By Guest Author: Andy Richardson (http://www.financial-spread-betting.com)

Most traders who I spoke to about 12 months ago were forecasting a gloomy future ahead for the UK clothing retail giants such as Next Group PLC, Debenhams or Marks & Spencer.
Let’s take the case of Next Group PLC. Although the recession was not full blown at the time, fierce competition, poor stock (clothes), the inevitable Credit Crunch and decrease in profits added up to a bearish stock. At around £8 to £9 at the time many were predicting a sub £6 by Christmas.
Here we are now and they were correct except the share price of course which has risen more than 100% now. Anyone who has opened short spread betting positions on Next must be licking their wounds by now. So what has really changed?
For one the economic outlook still looks really bad, as well as unemployment there is …

There is an increasing shift towards private labels, as branded products become dearer for budget-conscious consumers.Private Label products are gaining momentum since the third quarter of 2008, especially among budget-conscious consumers in a recession struck economy. According to a survey conducted by the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) and Gfk Custom Research, 91% of the people surveyed stated that, they will continue buying private label products even after the recession ends.More than 60% of the U.S. population considers private label brands as good as branded products, and approximately 30% rate the private label products higher than branded ones. Even retail giants like Wal-Mart (WMT) are revamping their shelves with more private label products to increase profit and store visits by customers.Further, according to a report on private label food and beverage trends by NPD Group, 24% of the overall consumption ...

Brite-Strike Tactical Illumination (BSTI.PK), maker of high-intensity light products for government and self-defense use, is in an enviable position. Their product line has managed to successfully address a variety of problems that limit their competitors.

Brite-Strike, based in Massachusetts, produces a unique set of tactical LED light products which are being used by professionals and consumers to protect themselves and gain the upper hand against would-be attackers. Brite-Strike’s primary product is a hand-held flashlight that uses the latest Luxeon™ LED and EMP chip technology to generate an output 15 times brighter than any other hand-held light in the world. The consumer version is less powerful, and less expensive, than that used by professionals, but both configurations have a number of advantages over other self-defense products.

First of all, they are easier and safer to use, and are therefore less restricted. Tasers are illegal

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Brite-Strike Tactical Illumination (BSTI.PK) is beginning to look like the next big success story in the rapidly growing self-defense and law enforcement technology market. The Massachusetts-based company, founded by two police officers to create world-class tactical LED flashlights, is rapidly expanding into what is estimated to be the $2 billion market of tactical lighting.

In spite of their short history, sales have already taken off through high-end stores and catalogues, and now they’ve gotten the go-ahead from retail giants Lowes.com and BJs Club stores. As if that weren’t enough, Brite-Strike is starting to get major orders from Europe, and feels they’ll now have to open a UK office as early as this fall.

Brite-Strike’s high-tech illumination products are specifically designed for use by police officers as well as the FBI, CIA, DEA, and the U.S. military, all huge markets in themselves. But the personal

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In this morning’s news, Brite-Strike Tactical Illumination Products, Inc. announced that it has launched a major media advertising campaign with 30-second commercials airing on some of the largest cable networks such as Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, Fox Business News, Fox News, Tru-TV, and MSNBC and print ads appearing in the USA Today, the nation’s most widely circulated newspaper. The national television campaign will continue throughout the early fall months.

Expressing his excitement, Glenn Bushee, President of Brite-Strike Technologies, Inc, stated, “We are making a significant investment to move the Brite-Strike brand forward. Advertising on CNBC, for example, with over 95 million viewers, gives us a way to kick off our campaign in a big way. Our goal is to bring personal safety into the hands of ordinary citizens; their security is of the utmost importance.”

The Brite-Strike Tactical Blue-Dot™ line is currently being utilized by a

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Brite-Strike Tactical Illumination Products, Inc. announced today that BJ’s Wholesale Club is now selling its seven-piece economical personal protection system, named Lighting Strike, at over 25 membership warehouse clubs in 16 eastern states as well as online at www.bjs.com.

With students returning to school this fall, the product introduction is strategically timed for maximum exposure and revenue. The easy-to-use system non-lethally thwarts potential attackers with a combination of brilliant, blinding light and a piercing, audible alarm.

Glenn Bushee, president and founder of Brite-Strike Technologies, stated, “BJ’s has built a loyal customer base by identifying premium products to meet their customers’ needs, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

In the past, Brite-Strike’s product lines were only available by word-of-mouth, the company’s website, or several high-end catalogs, which included Frontgate and Herrington. However, retail giants such as BJ’S Wholesale Clubs, Amazon.com,

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