Models wear designs by Martin Churba during BA Fashion Week 2010. (AP/ Natacha Pisarenko)

Models wear designs by Martin Churba during BA Fashion Week 2010. (AP/ Natacha Pisarenko)

Buenos Aires is the city where “shopping” is much more than an action verb for describing the favorite indoor activity of many females“shopping” is a place. In fact, BA is home to some of the largest gallerias—or shoppings—in Latin America. BA shoppings like Alto Palermo, Paseo Alcorta, Patio Bullrich and the new DOT Baires mega-project all feature their share of international retail outlets, but those engaging in porteño retail therapy will also find a significant number of high-end stores and successful labels launched by Argentine designers. The highly anticipated BA Fashion Week, an annual showcase for Fall/Winter collections, is the launching pad for many of these aspiring designers. As always, this week’s event features dozens of designers showing a wide variety of unique garments and accessories like Cubreme’s coats, S-Mode’s swimsuits, Cosecha’s vintage clothing, Bienamada’s handbags and Ana Livni’s Uruguayan merino wool designs.  Not to be outdone on the global catwalk, the 2010 edition of BAFWeek is competing with Fashion Weeks in two other major fashion capitals, London & Milan. For foreign retail buyer inquiries regarding any of the collections featured in BAFWeek 2010, send a detailed e-mail to out@investba.com.

Walmart located in the new Dot Buenos Aires Shopping Center

Walmart located in the new 1.8 million-square foot Dot Buenos Aires Shopping Center

Ahorrá dinero. Viví mejor. Wal-Mart’s tagline proposition to Argentine consumers is simple: Save Money. Live Better. And judging by the company’s track record of growth in the country and recently announced plans for expansion, it’s a winning formula. The company, which opened its first Sam’s Club in 1995, will operate 43 stores in 32 cities by year’s end. Wal-Mart Argentina plans to spend an additional $150 million in the country in 2010, according to the Wall Street Journal. It wasn’t always smooth sailing for the world’s largest retailer in Argentina; the company’s early missteps and slow acceptance of mega-retailers (locally hípermercados) are well documented in MBA case studies. Fast forward fifteen years and Argentines seem to be fully embracing Wal-Mart, not only for the low prices and high-quality product mix, but also for the local jobs being created: 9,100 to date and growing.  The newly opened Supercenter in the City of Luján offers online evidence. Of the 60+ comments posted below an article announcing the Grand Opening, over 90% of respondents offered words of praise and job inquires. While Marta sees the competitive advantages, “Enough of high prices in the middle and low quality!,” Leandro looks to the future, “Progress is good.” (Google translation)

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