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May 14, 2013

CBRE Group released research findings on Tuesday that showed Hong Kong continued to keep its top spot as the world's most expensive global retail market, recording prime rents nearly 150% higher than New York City.

Los Angeles -- CBRE Group released research findings on Tuesday that showed Hong Kong continued to keep its top spot as the world's most expensive global retail market, recording prime rents nearly 150% higher than New York City.

London ranked third, with prime rental rates 400% lower than Hong Kong’s.

May 10, 2013

True Religion Apparel has entered into a definitive merger agreement with New York and London-based investment management firm TowerBrook Capital Partners, in a transaction valued at approximately $835 million.

Vernon, Calif. -- True Religion Apparel has entered into a definitive merger agreement with New York and London-based investment management firm TowerBrook Capital Partners, in a transaction valued at approximately $835 million.

April 26, 2013

A match made in heaven. That’s what some are calling the David Bowie dedicated pop-up in Selfridges’ renowned London flagship.

A match made in heaven. That’s what some are calling the David Bowie dedicated pop-up in Selfridges’ renowned London flagship. Called David Bowie Is All Yours, the pop-up was created in collaboration with London’s Victoria & Albert Museum’s record-breaking retrospective of the legendary performer.  
 

April 16, 2013

Venture Commercial said that The Plaza at Preston Center, in Dallas, will see the Texas debuts of Sprinkles Ice Cream and True Food Kitchen this spring, and international retailers LUBLU Kira Plastinina and Aftershock London have selected The Plaza for their flagship U.S. stores.

Dallas -- Venture Commercial said Monday that The Plaza at Preston Center, in Dallas, will see the Texas debuts of Sprinkles Ice Cream and True Food Kitchen this spring, and international retailers LUBLU Kira Plastinina and Aftershock London have selected The Plaza for their flagship U.S. stores.

Venture, which serves as the exclusive broker for the lifestyle center located in the heart of the Park City neighborhood, also said that Sprinkles Cupcakes and Calypso St. Barth are expanding and/or relocating their stores at The Plaza.

April 11, 2013

London -- Brooks Brothers will adopt eCommera’s decision intelligence tool, DynamicAction. Designed to turn big retail data into prioritized actions, the solution integrates siloed data into a commerce-specific cloud solution which will allow the retailer to identify optimization opportunities to improve its overall online commerce performance.
 

April 2, 2013

Here’s an interesting take on pop-up stores by Felicity Pogson, associate design director, interiors, Dalziel & Pow, London:

March 1, 2013

Marks & Spencer, one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom, is set to unveil a new property lease policy under which all new M&S stores will have ‘green’ clauses as standard enabling landlords and tenants to better manage a building's environmental performance.

New York -- Marks & Spencer, one of the leading retailers in the United Kingdom, is set to unveil a new property lease policy under which all new M&S stores will have ‘green’ clauses as standard enabling landlords and tenants to better manage a building's environmental performance.

February 25, 2013

Leonard Riggio, founder and chairman of Barnes & Noble, has told the company’s board that he wants to make an offer for its retail business.

New York -- Leonard Riggio, founder and chairman of Barnes & Noble, has told the company’s board that he wants to make an offer for its retail business. Riggio is Barnes & Noble’s largest shareholder, owning nearly 30% of the company.

The offer would not include Nook Media, Barnes & Noble’s e-book division.

Barnes & Noble said in a statement that it had formed a special board committee of three directors to consider Riggio’s proposal. There is set timetable for the process.

February 19, 2013

Simons, Canada’s eclectic and fashion-forward department store retailer, received top honors in Chain Store Age’s 31st annual Retail Store of the Year design competition.

New York -- Simons, Canada’s eclectic and fashion-forward department store retailer, received top honors in Chain Store Age’s 31st annual Retail Store of the Year design competition. The company’s 118,000-sq.-ft. store in West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Canada, was named Store of the Year. Designed by figure3, Toronto, Simons also was the winning entry in the department store category.

January 29, 2013

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Supervalu Inc. has set the rate it will pay on $2.4 billion of loans to fund the sale of five supermarket chains to a Cerberus Capital Management LP-led investor group.

Eden Prairie, Minn. -- Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Supervalu Inc. has set the rate it will pay on $2.4 billion of loans to fund the sale of five supermarket chains to a Cerberus Capital Management LP-led investor group.

A six-year, $1.5 billion term will pay interest at 5.75 percentage points more than the London interbank offered rate with a 1.25 percent minimum, reported Bloomberg, citing an unnamed source.

January 29, 2013

A report by Bloomberg said that Tesco Plc may be recovering from its financial doldrums, as the country’s largest supermarket chain has matched market growth for the first time in more than 18 months.

London -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that Tesco Plc may be recovering from its financial doldrums, as the country’s largest supermarket chain has matched market growth for the first time in more than 18 months.

Citing Kantar Worldpanel’s latest market share figures, Bloomberg said that at Tesco stores rose 3.3% in the 12 weeks ended Jan. 20, the same pace as the industry. Growth exceeded Wal-Mart Stores’ Asda and J Sainsbury, which gained 2.1% and 3.2% respectively.

 

December 13, 2012

A report by the Financial Times said that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is in discussions with Turkish retailer Migros Ticaret AS to acquire an 80% stake in the company from London-based private equity group BC Partners.

New York -- A Thursday report by the Financial Times said that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is in discussions with Turkish retailer Migros Ticaret AS to acquire an 80% stake in the company from London-based private equity group BC Partners.

The Times said that Walmart held meetings with Migros managers in recent days in Turkey but it had not placed a bid for the Turkish retailer. Sources have not been identified and Wal-Mart so far has not commented.

November 29, 2012

J. Crew Group reported that net income for the third quarter rose to $33.2 million, from $21.6 million in the prior year.

New York -- J. Crew Group reported Thursday that net income for the third quarter rose 54% to $33.2 million, from $21.6 million in the prior year. The retailer also has signed a lease for its first store abroad, on London’s Regent Street, Women’s Wear Daily reported.

J. Crew’s revenues for the quarter increased 16% to $555.8 million. Same-store sales increased 10%.

 

November 8, 2012

By Dr. Trevor Davis, IBM Global Business Services

By Dr. Trevor Davis, trevor.davis@uk.ibm.com

October 26, 2012

Value fashion retailer Primark’s new flagship on Oxford St. (at Tottenham Court Rd.) spans some 82,300 sq. ft. over four floors.

Value fashion retailer Primark’s new flagship on Oxford St. (at Tottenham Court Rd.) spans some 82,300 sq. ft. over four floors. Designed by Dalziel & Pow, London, the store has a bold, modern look,  complete with a faux tube station, a massive LED screen and colorful graphics. Digital integration is a key element, with specially commissioned brand films playing on the exterior wall of the elevator lifts. An animated store map is featured on the elevator walls and throughout the store to help with customer navigation.

October 3, 2012

British retailer Tesco reported that profit dropped 6.8% in its first fiscal half to $2.06 billion, weighed down by costs associated with its turnaround strategy.

London -- British retailer Tesco reported Wednesday that profit dropped 6.8% in its first fiscal half to $2.06 billion, weighed down by costs associated with its turnaround strategy.

Revenue for the period inched up 1.6% to $51.9 billion, but costs were up as well for the world’s third-largest retailer. Same-store sales fell off 0.7%.

"The plan is a long course of treatment for us, not a single dose," new CEO Philip Clarke said of the turnaround plan.

October 1, 2012

Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that upscale salon Essensuals London has officially opened at its Cherry Hill Mall property in Cherry Hill, N.J.

Cherry Hill, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that upscale salon Essensuals London has officially opened at its Cherry Hill Mall property in Cherry Hill, N.J.

The 1,530-sq.-ft. salon – the company’s first on the East Coast – joins the recently opened North Face and Henri Bendel. Pottery Barn is set to open this fall.

September 21, 2012

Two U.S. retailers took home top honors at the 2012 World Retail Awards in London, with Costco Wholesale Club named “Retailer of the Year,” and Macy’s recognized as “Multichannel Retailer of the Year.”

New York -- Two U.S. retailers took home top honors at the 2012 World Retail Awards in London, with Costco Wholesale Club named “Retailer of the Year,” and Macy’s recognized as “Multichannel Retailer of the Year.” The awards were announced as part of the 2012 World Retail Congress.

September 18, 2012

The folks at Echochamber.com, a London-based consultancy, have a knack for rooting out hot retail concepts around the globe. Here’s a recap of the retailers who make up their latest “Top 10 Unmissable New Stores” report:

The folks at Echochamber.com, a London-based consultancy, have a knack for rooting out hot retail concepts around the globe. Here’s a recap of the retailers who make up their latest “Top 10 Unmissable New Stores” report:

August 23, 2012

Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that Essensuals London will open a high-end salon – its first on the East Coast – at PREIT’s Cherry Hill (N.J.) Mall property.

Cherry Hill, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that Essensuals London will open a high-end salon – its first on the East Coast – at PREIT’s Cherry Hill (N.J.) Mall property.

The 1,530-sq.-ft. salon will be the third of its kind in the country, and will join recently opened Henri Bendel. Pottery Barn and The North Face are opening in the fall.

 

August 21, 2012

As a prelude to the upcoming World Retail Congress in London (September 19- 21), five retail leaders who will be speaking at the event participated in the following Q&A:

As a prelude to the upcoming World Retail Congress in London (Sept. 19-21), five retail leaders who will be speaking at the event participated in the following Q&A:

What would you say is the biggest issue facing retailers today?
 

August 15, 2012

Foot Locker is kicking up its heels in the United Kingdom. The footwear giant has opened a new format — The Locker Room — with an eye to rolling it out throughout England and continental Europe. The concept expands Foot Locker’s core strength in athletic footwear to include apparel and accessories for a wide range of performance sports.

July 23, 2012

Crocs has debuted a new store design that puts a fresh, more contemporary spin on the 10-year-old brand while paying homage to its heritage.

Crocs has debuted a new store design that puts a fresh, more contemporary spin on the 10-year-old brand while paying homage to its heritage. The new look, which debuted at Bluewater shopping center, located 17 miles east of London, also allows the casual-footwear retailer to showcase its full range of product, with compelling visual merchandising stories.

July 13, 2012

Hong Kong is the world’s most expensive retail destination, with retail rents at $3,864 per square foot, according to the quarterly rankings of global retail rents from global property advisor CBRE Group.

London -- Hong Kong is the world’s most expensive retail destination, with retail rents at $3,864 per square foot, according to the quarterly rankings of global retail rents from global property advisor CBRE Group. CBRE cited the city’s significant inbound tourist traffic and continued increases in domestic wealth as fueling demand from international fashion and luxury retailers.
 

July 11, 2012

Visionworks, the largest wholly owned U.S.-based optical retailer, has opened its first store in the Philadelphia area. Located in Deptford Township, N.J., it is the first of more than 25 stores expected to open in the market through 2013.

Philadelphia -- Visionworks, the largest wholly owned U.S.-based optical retailer, has opened its first store in the Philadelphia area. Located in Deptford Township, N.J., it is the first of more than 25 stores expected to open in the market through 2013.

The San Antonio-based retailer plans to open 17 stores before the end of 2012 and additional locations by April 2013.