Retail Stores

In 2011 there will be new challenges and new opportunities for apparel manufacturers, retailers and brands. Based on insights from this month's just-style management briefing, we look at what the industy can expect this year.

In a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the ailing company alluded to a potential bankruptcy, saying its future was in "doubt" unless it could come up with some fresh financing.

Beauty care company Estée Lauder is using digital technologies to enhance the customer experience at various points of sale, including iPads for consumer use. Estée Lauder is "the first cosmetics brand to put iPads at selected store counters," said Fabrizio Freda, the company's president and CEO.

Despite record-breaking winter storms that turned a trip to the mall into an adventure travel expedition, Limited Brands and Zumiez achieved double-digit same-store sales increases of 24 percent and 15.3 percent, respectively.

While the 2011 economic forecast may be looking sunnier, Mother Nature must have missed the memo. So much of the country has been blanketed in snow and ice the last several weeks, and nasty weather can have an interesting effect on retailers big and small, online and brick-and-mortar.

Bebe Stores reported a loss for its second quarter as bad weather cut into sales and closed some stores. The clothing company posted a loss of $2.7 million for the quarter compared with a profit of $2.4 million in the same period last year. Revenue fell 2 percent to $132.7 million for the period that ended Jan. 1.

Bernadette Clark used to visit Wal-Mart twice a week. Now it's twice a month. She got fed up last year when Wal-Mart stopped stocking some of her favorite brands and she couldn't count on low prices.

In a big post-Christmas surprise, January same-store sales were stronger than many retail analysts expected. Blizzards in the Northeast, which pummeled the area and even closed some stores, were expected to cause sour sales. Not so.

Gap has reported that fiscal fourth-quarter sales climbed 3 percent, exceeding Wall Street's expectations and leading the casual apparel retailer to raise its fiscal-year earnings guidance.

Procter & Gamble and Target have paired up to offer customers savings on a number of products designed to help them keep those fitness resolutions. From Feb. 6 through March 16, Target guests can find in-store coupons on specially marked Tide Plus Febreze Freshness Sport, Febreze Extreme SPORT Odor Eliminator and C9 by Champion, Target's exclusive active wear line.