Growth in Specialty Retail
From Gifts and Dec
We’ve all felt the resurgence in specialty retail and now the results are showing. Leading Investment Bankers for our industry; Tully and Holland, report that many specialty retailers are getting more financing, higher valuations and investor backing like we haven’t seen in many years.
As you might imagine, this does not hold true for every company. Investors are willing to put money where they see the brightest future. In particular the following three retail segments are seeing the most interest:
1. Discount / Value / Off-price
2. Health & Wellness
3. Internet Retailers
There has been a spike in merger and acquisition activity with many deep-pocketed retailers on the hunt for well positioned businesses. Stores of special interest to Gift companies include: StuffedAnimals.com, Beverly Hills Teddy Bear, Plow & Hearth, Hearth Song, Socks4Life.com and the Tall Girl Shop.
And the good news continues with four brick-and-mortar retailers enjoying successful public offerings in the third quarter of 2009 while another long list of retailers secured private funding.
You can read the full report at the following link:
With the right strategy, specialty retailers can move their businesses closer to these industry sweet spots — and manufacturers should be waiting there with the right product.
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Thais commented:
Bob spot on cotmenms about the show. We exhibited there, and had a terrific experience. The NRF really does put on a great show. But, as with everything, there's room for improvement. Limited wireless signal was frustrating. More focus on the people side would be great (I'm a bit biased of course). The reality is though that the big IT companies have the budgets to WOW with their booths and technologies. Stay tuned though people will rise up and rule the day again one day soon (after all, who's turning on all of those computer switches anyway?) Reply
