Wannabe vampires can now suck up some “Twilight” love — ummm, read fashion — at department store Nordstrom. The retailer has announced a deal with Summit Entertainment for an exclusive clothing and jewelry collection inspired by the upcoming film “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”

“Twilight,” of course, is the smash hit movie romance ($382 million global box office) about a teenager (Bella Swan) and her forbidden love for a vampire (Edward Cullen) and all the blood-sucking complications that can bring. “New Moon” is its sequel, due in theaters this November.

Shoppers can find their plaid tunics, “Team Jacob” T-shirts or “I love Edward” heart pendants starting October 1. The collection, created by Awake Inc, “reflects the mood and spirit of the film,” according to a press release. Prices range from $32 for a T-shirt to $58 for a jacket.

An Entertainment Weekly blog described the line as “supercute” but bemoaned the lack of life-size cutouts of heartthrob Robert Pattinson (Edward) in a suit for sale. That’s him at right with Kristen Stewart (Bella).

Nordstrom is also holding events in stores in advance of the release of the second installment of the vampire saga, including advance screening parties, and has launched an online countdown on a special website.

But if you’re trying to re-create a bare-chested werewolf look, don’t go to Nordstrom — there’s no love there. You’re on your own.

(Photo: Reuters)

By Nivedita Bhattacharjee 
 
As Bella and Edward move ahead, Hot Topic is all set to move with them.
 
After cashing in on Twilight’s success, Hot Topic has snapped up an exclusive deal for New Moon, the much awaited movie sequel to the star-crossed vampire romance.
 
And in good time too.

Priced at $22, the New Moon T-shirts might just be Hot Topic’s trump card for the season, and it looks like the retailer is leaving nothing to chance when it comes to promoting them. 
 
Ads for the T-shirts hold top spots on its website.  The company has also been sending out promotional emails to leverage interest in the items, available months ahead of the movie’s Nov. 20 release.
 
Pali Research analyst Amy Noblin received one such mailer, and says this unexpected arrival could benefit June sales results for the company. 
 
Hot Topic had boasted of a solid performance for months on end, but forecast a second-quarter loss, saying fewer people visited its stores after Easter.
 
The usually fashion-savvy company seems to have run into some trouble inventory-wise — its neon-bright jeans aren’t selling too well, and its super-successful Twilight merchandise lost some sheen over the months.

While most analysts, including Pali’s Noblin, are still upbeat on the company, one confessed in a research note to have “underestimated the impact of the Twilight franchise on the company’s overall business.”  Yes, it seems the lure of the vampire caught even FBR Capital Markets’ Adrienne Tennant a little by surprise.
 
And Noblin says Hot Topic will need the new merchandise to match tough comparisons driven by Twilight.
 
When that is the case, will New Moon make Hot Topic stores shine bright?

(Reuters photo)

Twilight was a big box office hit. 

Now Wal-Mart hopes the teen vampire sensation will amp up its sales.

The Twilight movie DVD is slated for nationwide release March 21.

Instead of simply selling the DVD in its electronics department, Wal-Mart is opening “Twilight Shops” within each of its 3,500 U.S. discount stores starting in mid-March. 

Wal-Mart will be selling the Twilight DVD movie and CD soundtrack along with Twilight clothes, posters, jewelry, bags and key chains. 

Fans can also pre-order the Twilight DVD on Wal-Mart’s website . 

But Wal-Mart is not the only retailer looking for a Twilight boost.

Hot Topic has seen brisk sales of its Twilight T-shirts, sweatshirts and jewelry. Its website is also taking early orders for the Twilight DVD.

Perhaps retailers should be looking to Hollywood and not DC when searching for ways to get consumers spending again.

(Photo/Reuters)

Check Out the drop in sales.

It was no surprise that sales were weak in December, though some retailers stood out Thursday for their worse-than-expected performance.

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, said sales at U.S. stores open at least a year rose just 1.7 percent, while analysts were expecting a 2.8 percent increase.  Wal-Mart and other chains such as Macy’s cut guidance for the fourth quarter ending later this month.
 
Shares of Wal-Mart fell more than 9 percent on Thursday morning, dragging the Dow Jones industrial average into negative territory as well.

Research firm Retail Metrics said that while the month was not as bad as it could have been, it was still ugly.

Among the retailers that bucked the trend:
Target’s same-store sales fell 4.1 percent, but that drop was less than expected.
 
Discount chains TJX and Ross Stores said same-store sales were in line with last year, while analysts had expected both of their sales to fall. Kohl’s, meanwhile, said same-store sales fell only 1.4 percent, while analysts expected a 5.5 percent dip. 
 
Some teenagers apparently still have some money to spend — or they got others to buy them gifts last month.  Aeropostale’s same-store sales jumped 12 percent (analysts predicted a decline) and Hot Topic’s same-store sales rose a better-than-expected 4.3 percent.  Guess people are still heading to the stores for ”Twilight” perfume, shirts and other items.

Also in the basket:

Sears Holdings same-store sales fall, cash rises

Walgreen cuts about 1,000 jobs

European shoppers seek value as economy darkens

U.S. Fashion’s One-Woman Bailout? (New York Times)

(Reuters photo)

Check Out the top products on Amazon.com.
 
Amazon.com just came out with its “best of” lists for 2008.  Since Amazon is best known for selling books (even though it offers everything from groceries to jewelry these days), we thought you might want to know which titles were the hottest this year.

No surprise to tween girls or their parents, the best-selling book was “Breaking Dawn,” also known as the fourth book in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga.

The book that got the most positive reviews was “The Revolution: A Manifesto” by Ron Paul. Meyer’s “Twilight” got the most positive reviews for a Kindle book. Of course, Amazon’s Kindle was the best-selling electronic item on its 2008 list.
 
The book most frequently purchased as a gift? It was the first book in Meyer’s series, “Twilight” - the one that became a hit movie when it opened in November.
 
Also in the basket:

NexCen sells Bill Blass apparel brand for $10 mln

E-commerce retailer Parent Co files for Chapter 11

Britain’s John Lewis posts record sales on 1st clearance day

A Holiday to Forget: Retailers Experience Aftershocks (WWD, subscription required)

(Reuters photo of fan Noelle Buffam at the premiere of the movie Twilight)