  | Global retail industry news |  |
- Retail sector in GCC expected to see significant growth
The retail sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council likely will expand 8.3% annually over the next few years, according to Alpen Capital. "While the financial crisis slowed down the pace of growth, the GCC retail sector continues its uptrend supported by fundamental drivers, including growing affluence and disposable income, rise in tourism, large expatriate population, favourable demographic factors, and large-scale infrastructure development," said Mahboob Murshed, managing director at Alpen Capital. Gulf Times (Qatar) (02 Nov.)      - Loblaw to set up telecom shops in its outlets
Canada's Loblaw is striving to become a leader in mobile phone retailing by establishing telecom kiosks in its stores. "Our goal is to become the biggest third-party retailer by 2013 selling these mobile services," said Maria Forlini, Loblaw's senior vice president of PC services. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (01 Nov.)  | Is your period-end close consistent and efficient? Download this eBook to learn how to automate this critical business process and transform your financial close into an integrated, repeatable process, executed with precision and speed—every time. |
 - Next reports faster sales growth in third quarter
The UK clothing retailer Next reported a 3.3% increase in total brand sales in the third quarter. The expansion of the company's home-shopping division helped compensate for declining sales at its stores. Next CEO Simon Wolfson noted that warmer weather likely delayed purchases of cold-weather garments. "There is no question that very warm weather has affected seasonal sales, but there does seem to be a slight weakening generally in the consumer as well," Wolfson said. Bloomberg (02 Nov.), Google/The Press Association (U.K.) (02 Nov.), Reuters (02 Nov.)  | Consumer Insights Your Brand Needs to Know: Latest Trends in Behavioral Advertising
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 - Toys R Us and Li & Fung JV to expand operations in Asia
Toys R Us is planning to establish a joint venture with Li & Fung that will acquire holdings in existing retailers in Asia that are operated by the latter. The deal allows Toys R Us to purchase the remaining shares of the companies down the road. Reuters (01 Nov.) - Indian retailers address lack of skilled personnel
Indian retailers are working to expand, but their efforts are highlighting a shortage of skilled workers. Some retailers are addressing the issue. Future Group, for example, has taken steps to train young people for retail jobs. "The requirement to work in retail are elementary with basic customer handling, merchandise know-how and basic math," said Murlidhar Rao, head of Future Learning, the education and training arm of Future Group. LiveMint.com/The Wall Street Journal (India) (02 Nov.)  | Get the Information That Leads to Higher Sales
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 - Chinese daily-deal site Lashou files for $100 million U.S. IPO
Chinese group-buying website Lashou filed to go public in the U.S., saying it expects to raise as much as $100 million. Like Groupon, which is credited with spawning the daily-deal trend, Lashou reported high sales and marketing expenses. The company reported a $60.6 million loss for the first six months of the year. Forbes (31 Oct.)  | Improve Holiday Sales Results with Tools from Akamai!
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 | Spotlight on Luxury Goods |  |  | | |  | - India's luxury sales expected to expand rapidly
AT Kearney has released a report that forecasts a 20% annual rise in luxury sales in India over the next few years. Indian consumers were slow to embrace luxury sales, but they "are quickly catching up with global trends", according to Neelesh Hundekari, author of the "Indian Luxury Review" report. Google/Agence France-Presse (02 Nov.)  | Life is good at The Benjamin. Sweeten your days and your stay in New York with “The Good Life” package. Enjoy a $20 credit toward mini bar indulgences, complimentary Internet, and 2 p.m. late check-out. With rates starting at $229 and available through December 30, 2011, call 1.866.222.BENJ, mention code BGOOD to get The Good Life. |
 | NRF News | |  | | - What's hot in retail (and at NRF)
For retailers, October marks the beginning of the most profitable — and frantic — time of the year: the beginning of the holiday season. As retailers buckled down for the season, hot retail resources included Halloween consumer survey results and trends, NRF's holiday forecast and Holiday Headquarters, and the specifics on who will keynote the 2012 Retail's BIG Show (hint: you can call him "President"). Read more. Retail's BIG Blog (01 Nov.)
| SmartQuote | | | |  | The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men."
--George Eliot,
British writer  |
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