| Global retail industry news |  |
| Global Industry Watch |  |  |
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- Loblaws looks to real estate to raise cash
Canadian supermarket operator Loblaws unveiled plans Thursday to leverage its $7 billion in property holdings by creating a real estate investment trust that would sell shares to the public starting next year. Setting up the REIT would pave the way for faster and less-pricey development of new stores as competition from Wal-Mart heats up and Target prepares to enter the market next year, the company says. The Toronto Star
(06 Dec.)     
| Retail in Europe | | |
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- Starbucks to pay more taxes in the UK
Starbucks said that it will refrain next year and in 2014 from claiming deductions that led it to owe nothing in corporate taxes in the UK, a move that came after harsh criticism. The company expects to pay about £10 million in corporate tax in the UK next year; to date, the coffee giant has paid a total of £8.6 million since it opened shop in Britain 14 years ago. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(06 Dec.)
| Retail in Asia | | |
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- India's government wins 2nd vote on FDI
The upper house of India's parliament followed the lower house on Friday, voting to approve the government's measure to allow foreign supermarket and multi-brand retailers own 51% of their stores. Under the measure, individual states will still have the final right of refusal, and 10 states have said they won't allow big-box retailers. The Washington Post
(07 Dec.)
| Retail in Latin America | | |
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- Sephora smells sweet success in Latin America
Cosmetic and fragrance retailer Sephora has seen greater-than-expected success with its first stores in Mexico and Brazil, and the company now plans to open about 50 new stores in Latin America in the next four years. “In 2014 we will start looking at the other big markets after Mexico and Brazil and this could include Argentina, Colombia and Chile,” said executive Paula Larroque. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required)
(06 Dec.)
| E-commerce Spotlight | | |
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- Survey: UK consumers say slow sites drive basket abandonment
Some 67% of UK consumers surveyed said slow-loading websites are the main reason they abandon online shopping baskets before checkout, according to Brand Perfect. Some other frequently cited reasons for cart abandonment include difficult navigation, problems finding products and too many steps to purchase. eConsultancy.com
(06 Dec.)
| Spotlight on Fashion | | |
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- Topshop maps growth plan with new investor
UK-based Arcadia Group has big plans to double sales at Topshop and Topman and build the fashion brands' US sales to $1 billion, owner Sir Philip Green said this week, shortly after completing a deal to sell 25% of the brands to US private-equity firm Leonard Green & Partners. Topshop has in-store shops at 14 Nordstrom stores, and will open standalone stores for both brands in Los Angeles early next year. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required)
(07 Dec.)
| NRF News | | |
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- Best practices to protect brands and consumers from counterfeiters
E-commerce has enabled retailers to do business on a global scale, but in turn has moved the business of counterfeits from the street corner to the digital world. A study by MarkMonitor analyzed the relationship between online shoppers, the search terms they use and the sites that they visit when seeking apparel and luxury goods. This new white paper in the Shop.org library underscores the need for companies at all price points to implement proactive brand protection strategies in the online marketplace. Download the white paper.
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 | You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it."
--Charles Buxton,
British brewer, philanthropist, writer and legislator
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