1. Review the following trade publications and websites and choose an article to read (see below). Create a 250 to 300 word summary of what you learned from the article. Be sure to include the link to the article. Submit your work directly into the blog (not as an attachment).

• Bizstats.com: Instant access to useful financial ratios, business statistics and benchmarks. Effective and understandable analysis of businesses and industries. www.bizstats.com
• Chain Store Age: Monthly magazine for retail headquarters executives and shopping center developers. Deals with management, operations, construction, modernization, store equipment, maintenance, real estate, financing, materials handling, and advertising. More oriented to operations than stores. www.chainstoreage.com
• Colloquy: Trade publication and website targeting the loyalty marketing industry. It provides marketers with consulting, news, editorial, educational, and research services across all industries and around the globe on topics including loyalty marketing, reward programs, and customer retention. www.colloquy.com
• Jewelers of America: Jewelers of America is the largest association of jewelers in the world. JA's mission is to provide consumers with information and education about fine jewelry. This site provides information about choosing a professional jeweler and buying and caring for fine jewelry. It also includes the Jewelers of America standard of contact, recent news releases, member news, and a jewelry IQ test. www.jewelers.org

2. Review the following trade publications and websites and choose an article to read (see below).  Write a 250-300 word summary of what you learned from the article. Be sure to include the link to the article. Submit your work directly into the blog (not as an attachment).

• Coresight Research: Provides future-focused analysis, thought leadership, and partnership building to organizations navigating the intersection of retail, technology, and fashion. www.coresight.com/
• Furniture/Today: Weekly newspaper for retail executives in furniture and department stores and for executives in manufacturing firms. www.furnituretoday.com
• GlobeSt.com: The mission of this UK-based website is to provide in-depth and breaking commercial real estate news around the clock in major and secondary markets throughout the country. In doing so, GlobeSt.com has become the premier destination for original and timely real estate related content on the Internet. www.globest.com
• National Shoe Retailers Association: The National Shoe Retailers Association represents independent shoe store owners and operators. This site provides general information about the association and its membership, a list of its publications, upcoming events and conferences, and a link to the association's newsletter. www.nsra.org