Gary Handley416-346-1008Copyright 2009 Market Wire All rights reserved

Gary Handley416-346-1008Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.-0-. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fashion and retail executives are adding new ingredients like extensive customer data and streamlined websites to their marketing mix to get consumers to buy in the recession. ItalyYet the tried and true remain in the recipe, with an emphasis on quality and strategies such as holding back supply, said executives at the Reuters Global Luxury and Retail Summits this week."We are able to invest any amount to be able to produce something that is outstanding, that is our strategy," Hermes (HRMS.PA) Chief Executive Patrick Thomas said, adding that the key to the crisis was to remain focused on the long term."My financial strategy is making sure my grandchildren are proud of me," he said.Swiss watchmaker Hublot said its secret was to under-supply distributors."Never deliver what people need," said its chief executive, Jean-Claude Biver "Only give them half. You have to keep them hungry."Yet in a shift from the old model of luxury goods makers being dominated by their creative genius founders, some are warming up to the moves used by their lower-tier peers, said Milton Pedraza, chief executive of the Luxury Institute, a research organization that studies the luxury industry."This severe downturn really has been a catalyst for opening luxury executives' minds from the Victorian age now into the 21st century," Pedraza said "What we're seeing is ... using the collective wisdom of your team, using the collective wisdom of your customers to drive and to help the creative genius."Saks Inc (SKS.N) has embraced this approach, and Pedraza said it is paying off by allowing the luxury department store operator to suggest a light blue shirt to a customer it knows just bought a navy blue suit, for example.Saks Chief Executive Steve Sadove said the company is speaking to customers and found out they are looking for a wider array of price points and better customer service."We have actually interviewed over 3,000 of them in terms of their mindset right now and how they are feeling ... and I think we have learned quite a lot that has implications for both the '09 holiday season and beyond," Sadove said.Saks is working harder to share that data with vendors and to localize its marketing, he said.TINKERING AND TWEAKINGAside from continuing to invest in its Nine West loyalty program, Jones Apparel Group Inc (JNY.N) is broadening its array of casual shoes and enhancing its website.Milton Pedraza said many high-end brands were now making their websites more streamlined and easy to navigate."They're foregoing all the flash they used to put in front of their websites because it was like a 6-foot brick wall on the left lane of the Autobahn," Pedraza said. "It took a while for the creative people to get that consumers want to get in and get out."Italian jewelry designer Roberto Coin launched a Capri Plus collection, offering pieces with identical designs but varying materials and price tags ranging from $2,500 to $50,000."We are saying, 'put all five different price points (in the window) now ...

and let (customers) decide which price they feel comfortable with," Coin said.Liz Claiborne Inc (LIZ.N) is offering more lower-priced items at its Juicy Couture, Lucky Brand and Kate Spade brands and in some cases adding more basic designs to attract value-conscious consumers.Yet for some, it is old-fashioned creativity that is guiding them through the retail storm."Over the last year or so I have just been feeling very inspired and creative," said Jonathan Adler, who designs home decor pieces that are sold at Barneys New York and Neiman Marcus NMRCUS.UL in addition to his own boutiques."Complacency is sort of the enemy of growth and a lot of businesses have grown complacent. So I think that this economic climate is a great climate to breed creativity."(Reporting by Martinne Geller; Additional reporting by Astrid Wendlandt in Paris and Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London; Editing by Richard Chang) Italy. OTTAWA, June 12 (Reuters) - A three-month extension onArise Technologies Corp's (APV.TO) credit facility is only aBand-Aid on the the company's cash problems, not a cure, ananalyst said on Friday. Stocks  |  Bonds The Canadian solar equipment maker said late on Thursdaythat its 7 million euro credit line with Commerzbank AG[COMM.UL], which expired on May 31, had been extended untilAug 31. The interest rate was increased to 3.25 percent plusthe overnight reference rate for the euro, from a rate of 2.5percent. "This is a temporary fix, which buys Arise a bit of time,but doesn't change the necessary remedy: the company needs acapital infusion now," said Canaccord Adams analyst Sara Elfordin a note.

"It is not clear to us that additional capital willbe available." Arise sells solar power systems along with the silicon andphotovoltaic cells it produces. The solar sector has been hardhit by a dearth of funding for projects and by a flood of solarpanels into the market, which pushed down prices and hurtprofit. Elford, who rates the company's stock a "sell" and has thetarget price under review, said that Arise has C$12.7 milliondrawn on another credit facility intended for the purchase ofsilicon wafers. That is scheduled for repayment on June 15 andthe term has not yet been extended.

"In our view, Arises's balance sheet risk is very seriousand not reflected in the current share price," the analystwrote. Arise said that as of March 31, it had loans and debt ofC$53.5 million, up from C$17.5 million at the same time in2008 Its cash had dropped to C$7.2 million from C$15.4million. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company also said it hadnegative working capital of C$11.1 million, with assets ofC$52.7 million, less liabilities of C$63.8 million. Arise said it was discussing options to obtain additionalcapital, such as partnerships, but had adequate funds tofinance operations "into the latter part of 2009." It did not forecast financial or operation expectations for2009, citing economic, demand and pricing uncertainty. Arise shares fell 5.4 percent, or 2.5 Canadian cents, to43.5 Canadian cents on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday.That is a drop of more than 85 percent from early 2007, whenthe stock peaked at C$3.30. ($1=$1.12 Canadian) (Reporting by Susan Taylor; editing by Rob Wilson) Stocks Bonds. DALLAS, TX, Jun 12 (MARKET WIRE) -- Kendall Law Group, led by former Federal Judge Joe Kendall and formerU.S.

Attorney Jim Rolfe, announces that a class action lawsuit has beenfiled on behalf of those who purchased the common stock of Kenexa Corp.(NASDAQ: KNXA) between May 8, 2007 and November 7, 2007.The Complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Districtof Pennsylvania, charges that Kenexa and certain of its officers anddirectors violated the federal securities laws. Following the earningsrelease, defendants held a conference call to discuss the Company'searnings and operations. In response to the earnings announcement and thestatements made during the conference call, the price of Kenexa stockdropped from $27.84 per share to $16.61 per share, or 40%, on extremelyheavy trading volume.If you are a member of the class, you may, no later than August 10, 2009,request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff of the class. A leadplaintiff is a class member that acts on behalf of other class members indirecting the litigation. Although your ability to share in any recoveryis not affected by the decision whether or not to seek appointment as alead plaintiff, lead plaintiffs make important decisions which couldaffect the overall recovery for class members.