ADVISORY/Experts Available to Discuss Back-to-School Retail Forecast.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

TOPIC: Retail industry analysts are expecting a lackluster back-to-school shopping season due to the economy, according to an article by Reuters. Experts say most consumers will likely buy back-to-school items later in the season at cheaper prices as opposed to when the fall fashions first hit the racks in the summer months. In an effort to increase sales last year, some retailers aligned their back-to-school merchandise with the fall season, but still saw little impact.

EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Mary Dougherty, of Nicole Miller Philadelphia at The Bellevue, is an expert on ladies' fashion, trends, retailing, and fashion industry. PR: Andrea Riso, 215-875-0429, [e-mail]

Scott Friend, president of ProfitLogic, has a deep knowledge of the retail industry. He's worked with companies such as: JCPenney, Casual Male, KB Toys, Meijer Stores, Marshalls, TJX, Ann Taylor, Gymboree, Macy's West, etc. He can provide insight into: how retailing has changed over the years, current trends and technologies such as optimization and merchandising systems that provide quick ROI and improve profitability, the dynamics of a retail organization, current merchandising processes and practices, why store growth is no longer a viable way to increase profitability, change management, markdowns, assortment planning, buying and allocating. PR: Jakki Glivicky, 617-374-5959, [e-mail]

Professor Daniel Horne, of Providence College, has extensive knowledge of the retailing industry. He has developed an expertise in the use of gift certificates both from a consumer perspective and in the development of retail gift certificate programs. He has worked with a number of organizations that develop motivation and incentives programs (some of which began by using gift certificates as their operational "carrot"). 401-865-2722

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.

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