Monday, December 1, 2008

Style and Focus News Bites

** Retailer Talbots Gets Financial Help from Japanese Banks. The retailer receives $125 million credit commitment despite a 3Q loss. Talbots reported a $167 million loss and 14 percent sales decline for its third quarter ended Nov. 1st. (Visual Merchandising and Store Design magazine)

** 12-Year Old Arkansas Entrepreneur Brings Harlem's First Environmental Club to Alain L. Locke Elementary School Wed. Dec. 3rd. Alain L. Locke Elementary School is the next stop for Riley Hoffer, the 6th grade green-preneur who travels to schools across the country with her eco-friendly message on behalf of CG Kidz, the community outreach arm of bottle maker CynerGreen, a company devoted to kids and green living. At 1:30 pm on Wed, December 3rd at the school located at 21 West 111th Street in New York City, Riley will present green tips and an environmental "club in a box" to 250 kids, launching Harlem's first elementary school environmental club. This event is made possible by Karasma Media in affiliation with PENCIL partnering NYC businesses and principals. (Press Release)

** Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior to Lower Prices in Japan. Luxury goods have been plagued with a sluggish economy in Japan. Louis Vuitton KK said it reduced prices on average 7 percent, effective last Saturday, on leather goods, accessories, ready-to-wear, shoes, watches and jewelry.The company said it revises prices based on a policy “to offer its products at appropriate prices” based on exchange rate fluctuation, manufacturing costs and quality considerations (WWD)

** "Ugly Betty" star Vanessa Williams has kicked off a breast cancer fundraiser by driving a pink fence post into the ground in suburban New York City. Williams was in Mount Kisco on Sunday to mark the start of the Post for a Cure campaign for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life effort. As part of the campaign, a Mahopac fencing company will donate $1 for every post put in the ground through April 18. Campanella Fence Center owner Anthony Campanella says his friends and relatives have been affected by breast cancer this year. He says posts are symbols of stability and strength and fences are symbols of security and safety. (The Associated Press)

** French Minister Calls Safety of Cosmetics for Pregnant Women into Question. The French health authorities are considering a logo for cosmetic products that are not recommended for use by pregnant women and young children. During a symposium held in Paris, Roselyne Bachelot called on France’s agency for the safety of health products (AFSSAPS) to research the risk of cosmetics use during pregnancy and by young children, particularly those products distributed in maternity wards.

Discussions surround the potential reproductive toxicity of certain chemicals that may be found in cosmetics products, namely certain phthalates and parabens. The minister said she planned to explain the potential risks of such products in the information given to pregnant women, and would consider a logo warning pregnant women off certain products. “I would like to investigate, in partnership with the industry, the possibility of putting a logo on products that may be reproductively toxic indicating that they are not recommended for use by pregnant women and young children,” said Bachelot, as quoted in French newspaper Le Figaro. (Cosmetics Design Europe)

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