| Global retail industry news |  |
- UK grocery chains cope amid fuel-shortage fears
Supermarket chains in the UK are seeing longer lines at their fuel pumps and facing uncertainty after fuel tanker truck drivers announced a strike on Monday. Petrol sales provide slim margins for supermarket chains including Tesco, Wal-Mart, Sainsbury's and Morrisons, but the chains often use fuel promotions to drive traffic into the stores. The Wall Street Journal (27 Mar.)      - Starbucks brews plan to boost sales in Europe
Starbucks has turned things around at home and is now turning its attention to growing the business in Europe, which, together with the Middle East and Africa, accounts for about 10% of the company's sales. "Our business in Europe today is quite reminiscent of what we went through in the U.S. back in 2008 -- a tough economy, record unemployment, fierce competition and our own self-induced mistakes," said executive Michelle Gass. Chicago Tribune (27 Mar.)  | Gain valuable insight on how to build an HR strategy that produces results in any economy. Notable CEOs of quickly-growing companies outline their winning HR strategies in this must-read whitepaper for small businesses in growth mode. Learn more here. |
 - Survey: Korean consumers cut spending amid inflation
Amid rapidly rising prices, nearly 90% of consumers in South Korea have taken to bargain hunting and seeking out sales, 49% said they plan to further reduce spending and 94% said they'll watch prices more carefully than they did last year, according to a survey from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Korea Herald (Seoul) (27 Mar.)  | LIVE Webinar: Retailers Head for the Cloud
In this webinar, you'll hear guest speaker Peter Sheldon, Senior Analyst at Forrester Research, discuss findings from his new report on cloud-based eCommerce Solutions. Specifically, he will share insights on this trend toward the cloud and his finding on how you can establish a sustainable approach to adopting cloud-based eCommerce solutions. Register now. |
 - New study aims to find a better fit for Mexico
A new survey of consumer sizes across Mexico aims to help the country's fashion industry create a better sizing model and cut the high costs of returns. The country's clothing makers currently lose about $4 billion, or 18% of their total annual sales, to returns from customers because the fashions aren't the proper fit. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (27 Mar.)  | Successful business organizations have been capturing data about people and turning it into actionable information to make better hiring and development decisions. While business-led talent practices provide considerable benefits for the business and the HR department, this whitepaper explores the value of these activities for business leaders driving talent management functions. |
 - Young entrepreneurs lead Turkey's e-commerce growth
Native Turks raised and educated abroad have come home to fuel the growth of e-commerce in Turkey, including Trendyol.com founder Demet Mutlu, a Harvard Business School dropout whose company hit $100 million in revenue after only 18 months. "You have a young society that's really social and has really embraced the social web and mobile," said Kleiner Perkins partner Aileen Lee, whose firm partnered with Tiger Global to invest $50 million in the company. Bloomberg (27 Mar.)  | Learn how Oka b. stays a step ahead with eCommerce solutions from Amazon
In this case study you’ll learn about eCommerce solutions from Amazon that have driven business results for Oka b. — a U.S. manufacturer of casual footwear — and helped them achieve greater business success. Download the case study. |
 | Spotlight on Luxury Goods |  |  | | |  | - De Beers forges ahead with China expansion
Luxury diamond seller De Beers plans to open at least six new stores in China this year in partnership with LVMH, and will also upgrade flagships in London and New York to appeal to wealthy Chinese tourists. China, India and the Persian Gulf are slated to overtake the US as the world's largest markets for diamond jewellery by 2015. "We are growing the business where the biggest growth is -- in Asia," said CEO Philippe Mellier. Reuters (27 Mar.) - Versace sees post-recession recovery
Gianni Versace reported a 16% rise in sales and a return to profits in 2011, after three years of losses. The luxury fashion brand forecasts growth of at least 10% annually for the next three years, as the industry continues to rebound and brand awareness for the Versace label grows. The Wall Street Journal (27 Mar.) - Dior demonstrates commitment to Asia with new Taiwan store
LVMH-owned luxury fashion brand Dior opened its largest store in the world last week, a 19,410-square-foot space in Taiwan's Taipei 101 mall, and is scouting for new store space in several other Asian markets including Vietnam and Indonesia. "In all of Asia, it's amazing. You name one country and I don't think there is one where we are not expanding," said CEO Sidney Toledano. Women's Wear Daily (subscription required) (23 Mar.)  | Taking your brand beyond the web—and why you need to do it now. Connected consumers were big news in 2011. Use of tablets and smartphones skyrocketed as did shoppers’ appetite for online purchasing. Tune in to hear how you can get ready now for the 2012 multi-channel marathon going into the holiday season, how to meet your customers where they want to shop, and deliver a consistent, branded experience across all touchpoints. To register click here. |
 | NRF News | |  | | - Visa reform bill could add billions to U.S. economy
The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing yesterday on the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel Act, which seeks to revise U.S. visa regulations and boost foreign travel and tourism. The JOLT Act would reduce visa wait times and delays, modernize State Department technology and mobility, and encourage more foreign consumers and shoppers to travel, dine and shop in the United States. A U.S. Travel Association study found that reducing visa wait times could help add $850 billion to the U.S. economy. Read the full release.
| SmartQuote | | | |  | When you make a world tolerable for yourself, you make a world tolerable for others."
--Anaïs Nin,
French-Cuban author  |
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