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| 1. Canadian shoppers balk at J.Crew's raised prices |
| J.Crew's prices on merchandise in its recently opened Canadian store and its new Canadian online site are about 15% higher than those at its outlets in the U.S. Canadian shoppers took to online forums to express their frustration over the price hikes. Globe and Mail (Toronto), The (21 Aug.) |
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| 2. Retail technology: Why the UK is ahead of the game |
| What does the UK have that the US and Canada don't? Multiple advantages in the retail technology space, according to Duncan Taylor, director of store solutions for retail solution provider Epicor. In a recent Q&A on Retail's BIG Blog, Taylor also shares his views on topics including mobile POS and capabilities of the cloud. Read more. Blank (16 Aug.) |
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| 3. Esprit said to be exploring sale of operations in US and Canada |
| Hong Kong-listed Esprit Holdings is looking into selling its operations in Canada and the U.S., sources said. The company's sales in Canada and the U.S. were up 11% in the six months that ended in December, but the retailer's shares have dropped 55% over the past year due to a decline in sales in Europe. Bloomberg (19 Aug.) |
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| 4. Researchers delve into shoppers' self-esteem |
| The fashion industry has long used gorgeous models to sell its goods, which has sparked criticism from those who say marketing campaigns play upon the insecurities of regular consumers. Researchers have looked into how the situation plays out when consumers see beautiful woman trying on the same outfits they are trying in a store environment. The findings might prompt retailers to rethink their approach to dressing rooms and their sales assistants, according to the researchers. Calgary Herald (Alberta) (18 Aug.) |
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| 5. Australia's Country Road takes digital path to profit |
| Country Road, an Australian fashion retailer, is testing free delivery of online purchases and rolling out new applications for smartphones in an effort to tap into the digital revolution. The efforts come as many traditional retailers in Australia struggle to embrace e-commerce. Australian, The (16 Aug.) |
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| 6. SPAR aims for 30 hypermarkets in India in next few years |
| SPAR currently has nine hypermarkets in operation in India and is striving to run 30 by 2013. The retailer's ninth store, which opened late last week, features more than 30,000 products over 36,500 square feet. Hindu (India), The (19 Aug.) |
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| 7. Edmonton region to see new wave of shopping developments |
| Retailers are increasingly looking for space in the Edmonton, Canada, market, prompting a number of shopping developments in the area. "We're effectively at zero vacancy in the better shopping centres and the better retail environments," said Arlyn Stoik of Avison Young Real Estate Alberta. Edmonton Journal (Alberta), The (16 Aug.) |
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| 8. Big C and Cencar file suit against Tesco Lotus operator |
| Big C Supercenter and Cencar have accused Ek-Chai Distribution System, which operates the Tesco Lotus chain, of unfair trading practices in a recently filed civil lawsuit in Thailand. "We decided to take the case before the civil court because we want to protect our rights," said Kudatara Nagaviroj, corporate image director for Big C. "Ek-Chai misused our logos and our trade and marketing mechanism for its own benefit." Bangkok Post (Thailand) (16 Aug.) |
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| 9. Harvey Norman liquidates HP TouchPad weeks after launch |
| Harvey Norman has decided to pull the HP TouchPad just weeks after the device was launched in Australia. The move follows an announcement from HP that it plans to exit the personal computer business, a move that includes killing off the TouchPad. The device received a lukewarm response as it struggled to compete with Apple's iPad 2 and other tablet computers. International Business Times (21 Aug.) |
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| 10. Carrefour not interested in selling Brazilian unit, CEO says |
| Lars Olofsson, chief executive officer at Carrefour, said the French retailing giant's Brazilian unit is not for sale, according to a report in a Brazilian newspaper. "Carrefour in Brazil is not for sale and there is no negotiation with Wal-Mart Stores Inc.," Olofsson said. Wal-Mart was recently reported to have been in negotiations to acquire the division. MarketWatch (17 Aug.) |
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