Trends

Have you ever walked past a retail store and felt the cool air rushing out? The first reaction – especially on a sweltering day – is likely gratitude; it certainly feels good. But did you ever stop to think about how much energy is being wasted?

Fashion Forwards are a powerful consumer demographic, according to the latest Retail Consumer Dynamics study by Acxiom. Defined as consumers looking for the newest trends and styles, Fashion Forwards spend more on apparel and are setting their sights on increasing the amount they spend on other categories, too.

In the U.K. it is widely known that the official food purveyor to the Royal household is the Waitrose supermarket chain. But Walmart-owned Asda stores recently posted a cheeky letter to the Queen on its website suggesting that she might be able to save a few pounds if she switched her shopping allegiance.

It seems there’s a growing contingent of book lovers who enjoy cuddling up with a good “Nook.” E-book sales at Barnes & Noble are growing by 20 percent; as a result, the retailer is planning to invest $140 million in digital initiatives next year.

In a recent presentation made to investors, company executives revealed the success they’ve achieved thus far with the Nook e-reader:

• More than 25 percent of consumers who own a Nook are new to BarnesandNoble.com