SBWire

In general terms retailing chains showed modest or even zero openings in the second half of the review period as operating conditions became more difficult in Venezuela. Severe restrictions on imports, rigid labour regulations and frequent shortages of electricity supply were some of the main issues affecting companies. Nevertheless, some players implemented aggressive investment plans and opened new large stores despite the adverse business environment. The department store Traki began operations as a low-price chain with a modest presence but in 2013 it was one of the largest retailers with 48 stores and a total selling area of 173,000 sq m. The chain is present in all Venezuela cities and offers a wide range of affordable products. One of its latest stores is situated on a high-traffic avenue at Caracas, the Capital City, and has an impressive size of 22,000 sq m, distributed over several floors. As mixed retailers is still a small channel with few players, Traki's expansion drove higher growth and development.

Throughout 2013, leading chains in home improvement and furniture and homewares continued to expand in the country. Opportunities and development across various regions is motivating the expansion of fascia that had previously been concentrated in the Colombian capital and other major cities. Homecenter reached new cities, such as Armenia and Cajica, Easy entered Medellin, Tugo opened in Barranquilla and is planning to have stores in Cali, Pereira, Bucaramanga and Villavicencio in the next few...

Barriers to imports implemented by the government seriously inconvenienced apparel specialist retailers in 2013. Many enterprises were unable to import or faced several barriers at customs which noticeably impacted sales and national and international companies have to explain to the Secretaria de Comercio the origin of their clothes. Some cases which received mass media attention include Spanish brand Zara, which states it has local production in Argentina and that only complementary merchandise is purchased from Brazil. A second example is the Cheeky brand, which claims that 70% of merchandise is produced in country and only 30% in China. Despite this, both companies, like the rest of apparel specialist retailers, face several obstacles and delays regarding the supply of merchandise to customers.

No matter how well maintained or how expensive the branded appliances may be, they are bound to malfunction or break down once in a while. These appliances are a great help to individuals because they make their jobs easier such as washing, cleaning, cooling or heating. Individuals usually choose the best appliance when it comes to residential appliances and it is not always compulsory to take all these appliances that belong to the same brand. And in case they break down, individuals make calls to their dealers and the dealers might or might not arrive in time. In such a case it is always smart to depend on an expert who can repair any kind of branded appliance with ease and effectiveness.

CBI Group, a San Antonio based turnkey office interior solutions provider that specializes in office design and space planning, reveals how offices can be ergonomically set up. It provides an ‘Ergonomic Checklist’ that can be used to help office owners complete a risk assessment for workstation tasks.

Justmorocco, a Florida, USA based company is offering unique and exotic Moroccan lamps for the consumers around the globe. The company is a prominent name when it comes to providing superior quality home decor options at cost-effective prices.

India – SaveDime.com is one of the leading coupon websites in India that has been connecting great retailers and brands with the online shoppers by updating them about the daily deals. The website has now unveiled a new series of coupon codes for online shoppers to get the best possible deal on the most popular online fashion and lifestyle retailers like Myntra, Snapdeal and Yebhi.

Scarves tend to be one of the most stylish accessories that can be worn with different outfits. They come in various designs like graphic, neutral, short, long, etc. They can be used for multiple uses like getting protection from cold and at the same time spicing up the outfit one is wearing. There are various ways in which one can tie them around and get a unique look. While buying the scarf it is important to have a look at their quality and the fabric used in making them. One of the sites that have been selling some well made scarves is Scarfdiva.

Fashion sense just got turned up a notch with the announcement of the Flairmen style of leather bags and wallets for men. Matching the toughness of the male gender, these luxury bags are made of high-end tough and durable soft-milled leather. The bags are the innovation of Flairmen Lifestyle Services Pvt. Ltd.; which was founded by Harshal D. Pawar and Sarita H. Pawar. The two designers are bent on developing a brand of top-tier lifestyle bags for men that deliver uncompromising elegance and style while catering to the real needs of men.

Consumers with busier lifestyles and less time to spend on transport shaped non-store retailing. As Ecuadorians become busier with more demanding jobs and the need to spend most of their leisure time with their family, they are willing to spend as less time as possible on shopping. In larger cities like Quito, Cuenca, Ambato, Manta and Guayaquil, where traffic jams are becoming a growing issue, transport to a store-based retailer can take about 40 minutes or more depending on the route and the transport method. Even on weekends (especially Saturdays) this is evident.

A lingering uncertainty and caution in consumer spending patterns continued to shape the performance of footwear in Denmark in 2013, meaning declining volume sales. Contrary to the trend displayed in apparel, Danish consumers remained reluctant to economise when it came to footwear and instead opted to renew less frequently.

They are more than just security blankets. They are hugs of weighted love.

The Solid Wood Cabinet Company is no stranger to supplying free designs for people who want to renovate their kitchen space. Whether customers are looking for granite countertops or kitchen cabinets in Philadelphia or NJ, the company always offers their expertise on the subject of redesign. The easy part of any kitchen redesign is choosing the cabinets. Once they are chosen, the hard part is thinking of ways to brighten up the space. This may include painting the interior of kitchen cabinets.

Homeowners who are searching for a more simplistic design for their kitchen renovation project this summer will find many advantages of installing shaker style cabinets. Originating in the 18th century, shaker cabinets have become the cabinet style of choice for many homeowners throughout the United States. They provide functionality as they make the kitchen area more liberal and open, giving families more space to perform activities together other than staring at each other during dinner.

The summer season is the time of year where many residents of Delaware are looking for ways to remodel their kitchen while staying under their budget. Not always the easiest of tasks, transforming your current kitchen space into the ultimate kitchen experience can be a daunting task. However, by offering ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinets in Delaware, The Solid Wood Cabinet Company offers tips on how to begin a kitchen remodeling project and stay under budget.

Burke Décor has an amazingly curated collection of mirrors to decorate any space. Customers can shop Burke Décor’s entire mirror boutique on its online retail store.

FavorQuinceaneraDress.com is an outstanding company offering a wide range of Quinceanera Dresses to the global customers. They have recently added a new range of Designer Quinceanera Dresses that are available at huge discounts of up to 70%. The new collection features different styles that are trendy and fashionable.

Finding the best breast pump can be a frustrating search without a little expert advice from mom reviewers. Now, after over a year of internet silence, the breast pump review site, Thebreastpumpreviews.com has reentered the online world with more customer reviews and a more user-friendly look.

Though today’s busy, always-on culture often loathes rest, the necessity of better sleep habits is becoming increasingly undeniable. Studies from recent years link sleep with multiple aspects of health, happiness and safety, continuously highlighting the importance of this basic function. Sparked by estimations that sleep problems affect up to 60% of Americans at some point, rest is becoming an important focus of public health campaigns as well.

Over 2013 discounters continued to account for a small share of grocery retailers, despite having gained some ground. The format has proven to be attractive and players, such as Surtimax and D1, continue expanding in popular neighbourhoods of urban areas with small premises, in order to open locations in places that offer easy access to customers.

Venezuelan culture favours fashionable clothes and modern looks. Most consumers, even in less affluent groups, wish to mirror international trends and always appearing in line with these is considered "up-to-date". Global brands, such as Tommy Hilfiger and Zara, are often preferred to local offers, not only by upper- and middle-income, but also by low-income consumers. Imitations are widely accepted as often it is not easy to differentiate the origin at first glance. Despite the general fashion sense, 2013 was a tough year for most Venezuelan families. Price increases on many goods and services surpassed growth in family incomes. Consumers had to cut expenditure on non-basic items, which meant avoiding visits to their favourite apparel stores and delaying the replacement of some clothes and footwear. They also traded down because prices of many middle- and high-quality items increased almost in line with the free market exchange rate, which recorded changes of 500% in 2013. As an overall result, many brands suffered lower volume sales.

Healthy and beauty products show a continuously growing consumer base, following the rising concern of health and beauty, especially in urban areas. To capture such potential market size, health and beauty specialist retailers continue to expand their presence nationwide. While leading beauty specialist retailers exclusively set up stores in shopping malls, prominent chemists/pharmacies are also available in stand-alone store format. Chemists/pharmacies witnessed the highest outlet growth among...

Homeshopping faces strong competition from other non-store channels, especially direct selling and internet retailing. Direct selling enjoys high penetration among Venezuelan households thanks to several players that offer a wide range of products and brands. Direct selling networks reach most middle- and low-income households. Although direct selling is particularly strong in beauty and personal care, consumers also find options for healthcare, apparel, home improvement and personal goods. Personal contact, advice and payment facilities are the advantages of direct selling, which fit well in the highly social culture in Venezuela.

Ladies understand that it is not the greatest idea to shower, sleep, cook, swim, or perform any other activities while wearing their jewelry, however, they still do. This may be due to the pride each woman takes in the jewelry her significant other bought for her. Whether a woman’s jewelry still has remnants of suntan lotion from the last beach trip, or loses its sparkle after baking cookies with the kids, Marks Jewelers has the answer. The historic jeweler of Philadelphia is pleased to announce they are now offering their Rhodium Spa Package for $99.95.

Kanoy Communications is pleased to announce they are now featuring a wide variety of firefighter equipment on their website including but not limited to radio straps, holsters, gear bags and suspenders. The company sells the highest-quality products and equipment available on the market today, including some of the most recognizable brands in the industry. When shopping for equipment on the company’s website, firefighters recognize that they will receive the most durable and reliable products that will make their job easier and safer.