Grocery Shopping in China
By KOPIN TAN|MORE ARTICLES BY AUTHOR
Big food retailers in China face daunting challenges, not the least of which is the rising cost of labor; but they also serve a vast and growing and hungry market
Jennifer Lopez took some time off her busy schedule and her American Idol duties to treat her new guy, Casper Smart, to a birthday shopping spree followed by dinner in California on Friday. Smart is one year older now, making him all-grown-up at the ripe age of 25. Hes edging in on his girlfriends 42 years, that is until her next b-day.
Lopez made sure to send her love to her main man on Twitter, affectionately calling him Bear, before the duo were spotted shopping together in Beverly Hills. Wonder what was on his birthday list?! Perhaps a statement-making watch, some cool kicks or hot new clothes… or maybe they were even scoping out a new dress for JLo.
Speaking of, Jennifer Lopez cut a sexy profile in a figure-hugging frock when she and Casper Smart headed out for dinner on Friday evening at Cecconis in West Hollywood. She definitely upstaged her man–style-wise and, of course, fame-wise–with her sexy aqua blue number that played off her bronzed, glowing skin beautifully.
As for the tattoo-heavy Smart, he was his standard edgy self with a newsboy cap, studs and what looked to be a leather jacket-like affair. He was polite and smart enough to tweet to his followers: Thank u all so much for the birthday wishes. I really appreciate them and u!!!
Just Jared has a round of photos snapped of Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart on their dinner date. But it isnt all play and no work for this couple who really seems to be heating up in the romance department despite the circumstances (JLos divorce from Marc Anthony, her young twins and that cougar factor). They met while working and recently recorded a sultry music video for Lopezs Dance Again song, where Smart is shirtless–naturally.
Quincy Apparel, a New York start-up founded by two Harvard Business School grads, is attempting to change the way women shop for clothes — by asking for their bra size.
The concept represents a huge shift in the way women shop for clothes. Currently, womens sizes are based on standards created in the 1940s, according to Christina Wallace, Quincy Apparels cofounder and CEO. But Wallace said a lot has changed.
Women are taller, and there are a larger variety of shapes. Most importantly, we are definitely bustier, she said.
The idea for creating a new line of clothing, based on bra size and sold over the internet, came after Wallace and her cofounder, Alex Nelson, graduated and were shopping for business suits.
We were both misfits, but the more we talked to friends, we found that everyone considered themselves to be a misfit, she said. If no one can wear these clothes, our bodies arent the problem.
Traditionally, men buy suits based on their inseam and waist size and have jackets tailored to fit their shoulders and arm length. In contrast, women buy suits off the rack in dress sizes and are rarely offered tailoring as part of the sale.
Men are astounded that this is how womens clothes are sized, Wallace said.
Last week, the site started selling five different jacket varieties, ranging from a two-button sandstone blazer to a more hip burnt orange one-button wool jacket. It has plans to expand soon to blouses, dresses, pants and skirts.
I think it has been interesting to raise [capital] for this, Wallace said. We are going to middle-aged investors who dont get the market. They go ask their wives, who havent been in our market for awhile, and so theres been some questioning as to whether this is a problem or a need. We need to launch and show the need.
Read more: AllThingsDigital
MINNEAPOLIS, Apr 05, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
Grocery Shopping Network (GSN)
is pleased to announce the appointment of David Carlick as Board
Chairman, effective immediately. Richard Andolshek, GSN’s current Board
Chairman, will remain on the board as Vice-Chairman and will continue to
assist in guiding the company toward future successes.
“After serving as a board director on GSN’s board for several years, I
am very familiar with the company and its needs,” said David Carlick,
Chairman of the Board of GSN. “I look forward to assuming a leadership
position within the company and driving our future growth initiatives
alongside Richard.”
Mr. Carlick has a long history in digital media, including co-founding
DoubleClick, which was later acquired by Google, and serving as
Executive Vice President at Poppe Tyson, where he was co-leader of the
interactive group, poppe.com, which merged with Modem Media to go public
as Modem Media Poppe Tyson (NASDAQ MMPT, since acquired by Digitas).
“Grocery Shopping Network is a great company and I have enjoyed playing
a leading role in our growth initiatives and successes,” said Richard
Andolshek, Vice-Chairman of GSN. “As Vice-Chairman, I will continue to
work closely with the company and continue to play a critical role in
developing the business.”
Mr. Carlick has also served as an independent director at Ask Jeeves
(acquired by IAC in 2005), BigBook (acquired by Verizon in 1999) and
I/Pro, the Nielsen-backed online measurement company that was acquired
by CMGI. During his ten year tenure as a Managing Director at
VantagePoint Venture Partners, he was instrumental in a number of
investments, including Grocery Shopping Network and Intermix Media
(parent of MySpace), where he was Chairman through the acquisition in
2005 by News Corp.
“David is a great fit for the company and can offer valuable insights
into how we position the company and develop the business,” said Scott
Lutz, CEO of GSN. “Richard has been a great leader and has led the
company to achieve great successes. We look forward to leveraging both
David and Richard’s extensive experience as we continue to grow and
expand our brand.”
Currently, Mr. Carlick is also a director with Effective Measure,
Mediasmith, ReachLocal and TouchTunes. He holds a B.S. in business
accounting from San Jose State University.
About the Grocery Shopping Network (GSN):
The Grocery Shopping Network, Inc. offers digital shopper planning and
marketing tools for grocery retailers, Consumer Packaged Goods, and most
importantly, shoppers. GSN’s goal is to provide a more valuable digital
planning tool for grocery shoppers that will make their shopping
experience (whether online or in-store) significantly better. The result
of this improved shopper engagement is increased loyalty and revenue to
their grocer, and more effective marketing vehicles for the Consumer
Packaged Goods firms that partner with them. GSN’s expanding suite of
shopper solutions includes integrated website, mobile, social and
digital advertising software and programs designed to stand alone or
enhance and extend existing efforts. For additional information, please
visit our website at
www.groceryhopping.net .
SOURCE: Grocery Shopping Network, Inc.
for Grocery Shopping Network:
William Berger, 847-563-8349
Harrison Communications Company
williamb@harrisonpublicrelations.com
Copyright Business Wire 2012
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West go shopping at Jeffreys in NYC. April 5, 2012.
Credit: Jackson Lee/Splash News Online
MARY ESTHER Sheri Newell of Crestview pushed a loaded cart through Target on Thursday morning.
With this years Easter holiday falling two weeks earlier than last year, she was down to the wire in her quest to fill her kids baskets.
I actually forgot about it, she said, smiling.
She likened her spending for Easter to Valentines Day. Neither holiday was on the scale of Christmas, she said.
Still, the National Retail Foundation marks the Easter holiday as a boost for many merchants. Spending this year was expected to jump 11 percent over last year, despite a flat economy.
Candy is the biggest basket stuffer, with more than $2 billion expected to be spent nationally on chocolate, jelly beans and other sweet treats. Movies, particularly those with an Easter theme, also are popular with seasonal shoppers.
And people still dress up for Easter Sunday, with floppy hats making a comeback, according to Tina Weaver, manager of Mary Esthers Target. But gone are the pastel colors that used to mark the spring holiday.
At Target, its the color explosion, she said. Its a lot of bold colors this year. And thats what people are looking for.
A Crestview woman, who asked that her name not be used, also was shopping at the last minute for her two young sons.
She said that she and her husband try to downplay the commercial aspect of Easter; they buy just enough so their sons dont think of themselves as abnormal for not celebrating. They buy Easter baskets and eggs, which they fill with money so the kids can buy themselves a treat after Easter.
Were trying to get away from the sugar this year, she said. Kids consume too much sugar.
Metro Goldwyn Mayer has begun shopping its interests in 25 MGM-branded international TV channels after the companys new management decided they are not part of its core business, according to sources.
Lets Go Grocery Shopping With Patch
Every week, Patch checks out what is going on at the local supermarkets and whats on sale there.
One of Wales major shopping centres has reported record retail sales as business leaders say there are signs of encouragement after a difficult year.
St Davids, which opened in Cardiff city centre in 2009, said sales were up 9% in 2011/12, with over 38 million visitors coming through its doors.
South Wales Chamber of Commerce welcomed the figures and said there was cautious optimism from members.
However, parts of Wales were still struggling to emerge from the downturn.
Graham Morgan, director of South Wales Chamber of Commerce, said: I would say its split into two dynamics.
The centre of Cardiff seems to be getting a fairly solid support not only from south Wales, but with St Davids, people from the south west of England visit, he said.
Thats a huge success and is having spin offs for the rest of Cardiff.
RETAIL Shopping center occupancies up US shopping centers had a net gain in occupancies in the first quarter amid a slow economic recovery, according to property-research company Reis. Occupied space rose by a net 2….