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Chicago -- The retail industry is poised for another year of heavy deal flow. Nearly all retail CFOs (94%) expect merger and acquisition will increase or remain steady in 2013, according to a new survey from BDO USA.

The bullish forecasts follow $324.6 billion in global retail and consumer M&A activity in 2012, which was up 33% over 2011 and the busiest year since 2007, according to Dealogic. A majority of CFOs (68%) expect the U.S. markets to see a majority of deal volume, followed by the Asia-Pacific market (20%) and Latin America market (7%).

New York -- Social media isn’t likely to become an important retail channel anytime soon, according to a new report by PwC. The study, “Demystifying the Online Shopper: 10 Myths of Multichannel Retailing,” found that in-store shopping is still center to the shopping experience.

“Our report finds that the physical store remains the centerpiece of the purchase journey, while devices are used significantly for product research and deals,” said Susan McPartlin, PwC’s U.S. retail & consumer sector leader.

New York -- Market share defensibility remains a key challenge for many traditional U.S. retailers, against a backdrop of minimal growth and heavy competition, according to a Fitch Ratings report. (Fitch views trends in market share as a key indicator of a company’s long-term financial outlook.)

By Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin

Editor’s note: Launched in March 2010, Pinterest now ranks as the third most-visited social-networking site in the United States, according to a recent report by Experian Marketing Services. Pinterest, which lets its users “pin” photos and information onto virtual boards, ranks behind only Facebook and Twitter in terms of total visitors, according to the report. It also skews heavily female — about 60% of users are women.

By Theodore J. Kobus III, Esq., tkobus@bakerlaw.com

While retailers continue to beef up computer security, hackers continue to find ways to circumvent even the most sophisticated cyber-blockades. And the threat is not only hackers or rogue employees maliciously liberating private information: Data breaches occur when sensitive information is improperly disposed of and tossed in the trash or lost when a laptop or other portable electronic device is mislaid by or stolen from a well-meaning employee. This not only impacts your customers but can damage a company’s reputation and bottom line.


Retailers that sell gasoline have long been challenged to maintain margins and reduce costs related to retains and run-outs and other operating expenses. It’s even more of a priority today, given the volatile fuel market and increased competitive pressures. 


As consumers become more digitally connected than ever before, with product information and price comparisons at their fingertips, brand loyalty isn’t what it used to be. In response, the industry may be readying itself for a shift that puts consumers in the driver’s seat, dictating what they want, wherever they choose.

By Andy Monshaw, access@ca.ibm.com

Today's consumers are more informed, influential and decisive than ever before. They demand more from their retailers, both face-to-face and virtually. Those retailers that don’t get it right, risk losing not only their business, but also their endorsement -- with friends, family, and a whole host of online followers. Small to midsize retailers, especially, feel the pressure to find new ways to forge lasting relationships with customers.

Predicting consumer behavior is always risky, particularly in today’s uncertain economic climate. But global market research firm Mintel has taken on the challenge, identifying nine key consumer trends for the coming year. From shopping for bargains to working beyond retirement age, a good number of the trends are tied into the recession and its lingering aftermath.

By Michael Webster

The popular reference to “the new norm” in retail understates the significant transformation underway.

Even as the economy improves, consumers will continue to be driven by the search for value and the need to save time. At the same time, growing numbers of consumers are embracing not only the Internet, but also mobile and social networking technologies.