| Global retail industry news |  |
- Commentary: Retailers need their own version of "secret sauce"
Jon Bird, CEO of the specialist retail marketing agency IdeaWorks, explains how some companies, such as KFC, Coca-Cola and Google, have capitalized on what they have touted as their "secret recipes" or algorithms, as the case may be. "When it comes to retail, think of the 'secret sauce' as the special ingredient that helps to set a retailer's offer apart from competitors -- making it unique in the minds of customers," Bird writes. Inside Retailing Online (11 Apr.)        - Apple mulls opening first Moscow retail outlet
Ron Johnson, president of retail business at Apple, and Bob Bridger, vice president of real estate at the firm, were in Moscow recently as the company considers opening a retail site. Anna Savenko, deputy director at Jones Lang LaSalle, said Apple is seeking space in the area from Okhotny Ryad to Pushkin Square. However, obstacles remain for Apple's entry into Russia. The Moscow Times (11 Apr.) - UK retail sales take biggest monthly drop in 16 years
UK retail sales in March took their biggest plunge since data were first collected 16 years ago, the British Retail Consortium said. Sales were 1.9% below the same month last year. "Uncomfortably high inflation and low wage growth have produced the first year-on-year fall in disposable incomes for 30 years," according to BRC Director General Stephen Robertson. The situation has "left people unwilling to spend unless they really had to." Sky News (12 Apr.), Bloomberg (12 Apr.)  | 8 of the world's top 10 brands build their business on Facebook with the Buddy Media Platform. What's your plan? Power Tools for Facebook. Register for demo |
 - Japanese retailers face challenges, FamilyMart says
FamilyMart, the third-biggest chain of convenience stores in Japan, said the country's retail sales could drop by as much as 10% this year following the devastating earthquake and tsunami. "A mood to refrain from holding parties and events may continue for at least six months to a year," said Junji Ueda, president of FamilyMart. Meanwhile, Seven & I Holdings, which is the country's largest retailer, said its profit could plunge by 22%. Gulf News (United Arab Emirates)/Bloomberg (12 Apr.)  - Solid UK online sales expected, IMRG says
Interactive Media in Retail Group reported that Britain's online shoppers spent £4.9 billion in February, up 20% from the same month the previous year. Now, according to a new study from IMRG, most retailers, payment providers and other e-commerce vendors in Britain expect sales to continue to be as strong as they were in the first quarter of this year or even improve. Retailers are concerned, however, about proposed changes to the European Union's Consumer Rights Directive. InternetRetailer.com (11 Apr.)  | Organizations who handle payment card data are obligated to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This whitepaper discusses how the TransArmor® solution can enable scope reduction, minimizing costs and effort of PCI compliance. |
 | Technology Solutions |  | | | - UK retailers have room to improve social media efforts, study finds
A study by the Internet consultancy and technology firm Auros found that only a quarter of UK retailers that have a presence on Twitter responded to direct questions. The study also found that only 11% of retailers replied to negative comments posted by consumers on their Facebook wall. Overall, the study indicates that retailers have room to improve the way they engage with consumers through social media. FashionUnited.com (Amsterdam) (11 Apr.) | Spotlight on Grocery | | | | - Thinktank suggests tax on Britain's supermarkets
ResPublica, an influential thinktank, suggests the UK can rebalance its economy and retail sector in particular by taxing supermarkets and reducing small retailers' business rates. ResPublica argues that the government needs to rebalance the sector away from the major supermarkets. "Britain every year is less and less a nation of shopkeepers -- assets and ownership are concentrating, finance has become the preserve of the City of London and high streets have converged as though by centralised design. The UK's 8,151 supermarket outlets today account for 97% of total grocery sales, and 76% of groceries are sold by just the four biggest retailers," according to ResPublica. The Guardian (London) (10 Apr.) | NRF News | | | | - Learn how to grow your digital efforts on a global level
Shop.org heads to Barcelona, Spain, May 23-25 as an industry partner for the annual Global E-commerce Summit. With speakers hailing from Expedia Europe, Forrester, YOOX Group, Pixmania.com and Best Buy, attendees of the event will learn about new perspectives to develop and grow global online and cross-channel retail. Learn more.
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