| Global retail industry news |  |
| Global Industry Watch |  |  |
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- Frankfort to step down as Coach CEO
Lew Frankfort, who has spent half his 66 years working at Coach, will hand over the CEO reins to Victor Luis early next year, the company said Thursday. Luis, who was appointed president of Coach's international operations last year, has overseen the brand's business in Asia and will head the company as it embarks on a larger global growth strategy. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required)
(14 Feb.)     
| Retail in Europe | | |
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- Former Dixon's chief named CEO of Monsoon Accessorize
John Browett has been named the new chief executive of international retail chain Monsoon Accessorize. The former Dixon's chief who left that company last year for a short-lived stint leading Apple's retail operations worked previously in several management roles at Tesco. Monsoon operates more than 1,000 stores internationally, including about 380 in the UK and Ireland. The Guardian (London)
(15 Feb.)
- Snow slows UK retail sales for a second month
UK retail sales fell 0.6% in January from the month before as winter weather kept consumers away from the stores, according to the Office for National Statistics. "Clearly, the snow and ice affected footfall as people were unable, or unwilling, to go to the shops," said economist Howard Archer. Bloomberg Businessweek
(15 Feb.)
| Retail in Asia | | |
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- Coach, Balenciaga make moves toward India
Luxury brands Coach and Balenciaga are the latest foreign players in talks with potential partners to open shop in India. The news comes after this week's government approval that will allow Fossil, Decathlon and Le Creuset to open their first wholly-owned stores in the country. The Economic Times (India)/TNN
(14 Feb.)
- Chinese tourists boost Hong Kong spring sales
About 33% more tourists from mainland China traveled to Hong Kong in the first few days of the Lunar New Year celebration this year than last, buoying the hopes of luxury retailers there including Prada and jeweller Chow Sang Sang. "If Hong Kong retail sales in January and February also show encouraging growth bolstered by mainland tourist spending, we can say we are on the right track of recovery," said economist Raymond Yeung. Bloomberg
(14 Feb.)
| E-commerce Spotlight | | |
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- Businesses feel the pain of China's web censorship
The Chinese government's censorship programs that kick in whenever Internet users try to access out-of-country sites often result in slower connections and long delays that hurt global businesses trying to operate there, executives say. "The real question is whether the next administration is going to continue to roll back Internet availability to foreign firms," said consultant Shaun Rein. The Wall Street Journal
(13 Feb.)
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| Spotlight on Fashion | | |
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- Less will be more on London runways
Young designers will launch sleeker, minimalist fall collections as London Fashion Week begins today, with some tossing in a touch of androgyny alongside the ladylike looks, retail buyers say. "I am looking out for the influences of British heritage and androgynous tailoring that I feel are bubbling under right now," said Harvey Nichols fashion director Paula Reed. Reuters
(13 Feb.)
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| SmartQuote | | |
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 | If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal. Not to people or things."
--Albert Einstein,
German-born theoretical physicist
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United Arrows airport clothing store in Tokyo now features mannequins made with Kinect technology that are half marionette and half robot. Dubbed "MarionetteBots," they mimic the movements of the person standing in front of them. 
