Valerie Stephens, clad in a plaid shirt adorned with "Jesus Perfect Love" that she wore over a purple thermal top that says, "Cast Out Fear."

"Everything says something that expresses what I believe is true," Valerie said.

Customers sometimes wander onto the spray-painted cement floors of C28's industrial-look Tyler store thinking they're in Hot Topic, an edgy, teen-oriented secular retail chain, said Eve Debayona, the store manager.

When employees explain C28 is a Christian store, some ask where Hot Topic is and leave, said Debayona, who at age 24 is one of the older employees. But others stay.

Some become Christians that day, said CoLene Barreto, 24, C28 district manager and Aurelio Barreto's daughter.

"There's a lot of hurting people walking through the mall who are shopping because of a void in their life," Barreto said. "People here talk with you and pray for you."

EXPLAINING THE BIBLE

Employees are hired in part on their ability to explain biblical verses on store merchandise and pray with customers, she said.

Riverside employee Fenella Filip, 20, of Corona, said she likes dispelling misconceptions that casual walk-in customers have about God. Many young people view Christianity as a harsh, judgmental religion, she said.

She pointed to a red hoodie on a rack that quotes I Peter 2:3-4. It teaches that beauty comes from within, not from fancy clothes, jewelry or hairstyles.

"They ask what it means, what it's getting at," Filip said. "They ask, 'Is that what Christianity is all about?' "

That sometimes leads to more questions and, in some cases, to customers accepting Christ into their lives on the spot, she said.

More than 16,000 people have accepted Christ through C28, most at the stores, others online or at C28 outreach events, including free Christian-music concerts the company has sponsored at the Promenade mall in Temecula, Barreto said.

The C28 website includes prayer boards, a sign-up pledge to not have sex before marriage and a choice of ministries to direct a portion of the purchase price of merchandise.

C28 stores have been losing money since the economic downturn began, although the online business and the clothing lines make enough money to keep the business profitable. Barreto said he keeps the stores open to keep reaching non-Christians. He declined to reveal profit and loss numbers.

Barreto, who attends Cornerstone Fellowship Bible Church in Riverside, said he is motivated every day by the change his company can make in customers' lives. He clicked on voicemail on his Android phone and played back a message from an employee in his San Jose store.

A customer had told the employee that his faith was shaky and he didn't know what he believed. The employee prayed with him and the customer then said he wanted to accept Christ into his life.

"That," Barreto said, "is what it's about."

Reach David Olson at 951-368-9462 or [email protected]

Read More:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/...17.dbb3bc.html

[Warlord838]

Ascend Software and Brainware Invoice Automation Implemented by Hot Topic

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 February 2011, 00:02 CST

Retailer Streamlines Invoice Processing with Combined Automation Solution

Brea, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) February 14, 2011

Ascend Software and Brainware announced today that they have partnered to deliver Ascend’s SmartTouch AP™ application and Brainware Distiller™ to Hot Topic, Inc., a California-based chain of apparel and accessory retailers. This implementation will enable Hot Topic to optimize their AP invoices processing through imaging, intelligent data capture, workflow automation with real-time Lawson integration.

Hot Topic will scan its paper-based invoices into electronic media, store, distribute, route for approvals, archive, and display only the information needed by each party securely, timely and efficiently.

“Hot Topic selected Ascend’s SmartTouch AP Automation and the Brainware Distiller intelligent data capture solution to help with process improvement, reduce costs and promote green initiatives,” said Deborah Creek, Finance Systems Manager, Hot Topic, Inc.

“By combining our advanced workflow and document management applications with the most advanced data extraction technology on the market, Ascend and Brainware are able to offer companies like Hot Topic a complete solution for their invoice processing needs,” said Jacinta Tobin, EVP, Product Management of Ascend Software. “These solutions allow customers to achieve substantial productivity gains from their staff, and demonstrate the effective value proposition created by the partnership of Ascend and Brainware, both recognized leaders in the field of business process automation.”

“Intelligent data capture technology integrates with a host of business process applications to boost productivity to levels that were, until recently, only a pipe dream,” said Colin Kaye, Vice President of Strategic Alliances for Brainware. “With Brainware’s advanced data extraction capabilities and Ascend’s content management solution, Hot Topic will be positioned to minimize the resources needed to pay bills, as well as increase transparency into financial metrics that inform strategic, effective cash management.”

About Hot Topic, Inc.
Hot Topic, Inc. is a mall and web based specialty retailer operating the Hot Topic and Torrid concepts, as well as the e-space music concept, ShockHound. Hot Topic offers music/pop culture-licensed and music/pop culture-influenced apparel, accessories, music and gift items for young men and women principally between the ages of 12 and 22. Torrid offers apparel, lingerie, shoes and accessories designed for various lifestyles for plus-size females principally between the ages of 15 and 29. ShockHound is a genre-spanning music website where people of all ages can purchase MP3s and music merchandise, share their music interests, read the latest music news and view exclusive editorial content. As of January 29, 2011, the company operated 657 Hot Topic stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada and 153 Torrid stores.

About Ascend Software
Since 1997, Ascend Software has developed business process management solutions which provide greater cost savings automation and are easy to implement. Ascend’s enterprise information management solution was designed from the ground up to archive all types of information (i.e., reports, documents, images and all file types). Additionally, Ascend developed their advanced workflow solution that provides greater automation and is the foundation for their SmartTouch Solutions. Ascend’s advanced automation overcomes challenges typically found in workflow solutions and is the reason for the implementation success. Ascend’s solutions are implemented in all industries and distributed in fourteen countries. Headquartered in Brea, California, the company has branch offices in Tennessee, Maine, and Virginia. Visit http://www.ascendsoftware.com for more information.

About Brainware, Inc.
Brainware, Inc. is an innovative provider of intelligent data capture and enterprise search solutions that help Global 2000 companies eliminate costly manual data entry, rapidly process large volumes of documents and retrieve data from across the enterprise. Its solutions were built from the ground up to manage unstructured data without templates, exact definitions, taxonomies or indexing. Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, Brainware maintains global sales and support operations through its North American, U.K. and European offices. Brainware customers include Airbus, Alcon, Alltel (now Verizon Wireless), Amgen, Anadarko, BB&T, British American Tobacco, Continental Airlines, CORT, Gardner Denver, Halliburton, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, Johns Manville, Kimberly-Clark, KPMG, NHS/Steria, Newell Rubbermaid, Phillip Morris International Service Center Europe, Reynolds & Reynolds, Rockwell Automation, Shell, Southern Company, Sun Chemical, The Bank of New York Mellon/SourceNet, TriZetto, and many others. For more information, please visit http://www.brainware.com.

More Read:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/technol..._by_hot_topic/

[AlonzoFisher]

Originally Posted by Warlord838

Ascend Software and Brainware Invoice Automation Implemented by Hot Topic

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 February 2011, 00:02 CST

Retailer Streamlines Invoice Processing with Combined Automation Solution

Brea, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) February 14, 2011

Ascend Software and Brainware announced today that they have partnered to deliver Ascend’s SmartTouch AP™ application and Brainware Distiller™ to Hot Topic, Inc., a California-based chain of apparel and accessory retailers. This implementation will enable Hot Topic to optimize their AP invoices processing through imaging, intelligent data capture, workflow automation with real-time Lawson integration.

Hot Topic will scan its paper-based invoices into electronic media, store, distribute, route for approvals, archive, and display only the information needed by each party securely, timely and efficiently.

“Hot Topic selected Ascend’s SmartTouch AP Automation and the Brainware Distiller intelligent data capture solution to help with process improvement, reduce costs and promote green initiatives,” said Deborah Creek, Finance Systems Manager, Hot Topic, Inc.

“By combining our advanced workflow and document management applications with the most advanced data extraction technology on the market, Ascend and Brainware are able to offer companies like Hot Topic a complete solution for their invoice processing needs,” said Jacinta Tobin, EVP, Product Management of Ascend Software. “These solutions allow customers to achieve substantial productivity gains from their staff, and demonstrate the effective value proposition created by the partnership of Ascend and Brainware, both recognized leaders in the field of business process automation.”

“Intelligent data capture technology integrates with a host of business process applications to boost productivity to levels that were, until recently, only a pipe dream,” said Colin Kaye, Vice President of Strategic Alliances for Brainware. “With Brainware’s advanced data extraction capabilities and Ascend’s content management solution, Hot Topic will be positioned to minimize the resources needed to pay bills, as well as increase transparency into financial metrics that inform strategic, effective cash management.”

About Hot Topic, Inc.
Hot Topic, Inc. is a mall and web based specialty retailer operating the Hot Topic and Torrid concepts, as well as the e-space music concept, ShockHound. Hot Topic offers music/pop culture-licensed and music/pop culture-influenced apparel, accessories, music and gift items for young men and women principally between the ages of 12 and 22. Torrid offers apparel, lingerie, shoes and accessories designed for various lifestyles for plus-size females principally between the ages of 15 and 29. ShockHound is a genre-spanning music website where people of all ages can purchase MP3s and music merchandise, share their music interests, read the latest music news and view exclusive editorial content. As of January 29, 2011, the company operated 657 Hot Topic stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada and 153 Torrid stores.

About Ascend Software
Since 1997, Ascend Software has developed business process management solutions which provide greater cost savings automation and are easy to implement. Ascend’s enterprise information management solution was designed from the ground up to archive all types of information (i.e., reports, documents, images and all file types). Additionally, Ascend developed their advanced workflow solution that provides greater automation and is the foundation for their SmartTouch Solutions. Ascend’s advanced automation overcomes challenges typically found in workflow solutions and is the reason for the implementation success. Ascend’s solutions are implemented in all industries and distributed in fourteen countries. Headquartered in Brea, California, the company has branch offices in Tennessee, Maine, and Virginia. Visit http://www.ascendsoftware.com for more information.

About Brainware, Inc.
Brainware, Inc. is an innovative provider of intelligent data capture and enterprise search solutions that help Global 2000 companies eliminate costly manual data entry, rapidly process large volumes of documents and retrieve data from across the enterprise. Its solutions were built from the ground up to manage unstructured data without templates, exact definitions, taxonomies or indexing. Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, Brainware maintains global sales and support operations through its North American, U.K. and European offices. Brainware customers include Airbus, Alcon, Alltel (now Verizon Wireless), Amgen, Anadarko, BB&T, British American Tobacco, Continental Airlines, CORT, Gardner Denver, Halliburton, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, Johns Manville, Kimberly-Clark, KPMG, NHS/Steria, Newell Rubbermaid, Phillip Morris International Service Center Europe, Reynolds & Reynolds, Rockwell Automation, Shell, Southern Company, Sun Chemical, The Bank of New York Mellon/SourceNet, TriZetto, and many others. For more information, please visit

More Read:

It was nice software indeed. I am using same in my shop but is there any updates. I think I need to get latest one for making my job lot easier

[AlonzoFisher]

Originally Posted by AlonzoFisher

Ascend Software and Brainware Invoice Automation Implemented by Hot Topic

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 February 2011, 00:02 CST

Retailer Streamlines Invoice Processing with Combined Automation Solution

Brea, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) February 14, 2011

Ascend Software and Brainware announced today that they have partnered to deliver Ascend’s SmartTouch AP™ application and Brainware Distiller™ to Hot Topic, Inc., a California-based chain of apparel and accessory retailers. This implementation will enable Hot Topic to optimize their AP invoices processing through imaging, intelligent data capture, workflow automation with real-time Lawson integration.

Hot Topic will scan its paper-based invoices into electronic media, store, distribute, route for approvals, archive, and display only the information needed by each party securely, timely and efficiently.

“Hot Topic selected Ascend’s SmartTouch AP Automation and the Brainware Distiller intelligent data capture solution to help with process improvement, reduce costs and promote green initiatives,” said Deborah Creek, Finance Systems Manager, Hot Topic, Inc.

“By combining our advanced workflow and document management applications with the most advanced data extraction technology on the market, Ascend and Brainware are able to offer companies like Hot Topic a complete solution for their invoice processing needs,” said Jacinta Tobin, EVP, Product Management of Ascend Software. “These solutions allow customers to achieve substantial productivity gains from their staff, and demonstrate the effective value proposition created by the partnership of Ascend and Brainware, both recognized leaders in the field of business process automation.”

“Intelligent data capture technology integrates with a host of business process applications to boost productivity to levels that were, until recently, only a pipe dream,” said Colin Kaye, Vice President of Strategic Alliances for Brainware. “With Brainware’s advanced data extraction capabilities and Ascend’s content management solution, Hot Topic will be positioned to minimize the resources needed to pay bills, as well as increase transparency into financial metrics that inform strategic, effective cash management.”

About Hot Topic, Inc.
Hot Topic, Inc. is a mall and web based specialty retailer operating the Hot Topic and Torrid concepts, as well as the e-space music concept, ShockHound. Hot Topic offers music/pop culture-licensed and music/pop culture-influenced apparel, accessories, music and gift items for young men and women principally between the ages of 12 and 22. Torrid offers apparel, discount lingerie, shoes and accessories designed for various lifestyles for plus-size females principally between the ages of 15 and 29. ShockHound is a genre-spanning music website where people of all ages can purchase MP3s and music merchandise, share their music interests, read the latest music news and view exclusive editorial content. As of January 29, 2011, the company operated 657 Hot Topic stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada and 153 Torrid stores.

About Ascend Software
Since 1997, Ascend Software has developed business process management solutions which provide greater cost savings automation and are easy to implement. Ascend’s enterprise information management solution was designed from the ground up to archive all types of information (i.e., reports, documents, images and all file types). Additionally, Ascend developed their advanced workflow solution that provides greater automation and is the foundation for their SmartTouch Solutions. Ascend’s advanced automation overcomes challenges typically found in workflow solutions and is the reason for the implementation success. Ascend’s solutions are implemented in all industries and distributed in fourteen countries. Headquartered in Brea, California, the company has branch offices in Tennessee, Maine, and Virginia. Visit http://www.ascendsoftware.com for more information.

About Brainware, Inc.
Brainware, Inc. is an innovative provider of intelligent data capture and enterprise search solutions that help Global 2000 companies eliminate costly manual data entry, rapidly process large volumes of documents and retrieve data from across the enterprise. Its solutions were built from the ground up to manage unstructured data without templates, exact definitions, taxonomies or indexing. Headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, Brainware maintains global sales and support operations through its North American, U.K. and European offices. Brainware customers include Airbus, Alcon, Alltel (now Verizon Wireless), Amgen, Anadarko, BB&T, British American Tobacco, Continental Airlines, CORT, Gardner Denver, Halliburton, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, Johns Manville, Kimberly-Clark, KPMG, NHS/Steria, Newell Rubbermaid, Phillip Morris International Service Center Europe, Reynolds & Reynolds, Rockwell Automation, Shell, Southern Company, Sun Chemical, The Bank of New York Mellon/SourceNet, TriZetto, and many others. For more information, please visit

More Read:

It was nice software indeed. I am using same in my shop but is there any updates. I think I need to get latest one for making my job lot easier

Are there any updates?