FIND THE GAP: HOW JACK MA AND ELON MUSK SEE WHAT OTHERS MISS 
By Amy Wilkinson LinkedIn, February 14, 2015 
Jack Ma was an English teacher of modest means in the southern Chinese province of Hangzhou.... Yet he launched a new kind of Internet company that became the $216 billion market behemoth Alibaba - the world's largest business-to-business e-commerce marketplace. read more  

RETAILERS FEELING GOOD ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR 2015 
By George Anderson, RetailWire, February 13, 2015 
While retail casualties such as RadioShack have been grabbing many of the headlines in the early part of 2015, there is plenty of room for optimism when looking ahead to the rest of the year. read more  

EQUITY FIRM HAS SIGHTS SET ON CHICO'S FAS 
By George Anderson, RetailWire, February 11, 2015 
Sycamore Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, is in talks to buy Chico's FAS, a company that operates more than 1,500 stores in the U.S. and Canada under the Chico's, Boston Proper, Soma and White House Black Market banners, according to reports. read more  

NORDSTROM TIES THE KNOT WITH MICKEY DREXLER 
By Walter Loeb, Forbes, February 16, 2015 
Madewell sells youthful products developed its creator Mikey Drexler. Recently Pete Nordstrom the merchandising head of his company inked a pact to sell Madewell styles in Nordstrom stores starting on March 2, 2015. read more

DON'T BET THAT NEW SOFA ON HIGHER OIL PRICES
By Loren Steffy, Forbes, February 12, 2015 
In Houston, the energy capital of the world, Gallery Furniture is an institution made famous by television ads featuring the store's energetic owner, Jim McIngvale. read more  

TESCO SET FOR THOUSANDS MORE JOB CUTS 
By Matt Clinch, CNBC, February 16, 2015 
The new boss of Tesco is set to slash thousands more jobs in a bid to turn around the fortunes of the U.K.'s largest supermarket chain. read more  

WHOLE FOODS' VALUE EMPHASIS WILL COMPRESS 2015 MARGINS 
By Mike Troy, RetailingToday, February 11, 2015 
Whole Foods Market's value message is resonating with shoppers as America's favorite natural grocer delivered same store sales growth of 4.5% and record first quarter profits. read more  

THE BREAKOUT BRANDS OF 2015 
By Nation's Restaurant News 
Nation's Restaurant News presents the latest Breakout Brands: 10 cutting-edge restaurant concepts that are set to redefine foodservice. read more

REPORT: INDUSTRY'S JANUARY SAME-STORE SALES BEST IN 10 YEARS 
By Jonathan Maze, Nation's Restaurant News, February 12, 2015 
January was the best month for the restaurant industry in 10 years, according to the latest MillerPulse survey. read more  

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY MAY ACQUIRE A NEW CONCEPT 
By Lisa Jennings, Nation's Restaurant News, February 12, 2015 
Operator outlines five-year growth plan following challenging fiscal year. read more  

2014 WAS A STRONG LEASING YEAR FOR REITS 
By ICSC, February 13, 2015 
Retail REITs reported strong leasing in 2014, and executives say they expect the momentum to continue in 2015, despite an uptick in tenant bankruptcies and store closings. read more 

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