  | Global retail industry news |  |
 - Weak economy, wet weather dampen UK retail sales in March
UK retail sales saw the biggest drop in a year in March, amid rainy weather and the economy's slide back into a recession, according to the British Retail Consortium's monthly survey. "Consumers, struggling to balance their household budgets, remain reluctant to spend unless they really have to and the weakening economy is likely to mean people are even more cautious about their finances," said BRC director general Stephen Robertson. Bloomberg Businessweek (09 May.), The Wall Street Journal (09 May.)      - Sainsbury to slow expansion plans
UK supermarket chain Sainsbury said it will scale back plans to add new store space in the coming year from 15% to 5%, after reporting a slight dip in profits for the 12-month period ending March 17. The chain, which is third in UK market share behind Tesco and Asda, reported a 2.1% rise in same-store sales. The Wall Street Journal (09 May.) - Weight Watchers teams with Debenhams to improve service
About one-third of Weight Watchers members surveyed in the UK said they had felt so insulted by shop staffers' comments about their size that they had left the shop without making a purchase. The group has teamed with Debenhams on a customer-service program designed to train department store workers to give women shoppers more positive feedback. The Telegraph (London) (08 May.)  | Top 5 HR Compliance Concerns for Small Business
Small and medium sized companies spend a lot of time focusing on core business issues, but they may overlook one of the most potentially serious and costly issues — regulatory compliance. How do you know what issues to look for in order to protect the company? Download this must-read paper that discusses the top 5 HR compliance issues. |
 - Chinese consumers charged more purchases last year
Consumers in China used credit cards for about 40% of their purchases last year; 55 million new credit cards were issued; and the value of credit-card transactions rose 48%, according to the China Banking Association. "The booming credit card industry is playing a more important role in boosting domestic demand and driving GDP growth," said deputy director Yang Ke. China Daily (Beijing) (09 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. |
 - French footwear seller Spartoo.com sees growth ahead
The success of Zappos inspired Boris Saragaglia to start French shoe-selling site Spartoo.com in 2006, and a combination of Zappos-like superior service and discount prices has the company on track to increase sales between 25% and 30% this year, the founder says. Spartoo operates in 12 countries and says it now plans to focus on expanding its brand offerings and marketing rather than adding new markets. Internet Retailer (08 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. |
 | Spotlight on Luxury Goods |  |  | | - Fossil lowers forecast in Europe and Asia
Watchmaker Fossil lowered its profit-growth forecast after reporting lower-than-expected first-quarter sales growth amid slowing sales in Europe and Asia, which together account for about half the company's sales. The company said it's still on track to open up to 75 new stores in the US and overseas this year. The Wall Street Journal (08 May.) | NRF News | | | | - Nominate your choice for NRF's International Retailer of the Year Award by 25 May
Presented before thousands of retailers at Retail's BIG Show in New York City in January, NRF's International Retailer of the Year award honors a non-U.S. retail chief executive for their substantial contributions to the industry through excellence in retailing, innovation, and other successes in their native company or in a multi-national environment. Nominate your favorite retailer to be considered for this prestigious award by 25 May. Learn more.
| SmartQuote | | | |  | Never grow a wishbone ... where your backbone ought to be."
--Clementine Paddleford,
American food writer  |
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