Subject: Retail Trade

• Dogged Followers of Fashion

  Ever wonder why some fake fur feels so real?  The Associated Press has one explanation:  "An animal advocacy group says its investigation has turned up coats — some with designer labels, some at higher-end retailers — with fur from man's best friend." The Humane Society of the United States said it purchased coats from reputable outlets, such as upscale Nordstrom, with designer labels — Andrew Marc, Tommy Hilfiger, for example — and found them trimmed with fur f

  February 23, 2007

• OC Drivers on the Pipe

  According to the for-profit Orange County Automobile Dealers Association, the top new retail car and truck registrations this year through May: Toyota: 29.3% GM: 12% Honda: 11.5% Ford: 9.7% DaimlerChrysler: 6.3% Nissan: 5.6% According to the nonprofit Environmental Defense, the percentage of carbon dioxide--the main pollutant causing global warming--emitted by vehicles on the basis of brand through 2004 was: GM (64.4 million vehicles): 31% Ford (49.8 million): 26% DaimlerChrysler (30.4

  June 29, 2006

• Celebrate Record Store Day April 19

  Currently on the endangered species list: your local record store. (You remember those, right?) In a valiant attempt to raise awareness of their existence and importance (and perhaps move some stock), hundreds of independently owned music emporia throughout North America are celebrating Record Store Day by holding special events and sales Friday April 19. Close to OC, Long Beach's Fingerprints and LA's Amoeba are participating. I highly recommend frequenting a shop or two Saturday and showin

  April 18, 2008

• Because You're Ugly: Old Navy Yellow

  My mom's always told me that yellow's one of those colors I better make sure to wear lots of while I'm still young—older women, she says, just can't pull it off as well. I still haven't really taken her advice, seeing that I am reeeally attached to my LBDs, but if you don't mind standing out in a crowd, mustard yellow seems to be a popular approach to brighter colors. The hue popped up all over both the SS 08 shows (in the form of mod swing frocks and maxi-length dresses) and as an accent co

  May 20, 2008

• Because You're Ugly: Jovovich-Hawk No More!

  Actress/model/designer Milla Jovovich has called it quits with the fashion world. In the latest issue of Lucky, Jovovich explains the demise of her five-year-old label somewhat vaguely, "It's like, when one door closes... I'm in a time of rediscovery, from my career to my personal style." It's a shame, really. The line that Jovovich collaborated with former model Carmen Hawk on stood way, way out amongst the other celebrity "designers"—Lauren Conrad, I'm looking at you—with its distinct fe

  August 6, 2008

• Foods to Show Country of Origin

  According to various news reports and this one from ABC News, beginning this week, the USDA is requiring that all food retailers label some foods with their country of origin. The law, called COOL (Country of Origin Labeling) will mandate that the consumer is informed where all "raw beef, veal, lamb, pork, chicken, goat, wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and whole ginseng" are from. Amid the widening Chinese milk sca

  September 30, 2008

• Down the Drain

  October 14, 1999

• Bandwidth on the Run

  March 9, 2000

• Napster Up Your Asster

  June 29, 2000

• Free Breakfast at IKEA on Nov. 28th (Black Friday)!!

  Well, it's finally happened. When I thought there was no possible way that IKEA could improve upon the price it charges for their egg-bacon-potato $0.99 breakfast plate -- see my review HERE -- they've gone ahead and done just that: IT WILL BE FREE! At least for one day. And not coincidentally, it will be the most important day for retailers like IKEA: November 28th. "Black Friday". None other than my friend and informant Brekkie Fan broke the news to me. And if you know Brekkie Fan, yo

  November 19, 2008

• LowBallVideoChatter: Steely Dan, "Black Friday"

  Good morning! It's Black Friday, a term some wanker marketing genius coined for the day after Thanksgiving when, ideally, retailers all across this mass-consumer-crazed nation of ours will be (the theory goes) left "in the black." Though in these recessionary times, I'm not even expecting Christmas cards this year.   Before Black Friday was a co-opted media catch phrase (tonight would be a good night to invite some friends over and play the Black Friday drinking game -- flip on CNN, and dow

  November 28, 2008

• Because You're Ugly: Hearts and Laserbeams Sale!

  It's Cyber Monday! That means you can get all the great deals of Black Friday today--and with all the comforts of shopping online. Long Beach Craft Mafia member and local artist Steph Calvert is offering 20% off everything in her online storefront, Hearts and Laserbeams, which features all sorts of fun stuff like handmade aprons, original art, popular prints of robots doing everything from eating cupcakes to shoe shopping, stationery and housewares. And, in accordance with the holidays, Calvert

  December 1, 2008

• Filling Station Overpriced for Merely Good Meals

  I promised milady a special breakfast this morning, but she's the kind of gal who wants things her way. I suggested Anton Schwager's Jagerhaus, La Galette Creperie in San Clemente; she demanded The Filling Station, an Orange institution even though it truly hasn't been around that long, which goes to show how desperate our culture has become in latching on to anything with a possibility of lasting longer than a flash-in-the-pan.We went early to find the restaurant beginning to buzz with the typi

  December 11, 2008

• Because You're Ugly: American Apparel Financial Woes?

  Is Dov Charney's American Apparel empire in trouble?As of Nov. 30, American Apparel employed over 10,000 people and operated more than 240 retail stores in 19 countries. The label is known for their fair wages--and tiny track shorts and slightly pornographic adverts--at its factory in downtown Los Angeles, workers make $12.50/hour plus benefits, which is something like more than twice what sweatshop employees make. But American Apparel announced yesterday that they received a three-month extens

  December 23, 2008

• Because You're Ugly: EC Star 50% Off Sale

  So, it's no real surprise: all those drastic Christmas sales didn't go as well as retailers had hoped. In fact, the outlook is pretty bleak--many are predicting more and more closures and bankruptcies, joining big name stores like Circuit City, Linens 'n Things, Sharper Image, Steve & Barry and Mervyn's. Retailers are beginning to slash at any cost just to get rid of all the inventory they had prior to the holiday season. Forty-, 50- and even 60-percent off aren't too hard to find in shops

  December 30, 2008

• Will Record Store Day Spin Right Past Orange County By?

  April 18 is Record Store Day. The National Association of Recording Merchandisers is sponsoring this celebration of "the unique culture of indie record stores all year long" with sales, in stores and other mayhem. NAMBLA, I mean, NARM has the backing of fellow sponsors Music Monitor Network, the Coalition of Independent Music Stores and the Alliance of Independent Music Stores. It has the historical success of Record Store Day 2008, which saw sales spike at independent record stores all across t

  January 30, 2009

• Today: New Lady Sovereign

  Yes, more Lady Sovereign news from me. Why? Because she rules. That's why.Her latest disc is called Jigsaw and it's out today. You can buy it at these things called record stores or do what everyone else in 2009 does and get it at iTunes. Either way, I'm pretty sure the songs are the same.The first single, "So Human," charted in the UK. Come on Americans, let's help out the biggest midget in the game. Buy that shit.

  April 7, 2009

• [Aural Reports] Garden Grove-Based Online Shop Smartpunk Serves the Savvy Punk/Metal Fan

  August 7, 2008

• [Trendzilla] Everything Old Navy Is New Again

  March 13, 2008

• These Jeans Are a Steal

  January 22, 2004

• Locals Only

  Vinyl Resolution: New owners strive to keep Greene Records in the black

  August 16, 2007

• Trendzilla

  Trend by Trendzilla

  August 9, 2007

• German Healthcare, Santa Ana Politics

  December 18, 2003

• Locals Only

  It's Very Stimulating: Sound Trolley delivers the underground’s cultural splendors

  June 28, 2007

• Trendzilla

  Corporate sheepiness on a budget

  March 8, 2007

• Vinyl Countdown

  August 31, 2006

• Trendzilla

  December 1, 2005

• This Bud's for You

  December 1, 2005

• On the Cover

  October 20, 2005

• Music Like Dirt

  May 12, 2005

• A Triangle Square Peg in a Round Hole

  February 10, 2005

• CD Warehouse

  October 14, 2004

• German Healthcare, Santa Ana Politics

  December 25, 2003

• Sweat Seal

  February 13, 2003

• Hi-Fi Food!

  September 20, 2001

• By Any Means Necessary

  July 19, 2001

• Rage Against the Machine's Machine

  June 1, 2000

• Discounted Democracy

  November 11, 1999

• Embracing Amazon

  July 15, 1999

• Chicks Rule

  April 22, 1999

• Sequelitis Hits Gaming!

  March 18, 1999

• A Dissenter Emerges

  March 4, 1999

• Shopping Mauled

  January 28, 1999

• The Year in Cyberspace

  January 7, 1999

• Live from Coachella: Record Store Day!

  It's pretty cool that the official on-site record store at Coachella this year is Zia Records, from my hometown of Phoenix. It's been Virgin Megastore in years past, which is not only now out of business, but was always totally totally horrible. A copy of Private Eyes for $18.98? Sure, why not! So check 'em out if you're here, for suresies. Today is also Record Store Day, a really cool event. Read more about it here. I think everyone is reading over my shoulder, so I'm leaving the COOL

  April 18, 2009

• Garden Grove, Foothill Ranch Dealers on Chrysler Shitcan List

  As part of bankruptcy proceedings today, Chrysler LLC says it wants to eliminate 789 of its 3,200 U.S. dealerships, including Union Dodge in Garden Grove and Urban Automotive Group in Foothill Ranch. In its motion filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, Chrysler said sales are too low at many dealers on its shitcan list.  Dealers can appeal--and they won't be lonely. General Motors Corp. says it

  May 14, 2009

• The Messenger; Greenery; Angora; Memoricide

  May 21, 2009

• New Thrice Album 'Beggars' in (Physical) Stores Today

  ​Beggars, the sixth studio album from Irvine's Thrice is out in stores today. Well, "real" stores. Like, ones with doors that you can walk into. ("Physical retailers," "brick and mortar," whatever you want to call them.)

  September 15, 2009

• Wax On, Wax Off: Local Shops Win SIMA Retailer of the Year Awards

  The Surf Industry Manufacturer's Association(SIMA), which celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, is perhaps most notable for its annual "surf summit," during which they hand out awards for such industry standards as "boardshort of the year," "surfboard model of the year," and more. Priding itself on what they call "uniting the tribe," the Association plays a powerful role in determining and reinforcing the surfing world's attitudes on things like fashion, finance and fundraising. Earlie

  October 14, 2009

• What Do Futuristic Cars, Hooters Girls and 18-Foot-Tall Autobot "Bumblebee" Have in Common?

  "Futuristic concept cars, eye-popping exotics, pre-production models, interactive ride and drives and the latest alternative fuel options" are promised at the OC Auto Show, which opens for a four-day run at Anaheim Convention Center this afternoon. Swell. When will our flying Jetsons cars roll off the line?

  October 15, 2009