Denmark

It used to be that shopping was considered a chore. Except around Black Friday, when it turned into blood sport. But increasingly, mobile technology has made shopping more of a game. With the smartphone at the intersection between store and shopper, let the games begin! From a shopper's point of view, it's snagging the product in the cheapest, most convenient way possible. On the merchant's side, it's targeting ads, offers and incentives, geolocating, attracting new customers and keeping existing ones. In all of this, both sides are becoming increasingly strategic as they engage in this game.  

Hong Kong-based Esprit Holdings Ltd. recently announced a restructuring plan that includes pulling out of the North American market and a few other European countries, according to www.wwd.com. The company said it has made a “strategic decision” to divest operations in North America, exit from retail operations in Spain, Denmark and Sweden, and close down certain additional unprofitable stores elsewhere to focus on better-performing markets. The decision will affect 93 directly managed retail stores in North America. The company is “exploring all options” to divest the brand’s North American holdings, according to Ronald Van der Vis, group CEO of

Lately the staff and I here at Retail Online Integration have been hearing a lot about retailers' environmental initiatives. Consider the following, all of which have been announced in the last few months.

American Apparel announced an extension of its partnership with the global e-commerce brand ASOS. The fashion site, which has more than 3.7 million members, has expanded its buy of American Apparel products based on a 100 percent sellthrough rate of a test buy earlier this year.

Debenhams and Sears are understood to be in early discussions about Debenhams opening concession or franchise areas in Sears outlets across the U.S. The U.K. department store retailer currently has around 60 franchised stores around the world and has a plan to increase this number to 100 as it looks to expand beyond its domestic market.