STORES Magazine - February 2008 - (Page 20) trEnDS 10 THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED Guess … What the following items have in common: a sterling silver pendant; an 8-inch auto wrench; a wool peacoat; a digital camera; and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” They are all Compiled by David P. Schulz 1 Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. Joining the United States and the 27-member European Union are Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand and Switzerland, with others expected to sign on as negotiations progress. The three major areas covered in the agreement involve strengthening international cooperation, improving enforcement practices and providing a strong legal framework for intellectual property rights. Vanishing creams … Bath & Body Works is cutting back on the number of products provided by thirdparty vendors. A spokesman for Limited explained that Though still a billion dollar business, Value City sales slipped considerably last year, showing double-digit samestore declines. Makeover … Home Depot Canada has raised the curtain on its first “project store,” which the retailer boasts will change “the way customers shop for home improvement projects.” The 115,000-sq.-ft. facility in Richmond Hill, Ontario, features redesigned departments with central service desks devoted to such things as decor, building and garden projects, general repairs and fix-ups and contractor business. There are also “We Can Help” stations with tape measures, paper and pencils and access to a call box for assistance. 6 4 on the list of Amazon.com’s best-selling products for 2007. 2 Consumer electronics trends … “We are entering the third generation of digital products in many categories, as more consumers have embraced the high-definition experience,” says NPD Group’s electronics maven Ross Rubin. “The growth of broadband at home — and the emergence of wireless broadband — are reshaping how the industry thinks about content and capability.” Trendsetting events, he says, include the end of analog TV transmissions in February 2009; growth of portable wireless devices; retailers’ increased integration of products and services bundled for consumers; and the creation of “micro-channels” by retailers and manufacturers to meet changing customer demands. ban in specified indoor public areas, including stores and exterior areas within 15 feet of their entrances, exits and windows. Tobacco shops and hookah bars not serving food or alcohol are exempted. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, retailers can now be fined up to $700 for selling beauty care products, cosmetics and make-up containing mercury. Going, going, gone … Macy’s is closing nine stores, including three in Ohio and two in Texas, over the next few weeks. CompUSA is shutting down entirely, with Gordon Brothers handling going-out-of-business sales at the chain’s 103 stores. Talbots is shedding 66 Talbots Kids and 12 Talbots Men’s locations, and Pacific Sunwear is pulling the plug on its 154 remaining demo stores and six One Thousand Steps shoe boutiques. 9 after shedding names such as DDF, Peter Thomas Roth, Korres and Juvena, the number of external brands on B&BW shelves would be reduced to about 40. On the block … Burlington Coat Factory is picking up as many as 24 Value City general merchandise and furniture store locations, but that still leaves about 90 unwanted locations for Retail Ventures to unload. 5 Fighting fakes … Progress may be made this year in the battle against merchandise counterfeiters now that a number of countries are participating in the 3 And the winners are … Retailers earning excellence honors at the Housewares Design Awards ceremonies this month include Fortunoff (kitchenware and cutlery category); Target (lighting and decorative accessories); JCPenney (kitchen electrics); Linens ’n Things (floor care electrics); Anthropologie (tabletop); Home Shopping Network (cookware and bakeware); Shopko (furniture); Fry’s electronics (home environment electrics); drugstore.com (health and personal care electrics); and Ace Hardware (storage and organization). The awards are presented by HomeWorld Business with the support of the International Housewares Association. 7 Ban on the run … Illinois has become the 22nd state to enact a smoking 8 Road show … Street food of Southeast Asia, as interpreted by Jean-Georges Vongerichten in his New York City Spice Market restaurant, will be rolled out to both domestic and international markets this year. Phil Suarez, Vongerichten’s partner in the 20-plus unit Culinary Concepts, says sites in Miami, Atlanta, Dubai, Istanbul and Barcelona are under consideration. 10 20 STORES / FEBRUARY 2008 WWW.STORES.ORG http://www.amazon.com http://drugstore.com http://WWW.STORES.ORG
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