RETAIL DETAIL: Dancing and denim are a classic match. The Gap, which has been struggling for some time now, has used the duo cleverly in a new television commercial. You can view at the Gap’s Web site www.gap.com. Watching it made me think, “I want a denim mini-skirt” and I haven’t worn a mini since 9th grade! Anyway, the Gap’s sales have been declining and expert types think the retailer has lost its magic touch. Perhaps the issue is that it seems that everyone’s obsessed with premium denim. Let’s see if Gap can get some of hip factor back.

RETAIL DETAIL: So Scarlett Johansson teamed up with Reebok to market her own line of athletic wear called Scarlett Hearts. It used to be that athletic brands went after, oh I don’t know, athletes to market their goods. A lot of that has changed and now every rapper worth a dime has his name on “urban” sporty goods like classic white sneakers, but a movie actress? Hmmm…. I guess since she made a movie called “Match Point” (a tennis reference for those of you non-racquet owners), she is qualified to have her own athletic wear line. Anyway, I read the news in a Brandweek article that included the following quote from Scarlett, “There isn’t a single thing I wouldn’t wear.” That’s like me saying, “In my blog, there isn’t a single thing I wouldn’t read.” Duh!

Cost Plus World Market, based in Oakland, is an eclectic retailer that sells anything from imported Japanese crackers and Austrailian wine to Egyptian cotton sheets and wooden furniture from Thailand. I used to love browsing Cost Plus stores when I was in college. I loved looking at the various items you wouldn’t find anywhere else like. It’s the type of store that when mentioned, people often say “I love that store!” The question is if people love it so much, why are its sales dropping nationwide?
I’m writing a story about that issue and how the retailer’s new management plans to restore its sales. If you shop at Cost Plus World Market, please drop me a line and let me know what you think of it and what you’ve bought there lately. Your comments might end up in my story.
Thanks!

RETAIL DETAIL: I have two stories in today’s paper that are worth checking out.

The first is a look at the Blackhawk Plaza, which could one day be known as “the other plaza” after Broadway Plaza in Walnut Creek. Right now, the only exciting thing going on there is a going out of business sale at Gottschalks department store (look at my post for Tuesday, July 18). Anyway, new owners say they will revive the chronically lagging shopping center into more than just an exclusive respite for wealthy, discreet residents of Blackhawk. The store selection may not be appealing to the masses, but the amazing man-made river is worth a visit on a sunny day.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/business/15089911.htm

My second story is about Safeway’s second quarter earnings. Boring, you must be muttering to yourself right now. This was no ordinary quarter, however, and for only the second time in my journalistic career, I actually enjoyed writing an earnings story.
Turns out Safeway’s foray into its “Lifestyle” concept is paying off. I shop there regularly (it’s research for my beat, you know?) and I am somehow not swayed by the peace and love aura of Trader Joe’s. Safeway’s “Ingredients for life” campaign seems to be sticking with consumers. It kind of reminds of how about five years ago Target became “Tar-jay” instead of just a more expensive, albeit cleaner, version of Wal-Mart. Time will tell how long Safeway’s upturn will last.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/business/15089916.htm

TIP JAR: Consumer Reports has launched a new magazine called ShopSmart that combines thorough product research with some chick-flair. It’s like Consumer Reports for Her complete with a pink nameplate and lead features about finding bargains at outlet malls (a recycled piece from CR) and their picks for the best closet organizers, laptops and vacuums.
What I like about Consumers Reports and ShopSmart, which are published by an agency called Consumers Union, is the informative aspect of their findings. In the report on outlets, ShopSmart compares the same goods purchased from an outlet versus a retail store. The details are very precise, so when it analyzed black Nine West pumps, it mentioned that the outlet version had a glued on heel while the retail version was inset, which makes it less likely to break off. Hmmm…. Good to know.
Check out the ShopSmart Web site at: www.ShopSmartmag.org.

CONSUMER CRUSADER: As I have mentioned before, the brand of the three stripes, Adidas, is my exclusive company for sporting goods. I happened to visit an Adidas store in Seattle during a recent trip and stumbled upon a sale. At first, I was elated. Then, I tried to buy a pair of shoes. The unattentive salesman was curt with me since he was busy lacing up shoes behind a counter. “Sorry, the size you want is sold out, too bad.” Then I tried to buy a Mexico themed track jacket. After more than 10 minutes of waiting to for an associate to check in the back: Nada.
Feeling deflated enough by that point, my spirits lifted slightly when my eyes landed on a novelty shirt that read “I Adidas logo Seattle.” I walked to the counter and waited as three workers engaged in what seemed to be like a serious discussion about price tags or something of the like. After a few moments, a cashier finally made eye contact but said I had to wait until another cashier logged off the register.
One register in a sizeable downtown store? Hmmm. So, when he asked if I found everything okay, I had plenty to say including, “I’m having a bad experience in your store.” His response: “I’m really sorry.” I tell you, it was not much consolation.
I will still buy Adidas goods because I’m practically an addict, but it’s really annoying when feeding my habit is such a challenge.

A PENNY SAVED: I stopped by Blackhawk Plaza in Danville on Tuesday and discovered Karen Bittarini and Leta Amon getting major shopper’s highs at the store-closing sale at Gottschalks.
The two friends, both wearing pink tank tops, were giddy as they snatched up marked down items like a $20 denim purse Bittarini found. That find won her a “You go girl!” from Amon.
“It’s so cute!” Bittarini said. The purse looks like the top of a pair of jeans complete with a silver sequin belt.
Amon found pink polka-dot thongs and a $12 black Nine West shoulder purse she called her “happy thing.”
The store, slated to close Aug. 26, is hawking it’s remaining goods at 30 to 50 percent off and some items have additional percentages off, too.
Now seems like the best time to hit up the sale since the markdowns are significant and the selection is not that picked over yet.
I took the time to buy some Clinique pressed powder, which unfortunately was still full price. The cosmetics aren’t reduced.
“The sales are great,” Amon said. “But I’m sad they are closing.”
Gottschalks is the only department store in the Plaza and will be replaced by a gourmet grocery store called Draeger’s, which has three locations in the Peninsula. New owners bought the Plaza at the end of last year and are planning lots of changes to the shopping center. More on the that later.

RETAIL DETAIL: Organics is the new low-carb and Wal Mart is not about to miss out on the trend. Selling organic food strategy is all the rage with supermarkets these days. I wrote a story last March about organic food becoming a mainstream food choice. Safeway introduced its own line of organic food to add to its “Ingredients for Life” concept and there is of course Whole Foods, which has made organic and natural food the standard in many American homes.

For many consumers, the term organic often translates into “more expensive.” At Safeway, the retailer’s proprietary brand is called O organics and is somewhat pricier than its other brands such as Lucerne dairy products or Safeway Select. A half gallon of milk, for example, runs $1.99 for regular and about $3.50 for organic.

I started buying the organic milk for a few weeks, but I find myself veering toward the cheaper option when I want to keep by grocery tab low.

Supermarket News, an industry publication, reports that part of Wal-Mart’s slogan for organic products is “Introducing organics at the Wal-Mart price.” It will be interesting to see if America takes to the Wal-Mart version of organic food.

IT’S MY MONEY: I am one of the most brand-loyal shoppers you will ever meet. Once I find a brand I like, I stick to it. I go out of my way not to spend money on other brands and when I do, I feel intense guilt like I just cheated on my boyfriend. Some of my brand loyalties, much like guys I have dated, have come and gone while others are as rigid in my life as my siblings. My favorite brands include Adidas, DKNY, Esprit, Estee Lauder, Kenneth Cole and Anne Klein. I have favorites for different items, so the list could go on and on.

Brands carry a lot of weight in sports. We had a story today about Puma, Adidas and Nike pay millions for sports teams to wear their products. Check it out:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/business/15011542.htm
I think Adidas owes ME a check!

TIP JAR: I haven’t used a coupon in years. I remember clipping them when I was a kid and wanted my parents to buy me something. “Look, mom, I have a coupon. We have to buy it!” I think that somehow, the practice fell by the wayside. Maybe it’s because grocery chains switched to membership cards for instant savings and now using coupons seems old-fashioned like having a landline. I hated those savings cards at first because I always forgot to put the card in my wallet and stores made you fill out forms just to get one. Now, I rely on my inputting my phone number, which isn’t so bad. I think, however, that I am missing out on major savings by not using coupons.

I heard about a Web site www.grocerygame.com that helps people track deal. I’ve decided to make an effort to use coupons on my groceries and see if I lower my spending. It will be an experiment of sorts. The first step will be to get organized and collect coupons I might actually use.