Patagonia’s Robert Cohen on the Retailer-Customer Relationship

Patagonia’s Robert Cohen on the Retailer-Customer Relationship

By Joshua Brustein October 03, 2013

What do shoppers want? Experts discuss the forces reordering the retail industry.

Does it matter to you what channel people buy your clothing through?
Nope. I’m more interested in making sure customers get Patagonia and less obsessed with how they get Patagonia.

Is gathering information about customers more important now than it has been in the past?
It’s interesting because the consumer has gotten a lot more power. People are much more protective about their e-mail in-box than they are about their home address. They’ll sign up for a catalog or they’ll sign up for a coupon. But to get somebody’s e-mail address out of them, you know, it’s a quid-pro-quo arrangement. Nobody tends to give it up for free. Obviously that rich customer relationship that you really want is “We’re like you. We care about the same things you do. Let’s do things together.” In a lot of ways the desire to build that relationship is about retailers trying to make big business feel a lot smaller. With only 30 stores in the U.S. and 120 around the world, it is not that difficult to act small because we are small. People call the switchboard, it’s answered by a person. It’s not an automated phone number. People may think we’re much bigger than we are. Read more of this post

Panera Bread CEO Ron Shaich on Restaurant Industry Competitiveness; About 50 percent of our transactions occur on our Panera card

Panera Bread CEO Ron Shaich on Restaurant Industry Competitiveness

By Joshua Brustein October 03, 2013

What do shoppers want? Experts discuss the forces reordering the retail industry.

What’s changed the most in the restaurant industry over the past five years?
I did a study two years ago on the profitability of restaurant companies over the prior five years. Eighty percent of the $1 billion-plus public restaurant companies made less money two years ago than they made seven years ago. You can go back and look at the top 50 restaurant companies 30 years ago; half of them no longer exist. They were sold, bought out, or hit the wall. So you have this very difficult operating environment in which competitive advantage is everything. I’ve often thought size and scale are actually bad. For a while you’re large, you take advantage of it, you build your margins. And then you wake up one day, and you go, oh my God, we don’t have a competitive position. We’ve just got an efficient operation in something that worked five years ago. And that’s the biggest threat, if I may say, that exists for this industry. There’s no technological atomic bomb that can somehow disrupt it like it did books. Read more of this post

Fifth & Pacific CEO William McComb on Retail’s Altered Landscape

Fifth & Pacific CEO William McComb on Retail’s Altered Landscape

By Joshua Brustein October 03, 2013

What do shoppers want? Experts discuss the forces reordering the retail industry.

What have you experienced in the years since the financial crisis?
We had had a fundamental collapse in our business model a year and a half before Lehman Brothers collapsed. So at a time when things were great, we were a disaster. So that’s my preface to the answer to this question. The headline is that in some ways the economic downturn further commoditized the business. It kicked off a race to the bottom. The use of promotions increased dramatically. There was channel consolidation and brand consolidation. And at the same time the global power value players—H&M (HMB:SS) and Zara (ITX:SM)—got stronger. That segment of the market, what I’ll call the value segment, is harder than ever. And that was the bulk of what our company was. We don’t play there at all today. We’re virtually 100 percent out of it. Read more of this post

Boston’s Store For Expired Food to provide produce and other perishables, including takeout items, for consumers who could not otherwise afford it.

Boston’s Store For Expired Food Is Looking Like A Better And Better Idea

HARRISON JACOBS OCT. 3, 2013, 10:10 AM 2,682 12

Confusion over expiration dates is one of the main reasons why America throws away $165 billion in food every year, according to a study released last week by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Harvard University. See, date labels that say things like “best before,” “sell by,” and “enjoy by,” typically have nothing to do with consumer safety and depend instead on manufacturers trying to limit sales to only the freshest form of their product (and, of course, manufacturers may be able to boost wholesale receipts by posting excessively early dates). Read more of this post

As smoking fades, growers shift to sweetener ingredient stevia; Stevia is forecast to eventually account for a third of the $58 billion in annual global sweetener sales

Some Tobacco Farmers Have a Sweet Tooth

By Duane Stanford October 03, 2013

The once-idled leaf-processing machines at a former tobacco trading house in Alma, Ga., are coming back to life. Except now the warehouse, which still smells of tobacco leaves and cigarette smoke, is becoming a hub for a sweeter crop: stevia. Approved for commercial use in the U.S. five years ago, stevia extracts are fast becoming the sugar substitute of choice for a population trying to slim down and avoid artificial options. The no-calorie, natural sweetener, derived from plants grown mostly in China and South America, is creating an opportunity for U.S. farmers and processors looking to make up for dwindling tobacco demand and sell to the likes of Cargill and Coca-Cola (KO). Read more of this post

U.S. Is Overtaking Russia as Largest Oil-and-Gas Producer

Updated October 2, 2013, 8:10 p.m. ET

U.S. Is Overtaking Russia as Largest Oil-and-Gas Producer

RUSSELL GOLD and DANIEL GILBERT

The U.S. is overtaking Russia as the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas, a shift that is reshaping markets and eroding the clout of traditional energy-rich nations. Russell Gold reports. Photo: Getty Images.

The U.S. is overtaking Russia as the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas, a startling shift that is reshaping markets and eroding the clout of traditional energy-rich nations. U.S. energy output has been surging in recent years, a comeback fueled by shale-rock formations of oil and natural gas that was unimaginable a decade ago. A Wall Street Journal analysis of global data shows that the U.S. is on track to pass Russia as the world’s largest producer of oil and gas combined this year—if it hasn’t already. The U.S. ascendance comes as Russia has struggled to maintain its energy output and has yet to embrace technologies such as hydraulic fracturing that have boosted American reserves. Read more of this post

In Hong Kong, Retail Rents Lose Their Shine; After years of surging growth, rents for storefronts in Hong Kong, on some of the world’s most expensive and crowded streets, are finally cooling

In Hong Kong, Retail Rents Lose Their Shine

After years of surging growth, rents for storefronts in Hong Kong, on some of the world’s most expensive and crowded streets, are finally cooling.

Story by TE-PING CHEN. Graphic by HENRY WILLIAMS.

HONG KONG—After years of surging growth, rents for storefronts on some of the world’s most expensive, and crowded, streets are finally cooling. Rent increases on major Hong Kong shopping streets have paused following a slowdown in growth in spending by people chasing the latest Gucci handbags and Rolex watches. Storefronts now stand empty on prime streets in top shopping districts, a rare sight in this densely populated city of 7 million. Some have been vacant for months. “People used to fight for these spots, but now, there’s just nobody fighting,” said Nicole Wong, an analyst at CLSA, an Asia-focused brokerage. Read more of this post

Opulent Trains Show Japan Is Eager to Spend

Opulent Trains Show Japan Is Eager to Spend

By Chris Cooper and Kiyotaka Matsuda October 03, 2013

A four-day luxury package can cost more than $10,000. The rear car features two deluxe suites and an observation lounge

A train ride on the Seven Stars in Kyushu can set you back 391,000 yen ($3,900). For that price, a passenger gets three nights in a suite with walnut and maple paneling. A lounge car offers plush sofas and a pianist to provide live background music. The restaurant car features dishes devised by Koji Shimomura, whose Tokyo restaurant was awarded two stars by Michelin. The service makes its debut Oct. 15. Tickets are sold out until June. Read more of this post

Life After Sony Leads Idei to Back $82,000 Handmade Sports Cars

Life After Sony Leads Idei to Back $82,000 Handmade Sports Cars

Nobuyuki Idei once embodied Japan’s corporate establishment, the leader of technology giant Sony Corp. (6758) Now at 75, he’s aiming to reinvent himself as a cross between a Silicon Valley venture capitalist and Hollywood mogul. The former Sony chief executive officer describes himself as the “executive producer” behind a long list of projects, including a venture fund, a design consultancy and a salon for entrepreneurs. They’re all designed to boost startups in Japan, a country the World Bank ranks behind Ghana and Tanzania in ease of starting a business. Read more of this post

Sluggish India economy, tight credit take toll on smaller firms

Sluggish India economy, tight credit take toll on smaller firms

5:17pm EDT

By Archana Narayanan and Abhishek Vishnoi

MUMBAI (Reuters) – Sunil Malhotra’s expansion plans had a sound logic; they would reduce his company’s exposure to imports made more costly by the slump in the rupee this year to a record low. It was an investment to improve profitability. But banks were unwilling to finance his plan, leaving him instead scrambling to find working capital let alone funds to invest in his firm, Hallmark Steel, a small company supplying the auto industry. Read more of this post

Indian Motorcycles Grow Wings

Indian Motorcycles Grow Wings

A little more than two decades after it began to open its economy in 1991, India still counts as an emerging market. There’s still plenty of room for growth in product categories from alcohol to mobile phones, as a consumer revolution takes hold among a middle class that is expanding rapidly. Take two-wheelers, for instance. Data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers show that sales of two-wheelers in India rose an astonishing 85 percent between 2007-2008 and 2011-2012, to 13.4 million units a year. Read more of this post

Gandhi Outburst Shows Reluctant Heir Emerging Before India Vote

Gandhi Outburst Shows Reluctant Heir Emerging Before India Vote

Since Rahul Gandhi joined his mother to help lead India’s ruling political party about a decade ago, he has mostly stayed on the sidelines, turning down cabinet posts and rarely speaking to the media. That changed when he gate-crashed a press briefing last week to denounce a cabinet order allowing convicted lawmakers to retain their seats. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, hand-picked by Gandhi’s mother Sonia to run the country in 2004, was forced to retract the order two days ago while rebuffing calls to resign over the public rebuke. Read more of this post

Call My Broker. No—Call My Astrologer! Mumbai’s traders hire stargazers to understand the rupee’s moves. The gyrating rupee is keeping India’s sought-after financial astrologers busy

Call My Broker. No—Call My Astrologer!

By Bhuma Shrivastava and Jeanette Rodrigues October 03, 2013

In the nervous hours of Sept. 18, markets worldwide waited to hear if the Federal Reserve would start to taper its record bond-buying program. As traders and fund managers in India hovered in offices listening for the Fed’s announcement, Atul Maheshwari, a financial astrologer, received so many calls, instant messages, and texts from his 130 clients that he gave up trying to help and shut off his phone. “People were in a frenzy. I just couldn’t answer everybody’s questions,” he says. Read more of this post

Galaxy founder Lui Che-Woo’s wealth has leaped by $10.2 billion this year, the most of any Asian billionaire, as the world’s gaming capital Macau draws record revenue and shares hit a new high

Galaxy Magnate Lui’s Wealth Soars by $10 Billion in 2013

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd. (27) founder Lui Che-Woo’s wealth has leaped by $10.2 billion this year, the most of any Asian billionaire, as the world’s gaming capital Macau draws record revenue and shares hit a new high. Lui has a net worth of $22.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, and is ranked as the second-richest individual in Asia, trailing only fellow Hong Kong developer Li Ka-Shing. His fortune is now bigger than Lee Shau-Kee, Cheng Yu-Tung, Mukesh Ambani and Gina Rinehart in advancing up the ranks in 2013. Only Facebook Inc.’s Mark Zuckerberg and Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad have made more money this year. Read more of this post

Myanmar’s resources star dims after mine reform delay

Myanmar’s resources star dims after mine reform delay

5:17pm EDT

By Melanie Burton

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – A year ago Myanmar was the hot new destination for resources investors looking to make a fast buck in a country opening up to the outside world, but a new mining law is still not passed, the hot-money crowd has filed out and reality has set in. Yet while funding options may have slimmed, opportunity is still knocking, industry participants at a conference in Singapore said this week. Read more of this post

In Malaysia, Mahathir’s rising son signals conservative shift

In Malaysia, Mahathir’s rising son signals conservative shift

7:48pm EDT

By Siva Sithraputhran

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – The chief minister of the rural Malaysian state of Kedah has a familiar face, even if he lacks the charisma, provocative rhetoric and razor-sharp political skills of his famous father. Mukhriz Mahathir is the youngest son of Malaysia’s longest-serving leader, Mahathir Mohamad, whose often authoritarian rule transformed the economy into a developing powerhouse while winning a reputation for cronyism and dubious “mega-projects”. Read more of this post

Troops Forage for Food While Golfers Play on in Shutdown

Troops Forage for Food While Golfers Play on in Shutdown

Grocery stores on Army bases in the U.S. are closed. The golf course at Andrews Air Force base is open. All 128 employees of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. are working, while 3,000 safety inspectors employed by the Federal Aviation Administration are off the job. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing new pharmaceuticals. The National Institutes of Health is turning away new patients for clinical trials. Read more of this post

The NBA makes a play to slam-dunk the world

October 3, 2013 4:59 pm

The NBA makes a play to slam-dunk the world

By Emily Steel

In a new marketing campaign for the National Basketball Association, Chinese characters are plastered across a shot of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryantthrowing down a slam dunk. Another version of the commercial features the same clip but the Portuguese phrase “E la é para todos”. Yet another in Spanish reads “Y es para todos nosotros”. The translation: the NBA is for everyone. Read more of this post

Stanley Fink’s Hedge-Fund Revival Sours as Losses Mount

Stanley Fink’s Hedge-Fund Revival Sours as Losses Mount

Stanley Fink, who oversaw a 10-fold increase in Man Group Plc (EMG)’s assets under management during his seven years as chief executive officer, is finding it harder to keep investors at his latest hedge-fund firm. Losses and client redemptions have reduced assets at International Standard Asset Management Ltd.’s main hedge fund by almost half over the past 18 months to $585 million, Fink, the firm’s CEO, said in an interview yesterday. London-based ISAM has responded by changing some of its management, examining why the fund hasn’t performed as well as expected and increasing the number of markets it invests in, he said. Read more of this post

Jim Rogers Warns US Stock Investors “Be Careful… You’re In A Fool’s Paradise”

Jim Rogers Warns US Stock Investors “Be Careful… You’re In A Fool’s Paradise”

Tyler Durden on 10/03/2013 17:03 -0400

“It is only a matter of time before the US stock market runs into devastating problems due to the Fed QE program”, Jim Rogers warned during an interview on CNBC Singapore, adding that the prevalance of similar stimulative pograms around the world merely exacerbates the probability and size of a fall. His simple message to US investors – “Be Careful.” Read more of this post

Investors Have to Wing It in the Shutdown; Numbers on Jobs, Oil, Corn and Other Important Indicators Are Casualties of Washington’s Gridlock—Which Could Leave Investors Flying Blind

October 2, 2013, 5:05 p.m. ET

Investors Have to Wing It in the Shutdown

Numbers on Jobs, Oil, Corn and Other Important Indicators Are Casualties of Washington’s Gridlock—Which Could Leave Investors Flying Blind

JUSTIN LAHART

As far as anyone can tell, the job market is holding steady. But until the government shutdown ends, who really knows? Wednesday, check-cutting giant Automatic Data Processing ADP -1.28% reported that private-sector employers added 166,000 jobs last month, a shade less than the 178,000 expected by economists. But the Conference Board reported its measure of online help-wanted ads reached its highest level on record. And on Tuesday, the Institute for Supply Management said its index of manufacturing employment rose to its highest level in more than a year. Read more of this post

Hedge funds step into the shadows; Financial investors replacing banks in $5tn repo markets

Last updated: October 3, 2013 5:59 pm

Hedge funds step into the shadows

By Tracy Alloway and Arash Massoudi in New York

Some of the world’s best-known hedge funds have stepped into the shoes of Wall Street banks and expanded into the $5tn “repo” market, where financial companies lend out their assets in exchange for short-term loans. The rise of non-bank players in the repo market has come as new rules make the decades-old business less attractive for banks. It marks an evolution of financial markets since the 2008 global financial crisis, which has seen the withdrawal of banks from certain markets and activities where they were once the main actors. Read more of this post

For Lego, rising wealth means more play – and business

For Lego, rising wealth means more play – and business

6:32am EDT

By Eveline Danubrata and Laura Philomin

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The boss of Lego Group carries two business cards – one the usual kind and the other a Lego mini-figure in his likeness, complete with beard and glasses, with contact details on the back. That kind of playful thinking has helped the Danish company become the world’s second-biggest toy maker as it clicks with fast-growing Asia and builds on its popular plastic bricks with video games and theme parks. Read more of this post

Congress Plays With Fire as Asia Examines Debt

Congress Plays With Fire as Asia Examines Debt

The U.S. doesn’t deserve Asia’s money, not with half of its government in financial jihad mode, damn the global consequences. The biggest economy has long taken its reserve-currency status for granted, but the events of recent days raise Washington’s hubris to entirely new levels. Chinese President Xi Jinping didn’t mention Ted Cruz, John Boehner or the Tea Party this week when he urged major developed economies to adopt responsible policies that avoid negative spillover. He didn’t have to. Their shutdown of the U.S. government and the specter of U.S. default were written between the lines in bold type. The U.S. is playing with fire here in ways it might not recover from. Read more of this post

A group of Norwegian investors and Henning Oldendorff, chairman of the largest charterer of dry-bulk vessels, are forming a shipping bank that will start next year to fill a funding gap in the shipping industry

Investors Form New Shipping Bank to Fill Financing Retreat

A group of Norwegian investors and Henning Oldendorff, chairman of the largest charterer of dry-bulk vessels, are forming a shipping bank that will start next year to fill a funding gap in the shipping industry. Maritime & Merchant AS will be based in Oslo and offer secured lending and syndications and will apply for a banking license later this year, according to a presentation yesterday. It’s seeking to start operations in the second quarter and will raise about $300 million in equity to fund operations and satisfy regulatory requirements on ownership, it said. Read more of this post

Shocked Bitcoin backers reel after raid

Last updated: October 3, 2013 8:30 pm

Shocked Bitcoin backers reel after raid

By Stephen Foley and Tracy Alloway in New York

“Sit him down at his computer and make him do it … Give him the note, let him use his computer to send the coins back, and then kill him … Considering his arrest, I have to assume he will sing.” For the libertarians who championed Silk Road as a free market for drugs and other goods that governments have no business banning, and who back Bitcoin, its currency of choice, the indictment of the website’s founder has been a shock. Read more of this post

More Than 5,000 Stockbrokers From Expelled Firms Still Selling Securities

October 3, 2013, 7:32 p.m. ET

More Than 5,000 Stockbrokers From Expelled Firms Still Selling Securities

Many Brokers Migrate Between Firms Expelled By Regulators

JEAN EAGLESHAM and ROB BARRY

Regulators expelled the first brokerage firm where Kenneth Dwyer sold securities. They did the same to his third, fourth, seventh and eighth. His 10th closed in June after regulators accused it of fraud. The expelled and defunct firms where Mr. Dwyer worked have left thousands of investors with alleged losses and estimated unpaid claims totaling more than $85 million, according to court documents and lawyers. Read more of this post