From 5th Ave. to Oxford St., Retail's Global Problem

For some retailers, the grass is greener on the other side … of the pond, that is. Emaciated traffic and extreme price competition have left the industry in a slugfest just to achieve positive domestic same-store sales. As a result, many retailers have been looking to plant their flags overseas, scouring Europe and emerging markets in search of growth. While the strategy has proven successful for some U.S. firms going abroad — as well as international companies gaining entry in the United States — some within the industry say the globalization of retail has brought with it a new challenge.