01/05/2010
» Ecommerce sales growing faster than store sales for many Canadian retailers
Canadian retailers are seeing more traffic than ever to their ecommerce websites, but many admit that they are not fully utilizing their ecommerce services, according to a recent report from Karabus Management.

01/04/2010
» Gauging Retail Shares: Challenging Year Ahead After a Buoyant 2009
Hello, 2010. Be kind. That’s retailers’ likely New Year’s wish as they hope their nascent sales turnaround follows the lead of the sector’s stocks, which rallied back 47.2 percent last year as the credit markets loosened and the recession eased.

12/31/2009
» E-commerce continues to be a boon for retail chains, new report finds
Nearly half of retailers said their online sales are growing at a faster rate than their overall sales, according to a recent poll of 26 U.S. and Canadian retail chains by Karabus Management, a subsidiary of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Canada.

12/23/2009
» Stores enjoy kick-outs this Christmas
Following last year’s holiday season defined by significant sales declines, excessive inventory and deep markdowns, a new study from Karabus Management, a subsidiary of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) in Canada, examines the efforts retailers have taken to improve business and financial performance this holiday season and into 2010.

12/21/2009
» Snow Challenges Northeast Retailers
Retailers are expected to extend their shopping hours and step up promotions over the next few days in order to recoup some of the shopper traffic lost this past weekend in the Northeast’s first major winter storm.

12/21/2009
» CFOs Reveal Ad Strategies
Retail finance executives cut where and what they could in 2009, including marketing budgets, but the flexibility of their partners and emphasis on productivity allowed them to maintain or even increase their advertising outreach.

12/18/2009
» Recession Boosts Retail CFOs Fiscal Discipline
In its second annual survey of CFOs at 26 national specialty and department store chains in the United States and Canada, Karabus Management, a subsidiary of PricewaterhouseCoopers, determined that retailers have become more focused on return on investment and more concerned about the cost of growth.

12/02/2009
» Economy 101: Understanding holiday shopping data
Most pundits generally agree that the start of the season was just ho-hum. But if you examine the details, you'll come across all sorts of disagreement over exactly how things have gone.

11/27/2009
» Retailers hope Black Friday fervor sets pace for season
One challenge: Getting shoppers to look beyond promoted merchandise.

11/27/2009
» With consumers budget-conscious, merchants offer deals, discounts
Consumers are skittish about spending, worried about their jobs, and retailers are trying to squeeze every dime they can out of them during a holiday shopping season that's forecast to be one of the flattest in years.

11/27/2009
» Carson City retailers gear up for Black Friday
Amid one of the steepest economic declines in generations, the prospects of a profitable Black Friday are considered to be only marginally better when compared to the 2008 shopping season, which was marred by the initial weeks of the global financial crisis.

11/27/2009
» Recession-era Black Friday Filled With Challenges
After more than a year of recession fallout that made holiday 2008 a retail Waterloo, stores will put their austerity strategies to the stiffest test when the season moves into high gear on Black Friday.

11/09/2009
» Can't find the hot new toy? Blame the economy.
Instead of a throwback to great buying binges of the past, the empty shelves are just another sign of bad times.

10/28/09
» Karabus Management Projects Flat to One Percent Growth in Retail Holiday Sales
Rising consumer sentiment, "recession weariness" and aggressive inventory management are key factors; Halloween predicted to be bellwether for holiday sales.

10/19/09
» Will Holiday Shoppers Be Merry or Miserly?
With so many jobless consumers, many retailers are repared to endure another weak holiday selling season. But some analysts have turned optimistic.

10/13/09
» Retail Exposed to Changing Shopping Habits: Karabus Management Predictions for Who Will Survive
Tightened budgets and the variety of shopping options available to consumers from traditional brick and mortar to online have forced retailers to re-examine their value proposition.

10/07/2009
» KARABUS MANAGEMENT TO PRESENT AT RETAIL FORWARD’S ANNUAL STRATEGIC OUTLOOK CONFERENCE
Chief Executive Officer Antony Karabus will present best practices for retailers to prepare for the anticipated economic recovery.

09/23/09
» WWD: Holiday Forecasts See Sales Down, Profits Up
Holiday 2009 could see profits victory snapped from the jaws of sales defeat.

06/30/09
» Saks Denies Shoppers The Goods
Luxury retailers such as Saks and Neiman Marcus are reverting back to the fundamentals of economics by reducing supply in the hopes of generating demand.

06/23/09
» Saks Chief Cuts Orders to Avoid Discounts on Suits, Stilettos
Saks Inc., Neiman Marcus Group Inc. and other luxury retailers are reducing orders this year to limit supply and boost profitability.

06/15/09
» Stores' Cost-Cutting May Transform Retail
Consumers aren’t the only ones cutting back. Retailers are reducing their spending — with most broadline players slashing millions from their budgets as they try to counter withering sales.

06/10/09
» BERNS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP UNVEILS TRENDS IN DISTRESSED RETAIL NOTED BY LEADING INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Retail liquidation is expected to accelerate during the end of the second quarter, according to some bankruptcy liquidation experts who attended a recent industry roundtable hosted by Berns Communications Group.

06/08/09
» Recession Roundtable Anticipates More Retail Rumbles
A group of liquidation expects warned of more bankruptcies to come — and soon — during a recent roundtable sponsored here by Berns Communications Group.

05/28/09
» Retailers Are Spending Less, but There Is Consulting if Firms Know Where to Look
Many retail companies are in survival mode, so the majority of consulting projects they are willing to consider focus on ways to reduce costs, streamline operations, and protect already slim margins.

05/04/09
» Supermarket News: Survey Cites Areas for Cost-Cutting
Citing a benchmark survey of more than 20 North American operators, Karabus found that best-in-class retailers realize considerable savings in areas such as real estate costs, advertising spending and other areas.

06/02/2009
» Antony Karabus speaking at STORE2009 Conference, Toronto
Antony Karabus, CEO of Karabus Management, will be leading a discussion entitled "How Fit is Your Business? Cost Management Trends and Recommendations" STORE2009 is Canada's Retail Conference - more than 800 retail executives, suppliers and vendors attend the two-day annual event, which takes place June 1 & 2, 2009.

04/16/2009
» General Growth filing clouds future for stores
The bankruptcy of the second-largest U.S. mall owner, General Growth Properties Inc, will have little immediate effect on its retail tenants, but could hurt them down the road.

04/16/2009
» Marrying retail's art and science
Merchandise planning has taken on greater importance as stores battle slumping demand and customer traffic in the face of the recession and rising unemployment.

04/14/2009
» Notching it down
While some fashion designers close their studios and retailers shutter their windows, smaller Toronto-based retailers and manufacturers are buckling down for the recession.

04/14/2009
» Fashion's Shifting Paradigm
Moving ahead in the current economy will require fashion companies to be as flexible and innovative as they've claimed to be all along.

03/30/2009
» Supermarket News: Turning South
The recession that has battered the United States for several months made a sudden arrival in Canada late last year, bringing with it a chill of consumer caution expected to affect the fortunes of Canada's food retailers at least through the balance of the year.

03/24/2009
» Survival steps for retailers in today’s economic environment: Karabus Management recommendations
In order to help retail companies manage through the downturn, retail advisory firm Karabus Management (subsidiary of PwC Canada), today announced critical next steps retailers should take in order to meet the demands of this challenging economic environment.

03/24/2009
» Karabus Management to share insights at NYC event
Karabus Management is hosting a retail-focused event at the Soho Grand Hotel in New York on April 1, 2009. During an evening of cocktails and dining, Antony Karabus will share insights on the state of the retail industry and keys to survival in today's challenging economic environment. For more information contact Ilana Clamp, Karabus Management at 416-373-4235 or at iclamp@karabus.com

01/21/2009
» Grocers, Vendors Tussle On Pricing, Promotions
Supermarket chains turn up the heat on suppliers to lower wholesale prices while food companies dig in to hold on to recent price hikes.

01/20/2009
» Flush Times for Liquidators
Far-flung locales are being tapped as liquidators scurry to unload excess goods they are getting from retailers and manufacturers.

01/20/2009
» Circuit City’s Demise Lengthens Shadow
The chain's liquidation will add to the challenges facing retail real estate owners

12/24/2008
» 2008 a Mixed Bag for Food Operators
Despite rising costs, Wal-Mart rivalry, savvy supermarkets still manage to feed bottom line

12/23/2008
» Survey Details Retailers’ Cost-Cutting Strategy
Retailers’ strategy today involves far more than layoffs and store closings.

12/23/2008
» Sale allows Penn Traffic to Focus on Retail
Penn Traffic Co.closes $43 million all-cash sale of its wholesale business to C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc.

12/16/2008
» U.S. Retail Pain Jumps Border
Liquidation of Linens N' Things Canadian stores serves as a stark example of how quickly the domestic industry has fallen victim to the U.S.-led downturn.

12/15/2008
» More Signs Point to Deepening Economic Weakness
Canada.com, December 15, 2008

12/09/2008
» Private Brands Make for Critical Differentiator
New survey finds that a strong store brand program is among the best practices leading grocery retailers rely on to drive enhanced financial results

12/09/08
» CFOs Adjusting to Shaky Retail Climate
Retail finance executives take steps to limit damage during 2008 holiday season and into 2009

12/04/2008
» What Leading Retailers are Doing
What are successful retailers doing to stay alive and even prosper? Karabus Management and Willard Bishop interviewed 15 leading grocery retailers to get the answer.

12/03/2008
» Rise of Private-Label Products Gives Retailers Clout
Penny-pinching consumers have helped food retailers increase their sales of store-branded products

11/26/2008
» Power Shifts As Generic Brands Gain In Grocery Stores
Penny pinching consumers have helped food retailers increase their sales of store-branded products.

10/16/2008
» Karabus Management joins PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Canada announced today that it has acquired leading retail advisory firm, Karabus Management.

10/14/2008
» Holts Keeps Focused on the Details
Softening sales doesn't mean that luxury retailer Holt Renfrew & Co. Ltd. is retrenching. globeandmail.com, October 14, 2008

09/17/2008
» Fiscal Crisis Complicates Store Financing
U.S. Markets Stabilize After Banking Troubles.
Women's Wear Daily, September 17 2008

10/16/2008
» Retail Forward Conference

05/20/2008
» Karabus Management launches Retail G&A Benchmark
Karabus Management Launches Groundbreaking G&A Benchmark Study – Over 30 North American Retailers Already Participating

07/15/08
» Press Release

Karabus Management Relocates Corporate Headquarters
Retail Advisory Firm Opens Shop at Premier Canadian Mall

April 30 to May 2, 2008
» Merchandising Insight 2008

February 5, 2008
» Press Release
Finance Function Transformation: Antony Karabus presents at Retail Connections Executive Summit

October 15, 2007
» Antony Karabus interviews dressbarn CEO David Jaffe at Argyle's 2007 Leadership in Retail Forum

June 20, 2007
» Optimizing Markdowns: How to Achieve Meaningful ROI
Antony Karabus, CEO of Karabus Management, delivered the keynote presentation at the Retail Clearance and Markdowns Conference in Chicago, IL.

June 3, 2007
» Assortment Planning: Making More Intelligent Planning Decisions
Karabus Management facilitated this panel discussion, aimed at uncovering how retailers can drive business value through Markdown Optmization and Assortment Planning.

» Markdown Enhancements Drive Profitability Improvements

» Markdown Optimization Implementation

» Basic Inventory Optimization Program

» Improving Basic Apparel Goods Replenishment