| Global retail industry news |  | | |  | - Alliance Boots mulls acquisitions in ambitious China push
Alliance Boots plans to tap China's increasing demand for modern medicine with an aggressive push. The company wants to consolidate China's highly fragmented pharmaceutical sector through acquisitions. Additionally, Alliance Boots is said to be weighing acquisitions of retail chains in China as a way to launch a more ambitious venture. Telegraph (London) (06 Nov.)      - New Zealand's Xtra plans to expand into Australia
Xtra, a flooring retailer that launched in New Zealand two years ago, is planning to expand into Australia. The cooperative started with 18 stores that broke away from Carpet Court, a flooring chain in New Zealand, in July 2008. Since then, it has grown to more than 50 owner-operated stores. Xtra has signed a licencing agreement with Consolidated Flooring to enter the Australian market. National Business Review (New Zealand) (08 Nov.) - Affluent yoga fans drive growth for Lululemon
Canada's Lululemon Athletica has already garnered a legion of US fans for its high-end yoga togs, and the chain sees more room for expansion. The company, which increased same-store sales 31% while competitors scrambled to stay afloat during the downturn, connects with yoga instructors and fitness professionals who drive brand awareness through word-of-mouth, an approach that works with wealthier customers willing to spend $100 on yoga pants. Financial Post (Canada)/Reuters (02 Nov.)  | In any industry, operational excellence revolves around key business outcomes including productivity, cost control, and quality of service. For retailers, all of these outcomes are highly, if not entirely, dependent on the quality of the workforce and how it is managed. Find out what challenges retailers are facing, and what a workforce management solution can do for your bottom line. |
 - M&S chief is poised to unveil expansion plans and strategy
Marc Bolland, the new head of Marks & Spencer, is said to be planning ambitious overseas expansion, particularly into Europe and India. He also plans to bolster space devoted to homewares. Bolland's strategy review will concentrate on opportunities online, while some of M&S's in-house brands likely will come under the axe. The Observer (London) (07 Nov.) - Retail sales in euro zone slip 0.2% in September
Retail sales across the euro zone fell 0.2% in September, the second consecutive monthly decline, suggesting that consumer spending is weighing on Europe's economic recovery. Economists had expected sales to increase 0.2% in September as business confidence improved. The Guardian (London) (07 Nov.)  | You're out of the office, meeting with clients and vendors, all while balancing work and life. Sometimes even a laptop just isn't practical. The RUN Powered by ADP® mobile payroll app helps you manage payroll anytime — quickly and easily — from any location. Choose ADP® and get a $300 Apple® Gift Card. |
 - Japan's mountain girls opt for more fashionable attire
In Japan, an increasing number of young women are hiking the country's mountains, and they're doing so in designer trekking boots, miniskirts and leggings. Alpine Tour Service, The North Face and other clothing companies are catering to the "yama girls," as they are called, hiring mountain fashion pioneers to promote new lines. The mountaineering look is the latest in Japan fashion, which is known for running with cult trends. Bloomberg (05 Nov.) - The power of China's middle-income consumers
The number of middle-income and wealthy consumers in China is expected to nearly triple in a decade, according to Boston Consulting Group. "China is no doubt the highlight of the global consumer sector, and second-tier and third-tier cities are the main driving force within the Chinese market," said a partner at the consulting firm. "Middle-income consumers in smaller cities are expected to become the new blood in China's consumption." Bloomberg (08 Nov.)  | Learn about core HR solutions to manage costs, ensure compliance, and allow HR personnel to be more strategic. Download your free Aberdeen Report, a $399 value, compliments of SAP, and find out how you can drive down costs while improving global delivery through automation, integration and consolidation. |
 - EU's Kroes aims to make online shopping easier
Neelie Kroes, commissioner for the digital agenda for the European Union, faces significant challenges as she strives to make online shopping across European borders easier. "Digital, by definition, is borderless, so it's a perfect fit with the single market," Kroes said. "But now we are faced with the reality ... getting 27 states in one market to co-operate is not one day's work." Legal or technical difficulties continue to cause the failure of many cross-border online transactions. The Wall Street Journal (08 Nov.)  | Spotlight on Mass Merchandise |  | | | | NRF News | | | | - NRF releases new crowd control guidelines as Black Friday nears
In anticipation of the biggest shopping day of the year, NRF has released updated crowd management guidelines for the 2010 holiday season. "Planning for large crowds, especially those of Black Friday proportions, involves many dress rehearsals, a well-trained staff, and a solid and comprehensive list of priorities for all parties involved," said NRF's Senior Asset Protection Advisor, Joe LaRocca. Read more or view the guidelines.
| SmartQuote | | | |  | The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power."
--Mary Pickford,
Canadian-American actress  |
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