JC Penney Sticking For Equality

June 5, 2012

The conservative anti-gay group One Million Moms (OMM) is back at it again -- and it’s no surprise the organization is targeting JC Penney. This time OMM has a problem with the department store’s Father’s Days ad, which features two dads and their children, ABC news reported.

The ad’s text says: "What makes Dad so cool? He’s the swim coach, tent maker, best friend, bike fixer and hug giver - all rolled into one. Or two." The photo shows real-life dads Todd Koch and Cooper Smith with their kids.

OMM, which most likely does not consist of one million moms, was extremely upset about the company’s ad and fired off a statement condemning JC Penney.

"It’s obvious that JCP would rather take sides than remain neutral in the culture war," OMM writes. "JCP will hear from the other side, so they need to hear from us as well. Our persistence will pay off! One day we will answer for our actions or lack of them. We must remain diligent and stand up for Biblical values and truth. Scripture says multiple times that homosexuality is wrong, and God will not tolerate this sinful nature."

The group has now started another boycott against the department store.

Back in May, OMM attacked the company’s ad for including lesbian moms in its Mother’s Day catalog. The organization resorted to their old tactics and asked their supporters to call and visit their local JC Penney store and complain to the store manager.

"Local managers are more likely to listen to your concerns and pass them along to the corporate office," the group says in a statement.

Additionally, OMM made national headlines in February when it called for a boycott of the department store after it hired comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres as its spokeswoman.

"Funny that JC Penney thinks hiring an open homosexual spokesperson will help their business when most of their customers are traditional families," the million (or so) moms write on their website. "DeGeneres is not a true representation of the type of families that shop at their store. The majority of JC Penney shoppers will be offended and choose to no longer shop there."

The group admitted defeat, however, in early March and called off the boycott and announced that it would no longer focus on getting DeGeneres fired and is moving on to other issues.

"But we have heard back from so many of our members," Monica Cole of One Million Moms said. "We have heard back from men and women -- not just moms -- saying they will no longer shop there at JC Penney, as long as Ellen DeGeneres is their spokesperson."

JC Penney spokesman Joseph Thomas talked to ABC News about the controversial issue.

"In celebration of Father’s Day, we’re proud that our June book honors men from diverse backgrounds who all share the joy of fatherhood," he said in an email.

A Joe My God reader emailed JC Penney and applauded the company for its stance on equality and received a heartwarming response.

"Dear JCP, I love you guys. I have never been into a JC Penney store, but after seeing your ad with Cooper Smith and Todd Koch and their kids ... well, you guys rock. I will find something to buy, just to say thank you!! sincerely, mike."

The clothing company responded back and said: "Dear Mike, Thank you for sharing with me your very valuable feedback. As a company founded on ’The Golden Rule,’ we consider it our top priority to treat each customer as we would like to be treated. Fair and Square. We are in the process of dreaming up new ways to make you love shopping with us and your comments help us move one step closer to becoming your favorite store! Hope you have a great weekend! Sincerely, Chris, Customer Care Representative."

For more information: http://www.edgenewengland.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=133769

Austin Grocery Retailers: The Ban of Disposable Bags

March 21, 2012

Although the Austin City Council passed one of the broadest bag bans in the nation early Friday , a few details remain to be ironed out.

Among them is what the penalties will be for refusing to comply with the law, which will prohibit retailers from offering single-use paper and plastic bags at all retail checkout counters starting in March 2013 . Penalties and details about who will enforce the ban will be worked out over the next few months, said Jennifer Herber , a spokeswoman for Austin Resource Recovery , the city's trash and recycling department.

Only retailers, not customers, will face penalties, she said.

The council also asked staffers to explore creating an "emergency option" that would allow shoppers who forget their reusable bags to pay a fee for disposable bags so that they aren't forced to buy more reusable bags. It's not clear exactly how that would work or whether it would simply become a loophole for customers to continue getting disposable bags.

Before and after the ban takes effect, the city plans to do a $2 million education campaign to alert shoppers to the change and remind them to bring reusable bags.

The council decided not to enact a fee on disposable bags before the ban takes effect. An interim fee had been discussed as a way to help shoppers and retailers begin to change their habits and prepare for a ban.

Austin is the first big Texas city to pass a bag ban. More than two dozen U.S. cities have bag laws, most of them prohibiting plastic bags and imposing a fee on paper.

"This is about Austin reclaiming its position as the national leader in environmental protection," said Rick Cofer , vice chairman of the city's Zero Waste Advisory Commission, who has pushed for a ban for five years. "This ordinance is forward-looking. It may have taken a few years, but we got it right."

The City Council came close to enacting a ban a few years ago but held off when a few big retailers agreed to try to voluntarily reduce the plastic bags they offer. Council members have said that program wasn't effective enough, and they asked city staffers last summer to begin writing up a ban.

Friday's vote came at about 2 a.m. , after a daylong council meeting. It was unanimous, even though a few council members recently had expressed reservations about the details of the ban, including the idea of prohibiting paper bags as well as plastic.

Austin retailers will still be able to offer reusable bags, defined as those made of cloth or durable materials, or thicker paper or plastic bags that have handles. Retailers will decide whether to charge for those bags, though most probably will because such bags tend to be costlier to make.

Exempt from the ban will be single-use bags for bulk foods, meat, fish, produce, newspaper delivery, dry cleaning and restaurant carryout foods, and bags that charities and nonprofits use to distribute food and other items.

During months of debate, members of the plastics industry argued that thin plastic bags can be easily recycled and reused, such as for lining trash cans and picking up pet waste. But city leaders said the bags often end up as litter or landfill trash and cause environmental harm. Activists urged the City Council to ban single-use paper bags as well, saying they take more energy to make and transport.

The Texas Retailers Association was the most vocal opponent of a ban, saying it would discourage retailers from continuing robust programs they've built to accept plastic bags and plastic packaging for recycling, meaning more of those goods could end up in landfills.

In recent weeks, ban opponents have urged the city to pursue a program that will allow Austin residents to put plastic bags in their curbside recycling carts. Currently, the city accepts paper but not plastic bags through its curbside collection and recycling program because plastic bags can damage recycling machinery.

Austin Resource Recovery Director Bob Gedert said adding plastic bags to the curbside program would be costly and difficult to carry out. He also said Austin should focus on reducing the number of plastic bags in circulation, not simply on continuing to make and recycle them.

About a dozen people stuck around late Thursday and early Friday to offer the council their thoughts on the ban; most were in favor of it.

"It's time for you folks to make history and take a huge step in cleaning up your community," said Robin Schneider , executive director of the nonprofit Texas Campaign for the Environment .

Chris Bailey told the council a ban could have unintended consequences.

"People act like the solution is to just create a crime out of an everyday activity, and all of a sudden, it will go away," he said. "You're trying to modify behavior by creating a punishment for it, and this has not been shown to work. ... I think common sense is being neglected here."

scoppola@statesman.com; 912-2939

Basics of the ban
Austin retailers will no longer be able to offer thin, so-called single-use paper and plastic bags starting in March 2013 .Retailers will offer only reusable bags made of cloth or durable materials, or thicker paper or plastic bags that have handles.Exemptions will include disposable bags used for bulk foods, meat, fish, produce, dry cleaning, newspaper delivery and restaurant carryout foods.

For more information, visit: http://www.statesman.com/news/local/austin-bag-ban-means-penalties-for-retailers-that-2213031.html?cxtype=rss_news&viewAsSinglePage=true

The Value of Michael Kors: $666 Million Man

March 13, 2012

Let's be clear: Michael Kors is on a pretty good run, but it's not that he hasn't had a few disappointments. He, for instance, is not a teacher in Ontario.

So far, they are the real winners in Kors' December IPO. The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board was the only named Kors investor that didn't sell stock in the public offering.

And so instead of getting $20 a share -- as Kors himself did when he sold off 5.8 million shares, raising $117 million -- the pension plan's 13.2 million shares are now worth $42.08 each.

Kors, sadly, sold at what now seems to be a low price.

He might have another chance to get a better valuation since he, along with chief executive officer John Idol and backers Silas Chou and Lawrence Stroll, also has a stake in the Michael Kors operations in China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, which were not part of the IPO.

And he has steady employment.

The designer's contract gives him a job for life, an annual salary of $2.5 million and creative control over products bearing his name, assuming he can stay on the right side of "commercially reasonable." (The Wall Street types apparently don't approve of art for art's sake.) Kors is also eligible for a bonus and certain "perquisites" including life insurance, health club membership, car and driver for business purposes and tax services.

It's not the deal scored by Tommy Hilfiger -- who received 1.5 percent of U.S. revenues over $48 million when his company was public -- but it seems to be enough for Kors to keep the heat on.

If he does have to dip into the piggybank, he still owns 15.8 million shares of the company that bears his name, or 8.3 percent of those outstanding. On paper, that's worth $666.8 million, so he could always buy half a million of his $1,295 shearling racing jackets to keep warm.

That's something, at least.

For more information, visit: http://www.wwd.com/fashion-blogs/michael_kors_the_666_million_m-12-02

A Boost in Spending at Retail Stores and Malls

March 13, 2012

A Boost in Spending at Retail Stores and Malls

March 13, 2012

Crocs Creating Stepping Stones For Their Comeback

February 15, 2012

Crocs Inc announced its expansion into licensing, providing opportunities for the Crocs brand to extend beyond footwear. The company has signed licensing agreements with key global and regional manufacturers for products ranging from apparel to sunglasses and other accessories.

“Licensing presents an opportunity to leverage one of our most valuable assets – the global power of the Crocs brand - by associating it with best-in-class products that go beyond footwear,” said Mike DeBell, Vice President of Global Sales. “More than 200 million pairs of Crocs shoes have been sold, in more than 90 countries around the world. That’s powerful testimony to the connection forged with consumers by the Crocs brand. Through strong international and regional licensing partners, we plan to extend the power of our brand and make new consumer connections.”

The first non-footwear Crocs-branded products included a line of adult and children’s socks from Sock and Accessories Brands, which launched in the holiday 2011 season. These are available in North America through wholesale and retail channels. Crocs-branded socks, produced by Intersocks, will also be available throughout European markets.

Crocs also entered an agreement with Accessory Exchange, which is producing a variety of Crocs-branded accessories for men, women and children, in several global regions. Accessory Exchange Crocs-branded products include hats, bags, backpacks, socks and gloves that are available now at Crocs retail stores and Crocs.com.

In April 2012, the Crocs brand will extend to children’s apparel through an agreement with the A Group. The children’s apparel will be available in 46 countries around the globe and distributed through retail and wholesale channels. Crocs-branded sunglasses and sunglass accessories also will launch in May 2012. Eye King, LLC is producing sunglasses for adults and youth for retail and wholesale distribution in the U.S. and Canada.

Through a partnership with ICER Brands, Crocs Professional Footwear Division will build on the loyal following of medical professionals with the introduction of Crocs-branded scrubs. This new medical gear is available now through specialty stores and online.

Finally, Paramount, a sports licensee, recently kicked off Collegiate and MLB licensed footwear for the brand, which is available now.

“As we continue to explore these and other new collaborations, I am confident our license partners will help us grow and spread our brand promise of delivering products with profound comfort, fun and innovation,” continued DeBell.

A world leader in innovative casual footwear for men, women and children, Crocs Inc, offers several distinct shoe collections with more than 250 styles to suit every lifestyle.

For more information, visit: http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/company-news/crocs-inc/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=108076

How Are You Retaining Customers?

February 13, 2012

Love just isn't enough anymore. In brand relationships, good customer service, high customer satisfaction and even professed brand loyalty won't keep consumers from ditching a product for the competition. In fact, more than half of U.S. consumers did so last year.

A global study by Accenture found that even though consumers are more satisfied with customer service than ever before, they are switching brands at a high rate.

The survey, conducted over the web in September and October 2011, queried more than 10,000 consumers to measure customer satisfaction across key attributes in 10 different industries. It found that while satisfaction increased for all those service attributes, an astounding two-thirds of respondents -- 66% -- reported they switched brands in the past year because of a bad customer experience. While the U.S.-only percentage of switchers was lower in 2011, at 51%, it is still significant and an increase over the previous year.

"Switching is something that's here to stay, said Robert Wollan, global managing director, Accenture customer relationship management. "Consumers have become accustomed to switching when the service or product isn't meeting their needs."

What is new is the big uptick in satisfaction, with increases ranging from 5% to 7% in one year, depending on the category. Consumers are happier, for instance, with shorter wait times (33% are satisfied compared to 27% last year); the ability to solve issues without having to speak to someone (38% satisfied, up from 33%); and the ability to resolve an issue by speaking to just one person (39% compared to 32%).

So what's going on -- shouldn't happier customers mean more loyal customers? Not necessarily. About one-fourth (24%) of consumers characterize themselves as brand loyal, while an almost equal number (23%) describe themselves as having no loyalty at all. As Mr. Wollan pointed out, not only are consumers now used to switching brands, there is a third factor on the increase that may also help explain the trend: the rise in customer expectation.

About 44% said they expect more, or much more, than they did last year from the brands with which they do business. In 2008, 31% said they expected more than the year before.

"We think the attributes we ask about -- wait times and talking to just one person to resolve issues -- have become table stakes," Mr. Wollan said.

Today's savvy digital customers expect polite and knowledgeable employees or convenient customer-service hours. And while they appreciate and are satisfied with those things, it's not going to stop them from taking their business elsewhere.

Also on the rise is partial switching, defined as when a consumer keeps a brand, but also adds another in the same category, such as buying a second mobile phone from a different provider. Partial switching in 2011 increased in all 10 industries Accenture tracks, from retail and consumer electronics to travel and tourism and banking. That's not only lost business, but more importantly, a loyalty lapse that opens a door to a new brand.

For more information, visit: http://adage.com/article/news/brand-love-satisfaction-shoppers-faithful/232680/

How Are You Retaining Customers?

February 13, 2012

Love just isn't enough anymore. In brand relationships, good customer service, high customer satisfaction and even professed brand loyalty won't keep consumers from ditching a product for the competition. In fact, more than half of U.S. consumers did so last year.

A global study by Accenture found that even though consumers are more satisfied with customer service than ever before, they are switching brands at a high rate.

The survey, conducted over the web in September and October 2011, queried more than 10,000 consumers to measure customer satisfaction across key attributes in 10 different industries. It found that while satisfaction increased for all those service attributes, an astounding two-thirds of respondents -- 66% -- reported they switched brands in the past year because of a bad customer experience. While the U.S.-only percentage of switchers was lower in 2011, at 51%, it is still significant and an increase over the previous year.

"Switching is something that's here to stay, said Robert Wollan, global managing director, Accenture customer relationship management. "Consumers have become accustomed to switching when the service or product isn't meeting their needs."

What is new is the big uptick in satisfaction, with increases ranging from 5% to 7% in one year, depending on the category. Consumers are happier, for instance, with shorter wait times (33% are satisfied compared to 27% last year); the ability to solve issues without having to speak to someone (38% satisfied, up from 33%); and the ability to resolve an issue by speaking to just one person (39% compared to 32%).

So what's going on -- shouldn't happier customers mean more loyal customers? Not necessarily. About one-fourth (24%) of consumers characterize themselves as brand loyal, while an almost equal number (23%) describe themselves as having no loyalty at all. As Mr. Wollan pointed out, not only are consumers now used to switching brands, there is a third factor on the increase that may also help explain the trend: the rise in customer expectation.

About 44% said they expect more, or much more, than they did last year from the brands with which they do business. In 2008, 31% said they expected more than the year before.

"We think the attributes we ask about -- wait times and talking to just one person to resolve issues -- have become table stakes," Mr. Wollan said.

Today's savvy digital customers expect polite and knowledgeable employees or convenient customer-service hours. And while they appreciate and are satisfied with those things, it's not going to stop them from taking their business elsewhere.

Also on the rise is partial switching, defined as when a consumer keeps a brand, but also adds another in the same category, such as buying a second mobile phone from a different provider. Partial switching in 2011 increased in all 10 industries Accenture tracks, from retail and consumer electronics to travel and tourism and banking. That's not only lost business, but more importantly, a loyalty lapse that opens a door to a new brand.

For more information, visit: http://adage.com/article/news/brand-love-satisfaction-shoppers-faithful/232680/

E-Commerce on the Rise

February 13, 2012

E-Commerce on the Rise

February 13, 2012