ADVISORY/Experts Available to Discuss Expected 5 Percent Increase in 2004 Retail Sales.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

TOPIC: The National Retail Federation announced retail sales are expected to increase by 5 percent in 2004, according to an article by Reuters. The trade group stated low inflation and increased household income will contribute to the increase in sales of apparel, electronics, furniture, and other general merchandise this year. Retail sales increased by 4.3 percent in 2003. Last year, luxury stores were more successful than discount stores. Experts said wealthy consumers who profited from the stock market assisted in the success of luxury stores in 2003.

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

Bruce Tait is a co-founder and managing partner Fallon Brand Consulting and is responsible for developing the company's intellectual capital and applying it wisely for their clients. He's a popular speaker at American Marketing Association functions and other conferences. His articles have been published in publications such as Brand Marketing, Admap, and Brand Packaging. He has also been quoted as a brand expert in The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, American Demographics and various industry journals. Since starting Fallon Brand Consulting with Dodie Subler in 2000, Tait has worked directly on a diverse set of clients that range from the high-end (DKNY and Gulfstream Aerospace) to middle America (Miller Brewing, Lee Jeans, SPEEDO and Holiday Inn) to highly technical B-to-B brands (Guidant Technologies and Nuveen Investments). The brand consulting unit works on a project basis to help clients develop their brand positioning ideas, portfolio architectures and new brand ideas. Tait can discuss brand influences contributing to the stellar 2003 holiday sales performances of upscale stores and products. He can also share insight into how mid-range and discount retailers are finding opportunities to offer products resembling luxury brands (such as White Barn's hot-selling fig candle). 612-677-1717 [e-mail] PR Contact: Heather Hofmeister 612-677-1717 [e-mail]

Pam Danziger is president of Unity Marketing, a marketing research and consulting firm that specializes in consumer insights for luxury marketers. Using its proprietary "why people buy" strategy, Danziger, company founder and author of Why People Buy Things They Don't Need (Ithaca, NY: Paramount Market Publishing, 2002), uncovers the motivations, desires and emotional needs that drive consumers to buy. Unity also publishes market research studies on the luxury market, art, candles, jewelry, home furnishings, garden, gifts and collectibles, cosmetics and personal care markets and pets market. Pam is currently working on her next book, Let Them Eat Cake: Marketing Luxury to the Masses (as well as the Classes), to be published early in 2004. 717-336-1600 [e-mail]

Professor Sanjay K. Dhar, of the University of Chicago, is an expert on retail sales promotion planning and merchandising, brand management, brand choice and retail price advertising. 773-702-3005 773-702-1234 (University PR Phone)

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

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