| Global retail industry news |  |
| Global Industry Watch |  |  |
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- Global shoppers think sustainably, survey says
Consumers in countries around the world think about sustainability and environmental concerns when shopping, with those in developing countries putting the issues top-of-mind more often than shoppers in developed nations including the US and Europe, according to a study by The Regeneration Roadmap. Some 82% of consumers in developing markets and 49% in developed countries say they "have a responsibility to purchase products that are good for the environment and society." MediaPost Communications
(30 Jan.)     
- Australia's Lorna Jane boosts US expansion
Australian activewear retailer Lorna Jane will open its largest US shop, in San Francisco next month, the latest move in an expansion plan that put 10 new stores in Southern California last year. The brand will compete in the increasingly crowded yoga and workout wear market by providing fashionable, functional gear that inspires women to exercise, says founder Lorna Jane Clarkson. American City Business Journals/San Francisco
(30 Jan.)
| Retail in Europe | | |
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- German retail sales fell more than expected in Dec.
Retail sales in Germany dropped 1.7% last month compared to November, bigger than the 0.1% decline economists forecast, amid rising unemployment and declining consumer confidence, according to the Federal Statistics Office in Wiesbaden. "December data are a setback, but confidence improved since then and declining uncertainty about the debt crisis is feeding into consumer sentiment," said economist Gerd Hassel. Bloomberg Businessweek
(31 Jan.)
| Retail in Asia | | |
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- Dunkin' Donuts is coming to Vietnam
Dunkin' Brands Group is moving forward with its international growth plans, having reached an agreement to bring its doughnut franchise to Vietnam. In addition to offering standard items such as doughnuts and coffee, Dunkin' Donuts locations in Vietnam will offer menu choices tailored for local tastes. Dunkin' Donuts is currently operating in 32 countries, and entered India and Guatemala last year. The Wall Street Journal
(30 Jan.)
| Retail in Latin America | | |
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| E-commerce Spotlight | | |
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- China's rising e-commerce tide doesn't lift all boats
Consumer electronics retailer Gome Electrical Appliance and group-buying site Qianpin have each confirmed layoffs of about 200 workers, and several small fashion retailers closed their shops on Taobao Mall. The cuts came even as China's overall online retail sector continued its rapid rise; aggressive competition and promotions squeezed margins, forcing some to cut back, analysts said. ZDNet (Asia)
(30 Jan.)
| Technology Solutions | | |
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- HomeShop 18 debuts India's 1st digital shopping wall
Online and TV retailer HomeShop 18 has created a digital shopping wall at India's Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport. The wall, the country's first, lets mobile users view a selection of goods including jewellery, electronics and perfume, and scan QR codes to make a purchase. InsideRetail.Asia
(31 Jan.)
| Spotlight on Consumer Electronics | | |
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- No longer RIM, BlackBerry trots out new phones, platform
The company formerly known as Research In Motion sought to put the past well behind it on Wednesday with the BlackBerry maker's introduction of two smartphones based on its new BlackBerry 10 operating system as well as a fresh corporate identity: RIM has changed its name to BlackBerry. CEO Thorsten Heins introduced the 4.2-inch Z10, the company's first touch-screen model, and the Q10, which houses the traditional keyboard. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(30 Jan.)
| NRF News | | |
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- The big numbers behind Retail’s BIG Show 2013
 Over the event’s 102-year history, Retail’s BIG Show has become known by thousands as the industry’s annual flagship event. But to put the size and scope of the event in perspective, NRF has crunched a few numbers to illustrate the work that went in to making this year’s event even bigger and better. After reviewing the stats, you may have a better idea for how Retail’s BIG Show got its name. Read more. Retail's BIG Blog
(30 Jan.)
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | Any workout which does not involve a certain minimum of danger or responsibility does not improve the body -- it just wears it out."
--Norman Mailer,
American writer
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Mexican billionaire and businessman Carlos Slim is moving toward winning shareholder approval for a publicly traded spinoff of Grupo Sanborns, which operates several retail concepts in Mexico including Saks and Sears. 
