  | Global retail industry news |  |
- Canadian retailers increasingly appealing as takeover targets
Canada's healthy economy and robust retail market are making the country's retailers prime takeover targets, particularly as Target and other US companies seek new opportunities in the Great White North. Le Chateau, Reitmans and Jacob are all seen as possible acquisition targets. Reuters (27 Mar.)        - Waterstone works with Russian billionaire on book chain bid
Tim Waterstone and Alexander Mamut, a Russian billionaire, are working together to prepare a bid for the UK's largest bookshop chain, Waterstone's. HMV Group, which currently owns Waterstone's, acknowledged that it is open to offers. Waterstone has previously tried to regain control of the chain he founded in 1982. He's also worked with Mamut before, although their effort to launch a Russian book retail company was unsuccessful. The Guardian (London) (27 Mar.) - Russia's Magnit upwardly revises sales growth forecast
Magnit, the rapidly growing Russian grocer, revised its sales forecast again as consumer demand continues to recover. "Forty-nine percent growth, I think we can say already today, is the low end of our forecast," said CEO Sergei Galitsky. Magnit had previously said it expected 36% growth in 2011. "We want to be aggressive on our price offer and growth because to come close to exceeding last year's [sales growth] level is an interesting task for 2011. We are very optimistic in our expectations," Galitsky said. The Moscow Times/Reuters (28 Mar.)  | The buzz around social media - and whether it is worth the effort - continues to be a leading business concern. SmartBrief's State of Social Media for Business sheds light on obstacles & opportunities in using social media to produce measurable results. Check out the State of Social Media for Business. |
 - Aeon says earthquake did not derail investment plans
Japan's Aeon said that its mid-term investment plan has not changed despite the recent earthquake and tsunami, which damaged several of the company's outlets. Aeon also noted that it exceeded its profit forecast for the year that ended in February. "The cumulative operating profit for the first-quarter looks to come in lower year-on year, but I think this is within a range that can be absorbed during the 2011 business year," said Seiichi Chiba, chief financial officer at Aeon. "We haven't given official figures for 2011 business year, but I think it will could reach above the revised 2010 fiscal year operating revenue and profit estimates." Reuters (25 Mar.)  - McDonald's operator in Latin America files for IPO
Arcos Dorados Holdings, which operates McDonald's restaurants in Latin America and the Caribbean, plans to raise up to $1.08 billion through an initial public offering. The company, which directly owns nearly 1,300 McDonald's outlets, plans to use the proceeds from the IPO to remodel existing restaurants and open new ones. An analyst said the move indicated Arcos Dorados sees opportunities in Latin America. Bloomberg (25 Mar.)  | Nudge Your Customers
Well-designed default options drive profits, simplify processes, enhance customer satisfaction, and reduce risk. Poor defaults leave money on the table, fuel consumer backlashes, and even trigger lawsuits. Based on a decade of research, this HBR article describes default options and suggest when to use each. Order here. |
 | Technology Solutions |  | | | - Retailers in South Africa join social media revolution
As more consumers in South Africa have access to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social networking sites, major retailers and other businesses are tapping experts to help them capitalise on the evolution. Charmaine Huet, marketing director at Woolworths, said the company is active with Facebook. "We try to use Facebook as a relationship building tool, rather than an advertising opportunity, as it allows us to listen to our customers' feedback in a 'direct/dynamic' conversation," Huet said. "Social media channels have enhanced our marketing communication activity, which ultimately brings us closer to our customers." IOL (South Africa) (27 Mar.) | Spotlight on Mass Merchandise | | | | - Wal-Mart to open some stores hit by quake, tsunami in Japan
Wal-Mart Stores said a dozen of its outlets in the Sendai area of Japan that were hit hard by the recent earthquake and tsunami will fully reopen after being limited to relief efforts. Wal-Mart's Asia CEO Scott Price said that most of the other stores will reopen soon, but two outlets likely will be closed for a while because they are covered in mud. Other retailers in Japan are also racing to reopen after the March 11 disaster. Bloomberg (28 Mar.) | NRF News | | | | - A global look at retail advertising
From magazines to banner ads, there are more opportunities for retail advertising today than ever before. That certainly doesn't mean retailers are trading in the old for the new. NRF asked retail executives from the US, South Africa and the UK to share their views on current trends and opportunities in advertising -- and an interesting dialogue on the capabilities of print and digital emerged. Watch the video.
| SmartQuote | | | |  | The wheel goes round and round, some are up and some are on the down, and still the wheel goes round."
--Josephine Pollard,
American author  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com
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