Archive for September, 2007

Cell Phones Double As Electronic Wallets

Sunday, September 30th, 2007
[Source: AP Top Business News At 10 a.m. EDT ] SAN MIGUEL, Philippines (AP) -- It's Thursday, so 18-year-old Dennis Tiangco is off to a bank to collect his weekly allowance, zapped by his mother - who's working in Hong Kong - to his electronic wallet: his cell phone.... (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #1


Casual Male to roll out shoe Web site for big and tall

Friday, September 28th, 2007
[Source: NRF SmartBrief ] Casual Male Retail Group is launching a new Web site dubbed ShoesXL that will sell shoes for big and tall men. -More- (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #2


US: Timberland to close shops, cuts outlook

Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] In an attempt to reverse a recent slump in profits, The Timberland Company is planning to shut around 40 of its larger retail stores and said it expects a wider shortfall in full year revenues amid soft market conditions and a product recall. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #3


Wireless Systems Blamed in TJX Theft

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
[Source: Retailnet.com: Retail Industry News ] Hackers stole millions of credit-card numbers from discount retailer TJX Cos., by intercepting wireless transfers of customer information from two Miami-area Marshalls stores, according to an eight-month investigation by the Canadian government..The investigation, led by Canadian Privacy Commis (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #4


US: Bakers Footwear to close stores, axe buying staff

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Shoe retailer Bakers Footwear Group Inc is to close some stores and reduce its buying staff in a bid to generate annual cost savings of around $8m. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #5


Four out of five retail companies worldwide affected by fraud

Monday, September 24th, 2007
[Source: The Retail Bulletin ] More than four out of five (84 per cent) retail companies have suffered from corporate fraud in the past three years, according to a survey published today by risk consulting company, Kroll (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #6


UK: Adidas named sportswear sponsor of London Olympics

Thursday, September 20th, 2007
Adidas Group has confirmed it is to become the ‘Official Sportswear Partner' of the London 2012 Olympics, with the $201m deal the biggest single investment that the German sportswear group has ever put into a UK sporting event. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #7


Retailers set for strong gift-card sales

Thursday, September 20th, 2007
[Source: NRF SmartBrief ] Holiday gift-card sales will jump 25% to a record $35 billion in 2007, a study released by Archstone Consulting predicts. -More- (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #8


US: Genesco insists Finish Line closes buyout as banks stall

Thursday, September 20th, 2007
[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Genesco Inc has demanded that The Finish Line completes its $1.5bn acquisition of the clothing and hat firm after accusing its bankers of trying to get out of the deal. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #9


PCI Survey reveals that only one in ten Merchants is currently compliant

Thursday, September 20th, 2007
[Source: The Retail Bulletin ] A survey conducted by secure transaction specialist, The Logic Group, revealed that only 11% of respondents are fully PCI DSS compliant. The survey included responses from leading UK retailers, financial services institutions and other businesses that accept card payments. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #10


Trade Group: Holiday Sales to Grow Slow

Thursday, September 20th, 2007
[Source: AP Top Business News At 7:50 a.m. EDT ] NEW YORK (AP) -- Holiday sales are expected to grow at the slowest pace in five years as shoppers fret about jobs, tight credit and slumping home prices, according to a forecast from the world's largest retail trade group.... (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #11


Google tries out interactive ad format

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007
[Source: Computerworld Retail News ] Google Inc. is testing a new interactive ad format that uses widgets to give advertisers new ways to reach users online. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #12


NRF Survey: E-commerce sites focus on photography, Web 2.0 trends

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007
[Source: NRF SmartBrief ] The top online retailers are planning to upgrade their sites during the next year, adding high-end photography, user reviews, -More- (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #13


Shoe extinction: Platforms are out?

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007
[Source: Shoeflyer | Shoes, Trends & Reviews ] No! It can't be true, platform shoes can't possibly be out of style. Or, are they? After all, the overly tall and moderately dangerous shoe style has been on the fritz since it first became popular in the 1970s. No matter what you think, USA Today seems to believe that platform shoes, and even heels in general, are in as much danger of extinction as OJ Simpson. That might be an overstatement, but nonetheless, platforms and heels are out and flats are in. What do you think? (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #14


Kenneth Cole Buys Le Tigre Brand (AP)

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ] Kenneth Cole Productions Inc., which makes footwear, handbags and accessories, said Tuesday it acquired the Le Tigre trademark, logo, licenses and other intellectual property for $13 million. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #15


Digital signage owners should look for the fine line between ambient and not

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007
[Source: In-Store & Retail Media News ] Digital signage gets a lot of lip service these days because like other forms of POP these screens can deliver marketing messages to shoppers while they're in a buying (or at least shopping) mode. The allure of being able to advertise so close in both time and space to where a purchase decision will be made makes the store a lucrative target for advertisers savvy enough to use it to its fullest potential. Unlike most other forms of POP, though, digital signs have a few other things going for them that make them unique, most notably that they can use both audio and animation to grab a shopper's attention. (more...)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #16


GERMANY: Adidas linked to London 2012 sponsorship

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007
[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Adidas Group is likely to be announced as an official sponsor of the London 2012 Olympics this week, local papers say. (click here for original article)
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US: Genesco shareholders OK sale to Finish Line

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007
[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Shareholders at Genesco Inc yesterday (17 September) voted in favour of its proposed $1.5bn sale to athletic shoe and apparel retailer The Finish Line. (click here for original article)
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The Changing Retail Payment Systems Landscape

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007
[Source: Forrester Research: Retail ] Retail payment systems are going through rapid change as a combination of technology innovation, new transaction types, and fraud drive improvements to existing systems, as well as the development of a large number of new alternative payment methods. Although many of the individual new systems will fail, clear winners are already emerging. Contactless systems are poised for take off, with the adoption of contactless electronic purse systems booming in Japan and contactless card authorization systems growing fast. By contrast, the prospects for over-the-network mobile payment and contact-based electronic purses look grim. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #17


Got Crocs? Be Careful on the Escalator (AP)

Monday, September 17th, 2007
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ] At rail stations and shopping malls around the world, reports are popping up of people, particularly young children, getting their toes caught in escalators. The one common theme seems to be the clunky soft-soled clogs known by the name of the most popular brand, Crocs. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #18


Retailers post respectable back-to-school gains as retail sales rise 5%

Monday, September 17th, 2007
[Source: NRF SmartBrief ] Though consumer spending is showing signs of softening, retailers still were able to post modest gains for August retail sale -More- (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #19


US: Banks concerned about Finish Line’s Genesco buy

Monday, September 17th, 2007
[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] The funding for The Finish Line’s $1.5bn acquisition of clothing and hat firm Genesco Inc could be in doubt after the company that agreed to finance the deal expressed concerns about Genesco’s deteriorating financial health. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #20


Video: CROCS, Inc. Brings Comfort and Style to the Hospital Floor with New Crocs(TM) Work Shoe Models Designed Without Holes to Meet Workplace Dress Code Compliance Standards (PR Newswire)

Monday, September 17th, 2007
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ] Doctors, nurses and other hospital workers spend hours on their feet serving patients, making comfortable, durable shoes worn on the job an absolute necessity. Luckily, Crocs, Inc. recently introduced two new shoe models specifically designed without holes to meet stringent workplace dress code requirements -- the Specialist and the Specialist Vent from the Crocs Work line. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #21


Linux: Still Not Ready for Prime Time on the Desktop (Yes on the Network)

Sunday, September 16th, 2007
[Source: Smallbiztechnology.com ] It seems like its been forever since I've seen news about Linux. Unfortunately, although its had several years to mature, it's still not ready for prime time use by consumers or businesses reports WSJ's Walt Mossberg. My verdict: Even in the relatively slick Ubuntu variation, Linux is still too rough around the edges for the vast majority of computer users. While Ubuntu looks a lot like Windows or Mac OS X, it is full of little complications and hassles that will quickly frustrate most people who just want to use their computers, not maintain or tweak them. But you know what is ready for prime time? Apple's computer systems. (more...)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #22


Dollar Hits Fresh Low Against Euro

Thursday, September 13th, 2007
[Source: WSJ.com: What's News Europe ] The dollar fell to a new record low against the euro, hitting $1.3927 amid persistent speculation about interest-rate cuts and worries about turbulence in financial markets. (click here for original article)
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New whitepaper and research provides one of the most telling insights into e-commerce

Thursday, September 13th, 2007
[Source: The Retail Bulletin ] A seven year long research project revealed today by online market researcher eDigitalResearch has shown a steady rise in multi-channel retailers' ability to challenge the dominance of pure play retailers. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #23


Sector Glance: Shoe Retailers Mixed (AP)

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ] Shoe retailers were mixed on Wednesday, as one analyst upgraded Skechers Inc. while another lowered estimates for Steve Madden Inc. (click here for original article)
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CANADA: Reebok launches new collection of LogoAthletic footwear

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Reebok Canada and mass merchandiser Zellers have teamed up with Patrick Roy, Quebec Remparts head coach and NHL Hall of Famer, to launch a new collection of LogoAthletic footwear. (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #24


Test Your Retail Knowledge

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
[Source: About.com Retailing ] Do you know the first step to starting a retail business? Are you ready for retail? Is retailing right for you? Take this Starting a Retail Business Quiz to find... (click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #25


Health-Care Premiums Climbing Faster Than Inflation, Studies Say

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

[Source: Wall Street Journal .com]By VANESSA FUHRMANS
September 11, 2007 10:35 a.m.

Health-care premiums of employers and their workers have climbed more than twice as fast as inflation in 2007 — to about double their cost in 2000 — and look to rise at a similar or slightly faster clip next year, a pair of nationwide surveys show.

(more…)

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #26