U.S. apparel retailers face international competition.(knowitall)(Brief article)

With more affordable and rapidly turning inventories, foreign-based retailers are giving American-based retailers greater challenges than ever. Already suffering from same-store sales declines of 1.8 percent during 2007, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), U.S. apparel retailers are also facing maturing store concepts and potential cannibalization.

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In particular, too many American apparel retailers have offered the same type of jeans and t-shirt combinations. International apparel retailers like H & M from Sweden, and Zara, based in Spain, have established strong footholds in the United States with their ever-changing inventories and lower prices. Other overseas retailers are now looking to achieve the same success in the U.S. market.

A bright spot in the U.S. retail apparel market includes the Los Angeles-based chain, Forever 21, which is looking for new expansion opportunities with larger stores ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 square feet.

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