GLG News by Women's Apparel Experts: Retail Consultants

Consumers know RETAIL brands because ONLY retail brands promote consistently and sufficiently to become ingrained in the minds of consumers. Manufacturers of even the most successful jewelry brands spend relatively little in advertising to promote their brand due to low gross margins for this product. ...

The entire department store segment is hurting right now, but those that improve their merchandising strategies , build their store brand though creative marketing and improve the shopping experience for their customers will emerge as market leaders once the economy turns around....

Discount stores are not the only sector holding up well in what has been described as the worst retail apparel environment in the past twenty years.   Innovative specialty chains that know their customers well are moving forward with fresh assortments and new product categories that speak to their...

Dillard's has grown, though not necessarily thrived, over the years, largely through acquisitions. The acquired companies and stores were a mixed bag of good and mediocre players; Dillard's became a real melting pot and the diverse roots are still evident in the stores today. The stores are sometimes...

JC Penney (JCP), currently struggling, along with so many of its competitors, has been working hard to differentiate itself as a dominant player. The recent appointment of Ken Hicks to the JCP Board of Directors is a significant move to reward and retain an unusually talented retail executive. Hicks...

Middle income consumers are trading down from department stores such as Kohl's,  Bon-Ton and Macy's to off-price retailers and discounters like TJX and Ross Stores, Wal-Mart and Costco.  Missy apparel retailers and brands targeting "boomers" are suffering more than most in this economic...

Will Dillards put themselves in both a less profitable position, as well another year of sales declines?The positioning that Dillards plans to go to seems to have a small opportunity to grow sales and profits. Dillards cannot just put better goods on the floor to be successful, they need a total...

In moving  from a key item merchandizing strategy to monthly "wardrobe building collections," will Old Navy  alienate of many of its core customers? Does Old Navy have the sourcing and logistics structure in place to execute a fast fashion delivery initiative without severe...

While the very upper retail segment continues to perform well, off-price retailers and mass merchants will benefit most from a deteriorating economic outlook. Department Stores and Specialty Retailers must manage inventories skillfuly, in order to suvive the tough season ahead.

American Eagle once again introduces a concept to max. sales productivity , by introducing f.i.t. line in a total of 45 plus doors for holiday.AEO has proven their ability to shift space to grow plus sales.Expanding in this category will also improve gross margins since it is a hot trend that will be...