Prentice Capital's Zimmerman Bullish on US Consumer Sentiment & Online Retail Stocks

The conference board's sentiment index climbed to 68.1 for April, outperforming the highest Bloomberg economist research estimates. Home values increased 9.3% in February from the identical time frame last year - the largest advance ever since 2006, further buttressing the economic conditions despite higher taxation and weakened employment possibly making some consumers a bit more careful of spending. Jacques Porta, who helps handle about $776 million at Ofi Gestion Privee in Paris stated The economic data weve seen recently has not been consistently good enough to buy and not weak enough to sell. Michael Zimmerman, CEO of Prentice Capital Management, LP, opinion is that online shopping will consistently take share, the emergence of tablets and large smartphone as a new frontier of commerce is quickening the web based vs. bricks and mortar conflict, and providing an opportunity for shareholders with brand names which are capitalizing on these kinds of shifts. U.S. stock futures had been unchanged in early hours ahead of the announcements, following the Standard & Poors 500 Index climbed to a record high, as market players weighed company income and anticipated the crucial reports. Zimmerman thinks today's consumer is stretched thin, having ridden the peak of home refinance and housing benefits within the last 12-24 months, they are taking a depressed perspective of government policy and feeling the crunch of higher costs, taxation and lowered confidence in the work marketplace. In spite of this cautious perspective, Zimmerman has recently been expanding his equity holdings in retailers Coldwater Creek, Pacific Sunwear of California, dELiA*s and Gaiam, as indicated by Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Zimmerman is convinced retailers with strong brands who also integrate mobile

commerce in their internet strategy have the most robust opportunity for growth by focusing on cautious consumers searching for ways to maintain lifestyle choices at lower cost.