Research Topic

New York -- Retailers and manufacturers targeting Gen X and Y shoppers this holiday season should introduce more transparency into their product labels and identify fair trade, conflict-free and environmentally friendly practices. Results of a new survey by KPMG LLP reveal that nearly 70% of consumers younger than age 30 consider social issues such as sustainability, human rights and fair trade before making a purchase. This outpaces the less than 50% of consumers overall who feel the same way.

New York -- Identified as a 2014 industry bellwether, this year’s New York National Conference and Deal Making is up 15% over last year, with some 7,000 people in attendance, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers.

The increase bodes well for next year, according to Michael P. Kercheval, president and CEO. When attendance is up, he said, the industry grows the following year. When it’s down, a decline has always followed.

At Michaels, a higher gross profit, partially driven by improved merchandise margin, helped to increase its net income for the third quarter ended Nov. 2.

The company’s net income during the quarter soared 66%, rising to $58 million from $35 million in the prior-year quarter. Net sales grew 10%, to $1.1 billion from $1.01 billion. Meanwhile, same-store sales increased 7.9%, driven by a 3.9% increase in transactions and a 3.8% increase in the company's average ticket in addition to a 20 basis point positive impact from deferred custom framing revenue.

Retailers and manufacturers targeting Gen X and Y shoppers this holiday season should introduce more transparency into their product labels and identify fair trade, conflict-free and environmentally friendly practices.

Results of a new survey by KPMG LLP reveal that nearly 70% of consumers younger than age 30 consider social issues such as sustainability, human rights and fair trade before making a purchase. This outpaces the fewer than 50% of consumers overall who feel the same way.

The American Wholesale Marketers Association announced that sociologist and women's work expert Marianne Cooper will be the keynote speaker at the AWMA Women's Leadership Initiative Kickoff Breakfast, to be held on Feb. 27 at the 2014 AWMA Marketplace and Solutions Expo in Las Vegas.

Washington, D.C. -- Import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to grow 1.8% in December, compared to the same month last year, and the year should end with an increase of 2.3% from 2012. According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.43 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU) in October, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available.

The holiday deals started earlier this year and all signs are pointing to a robust shopping season for retail. But what did consumers really think about Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Were they braving the lines with high spirits or counting down for discounts they could nab at home? More importantly, what were they looking for — and where?

Import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to grow 1.8% in December, compared to the same month last year, and the year should end with an increase of 2.3% from 2012.

According to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.43 million 20-ft. Equivalent Units (TEU) in October, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available.

Charleston, S.C. -- Despite some early negative reaction to stores opening on Thanksgiving, shoppers ultimately embraced the idea of an extended “Black Friday” and came out for a full weekend of spending, according to the Christmas & Holiday Shopping Forecast released by America's Research Group and Inmar. Survey results show almost three-quarters of shoppers spent part of at least one day of the weekend in stores.

Washington, D.C. – The National Retail Federation estimated that the retail industry added 13,500 jobs in November, and 268,500 year-over-year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation report showed that November total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 203,000, with the unemployment rate at 7%.