Just-Style

Li & Fung Ltd (494) - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

Sourcing giant Li & Fung further strengthened its own portfolio at the end of last week, when it acquired private label apparel supplier Visage Group. . The deal is a further sign of Hong Kong based Li & Fung's intention to grow a stable of worldwide businesses in addition to its sourcing activities for major brands and retailers. . It follows recent acquisitions of US based children's wear maker Wear Me Apparel and handbag importer Van Zeeland. 

Visage Group Ltd - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

Sourcing giant Li & Fung further strengthened its own portfolio at the end of last week, when it acquired private label apparel supplier Visage Group. . The deal is a further sign of Hong Kong based Li & Fung's intention to grow a stable of worldwide businesses in addition to its sourcing activities for major brands and retailers. . It follows recent acquisitions of US based children's wear maker Wear Me Apparel and handbag importer Van Zeeland. 

Li & Fung Ltd (494) - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

While most industry observers have been unanimous in their praise of Wal Mart's mega sourcing deal with Li & Fung, now that its full impact has had time to settle in there are some out there who are starting to question the retailer's true motivations.  . One of the biggest elephants in the room is where it leaves Wal Mart's recent pledges on sustainability Signing a $2bn deal with Li & Fung seems to be taking a big step away from plans rolled out last July to get its suppliers to complete a Sustainability Index calculating the full environmental costs of making every product on the retailer's shelves 

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

While most industry observers have been unanimous in their praise of Wal Mart's mega sourcing deal with Li & Fung, now that its full impact has had time to settle in there are some out there who are starting to question the retailer's true motivations.  . One of the biggest elephants in the room is where it leaves Wal Mart's recent pledges on sustainability Signing a $2bn deal with Li & Fung seems to be taking a big step away from plans rolled out last July to get its suppliers to complete a Sustainability Index calculating the full environmental costs of making every product on the retailer's shelves 

Coach, Inc. (COH) - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

China is the big opportunity for Coach, where current performance is outstripping even the company's own strong expectations. Here's what the company's CEO Lew Frankfort told analysts about the country where its 37 stores are seeing impressive double digit growth "The Chinese consumer loves Coach 

Sports Direct International plc (SPD) - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

Shareholders in two of the UK's biggest sports retailers were buoyed last week after Sports Direct posted a 39% hike in first half pre tax profit and rival JJB Sports named its new chief executive after nearly a year of searching. . The hiring of electronics executive Keith Jones, group retail director of DSG International, is a major relief for JJB Sports, which was dragged back from the brink of administration earlier this year. It also follows the unsettling exit of its previous boss, who was suspended after an investigation into the disposal of his stake in the company. 

Marks & Spencer Group plc (MKS) - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

UK retail giant Marks & Spencer last week ended months of speculation about who will take over the reins as its next chief executive with the surprise appointment of Marc Bolland, the boss of rival supermarket group Morrisons. . Bolland will join M&S , which he described as "one of the world's great brands" , next year, replacing Sir Stuart Rose who will step into the role of part time chairman. . M&S hopes its new CEO's strengths in marketing and international business will compensate for his lack of experience selling clothes. 

Hanesbrands Inc (HBI) - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

. One supplier that is particularly optimistic about its potential next year is Hanesbrands, which says it has signed distribution deals that should result in 5%, or $200m of sales growth, in 2010. . Target, Walmart, Macy's, Kohl's, Dollar General and JC Penney have all committed to space gains for Hanesbrands' men's underwear and intimate apparel lines like Bali, Playtex, Hanes and Barely There; while Walmart's plans to expand the Just My Size brand could provide an extra $75.0m in casualwear sales in 2010, growing to $150.0m over time. . Hanesbrands says the growth is not dependent on an increase in consumer spending, but will come from gains in shelf space allocation and distribution even if spending patterns continue at today's recessionary levels. 

Sara Lee Corporation (SLE) - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

. One supplier that is particularly optimistic about its potential next year is Hanesbrands, which says it has signed distribution deals that should result in 5%, or $200m of sales growth, in 2010. . Target, Walmart, Macy's, Kohl's, Dollar General and JC Penney have all committed to space gains for Hanesbrands' men's underwear and intimate apparel lines like Bali, Playtex, Hanes and Barely There; while Walmart's plans to expand the Just My Size brand could provide an extra $75.0m in casualwear sales in 2010, growing to $150.0m over time. . Hanesbrands says the growth is not dependent on an increase in consumer spending, but will come from gains in shelf space allocation and distribution even if spending patterns continue at today's recessionary levels. 

Aberdeen Group, Inc. - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

A recent report from Aberdeen Group showed that many executives still do not understand or believe in the value that Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems can provide to their businesses. Well now there's no excuse not to be fully up to date because Chad Jackson, vice president, product innovation and engineering at Aberdeen Group is one of the keynote speakers at the first PLM Bootcamp taking place later this week. . And best of all? 

Harte-Hanks, Inc. (HHS) - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

A recent report from Aberdeen Group showed that many executives still do not understand or believe in the value that Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems can provide to their businesses. Well now there's no excuse not to be fully up to date because Chad Jackson, vice president, product innovation and engineering at Aberdeen Group is one of the keynote speakers at the first PLM Bootcamp taking place later this week. . And best of all? 

PPR SA (PP) - Leonie Barrie at Just-Style

It's what you'd expect from a couple of old pals, but when employees of Adidas and Puma get together next Monday, it will end a 60 year old family feud. . In support of the Peace One Day initiative, workers from the two companies will put aside old grievances and shake hands, play football, and then watch the film "The Day After Peace", directed by the initiative's founder, Jeremy Gilley. . And in the process, they will end a family feud which has divided the medieval Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach since the 1940s, and a mysterious argument between brothers Rudolph and Adi Dassler, then makers of sports shoes under the Gebrueder Dassler Sportschuhfabrik banner.