Hardly a day goes by now without some Chinese firm striking a deal to buy assets overseas, but the country’s best prospects for growth may be right in its own backyard. Vivi Lin in Beijing reports on how the world’s workshop is fast becoming one of the world’s top consumers.

For most of us, printing e-mails or making copies is just part of the daily routine in the office. But, the paper we use does come from somewhere. Last week, we had the opportunity to visit Stora Enso’s Nymolla Mill in southern Sweden to get an exclusive look at how MultiCopy paper is made. Nymolla is an integrated mill (it produces pulp and paper on the same site) and most of the wood used is sourced locally. Also interesting, the mill is the only one I could find in the world that emits zero carbon dioxide from fossil fuels during the paper making process. Check out my look inside the Nymolla Mill.

Inside Sweden’s greenest paper mill from Reuters TV on Vimeo.

Today I had the chance to sit down with the CEO of Liz Claiborne in our Times Square studios as part of the 2009 Reuters Global Retail Summit. Bill McComb says “the world has changed and it’s not going back to business as usual.” Click here to listen to what McComb described as the “new normal” and what the fashion company is doing to change the way it does business.

Liz Claiborne sees “new normal” from Reuters TV on Vimeo.

Interior designer Jonathan Adler points to his quirky and irreverent housewares as part of his success during the current economic environment. Click here to listen to what he has to say about his design aesthetic and how gloomy times might be driving people to bring home a little “happy chic.”

Adler: “Happy Chic” in gloomy times from Reuters TV on Vimeo.

This week we’re getting inside views from some of the biggest names in retail…from high-end fashion houses like Hermes to department store chain J.C. Penney. Optimism among those in the industry about a turnaround toward the end of 2009 springs eternal…but what are you seeing? Where are you spending? Or, are you trading down? Ditching Saks and heading to Target? Barclays retail analyst Bob Drbul says the key for consumers in the current economic environment, no matter where they shop, is “value.” Click here to hear his thoughts:

Are you changing your buying behavior? from Reuters TV on Vimeo.

The luxury goods industry has been hit hard by the downturn as consumers, worried about job security and the health of their economy, shied away from indulging in upmarket shopping.

Most-seriously hit products have been big-ticket items such as Swiss watches, followed by jewelery and fashion apparel. Leather goods such as handbags and shoes have proven more resilient.

Many analysts forecast global luxury sales to drop as much as 10 percent in 2009. In light of the recent green shoots of recovery, some believe the rate of decline could slow down in the coming months and the market could stabilise.

One of biggest questions for luxury investors today is whether demand from emerging markets such as China and Latin America will be sufficient to compensate for weak sales in more mature and saturated regions such as Western Europe, Japan and the United States.

Many also wonder if the industry will ever return to its historical growth levels or if it will remain at lower levels for the years to come. Perhaps we have entered an era of austerity and self-restraint which will hold back consumers from spending on luxury items.

Reuters’ first Luxury Goods Summit, which is being held in Paris, London, Tokyo, Dubai and New York on June 8-10, will ask these questions to some of the industry’s leading executives.  It will also ask them what they think is the best recipe for the crisis, which projects they are putting on hold and how they see the future.

Unlike other economic downturns luxury retailers are also taking a hit along with the trest of the industry.

Luxury retail consultant and president of Unity Marketing, Pam Danziger, says retailers have to be willing to make tough choices and clearly align themselves with the needs of the customer without just paying lip service.

Speaker: Pam Danziger President Unity Marketing Presenter: Jeanne Yurman New York

AT&T says it sees a lot of promise for the netbook and the connection fees that come with the devices as a growing source of revenue as consumers look to take broadband connectivity on the road. But will consumers be as enthusiatic to sign another contract for the service? Click below to hear AT&T’s President of Mobile & Consumer Markets talk about what he sees as the future of the netbook.

AT&T: Netbook popularity on the rise from Reuters TV on Vimeo.

 High unemployment rates, declining remittances from Mexicans living abroad, an economic slowdown and contracting consumption is not boding well for Mexican retailers. This year is no exception as the country’s leading supermarket chains struggle to keep customers happy, offering anything from stamps to buy German cuttlery sets to cooking classes for housewives pulling their hair wondering what to prepare for lunch next. 
    Monterrey-based Soriana, Mexico’s No. 2 retailer, knows a thing or two about sailing in choppy waters. After an ambitious acquisition of 200 stores from a smaller rival in 2007, which boosted its presence across the country, the company faced tight liquidity to meet debt payments last year.
    But Soriana has moved fast to cut costs and lighten the weight to face more hard times in 2009. Chief Financial Officer Aurelio Adan told the Reuters Latin American Investment Summit that Soriana’s same-store sales will be flat this year but it will generate enough cash flow to cut its debt by over 20 percent.
    Adan expects to turn the page in 2010 and resume Soriana’s strong growth with the opening of 40 stores.

The state of the U.S. economy has been much on the minds of all our guests at this year’s Reuters Consumer and Retail Summit.

Most of them tried to put on a brave face about the current state of play, but Whirlpool’s North America President, Michael Todman, gave what to us sounded like a pretty accurate assessment of how stretched the U. S. consumer seems and when he sees a turnaround.

Whirlpool, which is still integrating all the parts of its Maytag acquisition, is in an interesting spot, because they have felt the brunt of the crumbling U.S. housing sector and then got a double whammy from the cut in U.S. discretionary spending.

Todman comes across as an optimist though, and sees Whirlpool well positioned to get through these recent problems and feels his brands will augur well for long-term growth.

Todman was one of the featured guests at this year’s retail jamboree — which continues through Thursday in London and New York.