首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
PASSAGE ONE (1) After taking a brief hiatus to weather the recession, an invasion of Britain by some of America’s best-known
PASSAGE ONE (1) After taking a brief hiatus to weather the recession, an invasion of Britain by some of America’s best-known
admin
2022-07-27
20
问题
PASSAGE ONE
(1) After taking a brief hiatus to weather the recession, an invasion of Britain by some of America’s best-known retail brands—including Best Buy, Banana Republic and Forever 21—is back on the march. And early reports from the front line in the land of shopkeepers indicate that, unlike with earlier attempts by U. S. retailers to break Britain, British consumers are welcoming the invaders with open arms—and wallets.
(2) That’s not always been the case. While the British public has long had an appetite for American fast-food vendors, the record of U.S. retailers who have tried to make it big in Britain is mixed. But the latest arrivals enter the market as already established brands with built-in consumer awareness, thanks to the dominance of U.S. culture in media and online. And they satisfy British shoppers’ desire for "something new," says analyst Natalie Berg, of London-based consultants Planet Retail. "They all bring a cult aspect" to the U.K. high street.
(3) Best Buy—America’s largest consumer-electronics chain—kicked off the latest rush into the British market in May, when it opened its first-ever U.K. store. The 4,650-sq-m big-box outlet in the London suburb of Thurrock is the first of eight to 10 stores Best Buy expects to open in the country this year. And it has proved an impressive beachhead: in terms of sales volume, that first weekend was the chain’s biggest opening weekend in its 27-year history. "We had strong expectations," says Paul Antoniadis, CEO of Best Buy UK (who won’t reveal how much they took in over those first three days). "But the actual delivery was brilliant"
(4) For some U.S. stores, this will be their first foray into the U.K. Following in Best Buy’s footsteps is California-based Forever 21, which specializes in cheap, trendy clothes for young women and will open its first U.K. branch in Birmingham, northern England, in November. But for others, now is the time to expand on past success. Hollister, which is owned by Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F), has proved extremely popular in Britain since it launched its first surf-shack-chic store in London in 2008. Hollister rode the recession like it was the perfect wave. Despite the economic downturn, it opened 11 more stores across the U.K over the past two years, most recently in April. As a result, A&F reports that average sales volume for Hollister’s British stores is six times the level of its U.S. stores.
(5) Meanwhile, Gap-owned Banana Republic, which debuted in London two years ago, opened its second and third stores in the city last December and April this year. Even in what was a tough year for retailers of all nationalities, Banana Republic’s total U.K. net sales in last year hit $24 million, up from $23 million a year earlier.
(6) What’s the attraction? Britain boasts an overall retail market worth around $415 billion—a tempting target. The U.K. is also a good launchpad for further expansions into continental Europe. Moreover, thanks to growing online sales, U.S. retailers no longer have to blanket Blighty with shops to achieve full market penetration. They can open a few flagship stores in key cities, and back them up with a strong Web presence, which in turn reduces overheads and risk.
(7) The Internet also provides a strong prelaunch marketing tool: Best Buy set up a U.K website back in January that featured blogs, forums and advice, and used social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to build anticipation for the Thurrock launch. And there’s a new, post down turn draw too: cheaper rents. U.K. retail rents have historically been sky high, particularly in London. Now many landlords-hit by a raft of vacancies-are willing to bargain.
(8) While the invasion is off to strong start, U.S. retailers shouldn’t consider Britain a sure thing. U.K. retailing is a highly mature market that’s brutally competitive, particularly now as retailers battle to entice credit-crunched shoppers back into shops. "It’s probably not a great time to enter the British market," says Sarah Peters, an analyst at British retailing consultants Verdict Research, "But I’m not sure if there is ever a good time." Indeed, Britain’s retailing landscape is Uttered with the bones of successful U.S. retailers who stumbled badly when they crossed the Atlantic.
(9) Limited Brands, in conjunction with British fashion chain Next, failed in an attempt in the 1990s to transplant Bath & Body Works to Britain. And Whole Foods Market, which opened a massive food emporium in London in 2007, lost around $52 million in the British capital last year, thanks in part to formidable competition from mainstream British supermarket chains that are already well stocked with organic groceries.
(10) If this latest flock of U.S. retailers does well in the U.K., it will likely be because they offer British shoppers something completely different. Forever 21, for example, will face resistance from established, strong domestic clothing brands, including Topshop, New Look and Primark. But Best Buy, on the other hand, has an edge. Not only are its big-box stores a novelty in Britain, but so is the brand’s emphasis on customer service. Its Geek Squad unit gives customers round-the-clock technical support, and shoppers can use its in-store setup service to configure gadgets before taking them home. "Consumer-electronics stores in the U.K. traditionally have not had good reputations for customer service," says Matthew Piner, another Verdict Research analyst. "And no one has really challenged them before."
(11) To pay for its U.K. invasion, Best Buy, which was pummeled by the recession, has already shelled out around $30.5 million and expects to spend around another $50 million to $58 million this fiscal year. That’s a big bet. But for Best Buy, and many other U.S. retailers, the potential payoff for succeeding in Britain means it’s one worth making.
Which of the following statements about the passage is NOT true?
选项
A、The British retailing market is so competitive that it is not easy to be penetrated.
B、There may be no perfect time for American retailers to enter into the British market.
C、The American retailers are definitely achieving big success in the Britain market.
D、The after-sale service provided by American retailers satisfied British consumers.
答案
C
解析
根据题意可定位到第2段、第5段和第6段根据第8段首句和最后一句可知,并不是所有的美国零售商都能在英国获得成功。故C与原文不符。为正确答案。
转载请注明原文地址:https://jikaoti.com/ti/aNbiFFFM
0
专业英语八级
相关试题推荐
设有定义:doublea[10],*s=a;以下能够代表数组元素a[3]的是()。
有如下类的定义。横线处的语句是()。classMyClass{public:MyClass(inta=0,intb=0){X=a:Y=b:}voidChan
在下列横线处应添加的语句是()。classBase{public:voidfun(){cout
请根据提供的“ppt素材及设计要求.docx”要求文件来设计制作演示文稿,并以文件名“PPT.pptx”存盘,具体要求如下:设置第1页幻灯片为标题幻灯片,标题为“学习型社会的学习理念”,副标题包含制作单位“计算机教研室”和制作日期(格式:XXXX年XX
Makinggoodchoicesaboutyourownhealthrequiresreasonableevaluation.Akeyfirststepinbetteringyourevaluationability
Thetaxidriverwasamaninhislatethirties.Hepickedmeupand【C1】________metomyplace.Iusuallyliketohavebrief【C2】_
Whenistheweatherreportmostprobablygiven?
Whydoesthespeakersay,"AndIalwaysliketohearfromyou"?
Fromclimatechangetotheongoingpandemic(大流行病)andbeyond,theissuesfacingtoday’sworldareincreasinglycomplexanddyna
Backin1975,economistsplottedrisinglifeexpectanciesagainstcountries’wealth,andconcludedthatwealthitselfincreases
随机试题
A.外釉上皮层B.内釉上皮层C.星网状层D.中间层E.釉结由单层上皮细胞组成,排列在成釉器凹面的基底膜上
一次负荷的安全性是指X线管的
下列关于根尖肉芽肿的病理表现叙述正确的为( )
工程项目管理组织机构采用直线制形式的优点是()。
不是反映公司在一定时期内经营成果的财务报表是( )。
中国人民银行是国务院的组成部分。()
老年人要少用各种含钠高的酱料,避免过多的钠摄入引起高血压。()[湖北省2010年5月三级真题]
一般资料:求助者,女性,30岁,公务员。案例介绍:求助者半年前因感冒诱发心肌炎,住院治疗一月余。医生嘱咐减少体力活动,避免疲劳,建议静养一周。因其孩子才两岁,一次夜间发烧,她喂孩子吃药,帮孩子测体温,基本一夜没睡,清晨突感心慌心悸,出虚汗,感到极
中国古代的儒家经典“四书”是指《大学》《中庸》《孟子》和()。
Turninyourcollectionofindustry-suppliedfreebiesandGoodmanwillsendbackafewreplacementpensbearingtheNoFreeLunc
最新回复
(
0
)