Advertisers
In This
Issue

Shirley of Hollywood Specials

Gozooko

Studio Time

Tia Lyn 
Lingerie

Interludes Lingerie

Shirley of Hollywood

Coconut Grove

Tony Shoes

International Lingerie Shows

McPete Sales

The Underfashion Club

Questfinder

Quick Commerce Credit Cards

Internetgazette

Styles Fashion

Articles Of Interest

Holiday Retail Sales Beat Expectations
Page 1

 UK's December Retail Sales Up
Page 1

 December Retailers' 
Sales Review
Page 1

Business & Technology
 Page 2

2009 STOREROTICA Awards
 Page 2

 Buyers' Best Sellers
  Page 2

McPete Sez
Mailbag
  Page 2

Retail Sales to Grow 2.5%
Page 3

Hanesbrands Targets Growth
Page 3

Ask Kevin
Page 3

Ask Andy
Page 3

Bamboo Yarn
Page 4

Sexy Eco-Friendly Bra Hunt
Page 4

Subway to Ban No Pants Ride
Page 4

Student Wins Bra Unhooking
Contest
Page 5

The Buzz
Page 5

Reps Corner
Page 5

Shows & Events
Page 5

We Accept all
Major Credit Cards for Advertising

Foreign Exchange Rates

International Size Charts

Put my Banner
on your Web-site,
Click here and Link it to
www.mcpetesez.com

                                      Page 3      
Retail Sales to Grow 2.5%
US retail sales will rise 2.5% during 2010 as the nation’s economy shows signs of improvement, according to forecasts from the National Retail Federation (NRF).
According to the organization's quarterly Retail Sales Outlook report, the housing market and employment are “beginning to show positive signs”, in turn boosting consumer confidence.
The projected 2.5% rise, which does not include the automobile market, fuel stations and restaurants, would reverse a 2.5% retail decline during 2009.
“As we continue to see signs of improvement throughout the US economy in 2010, overall sentiment will begin to lift, making way for slight increases in consumer spending,” said NRF chief economist Rosalind Wells.
“While we still expect shoppers to continue to be frugal with their discretionary spending, retailers will soon be able to reap the benefits of leaner, smarter inventories and a year and a half of pent-up consumer demand.”

                    
6/12 
DR-CAFTA Apparel Show
This year's Guatemala Apparel Sourcing Show is promoting the Central American region as 'The right time, the right place for sourcing today!'
The event, which takes place from March 23-25 in Guatemala City, provides an opportunity for buyers, suppliers and industry executives to look at the area's dynamic textile and apparel industry - from machinery and yarn producers to full-package solutions.
Participants can also arrange factory tours to see first-hand the range of production capabilities in the region.
Flexible order sizes, full-package solutions from yarns to packaging, close proximity to the US market, and the ability to produce a range of garments including high fashion are just some of the region's advantages.
Also important is its duty-free treatment under CAFTA-DR, the US-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement.
The three-day show also will include academic seminars featuring renowned industry experts.

Hanesbrands Targets Growth
Apparel group Hanesbrands is targeting increased earnings growth in 2010 after full-year profits were slashed 60% to US$51.3m.
Sales fell 7% to $3.9bn, the company said, despite a 1% increase in adjusted fourth quarter net sales to $988.7m.
Hanesbrands posted a fourth quarter loss of $1.1m, compared with a profit of $17.9m a year ago, with higher costs a strong factor behind the earnings decline.
But it reported a 5% revenue rise for its largest division, innerwear, in the fourth quarter, with strong shipments for male underwear.
The owner of brands including Champion and Playtex still expects sales growth of 5% in 2010, thanks to "significant" gains in shelf space and distribution.
"We have potential for significant earnings growth in 2010," said chairman and CEO Richard Noll.
"When you combine the benefits of expected sales growth, operating margin improvement and lower interest expense, we could see EPS growth of at least 25% and possibly up to 35% or more in 2010."

Coquette Introduces 2010 Masquerade Costume Catalog
It’s hard to think of Halloween when Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but that’s what was on everybody’s mind during the 2010 Halloween & Party Expo.
It’s the biggest and earliest show of its kind and all the big players in the costume and party industry made sure they were there from January 23rd to 26th at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston Texas.
This was the 2nd year that Coquette International attended the show and they made it special by choosing the Halloween & Party Expo as the perfect platform to release their 2010 Masquerade catalog. “This show is ideal because it allows people to touch and feel our pieces before committing to them. We’re one of the leading adult costume makers not only because of our creative costumes, but because although we have low prices, the quality of our work is never sacrificed.”
The 2010 line isn’t available until July of this year, but judging by the response at the expo in Houston, this will prove to be one of the best Masquerade lines Coquette has ever designed. With a variety of themes and styles, every adult is bound to find something that will not only get them in the Halloween mood, but make them look good during a scary time of year. 
Some of the pieces that got the most positive feedback included costumes from the ‘Around the world’ portion of the catalog. This section includes the highly favored ‘Matador’ outfit which features a black and white romper with ruffled neckline, stretch cotton cropped jacket with gold trim, thigh high stretch and fishnet stockings as well as a red bull fighting cape. Many other costumes from the 2010 catalog received rave reviews, including the sultry ‘Prep School Girl’, ‘Sexy lumberjack’ and construction themed costumes for men and women called ‘Jack “Hammer”’ and ‘Cutie Construction worker’.
Coquette has also introduced a new ‘Create your own costume’ concept for their 2010 line. They’ve provided a wide variety of accessories such as skirts, tops, hats, head bands and a wide array of leggings that can be mixed and matched to create a personalized and individual costume that is sure to turn heads. “Accessories have always been a popular part of any line,” says Catherine Horea, senior vice president of Coquette. “Knowing this fact we thought why not make more available for Halloween so that our customers can show their creative side and style their own unique costume and avoid having the same outfit as someone else.”
One of Coquette’s biggest lines, the 2010 collection also includes additions to their popular pieces from past years, inspirations from Hollywood movies, more selection for men, as well as couples who want to dress up and go out together. 
If you’d like more information on Coquette International Inc. or are interested in receiving the 2010 Masquerade catalog please visit www.coquette.com, or call 1.800.668.5477.
About Coquette International Inc.
Since 1979 Coquette has been creating unique lingerie pieces that captivate a realistic feminine look and appeal. Now in its 30th year of business, Coquette offers seven collections, each individually adorned and tailored with the highest fashion-forward modernizations.
Dedicated to creating quality lingerie for both men and women, Coquette continues to create inspiring pieces that make everyone feel sexy.
For more information about Coquette and what they’re involved with you can e-mail Lesley at pr@coquette.com, or call (519) 623-9881 ext 245, or visit www.coquette.com

            

Spain Lost 18,000 Textile Jobs 
Spain's ailing textiles industry lost 17,800 jobs in 2009 as production fell on the back of slumping consumption, leading textiles research lobby Cityc has informed.
Total production fell 17.7%, more than the 13% decline in 2008 when 14,200 jobs were lost. Apparel production fell 20%.
Cityc added that 525 companies closed last year, up from 400 in 2008.
This year, textile experts forecast more bankruptcies will occur, especially in the cash-starved small and midsize enterprise sector which will continue to suffer form anemic consumption.
According to Cityc manager Joan Canales, textile sales fell 15-30%, more than in 2005 when the industry suffered from the liberalization of global textile commerce and the ensuing onslaught of Chinese textile imports.
Cityc hopes that 2010 will be a better year as European markets, which buy the bulk of Spanish exports, are expected to improve.
Canales added that Spanish consumption is unlikely likely to strengthen until 2011.
Closed Stores Converted 
to Second Hand Outlets
In a stark reminder how the recession is still hurting in Japan, the country's top men's wear retailer, Aoyama Trading Co, has announced it is to convert closed stores and money-losing outlets into second hand shops.
With men's wear sales dropping around 10% every year for the last three years, the company, which runs 950 or so stores group wide, was forced to close about 10-20 menswear shops annually.
Using ex-Aoyama outlets as stores to sell a variety of second hand goods including clothes, a deal has been struck with used clothes operator 2nd Street Co which will open the first store in March.

ASK Kevin
      For all of your website questions...
Kevin and his wife have been retailing lingerie and adult products since 1988. They believe that a large portion of their business success came from the  addition of their websites to their retail store and that in today's fast paced market, internet marketing goes hand in hand with any business.
Kevin's personal site design experiences include all levels of internet marketing and design including secure server ordering processes, merchant account integration, HTML editing, photo editing, graphic design and banner advertisements. All of which are needed on a business style website.
Kevin also designs websites and consults clients who want to do more business online.
Kevin welcomes your questions and comments regarding website design, internet marketing, photo editing, domain registrations hosting and more. For serious website entrepreneurs, he recommends this course for complete Internet marketing training. Internet Marketing & Site Optimization Tips: http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/848190
You can ask Kevin your questions at Kevin@mcpetesez.com

The "Ask Kevin" Column is an opinion Column and may not necessarily  reflect the views of  McPete Sez. 

                       "Ask Andy"
Andy Weinstock has been in the fabric and textile business all his life, but professionally since 1969. 
"I love what I do, selling fabrics around the globe. I've met lots of interesting, creative, dynamic folks; some have become dear friends. I love to help new businesses find the things they need to become successful. It works for everyone." 
You can ask Andy questions about Fabrics at
               Andy@mcpetesez.com 



The "Ask Andy" Column is an opinion Column and may not necessarily  reflect the views of  McPete Sez  


     The McPete Sez Lingerie Newsletter & Women's Wear Journal           
                                      End of page 3