Retail roundup: Easter spending, Olympics, American Idol at Kohl’s
--Consumers are likely to open their wallets this Easter holiday, with total spending expected to hit $16.8 billion on apparel, candy, food and decorations, according to the National Retail Federation.
Americans will shell out an average of $145.28, up 11% from $131.04 last year. Nearly half will shop for spring fashions and accessories, while nearly 90% will go for classic Easter candy such as jelly beans and chocolate eggs.
“Though the price of gas is on everyone’s mind, Easter is one of the few holidays some consumers are willing to stretch their budgets, especially because many children look forward to treats and new outfits on Easter morning,” said Matthew Shay, the federation’s chief executive.
--Designer Ralph Lauren has been tapped to create uniforms for the American team heading to the London Olympic Games in July.
It’s the third Olympics for Lauren, who has built an empire peddling visions of classic Americana. He’s previously designed for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing and for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, Forbes reported.
The uniforms this year feature fitted polo shirts, slim white pants and natty striped belts for both ladies and gents.
--Kohl’s Corp. is launching a line of “American Idol” clothing at its stores, without the Idol name.
Instead, the fashion line will be dubbed “American Icon” in a marked attempt to lasso the TV franchise’s fan base while building a buffer in case ratings continue to decline, Advertising Age reported.
That being said, there’s still going to be plenty of crossover between the two: Kohl’s will be running ads for the fashion line during the show, and also will advertise the show itself online, in print and in its stores.
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