International Strategy

Saks Incorporated announced the planned opening of a licensed Saks Fifth Avenue store in Almaty, Kazakhstan in August 2012.

As part of its global expansion strategy, Gap announced plans to open its first store in Egypt this July and its first Gap and Banana Republic stores in Morocco this October. These store openings will mark the company’s first entry into Africa and will house Gap, GapKids and babyGap collections and Banana Republic’s accessible luxury clothes and accessories for men and women.

Destination Maternity announced its planned expansion into South Korea through an international franchise agreement with Agabang & Company, one of the leading retailers in South Korea.

Wal-Mart has signed an agreement with the Shanghai government to establish an e-commerce headquarters in the city as part of its online strategy to gain a greater share of the country's burgeoning retail market.

Wal-Mart Canada announced that it's entered into an agreement with Target Canada to assume the leasehold interests in up to 39 sites currently operated by Zellers Inc. Specific locations will be identified later this fall. Terms of this transaction weren't disclosed.

U.S. fashion retailer J.Crew will open its first Canadian store in a Toronto shopping center in August, marking its first international foray. The company joins a number of other U.S. retailers expanding north in a bid to take advantage of Canada's relatively robust economy and eager-to-spend consumers.

Williams-Sonoma, a specialty retailer of high-quality products for the home, announced today that Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma will offer international shipping, joining PBteen in its partnership with FiftyOne Global Ecommerce, a provider of international e-commerce services and infrastructure to U.S. retailers. Customers in more than 75 countries will now be able to shop online for Williams-Sonoma products.

Disney Store added magic to Canada last month by opening two innovative shopping experiences in Mississauga, Ontario and Burnaby, British Columbia. The Canadian locations feature interactive areas incorporating state-of-the-art technology.

Debenhams and Sears are understood to be in early discussions about Debenhams opening concession or franchise areas in Sears outlets across the U.S. The U.K. department store retailer currently has around 60 franchised stores around the world and has a plan to increase this number to 100 as it looks to expand beyond its domestic market.

Target plans to spend more than it had forecast this year on its entry into the Canadian market as it nails down more of the best retail locations sooner than expected. The retailer said it will be able to “clarify” within weeks the number and locations of the first 100 to 150 stores it will open in Canada.