Japan's Rakuten buys Play.com

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22 September 2011 Sign up Forward Archive Advertise Global retail industry news   Global Industry Watch    Borders name to live on in Persian Gulf Borders Group's stores are being liquidated across the US, but a company in the Persian Gulf is keeping the name alive. Al Maya International, which originally expanded the book retailer's presence in the Persian Gulf, offered the winning bid for Borders' brand rights. The retailer will be able to keep the Borders trademarks and logos on its eight locations. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)/Bankruptcy Beat blog (21 Sep.)      Oroton shares rise amid report of annual profit increase OrotonGroup reported an 8% jump in annual profit and said sales have been exceeding expectations, causing the company's shares to jump. "The group's sales in the first seven weeks of full year 2012 have exceeded expectations, but, as always, we remain vigilant to the macro environment ahead," said Sally Macdonald, chief executive officer at OrotonGroup. The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)/Australian Associated Press (22 Sep.)      Are you keeping up with the changing world of employee health care? Get The Basics of Employee Health Care for Small Business: A Guide to Creating a Company Benefit Plan, and find out what you need to know today. There's no obligation. Click to download a complimentary whitepaper.   Retail in Europe    Tesco seen launching supermarket price war Shares in Ocado, Sainsbury's and Morrisons fell on concerns that Tesco is about to wage a price war. Tesco is said to be working on an overhaul of its pricing in the runup to the holiday period. The Guardian (London) (21 Sep.)      Belgium's Colruyt expects profit to be flat Colruyt, a Belgian discount supermarket that tends to be cautious, said it expects profit for this year to be flat with last year, missing market expectations. The company cited higher costs and said it would not be able to fully pass on those to consumers who have become increasingly cost conscious. Reuters (21 Sep.)      Water damage is costly. Preventing it doesn't have to be. Access our FREE water damage mitigation guide today!   Retail in Asia    India's retail industry awaits decision on FDI India's committee of secretaries recommended allowing 51% foreign direct investment in the country's multi-brand retail market earlier this year. Now, the cabinet is considering the move as domestic retailers are split. The Financial Express (India) (22 Sep.)      Tesco plans initial public offering for Thai property assets Tesco is aiming to highlight the value of foreign businesses as the UK trading environment remains difficult. The retailing giant is working on an initial public offering of property assets in Thailand. Reuters (21 Sep.)      85% of Customers Save Time & 55% Get Paid Faster • Accept Credit Cards & eCheck (ACH) Payments • Collect Payments through Mail, Phone, on your Website or from your Mobile Phone • Email Click-to-Pay Invoicing • Recurring Billing Check Out the System   E-commerce Spotlight    Japan's Rakuten buys Play.com for £25 million Japan's Rakuten has acquired Play.com, one of the largest online retailers in Britain. Play.com, which was founded by Simon Perree and Richard Goulding in 1998, made the most of a tax loophole that enabled it to sell low-price goods free of VAT. The Telegraph (London) (21 Sep.), The Guardian (London) (21 Sep.)      Online grocery stores offer alternative business model GroceryRun.com.au, a new online grocery retailer in Australia, is the latest Internet grocer to offer products at significant discounts. Gabby Leibovich, co-founder of GroceryRun, explains that the business model differs from traditional grocery stores and even most online grocers because it focuses on the products suppliers are trying to clear. "Suppliers always have items they need to clear, and in the past a lot of it would have ended up in the bin," Leibovich explains. "That was the problem with having a duopoly. If they didn't want it, what do you do with the rest?" The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) (22 Sep.)      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.   Technology Solutions    Most under-35s see true convenience in m-commerce The millenial generation grew up with mobile phones, and more than half of them use their smartphones and tablets to research products while they're shopping, according to data from several recent surveys. Consumers age 16-34 are also more likely than their older counterparts to make impulse purchases using their mobiles, but more than a third of the purchases total $5 or less. eMarketer (16 Sep.)      Power your connections and turn fans and into real connections when you run technology powered by Buddy Media. Now learn how to drive results with your social posting. Download Buddy Media's free guide for Successful Retail Social Posting   Spotlight on Consumer Electronics  Best Buy's CMO on the changing consumer electronics landscape Best Buy's business model has to evolve as consumers' buying habits change, says marketing chief Barry Judge in this video interview. Price and assortment used to drive peoples' purchasing decisions, but with the growth of online outlets such as Amazon, the chain is looking to stand out by focusing on the experiences consumers want to have in their interactions with technology. Forbes (20 Sep.)          NRF News  The retail roller coaster: How to manage market volatility What's the right balance between investing in the business yet not tipping the scales too far when it comes to cost? In a Sept. 22 STORES Knowledge Series webinar, leading industry analysts from RSR Research, IDC Retail Insights and Epicor will help you answer that key question with practical ideas companies can apply now to strengthen revenue and competitive position without compromising core assets or the bottom line. Learn more.      Join NRF  |  NRF Events  |  FIRAE  |  STORES  |  Training and Certification   SmartQuote  If you're quiet, you're not living. You've got to be noisy and colorful and lively." --Mel Brooks, American filmmaker        This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com   Subscriber Tools       Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Grab our News Widget Publish your Press Release   Advertise Associate Publisher:  Susan W. 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