| Global retail industry news |  |
- Australia's merchants make returns easier
Brick-and-mortar shops in Australia have been easing up on return policies to compete with online retailers, with some extending the period for returns and others allowing customers to bring back merchandise just because they changed their minds, according to a survey by the Australian Retailers Association. The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) (15 Jan.)       | Gain Deeper Insight into the Hyperconnected World
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 - London's West End shops expect Olympic gold, report says
This year's Olympics in London are likely to help boost sales about 3.5% for West End retailers on Oxford, Regent and Bond streets, according to a report by the New West End Company. The area, which includes luxury merchants such as Burberry, Mulberry and Louis Vuitton, saw December sales rise 6.8%, with spending largely driven tourists from Russia, China and the Middle East. The Telegraph (London) (14 Jan.) - Barratts finds buyer for 89 stores
UK-based shoe retailer Barratts has sealed a deal with an unnamed buyer for 89 stores, a move that will keep about 1,184 workers employed, Deloitte administrators said. The company, which went into administration and began closing concessions last month, plans to close another 39 stores and 14 concessions. The Independent (London) (15 Jan.)  | Make your business phone system decision much easier. Not sure what your buyer type is? Need a better understanding of the features available? Download this free guide to get access to Focus' Short List as well as our side-by-side assessment of all of the key vendors in the space. |
 - Apple's growing pains in China
China is Apple's fastest-growing market, with consumers snapping up about $13 billion worth of iPhones and other gadgets each year, but the country isn't without its challenges. Just after a highly publicized fracas that kept its Beijing store closed on Friday, Apple released a new 27-page report detailing working conditions at Chinese factories. The Wall Street Journal (14 Jan.) - India's kidswear market on the rise
The market for children's clothing in India is growing as more of the country's youth become brand conscious. Designers including Rocky S and Narendra Kumar, and international brands such as Kidology, Little Kangaroos and Just for Kids will display their latest looks for little ones at India Kids Fashion Week, which starts Tuesday in Mumbai. The Economic Times (India) (14 Jan.)  | Retailers use video surveillance as a valuable tool to combat shrinkage, which can account for more than 2% of retail sales for some U.S. organizations. Shrink is up 6.6% in 2011 over 2010. This 6-page whitepaper from 3VR gives real examples on how retailers are increasing sales with video surveillance & analytics. Download it free today. |
 | Retail in Latin America |  |  | | - Luxury retailers face challenges in Brazil
Brazilian consumers are clamoring for luxury goods, but global brands looking to bring their wares to market face challenges including red tape that can keep products stuck in customs for months and high tariffs that can add significantly to retail prices. "Because of the duties on imported goods, luxury products here can end up costing from two to four times the price outside Brazil," said fashion editor Bruno Astuto. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (14 Jan.) - Booktopia takes on global online booksellers
Former Australian IT programmer Tony Nash founded online bookseller Booktopia in 2004, and today the retailer ships about 1 million books annually. Amazon sells about five or six times as many tomes to Australian consumers, but Nash says Booktopia is growing fast with a focus on Australian authors and direct deals with publishers that allow the company to keep books in stock and ship orders faster. The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) (16 Jan.) - Totsy.com to sell baby products in China
Online baby products retailer Totsy.com will start selling its wares to consumers in China through MamiBuys.com, a flash-sale site specializing in imported baby products. Chinese consumers spend about $20 billion each year on baby products, and the market is seeing about 17% annual growth, according to Totsy. InternetRetailer.com (13 Jan.)  | Principles of Checkweighing - Building an Effective Program
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 | Spotlight on Mass Merchandise | | | | - Report: UK manufacturers optimistic about 2012
UK manufacturers are worried that a deepening economic crisis, and the possibility of raw material shortages could have a negative impact on the sector this year, but four-fifths are optimistic about their own companies' prospects for meeting or exceeding 2011 sales, according to trade group EEF. "Most manufacturers continue to grasp the opportunities in untapped markets for services and in faster growing emerging markets," said EEF chief economist Lee Hopley. The Guardian (London) (15 Jan.) | NRF News | | | | - U.S. retail container traffic to be flat in January, resume increases in spring
With the holiday shopping season over, import cargo volume at major U.S. retail container ports is expected to be nearly flat for the month of January compared to the same month last year, but significant year-over-year increases are expected this spring, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by NRF. "We're headed into the slow season for cargo shipments, but forecasts indicate that retailers will be stocking up this spring in anticipation of a moderate recovery as the year progresses," NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. Read more.
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