Retail News CRM

Tag: Fashion

  • Two luxury names to open at revamped centre

    Two luxury names to open at revamped centre

    Luxury retailers, Bally and Harrolds, are set to open their first outlet stores at Birkenhead Point this spring, alongside global designer giants Coach and Michael Kors, and Australian brands Peter’s of Kensington and progressive streetwear designer Zanerobe.

    Mirvac made the announcement yesterday, as the centre prepares for the launch of its multi-million dollar makeover, which will open to the public in early August.

    The fashion brands will join other  international names including Armani, Hugo Boss, Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Victoria’s Secret; plus local Australian designer Oroton.

    Pharmacy chain,  Chemist Warehouse recently expanded its footprint to 580sqm along with Shoe Warehouse returning in its new location on Level 1.

    Mirvac said the revamped centre appeals to locals, domestic and international visitors.

    “This latest development responds to our customers’ wants and desires and greatly enhances the appeal of Birkenhead Point, Christina Nelson, Mirvac senior development manager. “We have improved the customer experience by delivering a sophisticated and contemporary palette of finishes in the main mall on Level 2, including new mall flooring and ceilings, bespoke furniture and shopfront upgrades, whilst embracing the heritage backdrop  of this unique and much-loved building.”

    The redevelopment also includes incorporate a new ‘entry statement’, with a  glass window display and state-of-the-art digital screen technology using content designed by creative agency, Vandel. The display, at the Roseby Street entrance, will play host to the Birkenhead Art Project, exhibiting work from some of Australia’s artistic talent in collaboration with Art Pharmacy Founder, Emilya Colliver.

    The art will sit in the giant window display and be interpreted digitally on a large screen.

    Sydney based paper artist, Jo Neville, is first up, showcasing a bespoke paper floral installation.

  • L’Oréal targets middle class Chinese travellers with Bangkok upgrade

    L’Oréal targets middle class Chinese travellers with Bangkok upgrade

    L’Oréal Paris has revamped and upgraded its Bangkok Downtown duty free store and is particularly aiming to appeal to the Chinese middle class traveller. It describes the segment as “the driver of today’s growth in travel retail”.

    The refit is in line with L’Oréal’s travel retail strategy “to enhance desirability by increasing retail effectiveness in travel retail shops”.

    Based on the idea of making a premium product accessible, the new store offers a showcase of  L’Oréal Paris’ key products for the market including its anti-ageing and moisturising ranges, an expanded make-up area and a focus on global best-sellers Revitalift and Men Expert.

    Described by the brand as the number one men’s grooming brand in China, Men Expert was given a prominent display featuring Hydra Energetic, the campaign for which stars celebrity Daniel Wu, alongside Pure & Matte and Hydra Sensitive.

    A spokesperson for King Power explained: “The overall look is now more attractive with multi-colour impact. The make-up zone is magnificent and delivers a better shopping experience. Traffic flow inside the shop is improved and customers have better access to their favourite products. Customers are given more insight to the products with a product box display provided for each travel retail exclusive best-seller.”

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  • Levi Strauss net revenue up 6 percent in Q2

    Levi Strauss net revenue up 6 percent in Q2

    Levi Strauss saw its second quarter revenue grow 6 percent across regions and channels, the company announced on July 12th.

    Net revenue grew to $1.07 billion compared to $1.01 billion, for the second quarter ended May 28, 2017.

    Net income declined $13 million from 30.7 million to $17.5 million, primarily due to a $23 million loss related to debt refinancing activities taken during the quarter.

    Net revenue was the strongest in Europe for the second quarter, up 20 percent due to solid growth in the women’s and tops business, while operating income grew 31 percent.

    In the Americas, Levi Strauss also reported a net revenue growth of 3 percent reflecting higher direct-to-consumer revenues in the U.S. and higher revenues in Canada and Mexico. Still, the gain was partially offset by a decline in U.S. wholesale due to lower Dockers revenue.

    Meanwhile in Asia, net revenues grew three percent.

    “Our business is more diversified than ever before, driven by disciplined execution of our long-term growth strategies, and investments in product innovation and the consumer shopping experience,” said Chip Bergh, president and chief executive officer, Levi Strauss & Co, in a news statement. “Our strong year-to-date revenue growth reinforces the benefits of a more balanced portfolio as our women’s, tops, direct-to-consumer and international businesses delivered solid results, despite a slight decline in the U.S. wholesale business.”

    Bergh added that based on the performance of the company’s first half of the year, the company has raised their revenue growth guidance for the full year to 2-4 percent range in constant currency.

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  • H&M to open in Wellington, New Zealand

    H&M to open in Wellington, New Zealand

    Wellington’s fashion scene continues to grow as H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) opens in Queensgate Shopping Centre, Lower Hutt, later this year.

    The fashion retailer made waves in 2016 when it opened its first store in Sylvia Park shopping centre, drawing in crowds from all over Auckland.

    Now Wellington is getting a slice of the Swedish retailer with plans for the store to open late this year, with more information to be realised closer to the yet-to-be-confirmed opening date.

    Queensgate Shopping Centre was closed late 2016 after the Kaikoura-centred earthquake damaged the building’s infrastructure.

    The centre re-opened early April of this year after parts of the complex were redesigned with shock absorbent technology.

    At the time Diversified NZ Property Trust acquired the shopping centre late November of 2015, the centre was the largest enclosed shopping area in the lower North Island. It is managed by Stride.

    Stride’s general manager shopping centres, Roy Stansfield, says this announcement marks an important milestone in a large project, which has been a long time in the works.

    “We’re incredibly excited that a world-renowned brand like H&M has chosen Queensgate as the location for its first Wellington store. It’s testament to the standard of the centre and the opportunities in the region as a whole.

    “Customers and retailers alike have been curious about the works going on in the centre as we prepare for H&M’s opening, so we’re very happy to be able to finally confirm who this new tenant is,” he said.

    Leading up to the store’s launch, Stansfield says Stride will continue to share information through the company’s website, Facebook page and within Queensgate.

    “We’re very much looking forward to seeing the new store take shape.”

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  • Gucci launches China e-tail site

    Gucci launches China e-tail site

    Gucci has launched gucci.cn, its e-tail site for the Chinese market. In the words of the Italian luxury label, it will be Gucci’s only official Chinese website, created to “allow consumers a better access to Gucci products, without the limitations imposed by store location or opening hours. To optimise service speed, goods are shipped from local warehouses, and each transaction is assisted by a China-based customer service team, via live chat or phone.” In addition, payments on gucci.cn can be made using popular providers such as Alipay and WeChat.

    Content-wise, the site offers a wealth of images and a narrative with a strong visual impact, culminating in the ‘Stories’ section, which takes an in-depth look at  the sources of inspiration which influenced Creative Director Alessandro Michele’s collections, offering an exclusive glimpse of the designer’s own world.

    “Combining editorial content with commercial features – said Gucci – is an approach which has already proved effective in North America, Europe, the UAEs and Australia, where the new website was launched back in 2015.”

    As of today, Gucci’s e-tail sites are active in the USA, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, the UK, Italy, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Turkey and the UAEs.

  • Aigle opens store in Suzhou

    Aigle opens store in Suzhou

    Aigle, a French outdoor leisure brand with a history of over 100 years, has opened a store in Jiuguang Department Store, Suzhou.

    Founded in 1853, Aigle is sells leisure jackets and rain boots with both fashionable designs and functions. Its classic works include the handmade rubber boots “Miss Juliette” and “Miss Julie”. The brand entered the Chinese market in 1998, with the Chinese sportswear brand Lining as its agent.

    As a master brand of handmade rubber boots, Aigle’s craftsmanship is over 100 years old. The materials of its rain boots are all from rubber plantations in Southeast Asia and Africa, featuring unique molecular structures to ensure superior durability and tear resistance. Even in extremely cold conditions, they can still provide unparalleled comfort and flexibility.

    In regards to functional casual clothing, Aigle used new patterns in its Full Summer series of the latest season. It added linen shirts, oriental cherry blossom patterns, and sailing elements like anchors in its details.

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  • India to double apparel, textile market by 2025

    India to double apparel, textile market by 2025

    The textile and apparel industry in India is worth some $110 billion, and is the nation’s second largest employer, after agriculture, providing direct employment to more than 45 million people and indirect employment to another 60 million.

    All this is set to soar by 2025, according to Indian Prime Minister Modi, who addressed attendees this week at the Textiles India 2017, a three-day event, which saw the PM map out a series of targets for India’s textile industry.

    Modi said that the domestic market for apparel and lifestyle products is worth $85 billion and is expected to grow to $160 billion by 2025, boasted by increased spending from wealthier Indians.

    “This growth will be driven by the rising middle class,” he said.

    Modi also hailed his nation’s liberated direct investment policies, allowing international firms to inject money into the burgeoning sector.

    “We have one of the most liberal investment policies for foreign investment in the textile and apparel sector,” said Modi.

    “We allow 100% foreign direct investment through automatic route in the textile and apparel sector. I think the time has now come for us to concentrate on textile exports in a big way,” he added.

    Moreover, the textile industry is expected to create about 35 million more jobs by 2024-25, with exports rising from $39 billion to $300 billion by that time, said Modi.

    India is the world’s second-largest exporter of textiles, after China. Apparel exports accounted for an estimated $17 billion, making India the sixth-largest exporter of garments in the world.

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  • Local fashion brands face fierce competition with foreign rivals

    Local fashion brands face fierce competition with foreign rivals

    The influx of foreign fast fashion brands into Vietnam is threatening local retailers’ market share, forcing the firms to move to keep their foothold in the market.

    Le Thi Quynh Trang, General Director of the Multimedia JSC – which runs many fashion programmes in Vietnam, said the country is becoming more popular in the global fashion industry as most fashion brands, from high-end to fast fashion ones like Chanel, Giovanni, Salvatore Ferragamo, Versace, Burberry, Topshop, Mango and Zara, have come to Vietnam. H&M and Uniqlo also plan to enter this market.

    “Vietnamese consumers’ demand is now ripe for them to make inroads into Vietnam,” she said.

    H&M is scheduled to open its first outlet in Ho Chi Minh City in the next few days. The Swedish brand said Vietnam is one of its five key future markets.

    There are nearly 200 foreign fashion brands in Vietnam, accounting for more than 60 percent of the market share. Mid-end brands like Giordano and Bossini and high-end ones such as Mango, Dolce & Gabbana, Topshop, Gap, Banana Republic and Tommy Hilfiger post the strongest sales.

    Competition pressure

    Foci, a domestic brand that debuted in 1999 and gained a strong foothold in the affordable segment, folded in 2014.

    Ngo Thi Bau, General Director of Nguyen Tam Textile & Garment Company – Foci’s owner – switched to opening a Japanese-style restaurant chain in HCM City. She said aside from high ground rent, Foci had to give up due to falling sales caused by cheap clothing from China and counterfeits.

    The Viet Fashion Joint Stock Company, which owns Ninomaxx and N&M brands, has been making strategic steps to develop. It has 62 retail outlets across the country at present and plans to increase store numbers soon.

    However, some insiders said Ninomaxx may lose its status to foreign rivals. They said in addition to cost-related problems, Vietnamese firms struggled as they were unable to grasp the latest fashion trends or change their promotion methods.

    Zara earned 5.5 billion VND (nearly 242,000 USD) on the opening day of its outlet at Vincom Dong Khoi shopping mall in HCM City on September 8, 2016. That reflects Vietnamese consumers’ interest in foreign fast fashion, which pressures domestic brands to make changes.

    The force to change

    Among Vietnamese brands, Canifa has emerged as an affordable fashion brand with the leading growth rate and store number in the country. The presence of Zara, H&M and Uniqlo has forced Canifa to change, especially with their target markets similar.

    Canifa has raised the number of its outlets to 96, many of which are based in major shopping malls or ideal locations in big provinces and cities. An advantage of this firm is that its factories are in Vietnam, helping cut time from design, production to sale.

    Nguyen Van Thoi, Chairman of TNG Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company, said the entrance into Vietnam by H&M, Zara and Uniqlo is a chance for Vietnamese brands to develop their designs but also a big challenge.

    TNG used to manufacture apparel ordered by Walmart, Zara, Levi’s, GAP, CK and Puma. However, it decided to abandon this and specialise in selling TNG-branded products. TNG outlets are expected to increase to about 100 this year, he said.

    The decisive factor is keeping up with consumers’ taste, thus Vietnamese firms need professional designers. TNG has partly satisfied the market’s demand and gained a market share, he noted.

    Thoi said TNG products are sold at competitive prices and will outpace foreign brands in this regard.

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  • Fendi to open a pop-up store in Tokyo

    Fendi to open a pop-up store in Tokyo

    Fendi is opening a pop-up store in Tokyo at Dover Street Market, as it rolls out a capsule collection that is specific to the Japanese retailer.

    As well as landing in Dover Street’s London and New York store, the Elephant Room pop-up in Ginza will highlight products of the “Fendi Vocabulary”, the key theme of the men’s fall/winter 2017-18 collection designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi.

    The essential words of this vocabulary including Yes, Love, Fantastic, Trust, Hope, Think, were inspired by Ernest Hemingway, according to the house.

    In an interview with WWD, Venturini Fendi said that the collection vocabulary includes “very simple and common words that yet in their simplicity have a very important meaning that is going to be forever and that can help us in difficult moments. There are so many changes going on and things are moving faster and faster in the world, that is why I think that we have to evolve and look at the future with an optimistic attitude that can help us facing all these changes and challenges. Yet, we have to look forward without forgetting the fundamental values of the past. That is why I have chosen to use and print these universal key words on clothes, bags and accessories.”

    Exclusive products from the Italian luxury brand will be featured within each pop-up, and will be unique to each pop-up location. The capsule collection includes a t-shirt, a hat and a scarf emblazoned with Fendi, Love and DSM and London, New York or Tokyo, depending on the boutique. Each location also has a site-specific limited-edition collection with dedicated colours: pink for London, grey for Tokyo and blue for New York.

    The items will be available in-store at Dover Street Market and at fendi.com.

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  • AWPL opens outdoor apparel store at Sydney Airport

    AWPL opens outdoor apparel store at Sydney Airport

    AWPL has opened Australia’s first Icebreaker airport store in Sydney Airport’s T1 International Departures.

    New Zealand’s Icebreaker offers a range of outdoor apparel. The Sydney Airport concept store will feature Icebreaker’s merino wool apparel, including socks, underwear, base layers, performance ski gear and travel wear.

    The products are made from merino wool sourced from over 180 stations along New Zealand’s Southern Alps. According to the company, the lightweight fabric breathes in hot weather and locks in heat during icy spells, making the gear suitable for all conditions.

    “We are delighted to be the first airport in Australia to welcome Icebreaker to T1 International Departures, further bolstering our selection of global brands and offering our customers the opportunity to shop a great range of high-performance outdoor clothing,” said Sydney Airport General Manager Retail Glyn Williams.

    AWPL Managing Director Costa Kouros commented: “We at AWPL are proud to further strengthen our relationship with Icebreaker – one of the world’s most wonderful brands. Our commitment to enhancing the customer experience at Sydney Airport is unwavering, and our Icebreaker concept is another step on that journey.”

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  • H&M India to debut e-commerce, plans 8 new stores

    H&M India to debut e-commerce, plans 8 new stores

    H&M plans to launch an India-dedicated e-commerce this year, as well as several new store openings, in a bid to reach customers across all of India, not just major metropolitan hubs.

    The Swedish fast-fashion giant is planning to add 8 new stores within the next 6 months, adding five more stores in Tier 1 cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, and three and in Tier 2 cities.

    H&M will add two new stores in Mumbai, two at Bengaluru and one in Delhi’s National Capital Region (NCR) of Ghaziabad.

    The brand will also foray into new cities of Coimbatore, Indore and Amritsar this year, the company said in a statement.

    “H&M is especially excited to expand its reach in India, a market that poses tremendous potential both in Tier I & Tier II cities”, said Janne Einola, Country Manager at H&M India.

    Meanwhile, H&M’s online vertical is on the verge of deployment. The venture into online market would see it cater to Tier 2 and tier 3 cities where H&M does not have any physical presence as of yet.

    The group’s Indian operations turned profitable this year, posting remarkable sales of Rs 435 crore (US$67 million) in six months from December 2016 to May 2017.

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  • SK-II launches exclusively at Changi Airport

    SK-II launches exclusively at Changi Airport

    Japanese beauty brand SK-II will launch new Magnetic Booster, part of its Radical New Age Power (R.N.A) line, exclusively with The Shilla Duty Free at Changi Airport on 1 July.

    The Magnetic Booster will be sold in sets with the R.N.A Power Cream (80g) in the R.N.A Power Magnetic Kit (S$200/US$145) or with the R.N.A Power Essence (50ml) in the R.N.A Power Essence Magnetic Kit (S$187/US$136). Magnetic Booster will be available at all Singapore SK-II counters from September.

    Magnetic Booster features Magnetic Micropulse Technology which is claimed to deliver consistent yet gentle pulsations at 7,000 magnetic vibrations per minute with magnetism. According to SK-II, the product is three times better at improving penetration than finger application.

    To support the launch, top Chinese celebrity make-up artist Wu Miao will host sessions on 7 July for beauty media, influencers and selected customers at the SK-II PITERA Lounge at The Shilla Duty Free. Miao, who contributes to Marie Claire, SELF and OnlyLady magazines, was named as one of the top ten beauty bloggers by Weibo. SK-II Associate Director Travel Retail Global Shweta Sharma, The Shilla Duty Free Head of Global Merchandise Division Raelene Johnson and Changi Airport Group Senior Vice President Airside Concession Division Teo Chew Hoon will also attend the event.

    The SK-II PITERA Lounge, which launched in October 2015, is the brand’s first and only lounge facility in an airport and offers facial and massage services. Miao will share his tips for using the Magnetic Booster along with the R.N.A Power Cream and will provide insight on his inflight and travel skincare regimen by curating his own inflight beauty essentials. Guests will then be invited to experience the new Magnetic Booster and curate their own inflight beauty essentials followed by a shopping tour at The Shilla Duty Free.

    SK-II Associate Director Travel Retail Global Shweta Sharma said: “We are again honoured to be celebrating our ninth year of solid partnership with Changi Airport Group, and our fourth with The Shilla Duty Free with the first-in-the-world launch. We are excited to delight travellers with this exclusive access to our latest skincare innovation and for them to experience the power of the award-winning SK-II R.N.A Power anti-ageing range.”

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  • La Chapelle gets green light to list in China

    La Chapelle gets green light to list in China

    Chinese multi-brand apparel group Shanghai La Chapelle Fashion Co., Ltd., backed by Legend Capital, Goldman Sachs and other investors, have received approval from Chinese security regulators to list on domestic Chinese stock exchanges three years after it completed an IPO in Hong Kong.

    Founded in 1998, La Chapelle is often called “China’s ZARA” as it focuses on fast fashion for young female consumers in China. Receiving regulatory approval for its IPO is welcoming news for La Chapelle, and its investors, as the company has previously tried and failed to list on domestic exchanges. Its Hong Kong-traded shares have long traded below its IPO price and are currently valued at a price-to-earning ratio of 3.5, compared to a projected PE ratio of around 29 for its planned A-share IPO.

    With the more favorable valuation, La Chapelle can raise RMB1.64 billion (US$240 million) in fresh capital to fuel its expansion. Its venture investors will also be handsomely rewarded. Goldman, in particularly, will finally be able to make a positive return on investment after suffering significant paper losses.

    Legend Capital invested RMB45 million to acquire a 25% stake in the company in 2009. A year later, as the company reached its earnings target, Legend invested another RMB46 million to remain its stake as required by a valuation adjustment mechanism embedded in the investment contract.

    At the same time, Le Chapelle grew rapidly, quadrupling its sales to RMB2 billion in 2011 from RMB500 million in 2009. But its road to IPO did not go as well. In 2013, its IPO application was rejected by the China Securities Regulatory Commission as the domestic IPO market was suspended.

    That year, Goldman invested RMB300 million for a 5% interest in the company, valuing the company at RMB6 billion, before the company moved its focus to a Hong Kong IPO. Other investors in the company from previous financing rounds include Orchid Asia Group Management Ltd., Boxin Capital, Shanghai Ronggao Venture Capital and Asia Alternatives Management LLC.

    The company completed a Hong Kong IPO in October 2014, raising a total of HK$1.7 billion (US$220 million) by offering 121.58 million ordinary shares at HK$13.98. Its shares subsequently tanked and reached as low as HK$7 apiece last July despite a HK$120 million share buy-back aimed to improve sentiment. The poor performance also put Goldman at a significant paper loss.

    In April 2015, shareholders approved a plan to list on the A-shares market during one of the biggest ever bull markets in the domestic Chinese stock market. Over two years later, the newly approved plan calls for the company to issue no more than 54.77 million new shares to raise RMB1.64 billion.

    Le Chapelle plans to use the IPO proceeds on opening more retail stores. The company has expanded its network of retail locations, which are 100% self-owned, to nearly 9,000 last year from 1,841 in 2011.

  • ‘Customer-centric’ Giorgio Armani counter opens at Lotte Hotel

    ‘Customer-centric’ Giorgio Armani counter opens at Lotte Hotel

    L’Oréal Travel Retail has partnered with Lotte Duty Free to open a 23sq m counter at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul.

    The counter, based on Armani’s “from fashion dress code to beauty dress code” concept, is the first in travel retail to showcase the brand’s new retail expression. The space, which features curved lines and an open feel, allows customers to try the brand’s products and services.

    From fashion dress code to beauty dress code: The counter features splashes of red, inspired by the iconic lipstick colour Rouge #400.

    The counter enables customers to discover a complete beauty dress code through make-up and skincare (dress code for lips, dress code for face) and perfumes (fragrances dress code). Giorgio Armani Face Designers also offer customers tailor-made advice.

    Lotte Duty Free Merchandising Innovation Team Merchandising Director Jeffrey Davis said: “We are very pleased to open the very first Giorgio Armani Cosmetics beauty concept counter at Lotte Duty free. It breaks the rules of retail standards in travel retail as it is fully customer-centric enabling each customer to play with the products and indulge in the full universe of Armani.

    “The revolutionary design sets itself apart from all of the other beauty counters with its signature red and black design and fabric swatches above the foundation bar that ties back to Armani’s runway fashions. Sales have already improved since opening and you can see the smiles and joy from customers that love the new look and freedom to navigate in a more playful manner.”

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  • Lacoste pops up at Haitang Bay’s China Duty Free Mall

    Lacoste pops up at Haitang Bay’s China Duty Free Mall

    Lacoste has opened a pop-up store this month in the China Duty Free Mall, the centrepiece of the CITS Haitang Bay Duty Free Shopping Complex.

    Tennis time: Lacoste’s pop-up outlet in the China Duty Free Mall includes an interactive game.

    The 64sq m outlet is celebrating the recent French Open championships and the announcement of Lacoste’s new ‘Crocodile’, Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic. It includes an exhibition dedicated to legendary French tennis champion René Lacoste, a retail area featuring the brand’s latest collection, and an interactive game.

    Customers are being encouraged to play tennis on digital screens and they stand a chance of winning a gift. The pop-up will operate until 26 June.