OPRAH WINFREY AND DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS TO FORM NEW JOINT VENTURE:

OWN - Oprah Winfrey Network- Wow! don't you just love to hate this woman. She is just so amazing!This is one of the reasons why when she makes a wrong move, we are so gleeful.

Chicago, IL and Silver Spring, MD — Tuesday, January 15, 2008 — In an unprecedented deal, Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications announced plans today to create OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. The new multi-platform media venture will be designed to entertain, inform and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN will debut in 2009 in more than 70 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.

The venture will also include the award-winning digital platform, Oprah.com. "Fifteen years ago, I wrote in my journal that one day I would create a television network, as I always felt my show was just the beginning of what the future could hold," said Oprah Winfrey, who will serve as chairman of OWN.

"For me, the launch of The Oprah Winfrey Network is the evolution of the work I've been doing on television all these years and a natural extension of my show."

Well done, Ms Winfrey.

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TIFFANY SHARES LOSE THEIR LUSTRE

Tiffany, the world's second-largest jewelry retailer, reduced its profit forecast Jan. 11 after same-store sales declined 2 percent. The New York-based retailer, known for its robin's-egg-blue gift boxes, said it may consider lowering 2008 targets.

Internet holiday spending climbed 19 percent in 2007, the slowest growth on record, Reston, Virginia-based ComScore Inc. said on Jan. 7. The results for November and December trailed its forecast of a 20 percent gain compared with a 26 percent gain a year earlier.
Wal-Mart, Costco Wholesale Corp., the largest U.S. warehouse-club chain, and retailers that sell food and essential clothing will fare best in 2008, Davidowitz said.
'They are selling things that you have to have versus things you want to have,'' Davidowitz said.
Tiffany’s shiny quarter didn’t satisfy investors who pulled down shares of the luxury retailer.

By early-afternoon Friday, shares of the New York-based company were down 2.4%, or $1.16 cents, to $47.59.
For the third quarter, which ended on Oct. 31, Tiffany & Co. (nyse: TIF - news - people )’s sales increased 18.0% to $627.3 million from the $531.8 million reported during last year’s corresponding period.
Based on generally accepted accounting principals, earnings rose 239.9% to $98.9 million, or 71 cents per share, from $29.1 million, or 21 cents per share, posted last year.
Although impressive at first glace, Tiffany’s results include the sale-leaseback of its flagship store in Tokyo, which contributed 48 cents to the per share total. When excluding charges and gains, the company’s earnings were 27 cents per share.

IPOs Are Fashionable: Hilfiger Offering Seen First of Many in 2008

LONDON — Despite a sagging stock market and a slowdown at retail on both sides of the Atlantic, 2008 is shaping up to be the year of the fashion initial public offering.

Tommy Hilfiger Group may well be the first to take the plunge, with industry sources saying its planned IPO is on track for the first half of the year.

Hilfiger is expected to be followed by Prada, which, if it goes ahead this time, will likely wait until the second half.

Ferragamo also has unveiled plans to go public this year, and is expected to elaborate on them later this month. Industry sources here said Hilfiger's IPO is on track to take place on Euronext, the pan-European stock exchange that counts LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, PPR, Hermès, Christian Dior and Clarins among its listed companies.

The flotation is expected to value the American sportswear company at $3 billion to $4 billion.And Hilfiger, which is owned by the U.K.-based equity fund Apax Partners, has been rapidly getting its house in order in advance of going public.

First, last October, it inked a major deal with Macy's Inc., which will be the exclusive retailer of Tommy Hilfiger sportswear in the U.S. beginning this fall.

Avon Signs Orman As Financial Adviser

NEW YORK, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Avon Products, Inc. announced today a special partnership with Suze Orman, renowned personal finance expert, award winning television host and best-selling author.

Ms. Orman will work with Avon to advance their shared missions to provide financial empowerment to women around the world. In this capacity, she will serve as a Special Personal Finance Advisor to the Avon Representatives to offer money management advice and strategies for success. A first of its kind in the direct selling industry, the program will launch this month to the company's nearly 500,000 Avon Representatives in the U.S., with plans to expand globally in the future.

At Avon, we truly believe that the single most effective way to create positive change in the world is by helping to improve the lives of women everywhere," said Andrea Jung, Avon's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "For over a century -- thirty-four years before women won the right to vote -- Avon has been providing women the opportunity to earn money and achieve economic independence. Suze shares our deep commitment to empower women, and working together, we can form a powerful partnership to continue to advance this important agenda."

Ms. Jung noted that Avon had conducted a worldwide opinion poll of women in 16 countries in early 2007, and the findings overwhelmingly showed that worries about money were at the top of the list of women's concerns. "Having enough money to live right and pay the bills" was cited by women as the number-one factor that would change their lives for the better.

"No company is more committed than Avon to helping women achieve economic independence," says Suze Orman, "and this is certainly what my life and work are all about. The partnership with Avon is a logical and natural extension of everything I believe in. We both want to motivate women to be more, so that they can have more, for themselves and their families. I am confident we can make a huge difference toward the goal of empowering women and helping them achieve their financial hopes and dreams."

As part of the partnership, Avon Representatives and employees will be provided with unprecedented access to Ms. Orman. An "Ask Suze" mailbox feature on the YourAvon.com intranet site has been created so Avon Representatives and employees can submit personal questions to Ms. Orman for individualized advice and guidance. Critical financial management tools will also be provided to determine FICO scores, create a will and trust, evaluate insurance and guard against identity theft. Ms. Orman will also be featured at key events, webinars and taped webcasts


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The New Year's Blahs: Retail Shares Decline On Downbeat Outlook

It's a new year, but the same old stock market story.On 2008's first day of trading, retail shares fell sharply as oil prices reached $100 a barrel for the first time ever. And, after 12 months of steep erosion in the value of retail shares, this year is looking like it will be even more of an uphill battle. Read more

Arden Inks Beauty Deal With Rocawear, Moves to Profitability in First Quarter...

Elizabeth Arden, Inc., a global prestige beauty products company, has entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with Iconix Brand Group, Inc. for the development, marketing and distribution of men's and women's fragrance, cosmetics, and skincare products with the leading lifestyle apparel brand Rocawear.

A debut fragrance is planned to launch in the fall of 2008. Rocawear?s co-founder, Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter, will provide the creative vision for the collections."Elizabeth Arden and Iconix have a successful history together, and we are thrilled to grow our relationship with this dynamic collaboration," said E. Scott Beattie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Elizabeth Arden.Iconix purchased the Rocawear brand in March of 2007.

Rocawear is a dominant lifestyle brand with a wide range of customers and categories including sportswear, footwear, outerwear, handbags, belts, loungewear, big & tall, headwear, jewelry, sunglasses and children's clothing. Since its inception in 1999, its appeal has expanded beyond national borders to become a brand of international significance with annual retail sales of over $700 million. Rocawear co-founder Shawn Carter spearheads all product development, marketing and licensing for Rocawear.
"The Rocawear name connects with the customer we want to attract. Adding Rocawear to our lineup of lifestyle fragrance brands allows us to further diversify our multi-dimensional brand portfolio and expand our reach to a young, modern consumer. Elizabeth Arden's leadership in fragrance, coupled with the creative involvement of Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and the team at Rocawear and Iconix, will provide us with a strong platform for success," added Beattie.

Commenting on the new launch, Shawn Carter, stated, "We are excited to partner with an industry giant such as Elizabeth Arden. The combination of their expertise in fragrance and our ability to affect popular culture will produce some incredible products and breathe excitement into the category."Neil Cole, Chairman and CEO, Iconix, stated, "We are excited about the launch of the first ever Rocawear fragrance next fall.

This is a significant step in the evolution of the Rocawear brand and a large long-term growth opportunity. The excitement and advertising surrounding the launch next fall will make Rocawear more visible than it has ever been and benefit the entire brand franchise.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.