Back-to-back snowstorms on the East Coast have brought a blizzard of sales of shovels, groceries and booze. For airlines and department stores, the region’s wintry weather has resulted in millions of dollars of lost revenue.

Denim apparel is making a comeback in shops and fashion magazines. But some of the new designs—from denim leggings for women and jean shorts for men to head-to-toe denim outfits for both sexes—risk pushing the revived trend too far.

With the global recession ebbing, retailers everywhere will shortly be focused less on just keeping their heads above water and more on expansion.

Retailers are expected to lose less money due to fraudulent returns of merchandise this holiday season from a year ago as stores tighten return policies, according to a survey released on Thursday.

The National Retail Federation estimates the average family with children in kindergarten through Grade 12 will spend $548.72 on school-related purchases this fall. Layaway plans allow parents to select all their school merchandise at once, and pay for it over periods ranging from 30 to 60 days, depending on the store.

Did you know that 6,000 people a year are injured by hard plastic packaging?

But with low stocks, stores may be in a bind if sales increase.

Shoppers are focusing on deals and limiting buying mainly to necessities, based on August sales estimates that herald another tough holiday season for beleaguered retailers.

The best-known runway names are playing an ode to the decade known for its excess and, towards the end, a stock-market slump. Maybe the tastemakers are hoping the style redo will help bring on the next step in today’s rather similar situation: recovery.

Home Bargains, which operates 190 discount stores throughout the United Kingdom, is taking a rather drastic step in combating theft: it is uploading CCTV pictures of shoplifters to its web site.

A lot of retailers are trimming back on their in-store plus-size inventory, due to the lack of demand of some sizes. Retailers such as Ann Taylor and LOFT stopped offering size 16 clothing in their stores, but have the sizes available in their online stores only. As more retailers continue to cut back in their stocks, others like Nordstrom, Kenneth Cole, Kohls and Forever 21 plan to expand their plus-size collections this summer and fall.

The recession is forcing many U.S. retailers to focus on their key brands and pull the plug on secondary lines — a move that could have the added benefit of helping them return to their more successful roots.

Retailers feel the effects of the economy more than ever as consumer confidence remains lower than projected for the summer. Stores are marking down their inventory as much as 70 percent in order persuade consumers to purchase goods, as well as trying to make room for the arrival of fall merchandise next month.

With the year almost halfway done, it is now time for retailers to think about the Christmas shopping season. Amidst the drop of consumer spending, retailers are working hard to cut back their orders on holiday inventory.

More than 1,000 U.S. jewelers went out of business in the past year, and those remaining are experiencing a big slump. Some are holding on by buying and selling used jewelry. “It’s a guaranteed profit. You might as well take advantage of it,” one jeweler said.

Dell, Toyota and Wal-Mart have achieved spectacular success by developing extraordinary processes for ordinary commercial activity, and how they manage their supply chains is key. Here’s a concise review of the value of process innovation and the role technology plays.

Financial trouble at companies that make clothes, toys and items for the home will likely translate into fewer choices for shoppers, who may have a hard time finding the brands they like or see the same colors and styles repeatedly as stores take fewer risks.

If you’re wondering about the type of work we do here at Epps Consulting, the following videos from the Style network will give you a better understanding of the type of work we do with small retailers.

Wealthy shoppers are changing their spending habits, trading quantity for quality and a sense of exclusivity. Demand for ethically made products also will increase.