Nokia announces launch of Flagship London Store at 240 Regent Street

Nokia today announced that its pioneering UK Flagship Store on London's Regent Street will open its doors to the public on 8th February 2008.

Designed to set the benchmark in technology retailing practice, through the creation of an upscale, high-energy environment, Nokia Regent Street promises the ultimate shopping experience for Nokia's wide portfolio of mobile devices.

Simon Ainslie, Managing Director Nokia UK commented, "In championing our brand, Nokia Regent Street will be dynamic, original and beautifully designed. The store will provide world-class customer service and deliver a unique experience enhancing our customer's lifestyles."

"The Nokia Flagship Store pioneers new technologies and techniques, setting a new standard in the retail world as a whole. At Nokia Regent Street, everyone will be able to test the latest Nokia mobile phones and multimedia computers, and learn about Nokia's range of services and technologies in a comfortable, cutting-edge environment."

To promote the launch of Nokia Regent Street, Nokia has created Meet London, a unique exhibition that brings together the creative talent of four high profile Londoners representing film, music, sport and art to produce a series of one-off, intimate portraits that capture London in 2008. The portraits from Jaime Winstone, Dizzee Rascal, Darren Bent and Rankin will be displayed in store from 7 February 2008. They will also be available to view on Nokia's Meet London online gallery - www.meet-your-city.com.

Nokia Regent Street is the eighth store to be launched as part of the Nokia Flagship Store strategy, which aims at covering major locations globally.

The entrance to the two story experience is marked with the vivid "Nokia blue". Flooring and ceiling uses Finnish inspired Silvered Birch while the interior is distinguished by the use of perimeter LCD screens and translucent walls, back-lit by mood-evoking LEDs.

Inside the store, three intuitive zones supported by specially trained staff will simplify the purchasing process and encourage interaction with consumers. The 'Product Zone', featuring Nokia's live product portfolio where the newest devices form the focus for in-store marketing and the 'Solutions Zone' is designed to showcase the complete mobile experience encompassing music, navigation, video, imaging, Internet, gaming and mobile office capabilities.

Once consumers have seen and interacted with the latest Nokia products available, the 'Support Zone' provides a quieter space, allowing customers to set up their new device, look at service provider options and try out any new mobile enhancements.

The Regent Street location will also house Nokia's prestigious luxury line, Vertu, in a uniquely styled lounge. To compliment the handcrafted luxury nature of the range, the Vertu lounge interior uses low-iron, back painted glass, Carrera marble and high polished stainless steel.

Each Nokia device will be connected to the Internet and paired with supporting products such as stereo speakers, headsets, LCD screens, photo printers and laptops to demonstrate the complete mobile lifestyle which Nokia's range of devices can provide.

The Flagship Stores project forms the top end of Nokia's retail strategy that includes more than 350,000 retail outlets globally. All of these outlets remain essential to Nokia's on going success and continue to be the key sales channels.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Nokia Flagship Stores are owned, managed and operated by Nokia.

All staff at the new Nokia Flagship store are graduates of the award winning Nokia Academy program, making them experts in providing accurate and personalised advice to help solve all consumer queries and concerns.

Nokia Flagship Store locations:

- Moscow - Tverskaya Street - launched on December 9th 2005
- Chicago - North Michigan Avenue - launched on June 24th 2006
- Hong Kong - Causeway Bay - launched on July 17th 2006
- Helsinki - Aleksanterinkatu - launched on August 19th 2006
- New York - Fifth Avenue - launched on September 9th 2006
- Mexico City - Polanco District - launched on December 14th 2006
- Shanghai - Nanjing Road East - launched on 29th October 2007
- London - Regent Street - to open on 8th February 2008
- London - Heathrow Terminal 5 - to open in March 2008

About Nokia

Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. Nokia makes a wide range of mobile devices and provides people with experiences in music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games and business mobility through these devices. Nokia also provides equipment, solutions and services for communications networks.

Source : Nokia Communications

Arvind Mills to implement Oracle ERP for its retail outlets

Textile major Arvind Mills Limited has decided to implement Oracle' s enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to manage its growing chain of retail outlets. The project cost is estimated at around Rs10 crore.

Arvind Mills has two retail store formats, Mega Mart Outlet Centres (large discount stores), and the smaller Mega Mart stores. For the short term, Arvind Mills is looking to open eight large stores in cities such as Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai, while it plans to expand its smaller stores to tier II cities.

With each store requiring an investment of around Rs4 crore, the total outlay of Rs400 crore would be funded from internal accruals. As per Sanjay Lalbhai, managing director of Arvind Mills, last year retail stores contributed Rs100 crore to the top line of the company, and a 6 per cent profit. He said the Mega Mart Outlet Centre has been positioned as a discount store, with the tag line 'Sale on. 365 days.'

According to J Suresh, CEO, Arvind Brands & Retail, which is the retail arm of Arvind Mills, the company plans to have 30 large discount stores and 200 Mega Marts across 100 cities, and plans to achieve revenues of Rs2,000 crore by 2012. Presently, the company has 75 outlets in 25 cities.

Unlike the smaller Mega Mart stores that sell in-house brands, the large stores stock other brands as well. K E Venkatachalapathy, business head, Mega Mart says that in order to provide value to other brand owners, the company has tied-up with a minimum number of brands while offering sizeable shelf space of around 200 to 250 sq ft.

Source : http://www.domain-b.com/companies/companies_a/Arvind_Mills/20080201_arvind_mills.html

Pantaloon Retail Announces Launch of Big Bazaar in Barrdhaman City

Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited, a part of the Future Group, today announced the launch of its flagship hypermarket retail store – Big Bazaar – in Barrdhaman city. With this launch the company has further enhanced its reach to the masses in Eastern India having 14 Big Bazaar stores, while for the country; the count goes upto 80 stores.


Big Bazaar is widely known for its unbelievable pricing and unmatched offers throughout the year. Spread over an area of 62,000 sq.ft, Big Bazaar located at Barddhaman Arcade, 66 B B Ghosh Road, will cater to every single household needs for the citizens of the city and its neighbourhood towns.

Says Mr. Sandeep Marwaha, Head Operation, East Zone, Pantaloon Retail (I) Ltd., "Big Bazaar will bring convenience plus rich shopping experience to the people of Barrdhaman. We are a consumer-driven company and we ensure that all our Big Bazaar stores fulfills the needs of the entire household under one roof.

“Big Bazaar maintains stringent procurement norms and quality control measures to ensure quality products sold at every Big Bazaar stores. We are confident of our offerings both in quality and competitive pricing, which has earned us the trust of millions of family across the country, added Mr. Marwaha.”

Trusted by millions of family across the country, Big Bazaar will bring value to customers shopping, with its unmatched offers, discounts and unbelievable round the year promotions on all categories be it personal care products, garments, footwear, toys, home décor, home utilities, kitchen utilities, packed food, pulses, fruits or vegetables, groceries and many more.

About Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited

Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited is a leading retailer with a turnover of over Rs. 3550 crore for the financial year 2006-07. Headquartered in Mumbai, the company operates through primarily the ‘Lifestyle’ and ‘Value’ formats through multiple delivery mechanisms and lines of business — some of them being, fashion, food, general merchandise, home, leisure and entertainment, financial services, communications and wellness. The company has stores in 51 cities across the country, constituting over 6 million square feet of retail space. The company caters to the ‘Lifestyle’ segment through its 35 Pantaloons Stores and 5 Central Malls, as well as its other concepts. In ‘Value’ retailing it is present through 78 Big Bazaar hypermarkets, 113 Food Bazaars and other delivery formats.

Source : Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited

Cabela's posts Q4 2007 results, expects to open two stores

Cabela's Incorporated, the World's Foremost Outfitter of hunting, fishing, and outdoor gear, announced preliminary financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended December 29, 2007, as well as earnings guidance for fiscal 2008.

For the fourth quarter, Cabela's expects to report a 13.9% increase in total revenue, including a 3.3% increase in direct business revenue. Total retail store revenue is expected to increase 31.8%, including a 5.9% decline in same store sales. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter are expected to be in the range of $0.83 to $0.85.

For full-year 2007, total revenue is expected to increase 13.9% over 2006, with a 3.9% increase in direct business revenue. Total retail store revenue is expected to increase 27.2%, with a 1.2% decline in same store sales. Diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2007 are expected to be in the range of $1.29 to $1.31.

The Company's fourth quarter results were primarily impacted by a challenging retail environment which negatively impacted the Company's same store sales and to a lesser extent the Company's direct business. Additionally, productivity of some new stores did not meet expectations.

During 2008, the Company intends to significantly slow retail expansion and focus on improving the profitability of its existing operations. The primary focus of the Company during the year will be to improve:

• advertising strategy by using more targeted campaigns throughout its multi-channel model;

• retail productivity and same store sales through enhanced product assortment, streamlined flow of merchandise to its stores and reduced operating expenses;

• merchandise planning by reallocating retail store space by department by season and reducing unproductive inventory; and

• inventory management through better leveraging its existing technologies.

The Company expects to open two stores in 2008. One location will open in the second quarter, and another in the third quarter. Current plans call for two additional locations to be opened in 2009.

As a result of the decision to slow retail expansion and concentrate on improving the Company's existing operations, the Company now anticipates earnings per share for 2008 will grow at a mid-single digit rate. For 2008, capital expenditures, including purchases of marketable securities, are expected to be $110 million, as compared to approximately $376 million in 2007.

"During the fourth quarter, our top line was impacted by an overall challenging consumer environment," said Dennis Highby, Cabela's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Part of our strategy involves an ongoing review of our previously planned store openings to reconfirm our expectations.

Based upon these ongoing reviews and current economic conditions, we will pare our store openings in 2008 to just two of the previously planned retail stores. We expect to fund the 2008 expansion from our recently completed $57 million senior note offering and cash flows from operations. We will continue to develop our next generation store format, which is intended to improve return on invested capital and better serve our retail customers."

"While our fourth quarter results did not meet our expectations, we remain encouraged about the opportunities that lie ahead and our ability to perform in this challenging retail climate. We have developed a number of strategic initiatives for 2008 aimed at improving profitability, and we remain focused on successful execution of our plan," Highby said.

The Company is scheduled to release final financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended December 29, 2007, after the close of the market on February 21, 2008. A conference call to discuss the results will be held at 4:30 p.m. ET that same afternoon. The call will be hosted by Dennis Highby, President and Chief Executive Officer; and Ralph Castner, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Source : http://www.fibre2fashion.com