| Global retail industry news |  |
| Global Industry Watch |  |  |
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- Sears Canada signs private-label fashion, footwear deals
Sears Canada has signed Buffalo International to design and produce its entire private-label Nevada fashion line for men and women, and sealed a separate deal with The Aldo Group to create three footwear brands, the retailer said Thursday. "We are continuing to implement our strategy of working with successful designers and organizations that can provide immediate credibility and continuity to our brands and services," said CEO Calvin McDonald. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required)
(17 Jan.)     
| Retail in Europe | | |
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- UK retailers report lackluster December
UK retail sales fell 0.1% in December from the month before and rose a scant 1.1% over the same month in 2011, as consumers continued to rein in their spending in the days leading up to Christmas, according to the Office for National Statistics. "Food and energy price inflation have hammered consumers' pockets and, apart from December 2010 (a very snowy month), this annual increase of 1.1% was the weakest since 1998," said economist Jeremy Cook. Reuters
(18 Jan.), The Guardian (London)
(18 Jan.)
- Chinese tourists to shore up Europe's retail scene
Some 94 million residents of mainland China will travel abroad by 2015, with Europe as their top destination and itineraries that are much more commercial than cultural. Daylong luxury shopping excursions in Paris, London, Madrid and other cities in western Europe are expected to prove a boon for many of Europe's retailers, according to McKinsey & Co. Bloomberg
(17 Jan.)
| Retail in Asia | | |
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- India's Being Human brand opens flagship
Being Human, a brand that Bollywood actor Salman Khan grew from a single T-shirt into an entire international clothing line, opened its flagship in Mumbai on Thursday. Royalties from the brand go to support the education and healthcare initiatives of the Salman Khan Foundation. Business Standard (India)
(18 Jan.)
- Foreign retailers look to open in India
At least four international retailers including Le Creuset and Fossil have joined giants IKEA and Pavers in applying to set up shop in India since the government changed the rules on foreign investment last year, an official said Thursday. The Wall Street Journal
(17 Jan.)
| Retail in Latin America | | |
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- Aeropostale to open stores in Mexico
Teen apparel retailer Aeropostale has teamed with Mexican department store operator El Puerto de Liverpool to open both branded in-store shops and standalone stores in Mexico, chief financial officer Marc Miller said Thursday. The Wall Street Journal
(17 Jan.)
| E-commerce Spotlight | | |
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| Spotlight on Fashion | | |
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- PPR maps plans to grow Christopher Kane brand
Luxury conglomerate PPR has acquired a 51% stake in the UK-based Christopher Kane fashion house, with plans to expand the brand in Asia, open boutiques starting with a shop in London next year and expand the accessories business. "The brand is a ready-to-wear brand but we hope to expand other areas such as leather goods and accessories," said Alexis Babeau, managing director of PPR's luxury division. Reuters
(15 Jan.)
- Rise of "consumer class" fuels fashion fortunes
Global sales of clothing, accessories, cosmetics and fragrances have grown by 10% for each of the past three years, totaling $275 billion last year, according to McKinsey & Co. The trend has made billionaires of a new crop of fashion designers including Domenico Dolce, Stefano Gabbana and Tory Burch. Bloomberg Businessweek
(15 Jan.)
| NRF News | | |
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- How Amazon, Nordstrom and Wal-Mart lead the pack in digital retail
ShopRunner's Chief Strategy Officer Fiona Dias has been involved in and observing retail's evolution from senior leadership vantage points, ranging from GSI Commerce to Circuit City. At Shop.org's First Look at Retail’s BIG Show this week, Dias boiled down how these companies are innovating in four key areas in the space: leadership, perseverance, product and customer experience. Read more.
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd have fewer imaginary ones."
--Don Herold,
American humorist, writer and cartoonist
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