[Source: Smallbiztechnology.com ] Author - Becky McCray, Small Business Survival Small business people are helping each other succeed through online communities. Some communities are sponsored by corporations, others grew from grassroots. Four worth a look are Bank of America's Small Business Online Community, Intuit's JumpUp, Constant Contact's Community, and Startup Nation's Forums. (more...)

[Source: Wired Top Stories] A program promoted to Mac formers reportedly routes Mac users to phishing lures and serves adult-oriented ads. The Trojan may be the first professional attempt to target OS X users. (click here for original article)

[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ] Iconix Brand Group Inc., which owns and licenses brands including Candie's and Joe Boxer, said Wednesday that its third-quarter income more than doubled as licensing and commission revenue rose. (click here for original article)

[Source: Footwear News ] Nike's planned $584 million acquisition of the British soccer-apparel maker Umbro was thrown into doubt Tuesday after the U.K. sporting-goods retailer Sports Direct nearly doubled its stake in the maker of ... via MarketWatch (click here for original article)

[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ] PORTLAND, Ore.----LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. , a leading provider of branded work and outdoor footwear, today reported results for the third quarter ended September 29, 2007. (click here for original article)

[Source: Smallbiztechnology.com ]I recently read a McKinsey Study that reviewed how larger companies have three ways of looking at IT expenditures:

as low risk (“stay in the race” projects to improve basic services)

medium risk (“win the race” efforts to raise the efficiency and cut the cost of current business activities)

and

high risk (“change the rules” innovations to enter new or transform existing markets)

If you want your business to remain where it is - keep using just the basics of technology to keep your business in operation. However, if you want to GROW your business you must use technology to be where you want to be, not where you are. (more...)

[Source: Retailnet.com: Retail Industry News ] According to a new study by BDO Seidman, LLP, an accounting and consulting organization, almost three-quarters (73%) of chief marketing officers (CMOs) at leading U.S. retailers believe discounting and promotions will be more plentiful this holiday season compared to 2006 due to the current credit c (click here for original article)

[Source: AllBusiness.com - Just For Small Business ] One of the more popular platforms for online ecommerce is the well known Yahoo! Store. Praised for its ease of use and functionality, it's a platform you'll hear plenty about if you start researching your own online store. Plenty of small business owners are quietly making a good income with their online store. To help them be even more successful, Yahoo! will soon be implementing additional enhancements to the online store software. Here's a sneak peek. (more...)

[Source: Footwear News ] "With product developments such as our VORALAST R series renewable content system, we are also helping deliver on Dow's 2015 Sustainability Goals that emphasize innovation-driven products with a lasting positive impact on our world." Dow Footwear Solutions debuted Wednesday at an international plastics and rubber trade show in Germany after its launch by The Dow Chemical Co. via Midland Daily News (click here for original article)

[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Phoenix_Footwear Group Inc has made a number of new hires and management changes in its finance, sourcing, product, logistics and planning operations as part of an ongoing review of the business. The multi-brand footwear and accessories maker on Wednesday (24 October) promoted Scott Sporrer, currently the company's corporate controller, as interim chief financial officer. He will replace Ken Wolf , who leaves the company on 15 November. (more...)

Source: footwearnews.com

Natalie Zmuda
Oct. 22, 2007

NEW YORK (Oct. 22, 2007) — Jacques Lavertue, who transformed the outdoor industry with his vision for the Merrell brand, died at home on Oct. 13, following an eight-month battle with cancer. He was 53. (more…)

 

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[Source: eWeek Retail] When it comes to Payment Card Industry issues, it's been Visa that has taken center stage. Heck, most of the other card players don't even want to be seen peeking from the wings. To be certain, MasterCard, American Express and others have been active in PCI circles, but they've been quite willing to let Visa take all of the public heartaches. Is that now changing, though maybe only a little bit? When the National Retail Federation asked that retailers no longer be required to retain credit card data after authorization, it was MasterCard—not Visa—that issued a stinging statement saying the NRF plan was "inaccurate" and "unjustified." (more...)

[Source: The Retail Bulletin ] Many online retailers are failing to provide customers with information on returning unwanted goods, according to Snow Valley's Online Returns & Refunds report. (click here for original article)

[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Sporting goods giant Nike has struck a deal to acquire UK football brand Umbro with a US$582 (GBP285m) all-cash offer. (click here for original article)

[Source: Retailnet.com: Retail Industry News ] Amazon.com has launched a new category store called the Amazon All Business Center (www.amazon.com/allbusinesscenter), which is designed to help small and medium business owners start, manage and grow their business. Amazon.com said the store would provide customers with easy access to small an...click here for original article

[Source: Retailnet.com: Retail Industry News ] A division of Jones Apparel Group Inc. will close its distribution operations in Berkeley County, S.C. early next year, laying off nearly 300 workers, the company said on Friday. The center was opened in 2000 by McNaughton Apparel Group, which was purchased in 2001 by Jones Apparel Group. Jones...click here for original article

[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] US footwear retailer Payless ShoeSource is recalling its black jewelled girls’ boots with a guitar shaped zipper, because the zipper pulls can interlock and cause children to trip and fall. The recall has been made in cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, who said the recall involves about 90,000 units. (click here for original article)

[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Sportswear companies Mizuno and Asics are looking to seek out production facilities in Vietnam to avoid more expensive labour costs in China, it has been reported. (click here for original article)

[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Hi-Tec Sports USA is to launch its athletic footwear in the US and Canada after signing a licensing deal with Bordan Shoe Company. (click here for original article)

[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Heelys has revealed plans for its first ever non-wheeled shoe collection, opting for a game controller in its place. (click here for original article)

[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ] DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Heelys Inc., (NASDAQ: HLYS - News) makers of the popular wheel-in-the-heel skate shoe, is expanding their line of wheeled footwear, apparel, bags and accessories to include a "non-wheeled" shoe line - the Gamer by Heelys. A first of its kind, the new Heelys Gamer shoe embraces a favorite American pastime by featuring a simulated game controller on the outsole of the shoe. (more...)

[Source: Retailnet.com: Retail Industry News ] Office Depot announced on Tuesday that it is launching a new Tech Recycling Service at all of the company's 1,100-plus retail store locations in North America. According to the company, the program, which was piloted in 2006 in approximately 100 stores in the United States, has already resulted in the recycling of more than 108,000 lbs. of technology hardware. Customers participate by purchasing a Tech Recycling Box, available for $5, $10 and $15, which they can then fill with acceptable technology items including monitors, small televisions, printers and digital cameras. The customers bring the filled boxes to an associate at their local Office Depot store. (click here for original article)

[Source: Retailnet.com: Retail Industry News ]According to the National Retail Federation's (NRF) first holiday shopper survey, consumers still plan to spend more on the holidays this year than last, but their spending will be a bit restrained. (more...)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Shoe maker Steven Madden Ltd (SHOO) cut its full-year earnings and sales outlook below estimates on Monday, citing a "challenging" third-quarter sales environment due to few strong footwear trends.

The company now projects full-year sales falling between 9 percent to 11 percent, while earnings will range between $1.60 and $1.70. On an adjusted basis, earnings are expected to range between $1.50 and $1.60. (more...)

[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Timberland PRO, the industrial footwear unit of boot maker Timberland, is stepping outside the traditional industrial sector for the first time with a new line of footgear for public safety professionals. (click here for original article)

[Source: Retailnet.com: Retail Industry News ] The first court hearing in a lawsuit seeking to force The Finish Line Inc. to complete its $1.5 billion buyout of hat and shoe retailer Genesco Inc. was delayed Monday over whether investment bank UBS AG will agree to try the case in Nashville, Tenn.UBS committed to financing most of Indianapol (click here for original article)

Rockford, Michigan, October 3, 2007 — Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) today reported record revenue and earnings for its third quarter of 2007, and increased its full-year 2007 earnings per share estimate.

Third quarter 2007 revenue totaled $310.2 million, a 3.8 percent increase over third quarter 2006 revenue of $298.9 million. Earnings per share for the third quarter of 2007 were $0.54 compared to $0.46 reported for the third quarter of 2006, an increase of 17.4 percent.

For the first three quarters of 2007, revenue reached $841.5 million, a 5.2 percent gain over the $800.2 million reported for the first three quarters of 2006. Earnings per share for the first three quarters of 2007 grew to $1.21 per share, up 15.2 percent from $1.05 per share for the same period of 2006.

(more…)

(DALLAS) Dallas-based, Heelys, Inc. (NASDAQ: HLYS) announces its partnership with Disney’s Wide World of Sports® as title sponsor of the Endurance Series Kids’ Races through 2008. Adding a new element to the existing Endurance Series Kids’ races, the Heelys Kids’ Race & Roll will be a fun, competitive event challenging kids as they walk, run or roll their way through the combination race and obstacle course.

“We’re thrilled to launch our partnership with Disney’s Wide World of Sports,” said Heelys, Inc. Vice President of Marketing Jim Peliotes. “Disney is known for great family adventures and Heelys has long encouraged families to exercise together and lead healthy lives, so this partnership is a natural fit, not to mention a whole lot of fun.”

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[Source: Daily apparel & textile news and comment - from just-style.com ] Sportswear giant Nike Inc has opened a new design studio in its New York flagship that lets customers design and create their own footwear and apparel and share their ideas with people around the world. (click here for original article)

[Source: Retailnet.com: Retail Industry News ] The Walking Co. on Friday announced plans to open six new locations during October. Following six store openings in September, the company plans to open a total of more than 20 new locations in the final three months of 2007.The Walking Co.'s new locations will open in Evansville, Ind.; Clinton (click here for original article)