International Strategy

Gap Looks to Streamline Business as Sales Decline Continues
May 10, 2016 at 9:50 am

Gap Inc. said it would take steps to streamline its business, including evaluating its Banana Republic and Old Navy operations outside North America, as it posted comparable sales declines across its brands. The company also said it expects earnings for the first quarter to come in much weaker than analysts had expected — the company forecast…

Crocs Rightsizes its International Footprint
April 10, 2016 at 7:22 pm

Footwear brand Crocs has undergone significant organizational and management changes in the last 18 months as it works to reverse years of stagnant sales and declining profits. Founded in 2002, Crocs impressively reached $1 billion in sales within its first 10 years of operation. However, that growth trajectory has slowed considerably in recent years. The…

Uniqlo: Again the Face of Japan's Deflating Economy
April 8, 2016 at 10:36 am

When Japan's cheap-and-cheerful clothing brand Uniqlo raised its prices in 2014, it was an endorsement of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's efforts to stimulate a lacklustre economy: with confidence high, even purveyors of affordable jumpers became price setters. But as Abe's expansionary policies struggle to rekindle growth, Uniqlo has reversed those rises, lowering prices last year and…

How Carter's is Winning Over Millennial Moms
April 6, 2016 at 10:25 am

When you think of millennial brands, Carter's, the manufacturer and retailer of baby apparel and accessories, doesn't immediately spring to mind. Yet that's just what Carter's is, catering to new and expectant moms who more often than not fall into the coveted millennial demographic. In fact, 80 percent of all babies are born to millennial…

Sherwin-Williams Buying Valspar for $11.3B
March 21, 2016 at 11:54 am

Sherwin-Williams, which has long claimed to "cover the Earth" with its paints, is buying rival Valspar for about $9 billion in a move that it says will expand its reach in Asia and Europe. Sherwin-Williams said Sunday that it's paying $113 a share in cash, a 35 percent premium to the closing price of Valspar's stock…

How Europe's New Data Law Impacts U.S. Retailers
February 24, 2016 at 10:22 am

The striking down of the existing Safe Harbor transatlantic data-transfer agreement has been all the talk of late. And while an agreement was finally reached – a new framework to be known as the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield – there are likely still hurdles to overcome before everything is finalized. Despite reaching this agreement, there may…

Fanatics Buys European Online Sports Retailer for $17M in Soccer Push
February 4, 2016 at 10:21 am

As a U.S.-based e-commerce company, Fanatics’ sweet spot has been in selling sports apparel branded by American teams. But the company has been eyeing European soccer team apparel as its next big opportunity, and has acquired a U.K.-based company to help it break in. Fanatics has paid $17 million to acquire Kitbag, currently owned by Findel,…

Lowe's to Acquire Canada's Rona in $2.3B Deal
February 3, 2016 at 10:04 am

Lowe's is expanding its footprint in Canada with a $2.3 billion acquisition of the home improvement retailer Rona. It's Lowe's second run for the company. Lowe's made a $1.9 billion bid for Rona in 2012, but that deal never went through. Chairman and CEO Robert Niblock said in a written statement Wednesday that the acquisition gives Lowe's…

Venus Fashion Extends its Reach Internationally
January 18, 2016 at 8:20 am

Venus Fashion, a retailer of swimwear and fashion, was looking to grow its brand by taking it international. But in order to meet the needs of international customers, the retailer first needed to get a logistics plan in place to efficiently ship its products to foreign lands. In episode 20 of Total Retail Talks, Paula…