Paris shows leave retailers with a spring in their step

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14 October 2011 Sign up Forward Archive Advertise Global retail industry news   Global Industry Watch    3 Canadian provinces to see higher holiday sales, report says Retailers in Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Alberta are likely to see their holiday sales rise higher than their peers in provinces that haven't seen the same levels of economic growth this year, according to a new report from Colliers International. At the national level, merchants should expect a tougher season as consumers count their pennies and work to pay off debt, the report said. Calgary Herald (Alberta) (13 Oct.)      Restaurant chains struggle to find top global talent It took Domino's Pizza six months to find the right executive to lead the chain's international expansion, and other U.S. chains are finding it similarly difficult to attract top talent to lead fast-growing international expansions. "We're twice as busy as we were 18 months ago, and there's a war for talent right now," said headhunter Guy Cote. Bloomberg Businessweek (14 Oct.)      Move beyond credit risk defense. Gain the power to grow with BusinessIQ℠. For a limited time, you can see the benefits of Experian business information for yourself with a 30 day free trial* of our commercial credit reports and scores – with no strings attached.   Retail in Europe    WH Smith looks to boost book sales with e-reader launch UK-based newsagent and bookseller WH Smith has sealed a deal to start selling Kobo e-readers and a library of about 2.2 million digital titles at its stores next week, said CEO Kate Swann. The company's book sales fell 4% in the most recent fiscal year, but the chain has seen an uptick at airport and train station stores that cater to travelers. The Observer (London) (13 Oct.), The Express & Star (U.K.) (14 Oct.)      Carrefour issues its 5th profit warning France's Carrefour said Thursday it expects a 20% drop in operating profit this year, the fifth profit warning from Europe's largest retailer this year. The news and other gloomy financial signs led forecasters in Germany to warn that Europe may be in for a recession next year. The Guardian (London) (13 Oct.)      Improve Holiday Sales Results with Tools from Akamai! Now is the perfect time to ensure your website will hold up to the rush of holiday shoppers headed your way. With the challenges facing retailers this holiday shopping season, it's never to soon to focus. Download Akamai's Holiday Toolkit now!   Retail in Asia    Gap to triple China store base to 45 next year Gap plans to close 21% of its US stores and focus on expanding overseas, especially in China, where the apparel chain expects to grow from 15 to 45 stores by the end of 2012, the company said Thursday. "The combination of our global strategy and formidable growth platform puts us in a strong position to expand our reach into the top 10 apparel markets worldwide," said CEO Glenn Murphy. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (14 Oct.), The Washington Post/The Associated Press (14 Oct.)      Coach looks to list shares on Hong Kong exchange Coach plans to seek approval for a secondary stock listing on Hong Kong's exchange, making it the latest luxury company looking to raise its profile among China's wealthiest consumers. Italian design brand Prada raised $2.5 billion with a June offering on the exchange. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (13 Oct.)      Scheduling That Works for Employers and Employees: It's Not a Mirage Download the white paper How Automated Schedule Design and Management Benefits Both Employers and Employees for valuable tips on giving scheduling control and flexibility to employees. The result? Automated scheduling increased employee effectiveness for 84 percent of managers.   Retail in Latin America    Harley moves closer to growing Latin American market Iconic US motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson expects its global sales to grow 40%, and the company has opened a new Miami-based headquarters to serve its burgeoning customer base in Latin America. MarketWatch (13 Oct.)      ERP solutions are, by nature, large and complex. How do you select the solution best-suited to your firm? In this guide, Focus Experts share their top 6 best practices for selecting ERP software. Learn more by downloading this free white paper now!   E-commerce Spotlight    Taobao feels vendor backlash after raising fees Small and mid-sized companies that sell on China's Taobao have staged two "online riots" since the online marketplace significantly raised its commission rates and premium fees. The company said the changes are meant to aid in anti-fraud efforts, but the merchants say it's a way to squeeze them out, and many retaliated by placing big orders with larger rivals and then canceling them, and posting negative comments about the companies. China Daily (Beijing) (13 Oct.)      UK comparison site Moneysupermarket debuts daily deals UK-based MoneySupermarket has launched a new daily deal service that will compete with players including Groupon and LivingSocial. MoneySupermarket Local Deals will send weekly e-mails advertising discounts of up to 90% on products including luxury hotel stays and polo classes. Brand Republic (U.K.) (13 Oct.)      White Paper: The Sustainability Advantage in CPG — Accelerating Success with Eco-Design. Learn how CPG manufacturers, private label providers and retailers can gain valuable time and a competitive edge by developing and executing a cohesive sustainability strategy across the enterprise, leveraging PLM. Download it now.   Spotlight on Fashion  Paris shows leave retailers with a spring in their step The recent spring design shows in Paris gave budget-conscious retail buyers much to love in the new footwear lines from favorites including Roger Vivier, Christian Louboutin and Charlotte Olympia Dellal. "Our customers have reacted strongly to her [Olympia Dellal's] collection, and we have steadily increased our dollars there," said Hudson's Bay creative director Nicholas Mellamphy. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (10 Oct.)      Fast Retailing on track to open 4,000th store by 2020, CEO says Japan-based Fast Retailing set a goal two years ago to have 4,000 Uniqlo stores operating worldwide and book $54 billion in global sales by 2020, and the company is on track to meet those numbers, CEO Tadashi Yanai said Thursday. Yanai was in New York City to open the chain's biggest flagship, an 89,000-square-foot Fifth Avenue store. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (14 Oct.)      How a trip to Japan sparked the UK's fastest-growing fashion brand Julian Dunkerton and James Holder were visiting Japan in search of ideas for a new clothing label when they hit upon the concept that would become Superdry, a fashion line strong enough to support its own stores in 20 countries. The Telegraph (London) (14 Oct.)        NRF News  Register for Retail's BIG Show by Oct. 15 and save $350 Saks Fifth Avenue, 1-800-Flowers.com, and Target have already registered for retail's biggest event of 2012. Have you? The 2012 NRF Annual Convention & EXPO attracts more than 22,000 industry pros, more than 500 solution providers, and over 250 of the industry's best speakers. Register by the Oct. 15 early registration deadline and save $350. 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