Books-A-Million (aka BAM!) plans to expand its 257-store retail presence (second highest of any book retailer in the U.S.) by opening 30 new stores this year; Three months after announcing its intention to get out of canada, Target Canada completed inventory liquidation and closed the last of its 133 retail stores on April 12; According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, … [Read more...] about Retail Notes
Retailers
New Channel for Chanel
Bowing to the inevitable, Chanel announced that it will begin engaging in e-commerce probably by the end of 2016. The move includes three of the Métier d’Art companies owned by Chanel’s Paraffection subsidiary, including glove-maker Causse, milliner Maison Michel and cashmere house Barrie Knitwear, all of which will sell online on separate e-commerce sites. It’s not a shift in … [Read more...] about New Channel for Chanel
“Cinderella” Tie-In Campaigns Targets Women of All Generations
Women apparently never outgrow the desire to feel like a princess. At least that’s the message retailers JCPenney and Kohl’s are promoting as part of a multi-generational approach to tie-ins with Disney’s live-action “Cinderella,” which is due in theaters March 13. JCP created a commercial specifically for the Feb. 22 Academy Awards telecast showing a woman in several JCP … [Read more...] about “Cinderella” Tie-In Campaigns Targets Women of All Generations
Cosmetics Counter
Some cosmetics, skincare and fragrance deals backed by big names: Actress Eva Mendes is working with Maesa and Walgreen’s on an exclusive cosmetics line. The Circa line strives to appeal to a multicultural market, with 133 SKUs designed for a wide range of skin tones. Model Rosie Huntington-Whitely debuted her first fragrance, for British retailer Marks & Spencer. Rosie … [Read more...] about Cosmetics Counter
Time For Retail
Time Inc.’s fashion and beauty brands InStyle and Marie Claire are going to be spending a bit more time in the shops. JCPenney will open "The Salon by InStyle" in 15 test locations this summer, including flagship locations in Dallas and Los Angeles, before pursuing a nationwide rebranding of its 850 in-store salons next year. InStyle readers account for 9% of all beauty … [Read more...] about Time For Retail
Target Stocks Kinky Toys
Mainstream retailers including Target and Amazon got in the mood for the Fifty Shades of Grey movie’s Valentine’s weekend opening by stocking an unconventional variety of officially licensed merchandise tied to the sexually charged property. More power to them. If Americans buy lingerie at Costco, why not sex toys at Target? But blogs including Jezebel took Target to task … [Read more...] about Target Stocks Kinky Toys
Shopping By Phone: Men Do It More
Men (56%) are more likely than women (45%) to make the leap from browsing and researching purchases via smartphone to actually buying from the device, reports the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). The difference is even greater among 18-34 year olds, where 76% of male smartphone users are making a purchase in a typical month, compared to 59% of women. Almost four in 10 of … [Read more...] about Shopping By Phone: Men Do It More
Bundling Goods with Music
Garth Brooks’s GhostTunes music downloading service rolled out last month in tandem with release of Brooks’ “Man Against the Machine” album, his first in 13 years. The new service allows artists to bundle licensed merchandise, tickets, and the music itself, to order. While others bundle merchandise, GhostTunes reportedly pays 80% of music sales to the artist—compared to 70% … [Read more...] about Bundling Goods with Music
2014 Optimism Revisited: Licensing’ Opportunities Rooted In Speed-to-Market, New Distribution, Globalization
Fall is the season when licensing executives tout their optimism about next year. That’s because most have abandoned their optimism for this year. It’s akin to the old adage about the Army—the best base is the one you were at last or the one you’re going to, never the one you’re at. Much turns, of course, on the retail outlook. By fall, retailers have started to sense the … [Read more...] about 2014 Optimism Revisited: Licensing’ Opportunities Rooted In Speed-to-Market, New Distribution, Globalization
Online Shopping
Almost one third of online shoppers shop on a mobile device at least as much as they do on a computer, according to Contact Solutions. Additionally, 10% of shoppers prefer mobile apps to other means of access for online shopping. That said, 16% of consumers struggle with mobile shopping apps at least half the time and half of those abandon the cart when that happens. Consumers’ … [Read more...] about Online Shopping