International Strategy

OneStopPlus.com announced its expansion in the Canadian marketplace with the launch of an exclusive shopping catalog and initial strategic TV advertising buy. The catalog offers an assortment of trendy plus-size fashion from proprietary brands, including Woman Within, Roaman's, Jessica London and Avenue, and the advertising buy seeks to target on-trend plus-size Canadian women in top networks.

British apparel retailer Jack Wills is looking to nearly double its store count in the United States, according to various reports in the U.K. media. The company, which specializes in preppy clothing for young men and women, currently operates 11 U.S. locations and has plans to add eight to 10 stores next year. It made its U.S. debut in 2010, in Massachusetts.

Swarovski partnered with SCVNGR to launch a treasure hunt across London on Sept. 24 to celebrate the London launch of 'Discover Your Light,' the company's "exciting move into cinema." This campaign marks the first time that SCVNGR has offered an event-based challenge outside of the U.S.

Value Retail, a company that owns nine outlet centers in Europe, is set to open a 600,000 square-foot outlet shopping center in Suzhou, China, 50 miles outside of Shanghai. 

Joe's Jeans announced that it's opened its second store in the Middle East at the 360 MALL in Safat, Kuwait. The 360 MALL is a world-class shopping destination and the globally acclaimed winner of Retail & Leisure International's Award for International Shopping Centre of the Year.

Express is taking its brand of specialty retail apparel north of the border this September with the opening of its first location in Canada. The company said it plans to open a total of six stores in Canada by the end of 2011, and an additional 50 stores across the country over the next five years.

Multiple sources in Moscow said that Victoria’s Secret will open its first Russian store in Moscow on Sept. 30. Experienced American brand franchise Moneks will open four Victoria’s Secret stores in and around Moscow prior to year’s end.

While dozens of e-commerce firms have recently sprung up to capitalize on India's growing internet use, they have a problem. Indians are not yet comfortable with shopping on the web, while many of them remain unwilling to use credit cards online. Therefore the Indian retailers have gone to great lengths to gain customers. Customers may pay in cash on delivery, and the company fields delivery squads to ensure shipments get to customers quickly.

Tapping into a global marketplace is at the top of many retailers to-do lists for the end of 2011 and beyond. This has been made possible in large part by e-commerce. Discussing what retailers can expect along with strategies to optimize success was Ulric Jerome, general manager of European cross-channel retailer Pixmania.com, during a session yesterday at the National Retail Federation's Shop.org Annual Summit in Boston.

Groupon has begun offering discounts on products sold over the web in the U.K., thrusting the internet-coupon company into closer competition with the likes of Amazon and eBay.