International Strategy

Retailers are using multiple channels to establish more direct connections with consumers, according to the findings of a recent survey from global cloud commerce solutions provider Digital River. Consistent with the shift to multichannel strategies, the survey indicated respondents are increasingly connecting with customers via multiple touchpoints. Nearly 80 percent of respondents said they were currently using transactional websites, followed by social commerce (55 percent), app stores (50 percent), in-product commerce (50 percent), subscription sales (48 percent) and mobile commerce (48 percent).

Canada is a land of dissatisfied online shoppers. From high-end fashion to hardware, Canadians are the poor e-commerce cousins to Americans in just about every way: higher prices for poorer selection; shipping costs are often more expensive; and for items ordered from abroad, duty and customs-related charges can drive up total costs.

Destination Maternity has opened its first freestanding store in India, located in the largest mall in the country. Ed Krell, CEO of Destination Maternity, commented, "We are very excited to announce the opening of the first Destination Maternity store in India. Mahindra Retail has done a great job opening Motherhood shop-in-shops within their own Mom & Me stores, and the launch of a Destination Maternity freestanding store is the natural next step for expanding our presence in India."

Tiffany & Co. has taken a major step to controlling its destiny in the United Arab Emirates by restructuring its joint venture agreement with retailer Damas Jewellery. Damas, based in the U.A.E., is an international jewelry and watch retailer. Under the new partnership agreement between the two companies, all of the operational, merchandising and sales, and marketing management for the five Tiffany & Co. stores in the U.A.E. will be transferred from Damas to Tiffany. Previously, Tiffany sold its merchandise on a wholesale basis to Damas, which operated the Tiffany & Co. stores. 

Garnet Hill, an apparel and home decor retailer, announced plans to expand its product offerings to international consumers in more than 100 countries. By partnering with FiftyOne Global Ecommerce, Garnet Hill fortifies its position as a large and growing brand with international scale. In response to an overwhelming demand for its products cross-border and overseas, Garnet Hill engaged with FiftyOne to introduce its offerings to a global audience while staying true to its trusted brand. 

Wolverine Worldwide announced the formation of a joint venture with Tata International to market footwear and apparel in India. The new joint venture will initially be responsible for the wholesale distribution of Wolverine Worldwide's Merrell and Caterpillar footwear brands. The formation of this joint venture is a direct result of the efforts of Wolverine Worldwide's International Group, which was formed in January 2011. Entering into a joint venture provides Wolverine Worldwide with a more meaningful ownership stake and near-term brand impact than its traditional licensee or distributor business model, and reflects the importance of this fast-growing market to the company.

As the second part of a business collaboration, Wolverine Worldwide is purchasing a 49 percent stake in Forus' existing Colombian business, Forus SA Colombia, which currently has the rights to Wolverine's Hush Puppies and Cushe brands in Colombia. Forus SA Colombia currently owns and operates 23 retail locations and sells directly to Colombia's most important department stores and specialty footwear retailers.

Australia newspaper The Age reports Amazon.com is turning its eyes to the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia. "By having an Australian-based Amazon distribution centre, delivery times and possibly costs will be curtailed — not good news for a retail sector feeling the pinch from online sales," it wrote. In January, the Financial Review cited a Morgan Stanley report that said Amazon was considering setting up an Australian-based website and was looking for a data center in Australia for its web services business.

Macy's will soon have a Brazilian feel when the company debuts "O Mercado, the Market at Macy's" on April 22 in about 300 stores and online at Macys.com. The company describes O Mercado as a curated shop of Brazilian products, and it's the next installation of the retailer's "Brasil: A Magical Journey" campaign, which will officially kick off on May 16. "Brazil's burgeoning international appeal and enchanting culture inspired us to create a unique shopping environment that will bring even more newness, color and excitement to our stores," said Martine Reardon, Macy's chief marketing officer.

E-Mail This StoryPrinter-Friendly Format SportsOneSource Media Posted: 4/12/2012 Scandinavian-based Casall, Europe's premium fitness apparel line for more than 30 years and one of the world's first companies to design fashionable fitness apparel specifically for women, has launched in the U.S., with a robust online presence for consumers. Casall's functional styles are designed to inspire people to perform their best, look their best and feel their best," says U.S. General Manager Morgan Bayer. "This is what we like to call our Total Wellness Lifestyle." Casall's seasonal collections include yoga, pilates, activewear, running, and underwear. Unlike traditional activewear brands,