View Magazine - MY Belk (Associate Portal)

VIEW MAGAZINE
Volume 59 Number 6
October 2010
Decking the Stores With Holiday Cheer
Research Findings Shaped New Belk Brand
Merchants Pick Hot Holiday Gifts
MY VIEWPOINT
It’s hard to believe that we are facing the
holiday season already. Where has the year gone?
Actually, Belk has been crazy busy over the past
12 months developing an amazing branding campaign that will be introduced to the public this
month. It’s been an incredible journey with great
company meetings in September to launch the
brand to associates. In this issue, we share interesting discoveries
that came out of the research conducted as part of the branding
exercise.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so think pink!
Belk has increased its support of this cause with a generous
financial pledge to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and a fantastic
month-long Pink is Our Passion campaign with special products,
fundraising events and grassroots efforts across the company.
The annual holiday “merchant picks” gifts list is back! Need
to know what to wear to holiday parties? Check out the fashion
Holiday Hit List on page 6. You’ll also find great customer service
tips on page 10.
This is the last printed issue of View Magazine until January
2011. For the next three months be sure to read View Online! to
get the latest Belk news. It will be available on the associate portal
(associate.belk.com) and the Hanger.
Think pink and be peaceful,
EDITOR’S PRODUCT PICK
Cook’s Tools Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
• heavy-duty cooking
• great for fall comfort food like stews and
soups
• pretty enamel coating prevents rusting,
eliminates the need to season the metal,
and is easier to clean
• $49.99 (4 qt), $59.99 (7 qt)
Table of Contents
Store Profile: Southern Pines, N.C. #532........3
Branding Initiative Research...............................4
The Belk Foundation Awards Grants...............6
Fashion Buzz: Holiday Hit List.............................6
Dressing the Stores for Holiday.........................7
Belk Fast Facts
Holiday Gift Ideas.....................................................8
Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign...........10
Customer Service: Value Messaging ............10
News of Note .............................................................11
Founded in 1888
305 stores
16 states
23,000 employees
$3.35 billion FY10 revenues
3 Divisions:
Northern (Raleigh, N.C.)
Southern (Atlanta, Ga.)
Western (Birmingham, Ala.)
For Your Health: Eat Well and Exercise
Sponsored by the Women’s Leadership Network Health Awareness Committee
Making fun, delicious and easy meals is important to all families. And, even though Belk associates are on the move all day in
the stores, it’s important to get regular daily exercise to keep your
body fit and healthy.
During July, Belk’s healthcare provider, United Healthcare,
helped underwrite Health Awareness Month activities and workshops that included “Belk Walk Challenge.” Consider starting
your own walking program and try this yummy recipe that View
Magazine Editor Lynda Stadler cooked up recently in the Cook’s
Tools Dutch Oven described above.
The Benefits of Walking
Walking is one of the easiest and most popular forms of exercise. You can do it anywhere, at any time. It doesn’t require any
special equipment or training and walking is a great activity that
the entire family can participate in together. Walking can help you
achieve a healthy weight, and offers the following other benefits:
• Muscle toning and boosted endurance
• Reduced stress and tension and increased energy level
• Reduced risk of certain health conditions, such as high
blood pressure
2
MINESTRONE SOUP
Source: thehealthseekerskitchen.blogspot.com
Ingredients:
2 cups carrots, diced
4 tbsp tomato paste
1 stalk celery, diced
1 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 tbsp Agave nectar
1 small zucchini, diced
3/4 tsp dried oregano
8 cups vegetable broth
1 tbsp Spike
1 15-ounce can tomato basil soup
2 tsp sea salt
1 15-ounce can Annie’s Organic
Medium Vegan Chili
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1 15-ounce can chili beans
2 cups whole grain fusilli pasta
(spirals)
1 10-ounce can Rotel tomatoes
Daiya Vegan Mozzarella for garnish
Toss all ingredients except pasta and cheese into dutch oven. Bring to a
boil, then add in the pasta and simmer until veggies and pasta are tender,
about 15 minutes.
★
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. #532
Division: Northern
Store Manager: Gordon Willis
Number of Associates: 125
Selling Space: 99,000 sq. ft. in
each of two buildings
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
Neat, Clean and Straight Approach Wins Customer Loyalty
Gordon Willis, store manager at
Belk in Southern Pines, N.C. #532
recalls the start of his retail career as
a dashing young lad on Belk’s Teen
Board in Morehead City, N.C. “I was
chosen by my high school and got to
wear clothes from Belk to school so
other kids could see the fashions,” he
Gordon WIllis
said. Belk let us work at the store in
the summertime, and that is when I fell in love with retail.”
Today, after 20 years at Sears and another 23 years thus far at
Belk, Willis has held a wide variety of retail positions. He has used
that experience to develop a “Neat, Clean and Straight” strategy
for associates in Southern Pines, a Pacesetter store. “It means we
follow company guidelines and always keep visual and merchandise presentation neat and orderly,” he said. “We also serve
customers to the best of our ability.”
Most of the Southern Pines associates are type-A personalities
who don’t need much recognition (although they get it) and are
self-motivated, career-oriented go-getters, says Alisa Keyser,
human resources manager. “More than 30 percent of our associates are specialists, Pacesetters or Consultants,” she said. “If we
set a goal for the day, they will usually achieve it. They are welltrained and know the standards and what is expected of them.
They deliver.”
Willis asserts that his associates want to excel and they do so
by understanding the store’s goals and objectives and committing
to achieve them. Willis’s close involvement helps associates find
solutions, learn best practices and build confidence to be their
best. “Mr. Gordon never asks me to do anything without offering
to give ideas or solutions if I need his help,” said Angela Swarms,
ASMDP.
“He (Willis) knows what’s going on everywhere,” said Keyser.
“He knows what’s coming in, what’s on the floor, who I’m training
that day. And it works. I feel empowered to do my job. He promotes
one-on-one communication and gives people the information
they need. He’s also very diplomatic, especially when dealing with
negative situations.”
Customer service is at the top of everyone’s priority list
and associates are considered the fashion experts in the area.
Southern Pines is a quaint resort town and national golfing destination with a growing affluent retirement community. Retirees
enjoy leisurely shopping visits to Belk, while the younger set
prefers quick and efficient service.
Willis says all associates receive B.E.S.T. training to ensure
great service and happy customers. “The customer is always
right” is the store’s mantra.
Each ASM is given a monthly budget to allow for sales
transaction adjustments if needed in certain cases to appease
customers. This method empowers ASMs to make timely decisions
regarding customer needs when they think it is necessary. “We
believe occasionally making a small adjustment for a customer
that will walk away happy is worth it,” said Willis. “It doesn’t make
good business sense to lose a sale or a customer over a couple
of dollars.”
1 | From left, Margaret Horton,
Katie Bryant, Ruth Morales
and Katie Olson.
2 | From left, Lisa Hampton,
Andrea Matchlat, Sara
Crutchfield and Lorraine
Phillips.
3 | Sue Greene, left, and
Kari Bladow.
4 | Angela Swarms
3
CORPORATE GOALS FOCUS
Associate and Customer Input Helped Shape Belk’s New Brand
Belk’s new branding strategy was based and developed on
strong research results that reflect the opinions and input of
numerous Belk associates and customers. Ologie, a Columbus,
Ohio-based branding firm assisted the working committee to
conduct the research and develop the new brand identity.
Information was collected in three ways:
• Interviews with 50 Belk associates to get their views on
Belk’s strengths, challenges, customers, competitors, culture
and stores.
• Consumer focus groups in five Belk markets to get customers’
opinions on the Belk brand and their perceptions of the style
selection, value, service and overall shopping experience
offered by Belk.
• A survey of 30,000 customers conducted by a national retail
consulting firm, to identify the shopping behaviors, priorities
and style preferences of current Belk customers.
“All of the research findings are reflected in our brand strategy,” said Jon Pollack, executive vice president of sales promotion,
marketing and e-commerce and executive champion of Belk’s
branding initiative. “It helped us clearly define our current
customer and her changing needs. We also learned that there’s
a segment of younger customers who we want to attract to Belk
by providing greater assortments of modern styles and the latest
fashions. These customers represent the greatest opportunity for
future sales growth.”
Who Is the Belk Customer?
• Loves color, fashion and the southern lifestyle.
• Has a family and represents 89% of our sales.
• She is between 40 and 64 years old with an annual household
income of $80,000.
• Loyal to her favorite brands and stores, and never wants to be
taken for granted.
• Likes a friendly store environment.
• Quality is everything and wants the most for her dollar.
• Leads an active life, frequently goes out to eat, shops,
stays fit and attends family events.
Actions We’re Taking
to Build the Belk Brand
• Strengthen modern assortments to meet southern lifestyle
needs.
• Develop premium brands that will differentiate Belk from
competitors.
• Build a stronger center core by focusing on shoes,
accessories, handbags and cosmetics.
• Sharpen our value offering by building on the success of
our private brands, limited time offers, everyday values and
key items.
• Focus our community involvement and philanthropy on
education, breast cancer awareness and research and
building strong communities.
• Strengthen customer service.
• Align Belk’s external image with what the company is today
through strategic branding and marketing.
4
The Belk Foundation’s New Mission Focuses on Education
The Belk Foundation, a family foundation, has focused its
public expression of gratitude and commitment to the communities in which Belk associates live and work with a new, clearly
defined focus on education.
Earlier this year, The Belk Foundation board of directors
adopted the following new mission statement that more clearly
defines its purpose and commitment to children and education.
In order to accomplish this mission, The Belk Foundation
invests in schools and organizations that aim to achieve the
following results:
• Increase the number of children and youth who are at or
above grade level in core subjects.
• Increase the number of youth who graduate from high school
in four years.
• Increase the number of youth who have an intentional path
forward after high school: post-secondary education, training
or meaningful employment.
“With this new mission in place, The Belk Foundation can better
seek out organizations doing the best work in preparing children for
success in life,” said Johanna Anderson, foundation director.
The foundation’s predecessor organization – The John Belk
Memorial Fund – was created by Belk stores in 1928 following the
death of Dr. John M. Belk, brother of William Henry Belk and
company co-founder of the Belk store organization. Soon after
William Henry’s death in 1952, his heirs combined the charitable
portion of his estate with the Memorial Fund to establish The Belk
Foundation. The Belk Foundation grants nearly $3 million each year.
Historically, Belk, Inc. has made an annual gift to The Belk Foundation to support its charitable giving.
mission
The Belk Foundation believes that education is a basis for a successful society and that a
quality education is the right of all children and youth. Our mission is to invest in schools
and organizations that work aggressively to ensure all students graduate from high school
and continue on an intentional path toward college, career and life.
The Belk Foundation recently provided grants to the following organizations:
Freedom School Partners
$50,000 to support a literacy-based summer program for at-risk youth in
Charlotte, N.C. Studies show that this program effectively targets summer
reading loss.
Impact Alabama
$15,000 to support SpeakFirst, a high school debate program in inner-city
Birmingham. Committed program participants receive full scholarships to
The University of Alabama (UA) in Tuscaloosa, UA – Birmingham, and UA –
Huntsville.
Atlanta Belk Fellows in several ways, including inviting them to all of the
Atlanta Women’s Leadership Network events.
• To celebrate Teach For America Week, Randy Knight, Northern Division
human resources manager, spoke to students in the classrooms of
Belk Fellows in Eastern N.C. and Jamie Tankersley, regional merchandise
coordinator, read to students in Atlanta, Ga.
Working Together to Support Education in Our Communities
Here are just a few ways that The Belk Foundation and Belk, Inc. work
together to support education in Belk communities:
KIPP Charter Schools
$50,000 to KIPP Charlotte and a $50,000 grant to KIPP South Fulton in
Atlanta, Ga. KIPP is one of the country’s leading charter school models
dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success
in college and life.
Randy Knight, rear left, with
students.
Karen Greager, Atlanta regional
vice president, left, with Atlanta
Belk Fellows.
Teach For America (TFA)
The Belk Foundation awarded a $200,000 grant to support five
“Belk Fellows” who serve as TFA corps members in Charlotte, N.C.,
Atlanta, Ga. and Eastern North Carolina.
• The Belk Northern Division raised funds for Belk Fellows classrooms
through a Jeans Day on Memorial Day weekend.
YWCA Central Alabama: The Belk
Foundation awarded a $75,000 grant
over three years to support after-school
academic enrichment programs. Belk
played a critical role in supporting the
YWCA Central Alabama’s 11th Annual
Purse and Passion Luncheon this spring.
With Belk’s participation, the YWCA
hosted one of the most successful
events in the event’s 11-year history, raising more than $500,000. Jan Clevenger,
chair of Belk’s Western Division, serves
as a YWCA board member.
Jan Clevenger, left, at theYWCA
Purse and Passions luncheon.
Consortium of Florida Education
Foundations (CFEF): The Belk
Foundation awarded a $52,000 grant
to support local teacher recognition
and retention programs. Belk, Inc. and
The Belk Foundation were awarded
the 2010 Outstanding Private Sector
Partner award from CFEF on June 8.
Bill Raetz, regional vice president,
accepts the CFEF Award for Belk.
• Belk Atlanta Regional Manager Karen Greager supports and encourages
5
fashion buzz…
By Arlene Goldstein, Vice President,
Trend Merchandising, Fashion Direction
Items unique
Things perfectly chic
Colors that pop
Accessories that rock
Make Belk’s special “it list”
The holiday
Holiday Hit List 2010
Beautiful Blouse: Focus on ruffles, lace and pleats.
Animal Prints: Check out chic leopard in rich hues.
Statement Sweater: Exquisite details and daring
shapes.
Glitz: Add the glam-sequins, shine, studs and stones.
Fabulous Fabrics: Velvets, sheers, lace and tapestries.
“Go to the Party” Dress: Luxurious fabrics and elegant
embellishments.
Bold Color: Berry reds, teal, turq, hot pink, greens and
purple.
Statement Jewelry: High profile earrings, necklaces,
rings and bracelets.
Boots: At the ankle, over the knee and everywhere in
between. Let your feet do the talking.
6
hit list
Dressing the Stores With
holiday cheer
Red is the dominant color of the 2010 holiday season! Slim
and sleek, lush and sparkling, quilted cloth, flowing garland,
translucent glass ornaments and sculptures, snowballs, area
rugs, festive holiday boxes and bows. Belk stores will be
stunning this year with a beautiful, updated holiday design
package sure to get shoppers in the holiday spirit.
7
FASHION MERCHANDISE
Belk & Co. Fine Jewelers
MERCHANT PICKS
Holiday
Gift Ideas
Fossil “Stella” Watches $85–$95
Statement Bangles in sterling and 14k gold –
with stones $1,400; without stones $1,140.
Bold 3-Strand Mother of Pearl and Keishi
necklace $775.
Biltmore For Your Home
Biltmore Apothecary “First Night” Collection
Candle $19.50
Diffuser $19.50
Small hat box free with purchase of three
Biltmore Apothecary items.
Originality Beads
Lots of holiday favorites $18–$125
Iconic Palm Tree Pendant in diamonds and
14k gold $400.
Clinique Smile And Be Happy
Double the happiness with pure fragrance and deeply
hydrating body cream. Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in
two shades. $49.50.
Keurig Coffee Maker $199
Stay At Home Microplush Blankets $14.99
Pem America Foot Warmer $14.99 and
Body Blanket $14.99
8
Sharper Image “Literari” E-reader
Sale price $139.99
Lancôme Beauty Box
Choose Your Look! Party Pinks or Glamorous Golds. Featuring 12 full-size
Beauty Essentials in a Lancôme Signature Train Case. A $300 value for
$49.50 with any Lancôme purchase.
Dooney & Bourke
Plaid medium “East West” shopper, $225 and
plaid small handle drawstring tote $195.
Estée Lauder Holiday Blockbuster
Yours with any $55 or more Estée Lauder fragrance purchase.
Includes Deluxe Eyeshadow compact in 18 shades, Deluxe Face Compact,
Pure Color Lipstick in four different shades, Artist’s Eye Pencil in three different
shades, Double Ended Pure Color Gloss in two shades, Gentle Eye Makeup
Remover, Makeup Brush Set, Crackled Gold Train Case and Companion Case,
and a coordinating fabric wrapped mirror. Event begins Nov. 11.
Bobbi Brown
Limited Edition Modern Classic Lip & Eye Palate $75.
Limited Edition Sparkle Glamor Quad $40.
Limited Edition Lib Glass Trio $40.
Estée Lauder Holiday To Go Sets
Warm. Luxurious. Feminine. Three elegant luxuries for home or away. To-go
sets include Eau de Parfum Spray 1.7 oz., Perfumed Body Lotion 3.4 oz., and
Eau de Parfum Spray .14 oz. Available in Beautiful, Pleasures and Sensuous.
9
Customer Service Behaviors:
Value Messaging
A value message describes the specific dollar savings that
customers realize with each sales transaction. “Customers have
a wide variety of places to shop,” said Tolly Harris, director of
scheduling. “It’s important to emphasize the value our customers
receive when shopping with us.” The amount a customer saves
during a transaction is now printed on the bottom of the sales
receipt (except in cosmetics and GWP areas).
Belk Supports Breast Cancer
Awareness With Pink Passion
Campaign
Belk recently announced a $3 million pledge (over three years)
to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization supported by
a month-long “Pink Is Our Passion” in-store and advertising campaign in October. This represents the company’s heightened
commitment to support breast cancer awareness and research,
a cause it has supported through corporate and grassroots store
events and financial contributions for more than ten years.
“We’re committed to this cause because breast cancer is an
issue that is very important to our customers and associates,”
said Tim Belk, chairman and CEO.
The official kick-off began with Belk’s Customer Appreciation
event during which Belk will donate one percent of total sales
from the two-day event to Susan G. Komen for a Cure. Campaign
activities will roll into the Columbus Day promotion Oct. 8–11 with
a special expanded circular featuring Belk’s Pink Is Our Passion
campaign information, the “pink” merchandise assortment and
information about how customers can participate. With a $1 donation, customers will receive a set of three 20 percent off coupons
good during the event.
Beginning with Belk Days through Friends and Family
customers can register to win a $1,000 gift card (one winner per
division). Throughout the month, stores will be adorned with a pink
passion visual theme that includes hanging ribbons, pink ribbon
signs, étagère caps, floor mats and pink shops featuring t-shirts,
mugs, jewelry, PJs, robes, neckties, small electronics, Pink Passion
Belkie Bears and other pink products. On designated “Pink Saturdays” in October all store associates will wear exclusive pink
“Belk Gives” t-shirts.
The Wall of Hope located in center core allows customers
to personally support Belk’s pink campaign. With a $1 donation,
customers can dedicate a ribbon in memory or honor of someone
who has been touched by the disease.
10
Brenda Green, Clinique counter manager at Belk in McKinney,
Texas #336, tells how communicating value and meeting customer
needs result in positive sales and satisfied customers.
How long have you worked in retail?
17 years in cosmetics.
What is your favorite Clinique product?
The new Repair Wear Laser Focus. It repairs lines and wrinkles on
the face and around the eye area that are caused by UV damage.
How do you communicate value to your customers?
I talk about the value they get from my products as well as the
exceptional customer service they get from my team, which is
always perceived as a value. During Bonus gift time, we contact
everyone on our list and let them know the gift is worth $60.
We also show great enthusiasm about the savings customers
can get on all of their purchases storewide.
How does asking questions help you sell more products?
First of all, our counter is located directly inside the front door
so we have the opportunity to greet everyone who walks in the
door with a friendly smile and welcome. When a new customer
comes by our counter I connect with them by saying, “Welcome to
Belk, my name is Brenda. What brings you to the Clinique counter
today?” I usually begin by asking about specific product interests
or skin concerns and then offer an opportunity for her to sit in my
chair. Once she is in the chair, I have her full attention and can
begin matching my products with her needs.
NEWS OF NOTE
Keeping InTouch With Belk Associates
DANVILLE, VA.
CHARITY DAY KICKS OFF WITH CELEBRATION AND
GOD’S PIT CREW VISIT
Belk in Danville, Va. #24 kicked off its Charity Day celebration
with a visit by representatives of God’s Pit Crew, a local disaster
relief charity. Since 1999, God’s Pit Crew has responded to 43 disasters in 20 states and three countries. They have distributed over
10 million pounds of food and supplies to disaster areas.
Their volunteers have removed trees from victims’ homes, gutted out houses, patched roofs, totally rebuilt homes and churches,
and they have prayed with people and given them hope in their
time of need. They have also given millions of pounds of food and
supplies to needy people locally, helped the elderly with home
repairs, and helped rebuild a flood damaged church in Danville.
“For our Charity Day celebration, Randy Johnson, founder and
leader of God's Pit Crew, spoke to our associates,” said Shane
Markham, store manager. “We were all able to tour his ‘big rig,’
an 18-wheeler specially designed and equipped for disaster relief,
and he also brought the God's Pit Crew race car and gave me a
wild ride through the parking lot complete with lots of burning
rubber.”
led by adult volunteers after school and supported by a staff of
professional educators.
Belk’s partnership with Citizen Schools is supported in part by
The Belk Foundation, which has donated $150,000 to the program
over the past two years.
Apprenticeships at the Belk store included a store tour led by
Michael Sturgill, visual manager, during which students studied
each floor of the store to learn about store design and the amount
of work and staff time that goes on behind the scenes.
Following the tour, students were organized into four teams
and challenged to dress mannequins according to the latest
trends and styles they learned about in the classroom. The winning
team was awarded $10 Belk gift cards and all students received
gift bags.
Sturgill says that of all the special projects he’s been involved
with at Belk over the last eight years, this one has been the most
rewarding. “It is such an amazing experience,” he said. “The children were able to experience a creative retail environment in
which they created displays using their original art teamed with
mannequins and current fashion trends. It is a great partnership
with Belk and the school community and gets students excited
and interested in retail careers.”
“Everyone totally enjoyed themselves and learned so much,”
said Cassie McIntyre, special assistant for N.C. Citizen Schools.
“I love working with Belk and our students benefit greatly from this
partnership.”
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.
BELK SPONSORS FASHION SHOW BENEFIT
Michael Sturgill, far left back row, and Randy Dell, store manager, far right,
with students from the apprenticeship program.
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
BELK PARTICIPATES IN FASHION APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM WITH CITIZEN SCHOOLS
Belk in Charlotte, N.C. #452, SouthPark Mall, recently participated in its second Fashion Apprenticeship Exploration event
through a partnership with Citizens Schools. Citizen Schools is a
network of after-school education programs for students in the
middle grades (6th, 7th and 8th). Its programs complement classroom learning by engaging students in hands-on learning projects
Belk in Fayetteville, N.C. #476, Cross Creek Mall, recently
co-sponsored a fashion show with The Sandspur, a community
newspaper produced by the Fayetteville Observer, for its annual
Ladies Night Out event to benefit The Friends of the Cancer Center
program at Cape Fear Valley Health System.
The fashion show was organized by Treva Singleton,
Belk regional administrative assistant and Sharon Moyer of the
Fayetteville Observer. Models of all ages wore the latest styles from
Belk featuring merchandise from designers such as Ralph Lauren,
Cubavera, Sophie Max, New Directions, Nautica, Nine West, Calvin
Klein, Rafaella and many more. The event included vendor partnerships with local businesses.
"Guests were treated to samples of great food, modeling
wonderful clothing and accessories and free tips for looking great
at any age," said Singleton. “In addition to having a great time we
raised $295 for The Friends of the Cancer Center program."
11
VIEW MAGAZINE
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT #3328
CHARLOTTE, NC
Belk, Inc.
2801 W. Tyvola Road
Charlotte, N.C. 28217-4500
(704) 426-8451
Address Service Requested
SPECIAL EVENTS
Shop to Support Susan G. Komen
Friday–Monday, Oct. 8–11
All Stores
Remodeled Stores Grand
Re-Openings
Wednesday, Oct. 13
Tuscaloosa, Ala. #608
Hattiesburg, Miss. #670
Chattanooga, Tenn. #694
Men’s Night
Wednesday, Oct. 27
Top 115 Men's Tailored Clothing Stores
BENEFITS BASIC
Q: When is the next open enrollment
period when I can make changes
to my benefits plan?
A: This year’s Annual Benefits Enrollment period is Nov. 1–19. Please
make sure all personal information
for you and your dependents/
beneficiaries is correct in PeopleSoft
now. Contact the Belk Benefits
Center if you have any questions at
1-800-588-3700.
LP AWARENESS
Suspect Caught Making Fraudulent Returns
at Targeted Belk Stores
Vigilant loss prevention associates at Belk in Atlanta, Ga. #619, Phipps Plaza, helped
apprehend a suspect responsible for more than $19,000 in fraudulent returns. Over the course
of many weeks, the loss prevention department was on the lookout for a female customer who
usually wore nursing scrubs and had been making frequent requests for refunds at targeted
Belk stores. The suspected woman was finally observed entering the Polo department carrying
several bags. She approached the register, requested a refund, and had $393 credited to her
debit card. She then requested another return for an additional $310.
After the refund transactions were completed, the suspect proceeded to quickly select
two orange shirts along with other items and enter the fitting room. Loss prevention associates
observed the customer leaving the fitting room and exiting the store without paying. That was
when she was apprehended by Belk LP associates, security and Atlanta police.
“The suspect refused to come back into the store and insisted that she did not have Belk
property,” said Mike Gearheard, Southern Division loss prevention manager. “The officers
could not find the shirts on the subject’s person, or in her purse.” Later, a police officer
searched the suspect’s car and found the items there. The woman was transported by police
to the Fulton County jail. The total amount recovered was $317.50.
It was later determined that the suspect was responsible for more than $19,000 in fraudulent returns to her debit card and gift cards over a several month period in Belk stores across
several states.
Enter your personal e-mail address into your Peoplesoft account (HROnline) and automatically
receive the newsletter at home. Retirees should send e–mail addresses to [email protected] if
you’d like to receive the online editions.
View Online is a new companion newsletter published monthly
on The Hanger and the Associate Portal (http://associate.belk.com).
Read each new issue on the first Friday of each month.
Senior Communications
Coordinator and Editor
Lynda Stadler
Associate Art Director
Pamela Fernandez
www.belk.com
Special thanks to the following contributors:
Johanna Anderson, Heather Boyce, Mike Gearhead, Arlene Goldstein, Tolly Harris, Lynn Kayne, Becky
Pinion, Darlene Starcher, Darrell Williams, Bob Vranek and all the Belk executives, merchandisers and
associates who provide information for View Magazine.
Send your comments or submissions to [email protected] or contact Lynda Stadler at (704) 426-8451.
View Magazine • Belk, Inc. • 2801 W.Tyvola Rd. • Charlotte, N.C. 28217-4500
View Magazine is an internal publication produced by Belk’s Corporate Communications Department. It is intended
solely for Belk associates and not for external distribution.