Archive for the ‘Newsletter’ Category

Brown Shoe’s shares tumble on analyst downgrade (AP)

Monday, November 17th, 2008
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ]

Shares of Brown Shoe Co. tumbled on Monday after an analyst lowered his rating, saying the shoe company is seeing more consumers pulling back their spending amid the weakening economy.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #1


USPS Moves Up Parcel Rate Hike to Offset $2.8 Billion Loss

Thursday, November 13th, 2008
[Source: Multichannel Merchant Most Recent ]

An announcement wasn't expected until next week, but the U.S. Postal Service confirmed Thursday that it was moving up the date for next year's price increases for shipping services from May to Jan. 18.



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NEWSLETTER ITEM #2


Bill Gates and His Footwear (at The Wall Street Journal Online)

Thursday, November 13th, 2008
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ]

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Crocs’ shares plunge as sandal sales sink; red ink forecast (at MarketWatch)

Thursday, November 13th, 2008
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ]

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Mastercard fees protest

Thursday, November 13th, 2008
[Source: The Retail Bulletin ]

At the end of October 2008, British retailers protested to Europe's top competition regulator, alleging that Mastercard had "significantly" increased the cost of using its branded debit and credit cards and that this would mean price rises for consumers.

By Andrew Chandler

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #5


UK consumers out-shop US consumers online

Thursday, November 13th, 2008
[Source: The Retail Bulletin ]

Early figures show UK shoppers are less discouraged by the economic downturn in the run up to Christmas.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #6


Engage Gen Y Online With Immediacy

Thursday, November 13th, 2008
[Source: Forrester Research: Retail ]

Gen Y is a unique breed. Firms can't interact with these young consumers in the same way they do with older consumers. That's why Forrester identified four design approaches for reaching Gen Y online: immediacy, Gen Y literacy, individualism, and social interactivity. To examine best practices in one of these approaches, immediacy, we examined the online experiences of 20 large companies. Some good immediacy design practices we found: Old Navy features sneak peeks at new styles, T-Mobile presents an interactive plan selector on its home page, and Zappos adds a sense of urgency with inventory alerts. Customer experience professionals can start infusing immediacy by identifying the specific paths that Gen Yers take through their sites.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #7


Kenneth Cole Releases New Book ‘AWEARNESS: Inspiring Stories About How To Make a Difference’

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
[Source: Footwear News ]

NEW YORK, Nov. 12 NY-Kenneth-Cole-Book Commemorates 25 th Anniversary by launching initiative to encourage acts of service, volunteerism and social change NEW YORK , /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Designer and ...

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #8


Nike pulls faulty running tool (AP)

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ]

Nike Inc. is pulling one of its popular training devices from the market just before the holidays because of faulty displays.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #9


Horrible Holiday Will Mean More Retail Casualties to Come

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
[Source: Multichannel Merchant Most Recent ]

Merchants and financial experts typically wait until after the fourth quarter to declare the holiday season a bust.



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NEWSLETTER ITEM #10


Does PCI Compliance Create a False Sense of Security?

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
[Source: Multichannel Merchant Most Recent ]

The newspaper headlines tell chilling stories of thousands, even millions, of credit card records being stolen by hackers or insiders. What’s really frightening is that many of the businesses involved passed their security audits – meaning that many were considered PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliant.



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NEWSLETTER ITEM #11


Make Sure Your Online Store Is Safe And Secure This Holiday Season

Wednesday, November 12th, 2008
[Source: AllBusiness.com - Just for Small Business ]

Shoppers are becoming increasingly wary of giving away their private information.









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NEWSLETTER ITEM #12


Retail sales worst for three years

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
[Source: The Retail Bulletin ]

UK retail sales values fell 2.2% on a like-for-like basis, from October 2007, when they had risen 1.0%. Total sales were lower than a year ago for the first time since April 2005.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #13


Deckers Outdoor Corporation Brands Receive BizRate Award

Monday, November 10th, 2008
[Source: Footwear News ]

Teva and UGG Australia, two brands under Deckers Outdoor Corporation , have each received BizRate's Circle of Excellence Platinum Awards.

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20 Degrees North: Shoe startup aims high with Xterra line (at CNNMoney.com)

Monday, November 10th, 2008
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ]

After designing for the majors - from Nike to Puma - this duo is ready to snag their own piece of the lucrative athletic-shoe market.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #15


Make It Easy For People To Buy Your Products

Monday, November 10th, 2008
[Source: AllBusiness.com - Just for Small Business ]

Don't make your customers jump through hoops to buy your products.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #16


SKECHERS Footwear Opens Flagship Store in San Francisco

Saturday, November 8th, 2008
[Source: Footwear News ]

Jennifer Clay, 310-318-3100 SKECHERS USA, Inc. , a global leader in lifestyle footwear, today announced the opening of a high-profile flagship store in the heart of San Francisco's premier shopping area - just ...

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #17


Brooks Men's Beast Running Shoe

Friday, November 7th, 2008
[Source: Shoe Review ]

Brooks Men's Beast Running Shoe
Go ahead--set your expectations high, the Beast from Brooks will exceed all of them. This highly functional running shoe has a combination synthetic and genuine leather upper with breathable mesh inlays, a full lace up closure, and a padded tongue and collar for additional comfort and ankle support. It also features breathable mesh linings, a generously cushioned

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #18


Nike Boards the Environmental Bandwagon

Friday, November 7th, 2008
[Source: Footwear News ]

Building on the sustainability and "green" discussions we talked about Wednesday, we find it interesting to look into other industries and sectors that are also hopping on the environmental bandwagon.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #19


Dearfoams and Terrasoles Receive International Creative Awards (GlobeNewswire)

Thursday, November 6th, 2008
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ]

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SKECHERS Footwear Opens Flagship Store in San Francisco (Business Wire)

Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ]

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.----SKECHERS USA, Inc. , a global leader in lifestyle footwear, today announced the opening of a high-profile flagship store in the heart of San Francisco’s premier shopping area – just off the Powell and Market streets’ cable car stop and bordering Union Square.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #21


Three In Five US Online Adults Have Cut Their Spending Because Of The Economy

Monday, November 3rd, 2008
[Source: Forrester Research: Retail ]

With many American financial institutions struggling, it will surprise no one to hear that Americans are showing signs of pessimism and uncertainty about the national economy. A recent Forrester survey found that only one-third of Americans are optimistic about the nation's economic fortunes in the next year. Most are spending less money than they did a year ago. Surprisingly, many remain positive about the prospects for their personal financial situation.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #22


Why Uggs won’t be feeling the pinch

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008
[Source: Telegraph Fashion ]

They're expensive and frumpy, but fashion's unlikeliest trend may beat the recession - by attracting men. Clare Coulson reports

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #23


How Your Online Shopping Cart Affects Sales

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008
[Source: Smallbiztechnology.com ]

shoppingcartred.jpg

Think about the last time you went into Starbucks, Macy's, or Payless to buy something. I bet the experience you had during check out affected the next time you would visit that retail location. In fact, if the line was too long I bet you might have said forget it and left without buying anything.

The online shopping experience for the customer is equally critical. That's why Amazon.com invests vast resources to ensure that its checkout experience, in addition to the overall shopping experience, is as good as possible. If you haven't given your retail web site a serious review you should. You might even consider surveying your customers and ask them what they think. Halloween is over and the holiday shopping season is only a few short weeks away.





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NEWSLETTER ITEM #24


Fall Trends 2008: Flat Boots

Saturday, November 1st, 2008
[Source: Shoeflyer | Shoes, Trends & Reviews ]

Spiral_helix Flat boots are one of this fall's must-have items.  Here in the Northwest, flat boots are well loved for keeping Portlanders and Seattlites fashionable and dry throughout the fall and winter.  Styleweekboots89_0

Stars such as HIlary Swank and Lindsay Lohan are sporting flat boots this fall, as seen at right.  Hilary swank pairs flat boots with an oversized 60's style coat with chunky square buttons.  Lindsay wears super skinny jeans under brown boots.

Calf-high boots with a low heel, like Camper's Spiral Helix at left, are perfect for looking adorable and grounded while you puddle hop.

Sleek, and well-made, these boots truly live up to Camper's slogan "Walk. Don't Run."  

Via Fab Sugar

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #25


Fall Trends 2008: The Country Life Look

Friday, October 31st, 2008
[Source: Shoeflyer | Shoes, Trends & Reviews ]

Adrienne_oxford Vogue's trend tracker reports that country is back--Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy country, not Mr. Hank Williams country, that is.  Designers Dries Van Noten, Karen Walker, Alexander McQueen, and Thakoon have all shown a penchant for the English Country Life look.  To get countrified yourself, layer tweed, plaid, velvet, and even fur for a cozy style with tight, tailored lines.

Oxfords will forever be associated with the British Isles, so they pair wonderfully with Country Life fashion. The Adrienne Stitch Oxford, by Frye, left, features a chunky supportive heel, an intriguing color, and a texture that will complement your need for tweed.

Fusion_by_poetic_license Feeling a little more courageous?  Check out Fusion by Poetic License, right.  If Alicia Silverstone in Clueless had a baby with Sherlock Holmes, their daughter would gobble up this shoe.  The Fusion will brighten up any outfit, even on the dreariest of winter days.

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Stores play up the festive to cheer shoppers (AP)

Thursday, October 30th, 2008
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ]

With Americans in a deep funk amid rising layoffs and shrinking retirement funds, retailers are pushing holiday displays and store events that are even more festive and colorful than in Christmas seasons past.

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #27


Nike Considered Design - Products That Redefine Performance and Sustainability (Business Wire)

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
[Source: Yahoo! Finance: Textile - Apparel Footwear & Accessories Industry News ]

NEW YORK----NIKE, Inc. today debuted Nike Considered Design, its latest products which combine sustainability principles with the newest innovations for sport. While Nike has delivered consumers Considered products for several years, for the first time, Nike Considered Design will be featured in all of Nike's six key categories: basketball, running, football , women's training, men's training and sportswear, as well as in tennis and ACG .

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #28


Modista.com : the Fun Way to Search for Shoes

Saturday, October 25th, 2008
[Source: About.com Shoes ]

I'm not sure most people are aware of this, but I look at hundreds, sometimes thousands, of shoes every week. There are always treasures buried in the sea of black...

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NEWSLETTER ITEM #29


Shoe Decision ’08: The Fashion Road to the White House

Friday, October 24th, 2008
[Source: Shoeflyer | Shoes, Trends & Reviews]

Can you judge a man by his shoes?  Well, if you were planning to vote based solely on the candidates' shoes, you'd be choosing between John McCain's $520 Ferragamo Italian calfskin leather mocassins and Barak Obama's hole-ridden loafers.

2716973227_50e1d13903_m

McCain has been seen wearing the Ferragamos (left) on campaign stops throughout the summer, from the Livestrong Summit to shopping with a family in Pennsylvania.  Many have criticized his choice to wear such expensive shoes while speaking to less fortunate voters.  Some have even questioned whether his shoe choice is an indication of just how out of touch McCain is from the middle class.

Obama, on the other hand, has been photographed with holes in the soles of his

1062247728_f0769eda9f_m
shoes.

I haven't found too many other references to his footwear, so here's a photo showing Obama "Walking a Day in the Shoes" of SEIU member Pauline Beck, from SIEU International's Flickr site:

If we zoom in using the magic of Photoshop, here's what the shoes look like: Obamas_shoe Not bad, eh?  In this instance, McCain seems to have outspent Obama, even if that's not possible in other areas of the campaign (like advertising).

Anyone know what kind of shoes these are?  And if so, what do Obama's shoes say about him, if such correlations can be made?

Of course, if these questions are just too much for you, and you'd rather just buy the shoes showing off your fave candidate, Zazzle and other sites have a plethora of pedi-statements sure to please every voter.  I'm inclined to maintain my shoe-journalist neutreality, and go for the "VOTE" shoes.  That's a fashion statement everyone can appreciate.

(click here for original article)
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NEWSLETTER ITEM #30