The Thread

March 25, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (2)

Trading guru and Mad Money host Jim Cramer calls Costco "the best retailer in America."

To check out Cramer's interview yesterday with Costco president and ceo Jim Sinegal, click here.

March 24, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

When CIT Group, one of the industry's largest factors, breifly closed the window on transactions with Linens 'n Things in the opening weeks of 2008, it was a cause for concern. Now comes news that CIT Group itself is on wobbly ground, owing to its 2005 decision to get into the sub-prime loan buisness.

CIT's tapping $7.3 billion in bank credit and looking to sell off some of the ancillary businesses it entered into...Read More

February 21, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Fascinating piece in the Wigan Observer about a project to build a Chinese textiles city in the United Kingdom. Reason: market proximity.

The project is expected to create more than 1,000 manufacturing and clerical jobs. It's to serve as a hub for China's apparel and textiles mills looking to expand trade in Europe. The deal is part of a push by the British government to boost bilateral trade with China by 50%. Developer Commercial Group Properties worked with the China Chamber of Commerce to bring off the deal. In the development, it will partner with Chinamex, a Chinese government-owned trading company.

Wigan, located in the northwest of England, was once ...Read More

January 31, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

Me either. But the Los Angeles Times was on the scene and brought back a report with pictures.

And while you're in the market for show pix, check out our galleries featuring introductions at the Heimtextil (scroll down) and Las Vegas  shows.

January 29, 2008 | Link This | Email this | Comments (0)

The numbers from Heimtextil 2008 have arrived, and they show that the number of visitors climbed to 86,378 -- that's up 554 heads from 2007.

My first reaction: yeah, right. But a representative from Messe Frankfurt noted that the numbers are audited by AUMA, a division of the German federal government that strictly certifies stats for all that large trade fair venues, or messes. 

U.S. attendance was off by about 5%. Big growth came in attendance from Arab countries. The contract area is apparently also pulling a lot of traffic.

I've been promised a list of attending retailers. When once arrives, I'll add it here.