| Global retail industry news |  |
- Nike signs franchisee to open 15 Russia stores
International sportswear brand Nike has agreed to a franchise deal with Russia's re:Store Retail to open 15 Nike stores in the next three years. The franchisee, which already operates Apple stores in Russia and Europe, is expected to open the first three or four stores this year in malls in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Moscow Times (09 May.)       - UK's Clinton Cards enters administration
Clinton Cards has been placed in administration by its largest supplier, US-based American Greetings. Founder Don Lewin started the UK chain with a single store and a £500 investment in the late 1960s and built it into the country's largest specialty greeting card chain, with 750 stores and 8,000 employees, but it has struggled in recent years as online rivals and supermarkets expanded their greeting card sales. The Independent (London) (10 May.), The Telegraph (London) (09 May.) - Dutch merchants fear higher taxes will curb spending
Higher VATs and excise taxes are pushing up prices in the Netherlands, while government salaries remain stagnant and consumer confidence falls, a combination that has retailers worried about their bottom lines. "The obvious effect is that an average household has less money to spend or can buy fewer items for the same amount of money," according to a report from ING. Bloomberg (08 May.)  | Discover Balanced Travel at Element Hotels
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  - Japan's retailers shift focus as population ages
About 23% of Japan's population is now 65 or older, and people over 60 spent more than any other demographic group last year, spurring retailers to shift their marketing and merchandising focus from families to older consumers. Supermarket operator Aeon is adding in-store medical clinics, Tokyo-based Daiei is slowing escalators and making shopping carts lighter, and convenience store chain Seven & I created a loyalty card that times promotions to pension checks. Bloomberg Businessweek (09 May.) - 50 global retail brands to enter Bangkok in 2012
Ralph Lauren and H&M will open their first Thailand stores this year, part of a wave of about 50 retail brands with plans to enter the market in 2012. "Thailand is full of Chinese tourists and has become an important destination for luxury and lifestyle brands to have a presence," said mall developer Kriengsak Tantiphipop. Bangkok Post (Thailand) (10 May.)  | What Data Thieves Don’t Want You to Know:
How a multi-layered data security solution, including encryption and tokenization, protects data in transit, in use and at rest. When combined, these two technologies provide a powerful method for securing sensitive data wherever it exists. Get proof here. |
 - EBay Australia goes social in search of fashion fans
EBay Australia has created a social media community to promote its Fashion Gallery at eBay on six social sites including Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Editors will update the content daily with a mix of style tips, celebrity looks and trend stories, the company says. AuctionBytes (09 May.)  | Interactive marketers are feeling the pressure from government to offer clear, transparent privacy regulations for consumers. This free whitepaper, discusses various legislation, such as the EU Cookie Directive, and outlines how marketers must comply while offering a positive and enriching consumer interaction via the new paradigms of consensual targeting. Get the free whitepaper here. |
 - PayPal teams with Softbank on Japan venture
EBay will spin off its PayPal unit in Japan into a joint venture with Softbank focused on mobile payments and a Square-like service that will allow small merchants to accept credit cards. Only about 12% of all transactions in Japan are done with credit cards, since three-quarters of the country's small businesses only accept cash. The Wall Street Journal (09 May.)  | You've heard about the switch businesses are making to VoIP phone systems but are they right for your business? With more features and lower costs, the answer is probably yes. But don't take our word for it. Read Ziff Davis' Phone Systems Buyer's Guide and Comparison Guides, FREE with your registration. |
 | Spotlight on Consumer Electronics |  |  | | - Dixons ends fiscal year with higher sales
Dixons Retail reported a 5% rise in like-for-like sales in the last three months of the fiscal year ended April 30. "Our overall group performance across the year has been slightly better than we anticipated," said Sebastian James, CEO of the company, which operates PC World and Currys in Britain, UniEuro in Italy, Kotsovolos in Greece and Elkjop in Nordic countries. Reuters (10 May.) - Carphone Warehouse bets on China as UK sales slow
UK-based mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse will start selling its gadgets in special areas in 14 Best Buy stores in China and look to do similar retail partnerships in Latin America and Eastern Europe. The moves come amid a slowdown in the company's domestic sales. The Telegraph (London) (09 May.) - Grupo Elektra makes online moves in Latin America
Mexico's Grupo Elektra, which operates 1,000 stores at home and another 400 across Latin America, is launching new e-commerce sites aimed at expanding its presence in markets where it operates stores. The retailer plans to add sites in Argentina and Guatemala, and expects to eventually expand its online retail operations to three other countries. Internet Retailer (09 May.) | NRF News | | | |
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