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Tag: Fourth

  • Iicombined Unveils Fourth Haus Nowhere In Seoul; A New Era Of Experiential Retail

    Iicombined Unveils Fourth Haus Nowhere In Seoul; A New Era Of Experiential Retail

    Iicombined, the parent company of Gentle Monster, continues to expand its unique, experiential retail approach with the opening of its fourth Haus Nowhere location in Seoul. This recent addition to their portfolio further solidifies the company’s commitment to blending retail and immersive experiences.

    Experiential Retail in Seoul

    The new Haus Nowhere flagship in Seoul spreads over four floors, providing a unique and conceptual retail environment. The location houses various brands, such as Tamburins, Nudake, Atiissu, and the freshly launched tableware brand, Nuflaat.

    In addition to these brands, the new location also serves as the headquarters for Iicombined. The launch of this new Haus Nowhere in Seoul coincides with the unveiling of Gentle Monster’s 2025 Bold Collection. This new collection is highlighted through pop-ups in Seoul, Beijing, and Tokyo, with each display featuring sculptural installations that echo the architectural aesthetic of Haus Nowhere.

    New Concepts and Installations

    The Seoul location introduces new concepts that contribute to the immersive retail experience. Nudake’s Tea House offers aromatic teas complemented with desserts, and Tamburins unveils its latest fragrance, Sunshine, showcased with an AI-powered photo booth. Atiissu reveals the Tracker Collection that combines fashionable headwear with knitwear, while Nuflaat debuts its inaugural line of fashion-inspired tableware under the theme “Dress Your Table.”

    Another highlight of the space is the ‘More is More’ installation by Max Siedentopf. This display features a realistic animatronic figure surrounded by black plastic bags with a single gold bag, an exhibit also planned to appear at Haus Nowhere locations in Dosan, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.

    A New Approach to Retail

    Iicombined views Haus Nowhere not just as a retail space, but as a platform for its experimental approach to the industry. Rather than focusing mainly on traditional sales, the company emphasizes the importance of emotion, narrative and spatial design in creating a unique and immersive shopping experience.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the 2025 Bold Collection by Gentle Monster?
    The 2025 Bold Collection is a new line from Gentle Monster unveiled at the Seoul Haus Nowhere location. This collection is featured in pop-ups across Seoul, Beijing, and Tokyo through unique sculptural installations.

    What is the concept behind ‘More is More’ installation?
    The ‘More is More’ installation, created by Max Siedentopf, features a lifelike animatronic figure surrounded by an array of black plastic bags with a lone gold bag. This installation is set to appear at other Haus Nowhere locations.

    What is the approach of Iicombined towards retail?
    Iicombined seeks to revolutionize the retail industry by focusing on immersive experiences. It aims to emphasize emotion, narrative, and spatial design over traditional sales models, creating a unique shopping experience for consumers.

  • Forever 21’s Fourth Attempt: Reinventing Brand Presence In Chinese And North American Markets

    Forever 21’s Fourth Attempt: Reinventing Brand Presence In Chinese And North American Markets

    Renowned fast-fashion retailer, Forever 21, is poised to venture once again into the Chinese market for the fourth time. The brand’s previous three attempts, beginning in 2008, were unsuccessful in maintaining a solid foothold in the second-largest global economy.

    Reviving the Brand: Future Prospects

    Beyond its focus on China, Forever 21 also aims to revitalise its presence in the North American market. To support this endeavour, the brand is currently in search of a strategic partner, with an announcement to follow in the near future, according to Authentic Brands Group (ABG), the holder of Forever 21’s worldwide intellectual property rights.

    The primary emphasis of the brand for the foreseeable future is on strengthening its market position in both China and the United States, as disclosed by ABG in a recent press briefing.

    Bankruptcy and Recovery

    In March, Forever 21 declared bankruptcy in the U.S. for the second time in six years. The brand also revealed plans to phase out domestic operations due to the increasing pressures of online competition in the fast-fashion industry, coupled with dwindling traffic in shopping malls.

    Following its third relaunch in China in 2022 and the opening of several retail outlets beyond the country’s primary fashion hubs, Forever 21’s operations gradually diminished towards the end of 2024.

    Re-emergence and Partnerships

    However, the brand is making a comeback, creating a buzz with its famed bright yellow branding appearing in major Chinese cities. Marketing events at music festivals and Forever 21 advertisements within Shanghai’s metro system have marked the brand’s return.

    For its latest endeavor, ABG is collaborating with brand operator Chengdi, a firm partly owned by e-commerce giant Vipshop Holdings. During a press launch in Shanghai, Chengdi expressed its intention to localize operations and attract a new generation of young consumers, with plans to open more brick-and-mortar stores in 2026.

    CEO’s Remarks on the Acquisition

    Jamie Salter, CEO of ABG, had previously described the acquisition of Forever 21, which was purchased from bankruptcy in 2020, as “probably the biggest mistake I made.” However, when asked about these remarks recently, an ABG spokesperson clarified that Salter “has always believed that having Forever 21 as part of ABG is a good idea and he continues to maintain that belief.”

    Questions & Answers

    What is Forever 21’s future strategy in the global market?
    Forever 21 aims to reestablish its presence in the Chinese and North American markets, with plans to seek a strategic partner for the North American relaunch.

    What led to Forever 21’s bankruptcy and eventual recovery?
    Increasing online competition in the fast-fashion industry and declining mall footfall led to Forever 21’s bankruptcy. It’s recovery has been marked by a strategic relaunch and partnership with Chengdi in the Chinese market.

    What did ABG’s CEO Jamie Salter mean by his comments regarding the acquisition of Forever 21?
    Jamie Salter had previously expressed regrets about acquiring Forever 21. However, an ABG spokesperson clarified that Salter continues to believe in the brand’s potential as part of ABG.