by Clinton Lancaster

Networking, resume writing, and interview tips were just a few of the topics discussed at a free job search program August 4 at Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers, AR, hosted by Cameron Smith & Associates.

Street Smarts, a job seeker seminar developed by CSA, is designed to help those in career transition get the tools and knowledge required to find the right job. Presentations given by members of CSA range from detailing the advantages and disadvantages of social networking to recommended attire at a job interview.

With the Internet becoming so important to job search, the benefits and risks of using job boards and social networking sites were explained during the seminar. Information on networking sites such as Linked In was presented, urging attendees to consider the help it can provide in networking and branding oneself in the job market.

While resume writing may seem like a simple task to some, proper resume writing and a professional format can propel a job seeker to an entirely new level. How to highlight career accomplishments, the golden rules of resume writing, and other valuable tips were given, all aimed to help attendees freshen up and improve their resumes.

The interview process can be scary for some and there are many factors most aren’t even aware of that can easily make or break an interview. Tips such as how to prepare, how to present oneself and how to follow up after an interview were covered during a detailed and informative presentation. Tips included how to approach one of the most sensitive subjects of all: money.

By Matthew Boyle - Jul 22, 2010

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.’s new U.S. stores chief is shifting away from widening profit margins through inventory reductions to focus on sales growth, according to Cleveland Research Co.

Bill Simon is bringing back promotional displays at the front of stores, returning more items that were removed and dialing back price cuts, Jeff Stinson, an analyst at the Cleveland-based equity researcher, said in a report this week. Simon, Wal-Mart’s former U.S. operations chief, replaced Eduardo Castro-Wright last month.

“We are seeing the ‘old’ Wal-Mart approach surface on merchandising as well as pricing,” Stinson said. “Rebuilding top-line sales looks to be the No. 1 objective.”

Sales at U.S. stores open at least a year have fallen for four consecutive quarters after the removal of grocery products and increases in gasoline prices, putting pressure on Simon to lure back shoppers. Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, faces increasing competition from big-box rivals such as Target Corp. and discounters such as Dollar General Corp.

Wal-Mart spokesman Greg Rossiter declined to make Simon available for an interview or to discuss any changes Simon is making.

Wal-Mart rose 62 cents to $50.97 at 11:35 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Before today, the shares had gained 1.6 percent since June 28, the day before Wal-Mart announced that Simon would take over the U.S. stores.

The comparable sales declines are particularly worrying to some shareholders as the rest of the industry shows improvement, according to David Abella, a portfolio manager at Rochdale Investment Management in New York. His firm manages $2.9 billion including Wal-Mart and Target shares.

Frustrating Experience

“If I go to Wal-Mart, I expect to find almost anything,” Abella said. “Reducing inventory makes things leaner and meaner, but it’s also very frustrating when a big box does not have what you want.”

This year, Wal-Mart returned about 300 items to shelves after initially pulling them, Simon said at a March investor conference, when he was still the operations chief. Leon Nicholas, a director at consulting firm Kantar Retail who’s based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said Wal-Mart has returned thousands more since then.

“We assume they’ve brought back 3,000,” he said in a telephone interview. Some of the returning products have tags attached on the shelf saying, “Look What’s Back.”

Simon’s strategy is a departure from that of John Fleming, the U.S. merchandising chief who is leaving Aug. 1. Fleming was an architect of Wal-Mart’s so-called Win/Play/Show strategy, where products with the best growth and profit prospects got premium shelf space.

Adding Back Items

In the past two years, Wal-Mart has removed items in slower-growth “show” sectors like tools, and bulked up “win” categories like consumer electronics and pet products, aiming to reduce inventory and expand profit margins. In the year ending Jan. 31, inventory declined by $1.8 billion in the U.S. Company- wide gross margin, the percentage of sales left after the cost of goods sold, widened to 24.8 percent from 24.2 percent.

That strategy appears to be over, according to analysts such as Cleveland Research’s Stinson and David Palmer at UBS Securities LLC. Instead the retailer is renewing its focus at some stores on “Action Alley,” the high-traffic area in front near the checkouts, which had earlier been cleared out to reduce clutter.

“The quickest change we have seen over the last couple weeks is that pallets are returning to Action Alley,” according to the Cleveland report. “Overall inventory is beginning to ramp back up as quickly as possible.”

‘3 in 30’

The report cites an objective to get Wal-Mart’s merchandising strategy back to where it was three years ago in 30 days. The initiative has been dubbed “3 in 30.”

Wal-Mart has not changed the forecast, made in May, that same-store sales for U.S. locations will range from negative 2 percent to positive 1 percent this quarter.

This year, the retailer has lowered prices on ketchup from H.J. Heinz Co. and Procter & Gamble Co.’s Crest toothpaste in so-called rollbacks aimed at driving sales growth. Those cuts went too deep and failed to boost sales enough, and Wal-Mart has since raised prices on some items, Stinson said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Matthew Boyle in New York at Mboyle20@bloomberg.net.

by Clinton Lancaster

Cameron Smith & Associates has earned a reputation in the recruiting industry that is unmatched. In the supplier community, they are a household name. For job seekers, they are an invaluable resource.

But when I signed on as the company’s marketing specialist, brought in to help them increase their social media presence among other things, I was amazed to discover the true nature and scope of their services and offerings to both companies and qualified candidates.

Most know CSA as an executing recruiting firm, “connecting Wal-Mart suppliers with the best and brightest talent,” as their tag line mentions.

Make no mistake about it - CSA has earned the praise and accolades it has received. CSA employs a small but talented group of associates, and I was amazed to see how well they work together towards the ultimate goal of matching the right talent with the right position.

What surprised me is the dedication and expertise that goes into other areas of their business - outplacement, career coaching, resume services, retail specialties and consulting services. Taking their reputation and experience in executive recruiting and applying it to other business avenues seems like a natural fit for CSA, whose associates bring an incredible amount of experience to the table.

Their endeavors into the outplacement and career coaching arenas show versatility and a wide range of experience. A dynamic support team provides expertise in the field of resume services and placement.

CSA’s core values and dedication to the highest quality of service cannot be overlooked. Their dedication and commitment to treating every client and candidate with the utmost respect and care form a strong foundation on which their success is based no matter what area of their business.

As I’ve met the team that makes up CSA, all of whom have treated me with sincere kindness and respect, I have come to learn how an industry leader gets to that level. Each individual associate in the company is intelligent, caring, and hardworking.

Cameron Smith has done an incredible job in gathering talent and great people around him. I’ve read several quotes from Cameron who has said something to the degree that he’s been successful because he’s surrounded himself with people smarter than he. I definitely understand where he’s coming from, but I have to disagree. Cameron is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. He is also one of the kindest.

The opportunity he has given me - to learn about this company and engross myself with its dealings - is something I will never forget. The company he has built, the associates he has surrounded himself with, and the way he’s done it all makes him an incredibly inspiring person.

In the end, a company’s success depends on the way they handle their customers and the way they handle their employees. This simple fact brings about success and CSA is as successful as it gets in the industry.

The next time you think about CSA, consider not only their talent and experience in executive recruiting, but also that that they take those same great qualities and apply them to every aspect of their business.

The evolution of Northwest Arkansas as home to numerous suppliers’ offices and successful recruiting tips were topics of discussion during Cameron Smith’s speech at the June 15 Northwest Arkansas Recruiting and Staffing Professionals (NWARSP) luncheon. 

Northwest Arkansas recruiting and staffing professionals gathered at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse for the monthly luncheon where Smith, president of Cameron Smith & Associates, was the main speaker.

Smith discussed the exponentially increasing presence of supplier offices in Northwest Arkansas. Since 1994, there has been a steady rise in suppliers locating to the area to be closer to Wal-Mart’s home office. Between Bentonville and Bella Vista, Ark., more than 1,200 suppliers have offices while more than 5,734 people are currently employed on supplier teams within a 27-mile radius.

Smith presented advice on how to be a better recruiter, no matter what the industry. He encouraged recruiters to think at a higher level, develop a strategy and recruit within a niche. Smith also shared some recruiting scenarios in which these tips can be successfully applied.

Integrity, objectivity and confidentiality, among other characteristics, were identified as major pillars in developing professionalism and a strong code of ethics in the recruiting industry.

A recent Reuters blog series on the economic recovery showcased the role Walmart and its suppliers have played in the economic development of Northwest Arkansas. Journalist Nick Carey visited with Kathy Deck, Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, and Cameron Smith of Cameron Smith & Associates.

Recapping the enormous growth in the area, Kathy Deck acknowledged that despite the success of Walmart, Northwest Arkansas is challenged to diversify its economy. Local leaders are considering options including attracting "green technology" companies to the area.

Quoting from the Reuters blog post:

“The problem there is that other communities around the country are looking at doing the same, so there’s no clear winner at the moment,” she said. “But whatever it is will be driven by research and a change of focus at the University of Arkansas.”

According to Cameron Smith, more suppliers are likely to relocate here, but with so many retail experts focused in one area he thinks the area has become very attractive to medium-sized retailers.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a retailer move their headquarters here within the next five years,” he said. “And if we get one, I think we’ll get five of them. After all, all of their suppliers are here anyway.”

Read Nick Carey's piece about Northwest Arkansas and find more articles on how other areas are facing the road to economic recovery: http://blogs.reuters.com/route-to-recovery/2009/11/10/what-does-future-hold-for-walmart%e2%80%99s-backyard/