Latest retail news and analysis articles 
Find out what’s happening across retail markets and product categories, as well as apparel and footwear chains, department stores, and discount/variety retailers
US: Investors take a stand on Bangladesh safety deal
21 May 2013
Institutional investors and shareholders with more than $2.5 trillion in assets under management are adding pressure to retailers sourcing clothing from Bangladesh to implement a number of reforms, including signing up to the new Accord on Fire and Building Safety.
UK: General merchandise weighs on M&S FY profit
21 May 2013
Retailer Marks & Spencer today (21 May) reported a 6.5% drop in annual group profits as higher operating costs and poor sales of general merchandise - which includes clothing and footwear - continued to weigh on its performance.
US: Activewear outpaces total kids' apparel market
21 May 2013
Activewear is the fastest-growing sector of the kids' apparel market, with double-digit sales gains seen in the year to March, new research suggests.
US: Retailers seek Bangladesh commitment to worker safety
20 May 2013
Apparel retailers and brands in the US and Canada are calling for assurances from the Bangladesh government that it is committed to worker safety issues in the country's garment factories.
Comment: Understanding China's success
20 May 2013
China ranks number one as the world's largest garment exporter with a 38% global market share. Bangladesh ranks number two with a 5% market share. We all acknowledge that China dominates the global garment export market. But how did it get here, and what are the upcoming challenges? asks David Birnbaum.
US: Waitt Company acquires Bobby Jones brand
20 May 2013
Bobby Jones Omaha-based investment firm Waitt Company has reached an agreement to acquire all operating assets of the Bobby Jones brand from W-Diamond Group Corporation.
US: Kellwood explores sale of Zobha yoga brand
20 May 2013
Clothing giant Kellwood Company is exploring new ownership and investment opportunities for its high performance yoga and fitness apparel business, Zobha, two years after buying the brand.
UK: Tesco plots overseas expansion for F&F
20 May 2013
Supermarket retailer Tesco is to expand its F&F clothing brand into new markets across the Middle East and Central Asia, with plans to open more than 50 franchise stores over the next five years.
CHINA: China Xiniya Fashion Q1 profit falls 23.1%
20 May 2013
Men's casual apparel business China Xiniya Fashion has reported a 23.1% decline in first-quarter net profit due to weaker demand in its domestic market.
just-style's research roundup
20 May 2013
Featured reports from just-style's research store this week include a review of the global market for workwear, a report on the prospects for the textile and clothing industry in Cambodia, and a look at the cost of spinning, texturing, weaving and knitting production in nine countries.
US: JC Penney Q1 losses more than double
17 May 2013
Weak sales, clearance deals and promotions have led struggling US department store retailer JC Penney Company to more than double its losses in the first quarter.
In the money: First plans emerge from new JC Penney CEO
17 May 2013
Mike Ullman, the man who has returned to turn around department store retailer JC Penney following the departure of Ron Johnson last month, has outlined the first of his plans to improve the ailing business.
US: Retail import cargos seen slowing over summer
17 May 2013
Import cargo volumes at major US retail container ports are expected to rise 3.3% in May - but growth could trickle to a standstill by the end of the summer.
US: Quiksilver unveils plan to improve profits
17 May 2013
Surfwear brand Quiksilver has unveiled a multi-year plan to try to return to profit by focusing on its three core brands - Quiksilver, Roxy and DC - globalising key functions and reducing costs.
GERMANY: Jack Wolfskin commits to cleaner outdoor clothing
17 May 2013
As part of plans to remove harmful substances from its production processes and eliminate fluorines by 2020, German outdoor clothing brand Jack Wolfskin is teaming up with two research institutes to develop new fluorocarbon-free textile coatings.
US: Retail apparel prices fall again in April
17 May 2013
US consumer prices in April saw their biggest decrease since December 2008, according to the latest government figures, with retail apparel prices falling for the third month in a row.
UK: Asda claims "strong" Q1 after LFL sales rise
17 May 2013
Asda CEO Andy Clarke claimed the UK supermarket retailer put in a "strong performance in a tough market" after booking higher first-quarter like-for-like sales.
US: Stage Stores Q1 loss widens on one-off charge
17 May 2013
Regional department store retailer Stage Stores has reported a deeper first-quarter loss, impacted by a $9.7m one-off charge and cooler temperatures, which hurt sales of seasonal merchandise.
just-style's most read stories this week...
17 May 2013
The most-read stories on just-style this week include a rush by apparel brands and retailers to sign the new Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a report on what the agreement entails, and plans by M&S to shake up its supplier base.
US: Nordstrom first-quarter profit falls 2.7%
17 May 2013
Upscale department store retailer Nordstrom has reported a 2.7% fall in first-quarter net profit, with higher costs and unseasonable weather weighing on sales of its spring merchandise.
US: Kohl's Q1 profit beats view despite sales slide
17 May 2013
Department store operator Kohl's has reported a 4% decline in first-quarter net profit because of lower-than-expected sales.
INDIA: Arvind Q4 profit rises on revenue growth
17 May 2013
Indian textile conglomerate Arvind Ltd has booked a 13.4% increase in fourth-quarter profit on the back of higher revenue growth.
SWEDEN: Bjorn Borg Q1 profit slides 35.5%
17 May 2013
Swedish clothing company Björn Borg AB has posted a 35.5% decline in first-quarter profit after continued weakness in European retail markets led to lower sales.
US: Apparel groups unveil own Bangladesh safety plans
16 May 2013
A group of North American retailers has gone its own way on strengthening safety efforts at Bangladesh garment factories, setting up a new initiative said to offer a long-term solution that also offers flexibility to "respond to an ever-changing environment."
US: Activists call for halt to Uzbek cotton imports
16 May 2013
A US-based labour and human rights watchdog has filed a formal complaint with the US Customs service calling for a halt on imports of cotton from Uzbekistan grown and harvested with forced labour.
Who has signed the Bangladesh safety accord?
16 May 2013
A total of 33 companies have signed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh following the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building last month, which killed more than 1,000 people.
US: Skechers swings to Q1 profit on sales surge
16 May 2013
Footwear firm Skechers USA has swung to a first quarter profit, helped by strong sales of its lines for men, women and children.
US: Wal-Mart shares fall after profits miss forecasts
16 May 2013
Shares in Wal-Mart were down today (16 May) after the world's largest retailer posted quarterly earnings that missed Wall Street forecasts - and booked lower US sales.
ITALY: Geox Q1 profit more than halves
16 May 2013
Italian footwear business Geox has seen its first-quarter profit more than halve after tough economic conditions in Europe dampened demand for its products.
SWITZERLAND: Richemont books 30% FY profit growth
16 May 2013
Swiss luxury goods company Richemont has reported a 30% increase in full-year profit, driven by favourable exchange rates and higher sales.
