TARGETING THE TEEN MARKET: This is Target’s fifth year of collaboration with top designers, and to celebrate the anniversary, the store has asked 17 past participants in the Go International program to design a series of dresses for a special Designer Collective which will be launched this March. The Collective will feature 34 dresses and will represent the large variety of styles and designs that Target has promoted over the last five years. .
When it began, in 2006, Go International was Target’s marketing initiative aimed at capturing more teenage dollars.
At first, each designer was available for three months in the stores. In order to keep things fresh, the store later cut that time to 45 days. Alexander McQueen, Anna Sui, and Jean Paul Gaultier are just a few of the illustrious international designers who have been part of the collaborative.
Target has also developed a jewelry and accessories category for the Go International program, and has featured items from Mulberry, Temple St. Clair, Anna Sheffield and Miss Trish of Capri.
GOOD NEWS FOR THE SANTA SEASON: The National Retail Foundation expects a 2.3 percent uptick on holiday sales this year, putting it at a total of $447.1 billion. And, in a survey by the Cotton Inc. Lifestyle Monitor, the majority of women plan to spend about the same thing on holiday gifts this year as last, while 8 percent say they will spend more. The survey also found that 72 percent of women who buy gifts plan to purchase gift cards, 58 percent will purchase apparel, 50 percent will buy toys, and 30 percent will spend on fashion accessories.
ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS SPENDING MORE ON CHRISTMAS GIFTS? YOU CAN HELP ATTRACT MORE DOLLARS WITH THESE VALUE-PACKED GIFT ITEMS:
- Giraffe print scarf. Trendy and sophisticated!
UPBEAT FLORALS ARE HOT NEW TREND: Florals, florals, florals: they are
taking the fashion world by storm this year, with everything from dainty prints to highly
sophisticated modern art expressions. Many of the hottest new looks are offbeat: lacy
florals with an impressionistic appeal, or big, wildly exaggerated florals, a la Georgia
O’Keefe.
These florals aren’t meant to stand alone, however. Pair them up with an interesting
patterned clutch bag or a bag-on-a-string for summertime lightness. Then put on a pair
great looking sandals, such as Tory Burch has out. Finally, add an impressive, casual but
assertive necklace, preferably medium length, maybe modern, maybe tribal. Great look!
WORLD RECORD: WOW! Can you imagine? $46,158,674 was the auctioned price
for a spectacular pink diamond sold to well-known (and super-rich) gem dealer Laurence
Graff in Geneva last month! This is a new world record for the highest price ever paid for
a gemstone. That’s “EVER”. The 24.78 carat stone is said to be a “fancy intense pink”
diamond and its new owner lost no time in naming it “The Graff Pink” diamond.
“It is the most fabulous diamond I’ve seen in the history of my career and I’m
delighted to have bought it,” Graff declared.
The price was more than double the $24.3 million paid by Graff for the blue 35.56-carat
Wittelsbach-Graff diamond in 2008. The pink diamond was last sold 60 years ago by
New York jeweler Harry Winston.
YOU CAN LOOK FABULOUS AND FOOL THE WORLD WITH SOME OF
TODAY’S TRULY GREAT FAUX DIAMONDS. LOOK AT THESE:
- Dangling heart CZ earrings. Somebody loves you!
- Large rhinestone butterfly pin. Delicate and classic!
