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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Gap

Gap stories: 11 news summaries

 Struggling Gap Heads for China 

Apparel company will open first store there next year

Oct 16, 09 8:19 AM CDT
(Newser) - With its US business stagnating, Gap is hoping to find a few some new customers—1.3 billion of them. The largest American apparel company is opening its first store in China next year, alongside a new push in international online sales, reports the Wall Street Journal. After booming... More »

MORE ABOUT:
China • clothing • Gap • apparel

Big Business to 'Swarm' DC to Back Climate Bill

Bucking conventional wisdom, eBay, Gap, others push for action

Oct 5, 09 12:58 PM CDT
(Newser) - More than 150 business leaders plan to “swarm” Capitol Hill over the next two days in support of climate change legislation. Hailing from such disparate companies as eBay, the Gap, and PG&E, the executives say having a law in place would give them confidence in their long-term planning,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
eBay • cap and trade • General Electric • Nike • United Technologies • climate change legislation • big business • Gap

New Gap Jeans Compete With Designer Denim

But for about a quarter of the price

Aug 14, 09 11:43 AM CDT
(Newser) - Gap is taking on the reigning kings of designer denim with its new jeans revamp in an effort “to reinvent Gap as a place of authority on denim,” the company's president says. Gone are the old designs—all of them. In their place are six new styles that... More »

MORE ABOUT:
fashion • jeans • Gap • denim • Jay-ZTV • designer fashion

Skinny Jeans Craze Puts
the Squeeze
on Guys

Style trumps comfort as trend hits not-so-hip

Jul 6, 09 12:02 PM CDT
(Newser) - The market for skinny jeans is expanding, as more and more men looking to show off their assets are pouring themselves into tight fitting styles, the Wall Street Journal reports. But as they target a crowd beyond the usual hipsters, skaters, and hip-hoppers, manufacturers are giving customers a bit of... More »

MORE ABOUT:
fashion • pants • jeans • clothing • Gap • trend • skinny jeans • women's issues • Levi Strauss

 How You 
 Can Shop 
 —and Help 
 the World 

A list of retail strategies to do good while you buy

Jun 24, 09 7:34 PM CDT
(Newser) - Want to do some shopping and do some good—at the same time? Sandy Stonesifer, writing for Slate, offers some ways to buy for the betterment of humanity:
  • Go for products that donate a portion of proceeds to charity—like Product (Red) iPods, which give to the Global Fund,
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
philanthropy • shopping • eBay • iPod • charity • online shopping • retail shopping • Gap • Product (Red) • Goodshop • TOMS • Nest • Aid to Artisans • Global Exchange • women's issues

MARKETS

 Stocks Mixed on Retail News 

Wal-Mart falters, but Sears posts strong forecast

Jan 8, 09 3:32 PM CST
(Newser) - Stocks ended mixed today amid largely negative retail news and nervousness on unemployment, MarketWatch reports. Investors were shaken by poor December earnings and a reduced quarterly forecast posted by Wal-Mart, which managed to perform well through 2008. The Dow fell 27.24 to close at 8,742.46. The Nasdaq,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Microsoft • Dow Jones • Nasdaq • tech sector • Sears • S&P 500 • Wal-Mart • Gap • GameStop • financial crisis

 For Retail Workers, 
 Big Bro Is Tracking 

Computer systems help max productivity, cut costs

Sep 10, 08 6:37 AM CDT
(Newser) - As a sluggish economy pinches retailers, many are now turning to computer programs to track employee productivity, the Wall Street Journal reports. At Ann Taylor stores, a computer system calculates average sales per hour, units sold, and dollars per transaction —then automatically schedules the best workers during the store’... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Williams Sonoma • productivity • retail stores • Gap • Limited • Ann Taylor

Former Retail Workers Stuck
in Folding Mode

Gap-style training creates a generation
of neat freaks

Jul 9, 08 9:49 AM CDT
(Newser) - Countless current and former retail workers have an obsessive urge to fold clothes ironed into their brains, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Gap started the trend for tightly folded displays in the '80s and rivals quickly followed suit. A whole generation of retail alumni spent thousands of hours folding... More »

MORE ABOUT:
retail • clothing • The Gap • retail stores • Gap

Ditching TV Ads Helps Put Gap Back on Track

Clothing seller sees profit up 40% after cutting marketing costs

May 27, 08 10:27 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Gap's balance sheet is back in the black, helped along by its decision to stop spending on TV ads, Advertising Age reports. The clothing retailer slashed marketing spending by nearly a fifth in the first quarter and saw profits leap 40%, even as sales slumped. The Gap has switched... More »

MORE ABOUT:
retail • advertising • marketing • retail sales • clothing • advertising budgets • Gap • TV advertising

 March Retail Sales Fall Flat 

Easter partly to blame as chains fall short of expectations

Apr 10, 08 11:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - Retailers’ same-store sales were flat in March, due in part to an early Easter, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Thomson Financial Same Store Sales Index, projected to sink 0.1%, fell 1.1%, excluding Wal-Mart. Shoppers weren’t ready to buy for spring on the heels of winter, store... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Costco • Easter • gas prices • retail sales • Target • Wal-Mart • same-store sales • Thomson Financial Same Store Sales Index • Gap

Wal-Mart Leads Feb. Retail Rally

Overall sales jump doubles expectations, calms consumer spending fears

Mar 6, 08 10:47 AM CST
(Newser) - Big retailers showed unexpected signs of life in February, beating weak sales predictions to inject some hope into the market. Wal-Mart led the way, posting a 2.6% same-store increase, beating its own predictions of flat-to-2% growth. Overall, same-store sales climbed 1.9%, with more than half of retailers beating... More »

MORE ABOUT:
retail • Costco • JCPenney • Sam's Club • Macy's • consumer spending • Home Depot • retail sales • Target • Victoria's Secret • Sears • National Retail Federation • Wal-Mart • Abercrombie & Fitch • American Eagle • BJ's Wholesale Club • Thomson Financial Same Store Sales Index • Kohl's • Saks • Gap • Banana Republic • Limited • Buckle • Pacific Sunwear • Wet Seal • Aeropostale

11 Stories


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