Jenny Weaver

29/05/2024

Barcelona have appointed former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick as their new boss on a two-year contract.

Flick, was who sacked by Germany in September 2023, takes over from Xavi, who was sacked last week.

Flick's stint with Germany came after he guided Bayern Munich to a treble in 2020, winning the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League.

21/05/2024

Contemporary menswear brand Dstrezzed presents its latest collection at Pitti tradeshow – together with new partner for Germany: agency Ben And GmbH, Ben Botas.

Paying homage to one of Southern Europe’s most beautiful yet underrated countries, this collection portrays the influence of Greece through its color palette, fabrics, and designs. Elevating everyday style with unique pieces that embody a carefree Spring Summer mindset. Next to its core collection, the brand shows creativity with new contemporary designs. Terra All Over Co-ord. A two-piece outfit with all-over embroidery, the design inspired by ancient Greek terracotta pots. Made in a luxurious fabric yet contemporary, slightly oversized fit for a down to-earth look.

Crochet features across knitwear and a matching short-sleeved shirt and shorts. Octagon Details have been accentuated across product categories to emphasize the brand’s symbol for brotherhood. Look out for all-over octagon embroideries and octagon jacquard in a teddy fabric. Gent D Atelier Keramika. The denim favorite, loose tapered fit in their all-time best-wash, featuring damages and repairs, inspired by local ceramics.

13/05/2024

Affordable fashion retailer C&A is setting its sights on key European cities as part of its ongoing retail expansion strategy. The Dutch retail giant aims to add 100 stores to its portfolio over the next three years, strategically locating physical outlets in areas where its customer base resides.

"Over the past three years, we've been diligently future-proofing our portfolio: updating, scaling, and relocating, all with a singular objective—to be precisely where our customers desire us to be," stated Flavia Ballve, external communications representative for Southern Europe at C&A, in an interview with Italian news outlet Pambianco.

The chain's primary emphasis will be on enhancing the in-store shopping experience, broadening its fashion offerings, and introducing amenities such as lounge areas, click & collect stations, hybrid checkouts, and other in-store ordering services.

C&A has also articulated its ambition for e-commerce, aiming for a fully omnichannel approach where the shopping experience, whether online or offline, is seamlessly integrated for customers.

"We've conducted a consumer survey encompassing 14,000 individuals across Europe, both customers and non-customers, enabling us to discern the desires of our target audience: convenience and quality are appreciated, but there's a clear demand for more stylish designs," added Ballve.

25/04/2024

Foot Locker, Inc., launched a new global retail concept at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, New Jersey, today as part of its broader growth strategy outlined in its March 2023 Lace Up Plan.

Designed to offer customers an elevated shopping experience, the new concept, dubbed the “store of the future,” features a bold storefront and a distinctive in-store environment that includes expanded footwear and accessory selections with a focus on digital fixtures and other technological advances.

16/04/2024

U.S. shopping centers are experiencing a notable resurgence, marking a promising shift in consumer’s shopping behavior. According to the latest update to Placer.ai's Mall Index for March, visits to shopping malls have seen a steady increase for the second consecutive month. The data reveals that visits to indoor malls surged by 9.7 percent year-over-year in March, while open-air shopping centers and outlet malls experienced even more substantial growth, with increases of 10.1 percent and 10.7 percent, respectively.

Visits to open-air shopping centers have not only rebounded but have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, showing a 1.6 percent increase compared to the first quarter of 2019. This resurgence is a promising indicator of the recovery and resilience of the shopping center industry.

The findings align closely with insights from their recent white paper titled "The Comeback of the Mall in 2024." The paper highlights the significant improvement in foot traffic to indoor malls, which saw a decline of only 5.8 percent in 2023 compared to 2019. This marks a remarkable turnaround from the more than 15 percent drop experienced in 2021. Similarly, open-air shopping centers saw a minimal decrease of just 1 percent in foot traffic last year compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Overall, the shopping center industry experienced a modest decline of 2.3 percent in foot traffic in 2023, indicating stabilization and the potential for a resurgence in 2024. With consumer confidence on the rise there appear to be renewed interest and opportunities for retailers and shoppers alike.

One mall that has seen success despite a tumultuous start when it opened in 2019, is Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, which has become a top shopping destination in New York. Last year, average monthly visits increased 19 percent year-on-year, far outpacing growth at other top malls, such as Bal Harbour Shops in Florida and the Mall of America in Minnesota, according to Placer.ai.

Despite numerous predictions of the demise of malls, recent consumer behaviour underscores the enduring significance of these retail hubs in the American market. Despite evolving consumer preferences, leading shopping centers have adeptly adjusted their offerings to align with current tastes, ensuring their continued relevance well into 2024 and beyond.

16/04/2024

The first quarter of the year has outlined the tough reality of the current market, with last year’s challenging financial period leaving many companies with no option but to initiate strategic reviews. And, as part of this process, inevitably the question of jobs comes into play, with roles, departments and geographies coming under the microscope of cost-saving initiatives. Here are some of those that have already had to make that tough decision to reduce their workforce.

Rent The Runway
Rental platform Rent The Runway started the year on a lacklustre note with the announcement that it would be slashing 37 corporate positions, representing around 10 percent of its workforce, according to a filing with the SEC. The move was part of a strategic initiative to instead invest in growth areas such as marketing and customer experience.

Macy’s
Ahead of a series of store closures, US department store Macy’s said it was preparing to lay off 2,300 employees, accounting for 3.5 percent of its workforce. The majority of the roles impacted were to be in corporate positions associated with its retail network, with the company set on a plan to reposition its store portfolio and evaluate its existing locations. As such, five stores were expected to close as well as two furniture galleries. This news was shortly followed by the later revelation that the company would be closing a further 150 of its stores, with 50 set to shutter by the end of the year.

05/04/2024

House of Morabito Paris has announced the arrival of Quentin Véron as artistic director from April 1, 2024.

The company said in a release that he will manage all the House's collections including leather goods (permanent and new collections), trunks, travel goods, accessories and special orders.

Véron, a designer already famous for his eponymous label, said: "I'm looking forward to working with some of Paris's top luxury ateliers and offering new contemporary designs alongside the House's icons in the near future."

House of Morabito Paris was founded in 1905 by Jean-Baptiste Morabito. The company added that originally known for the finesse of his work as an artisan-jeweller of repute, Morabito quickly established himself as a specialist in precious materials, crafting each object like a jewel.

Specialising in hand-stitching in its Parisian workshops, the House has won recognition over the decades for its unique expertise and is celebrated as "the goldsmith of leather goods".

In addition to its private clientèle, the House has had the pleasure of serving the world's royal and imperial houses, the French Presidency through its diplomatic gifts and celebrities like Marilyn Monroe, Maria Callas, Edith Piaf, Catherine Deneuve and many others.

20/03/2024

29/02/2024

Coupang CEO outlines plans for Farfetch

Almost one month on from the closing of its acquisition of Farfetch and the luxury e-tailer’s new owner, Coupang, is beginning to outline plans for the British company’s future.

Brief details of such were described in a conference call with analysts held by Coupang’s founder and chief executive officer, Bom Kim, who also took the opportunity to share the South Korean firm’s latest fourth-quarter results.

In the meeting, Kim gave off the impression that while he saw Farfetch as a “rare opportunity”, the company would for now remain in the backseat while Coupang continues to pursue a larger market share in its home country and Taiwan.

Kim added: “We hope in a few years we’ll be having the conversation about how Coupang turned Farfetch into a business that transformed the customer experience around luxury fashion while also providing strategic value for Coupang.

“It’s too early for that conversation today. Even if that full potential is not fully realised, we’re highly confident that this will prove to be a prudent financial decision.

“We’re already executing on a plan to make Farfetch self-funding with no additional investment beyond the announced capital commitment. And we see many paths to making this a worthwhile investment for shareholders.”