Bids Heat Up for Filene’s

So there are people looking to buy out there.

Men’s Wearhouse, discount department-store chain Syms and Vornado Realty Trust are all looking to split up bankrupt Filene’s Basement store assets, according to this article. The move comes after investor Crown Acquisitions already agreed to buy 17 of the retailer’s 25 stores for $22 million.

Does Marketing Help or Hurt in a Downturn?

Two apparel retailers, Coldwater Creek and Men’s Wearhouse, have marketing strategies going forward that are as different as the clothes they sell. But both of them are putting those initiatives in place to attack a tough economic environment.

Coldwater Creek, the Sandpoint, ID-based retailer that targets women over 35, plans to cut advertising by 70%, according to this article. “We’re not going to market our way to greatness,” says Daniel Griesemer, the company’s president and CEO, stressing that Coldwater needs to focus more on fashion. “It’s got to come from an incredible product.”

Houston-based suit-seller Men’s Wearhouse is going the other route. The company is stepping up its efforts “to not only bring in new customers but to strengthen the brand as well,” said Chairman George Zimmer during a conference call.