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  • H&M may open 30 stores in India by early 2016

    H&M may open 30 stores in India by early 2016

    Following IKEA announcing the purchase of 13 acres in Hyderabad for its first store in India on Friday, it’s the turn of another Swedish chain, Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), to go for a big rollout in the country. H&M, rival to another European fast fashion brand, Zara, is likely to open as many as 30 stores in India by early next year, sources say.

    The Swedish fashion chain, in the middle of major global expansion, is learnt to have already closed about 15 real estate lease deals in India, and is in the process of raising this count. The group, with $22 billion in global sales and 3,600 outlets across 59 markets, recently announced it would launch its first India store in the national capital. The store, of about 25,000 sq ft, would be located at a popular mall.

    At the time of making its application for investing about Rs 750 crore into the country, H&M had said it planned to open 50 outlets across India through the next few years. Zara, in a joint venture with Tata group’s Trent, has 16 stores across the country; it posted $114 million in sales for the year ended March this year.

    H&M did not reply to a Business Standard questionnaire on store openings and lease deals.

    According to H&M’s latest quarterly report, the company plans to open as many as 400 stores across the world this year. Besides India, the group’s expansion thrust is on the US and China. In fact, in North America, both H&M and Inditex’s Zara are giving stiff competition to the US-based Gap. Recently, Gap announced its plan to shut 175 stores in the US.

    Besides international expansion, H&M is also focused on going online. Of late, the group has gone online in Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary and Belgium, among others.

    Though the company secured the government’s approval to invest in India early last year, it has delayed its launch partly due to a slow retail environment in its home market, pressure on margins and focus on some other key markets. Analysts said general elections in India, as well as political uncertainties, might also have added to the delay.

    H&M’s big India play at this point is significant because there has been no action in the international brick-and-mortar retail scene for about a year, except Gap launching its store recently.

    The National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre is opposed to foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail. The UK’s Tesco, in partnership with the Tata group, is the only entity in multi-brand retail to have invested in India (Maharashtra and Karnataka). In 2013, American major Walmart parted ways with its partner, Bharti group.

    While limiting its business to wholesale, Walmart has not shown any interest in entering India’s multi-brand sector. French chain Carrefour, which also had wholesale stores in the country, made an exit last year, in the absence of a favourable multi-brand policy.

    In multi-brand retail, FDI is capped at 51 per cent, while 100 per cent foreign investment is allowed in single-brand retail. However, despite the fact that there’s no cap on FDI in single brand retail, companies such as IKEA and H&M are believed to have been worried over a clause pertaining to mandatory 30 per cent sourcing from India.

  • UNIQLO’s ‘look good, do good’ campaign takes off

    UNIQLO’s ‘look good, do good’ campaign takes off

    Whether you want to admit it or not, bumping into someone wearing the same outfit you’re wearing can be awkward. (We may laugh it off, but deep down inside, we are wishing it doesn’t happen again.)

    Thankfully, as part of the Uniqlo Street Tales initiative, the popular casual fashion brand has come up with a unique way of ensuring it doesn’t. All you need to do is download the free UTme! application (it is a new custom T-shirt service) and design your own tee. Then, head down to Uniqlo Bugis+, print out your design and voila! You get to showcase your one-of-a-kind art piece wherever you go.

    This is one of several initiatives by the brand to give back to local communities. So far in Singapore, Uniqlo has gotten more than 50 artistes (such as Rebecca Lim, Desmond Tan), businesses (Tiger Balm, BreadTalk) and personalities (chef Willin Low, fashion icon Daniel Boey) under the Uniqlo Street Tales umbrella to create UTme! T-shirts, retailing at Uniqlo Bugis+ for S$29.90 (RM83.21) for adults and S$24.90 for children’s tees, with all net proceeds from the sale of these tees from now until Aug 10 donated to the Community Chest.

    “I feel great about it. I’ve always known that Uniqlo is very big on CSR (corporate social responsibility) projects but to be able to participate with Uniqlo and at the same time try my hand at designing something, the whole experience just makes it a lot more meaningful,” said actress Lim. “(We are) contributing to something that is close to our hearts, it’s a charity organisation in Singapore so it’s great (to) see Singaporeans buying and supporting the brand and at the same time, supporting this organisation.”

    Cheok Weiling, PR manager of Uniqlo Singapore, said that the brand has seen “encouraging response from customers who are eager to personalise their T-shirts”. But more than that, Heng Li Lang, director of relations & engagement at Community Chest, said that the net proceeds from the sale of these T-shirts would also be matched dollar for dollar by the government under the Care & Share Movement “to build the capability and capacity of the social service sector”. “Through these efforts, Uniqlo has exemplified the spirit of the movement in giving time, talent and treasures towards helping the less fortunate. We are very thankful to Uniqlo for this innovative partnership and look forward to many more years of close collaboration ahead,” Heng said.

    Also doing its part is Swedish fashion giant H&M, which launched Unicoin, “the first currency dedicated to good”. In support of UNICEF, the H&M Conscious Foundation’s Unicoin initiative enables children to help less privileged children gain access to learning opportunities.

    With help from their parents, children would upload a drawing that depicts what they dream of becoming when they grow up to the Unicoin website (https://unicoins.org) in exchange for a Unicoin. The H&M Conscious Foundation then matches each Unicoin with one notebook and pencil, which UNICEF then distributes to children around the world.

    Abby Wee, PR manager of H&M Singapore and Malaysia, said she was encouraged by the “very positive and overwhelming” response so far. “Twenty thousand notebooks and pencils have been sent to children worldwide, thanks to the help from everyone who has supported this initiative. Even though the period to exchange your drawing for a Unicoin has ended, we hope that more people will spread the word in support of every child’s right to early development and education.”

    That is not all. Homegrown brand TANGS said their Shop For Good initiative will return in the last quarter of the year. Launched last October, the initiative saw the company partnering with retailers to raise funds for charities. TANGS donated S$0.50 to the Community Chest with every receipt generated during the period. “As one of the pioneers in the Singapore retail scene, we hope to use our influence to drive lasting social awareness by inspiring and building a strong community of purpose-driven consumers and retail partners,” said Foo Tiang Sooi, chief executive officer of C.K. Tang Limited, adding that the company hoped that this would “empower a new generation of savvy, ethical consumer”.

    Even beauty brands have gotten in on the act. Globally, Clarins has constructed a facility to generate clean drinking water in Madagascar, with the funds for the project coming from the sale of the Katafray bark extract, an ingredient that can be found in Clarins’ HydraQuench range. The French brand has also built schools in Vietnam, thanks to the harvesting of the Vu Sua fruit used in its bust care range. In Singapore, Clarins has been participating in the Singapore Garden Festival since 2006 to raise awareness for sustainable development. (In honour of its contribution, the Singapore Botanic Gardens presented Christian Courtin-Clarins, the chairman of the Clarins Group, with the first Clarins Orchid, the Renanthera Clarins Christian & Olivier, in 2010.)

    “It is our great pride and deep honour to be gifted with an orchid that was specially created for us,” Courtin-Clarins said. “It is not simply a flower, but a validation of the efforts that Clarins has dedicated to sustainable development all these years.”For Estee Lauder Companies, which has brands such as Estee Lauder, Clinique, La Mer, Origins and Bobbi Brown under its wing, championing awareness and support for breast cancer has been one of its aims since the 1990s. The Breast Cancer Awareness (BCA) Campaign, for example, started in 1992 with the creation of the Pink Ribbon, which has been regarded as the universal symbol for breast health. The BCA Campaign has raised more than US$58 million to support global research, education and medical services over the past 21 years.

    “In Singapore, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Our colleagues are very committed to building breast cancer awareness among women of all ages and different ethnicities through the BCA Campaign that we run in October every year,” said Lisa Chow, managing director, Estee Lauder Cosmetics. “We have a very dedicated committee formed by our employees who organise fund-raising activities and education programmes in order to reach thousands of women, not only to enforce better knowledge that early detection saves lives but also raise funds to support local research projects or education programmes …”

    While the various brands under Estee Lauder Companies have been crafting what they termed “Pink Ribbon Products”, with a percentage of the profits from the sale of these items going towards the Breast Cancer Awareness Fund, here in Singapore, the Estee Lauder Companies will take going pink to a whole new level this year, by lighting up an iconic building in pink later this year, although the brand has yet to reveal which one.

    Nevertheless, it is nice to know that, in an era when people are taking pains to look good, they can now do good at the same time. ― TODAY

  • H&M stays mum on new model

    H&M stays mum on new model

    Sweden’s H&M has revealed it’s engaged on a brand new retail model – nevertheless it gained’t say what it’s for now.

    CEO Karl-Johan Persson has stated in an interview the brand new retail idea can be utterly totally different to H&M and its sister manufacturers, which embrace Monki, Cos and Low cost Monday.

    Persson hinted the brand new idea could also be unveiled in 2017.

    Cos is positioned as a excessive road model slightly pricier than H&M, concentrating on an older demographic and a bit of extra minimalist in design.

    Monki is aimed toward teenagers and younger ladies with daring, mischievous retailer designs and story telling decor.

    Low cost Monday is primarily a denim model, whereas Weekday positions itself providing Scandinavian type.

    Persson says the aim of secondary manufacturers is to permit H&M to check ideas and tendencies at totally different worth factors.

    Nils Vinge, from H&M’s investor relations division says the corporate has a improvement staff solely targeted on new ideas however acknowledged to media there are “some concrete issues” being thought-about presently.

    Archrival retail model Zara, a part of Spain’s Inditex, has expanded out of style into homewares with a rising community of Zara Residence shops. So it’s conceivable that H&M’s subsequent model won’t be

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  • H&M opens 1st retailer in Macao

    H&M opens 1st retailer in Macao

    Common excessive road trend model H&M opened its first retailer in Macao at Shoppes at Venetian on Saturday, including to the mall’s present providing of over 350 worldwide manufacturers.

    Overlaying an space of 19,000 sq. ft, the retail area is unfold over two flooring. It presents seasonal trend and newest developments for each women and men. The style model additionally launched H&M’s Summer time 2015 assortment on the identical day.

    The brand new retailer hosted a gap ceremony on Saturday attended by senior representatives of Sands Retail – the operator of Shoppes at Venetian – and H&M, in addition to worldwide type icon and Las Vegas Sands Corp. enterprise associate David Beckham.

    “The primary H&M in Macao will function a magnet for top road trend lovers from across the area,” stated David Sylvester, Government Vice President of International Retail, Las Vegas Sands Corp. “Shoppes at Venetian’s dynamic retail combine turned even richer at present, and reinforces Sands Retail’s place because the operator of a few of Asia’s most sought-after buying locations among the many area’s many fashionistas. Shoppes at Venetian is an iconic shopping center that pulls over 75,000 individuals per day, and I am assured that it’ll show to be a terrific platform for H&M.”

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  • H&M to open first retailer in India this fall

    H&M to open first retailer in India this fall

    Swedish multinational retail clothes firm H&M, which is understood for providing style and high quality at the perfect worth in a sustainable approach, is all set to deliver its product vary to India by means of a flagship retailer within the capital.

    “This Fall, trend could have a model new tackle in India: From a world-class purchasing vacation spot to sustainable and high quality trend choices at one of the best worth, we’re excited to current the entire H&M expertise to our Indian clients,” Janne Einola, nation supervisor – India, H&M Hennes & Mauritz Retail Pvt. Ltd., stated in a press release.

    The 25,000 sq. ft. H&M retailer might be situated d within the Choose Citywalk mall in south Delhi’s Saket space.

    Providing style for ladies, males, youngsters and youngsters, the shop will current a wide array of newest developments, timeless classics and inspirations for patrons to create their private fashion.

    The H&M Group has over three,600 shops in 58 markets worldwide and sees the potential to open 50 shops in India over the subsequent few years.

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  • China’s mall growth

    China’s mall growth

    Over the subsequent three years, a staggering 40 million sqm of shopping center improvement is predicted throughout China.

    Of this, 55 new malls will probably be in Shanghai – a metropolis whose retail business has been turned on its head, actually, by the emergence of a mega metro system. Road degree shops nonetheless command the highest rents, however sub-terrain area is now extremely fascinating, particularly among the many footfall hungry fast-fashion manufacturers.

    “Shanghai metro has grown amazingly shortly, newly developed malls are popping up above or near the stations,” stated Rebecca Tibbott, head of retail leasing, JLL Shanghai.

    “Some manufacturers, Uniqlo for instance, can command prime degree one area however they’ll take basement one if there’s direct metro entry.”

    Till just lately, probably the most outstanding shops in any Chinese language mall have been the protect of the posh manufacturers however the luxurious market has grow to be saturated and that is, partially, answerable for a sizeable shift within the buying habits of the nation.

    Because the worthwhile millennial demographic demand extra selection at decrease costs, worldwide quick trend manufacturers are gaining a foothold. Zara, H&M and Perpetually 21 are a number of the western retail stalwarts giving prime tier luxurious names a run for his or her cash.

    “Quick style retailers are nonetheless very aggressive in China,” stated Tibbott. They’re all in search of prime excessive road area.

    “H&M has round 250 shops in China and it’s actively looking for area for 80 new shops this yr; Zara has its sights set on 60 new shops and Uniqlo plans one other 100, having already opened 100 final yr,” she added.

    New manufacturers are additionally rising. US-based Perpetually 21 has opened 9 shops and has plans for an extra 50, Hole has opened 32 shops since 2013 and Banana Republic is planning to enter the market in 2016, all contributing to China’s mall growth.

    “To get visitors into malls now, landlords want quick trend. In some instances they’re [landlords] asking quick style manufacturers and luxurious retailers to take a seat aspect by aspect.”

    Retail’s supporting position

    The place standalone buying facilities stood as beacons of Chinese language consumerism, ‘mixed-use developments’ at the moment are inspired with malls being only one element half. In future malls, retail will complement way of life, F&B and leisure.

    “Chinese language malls historically common at 80,000-100,000 sqm however, for instance, in Shanghai, the typical retail allocation is down to only 70,000-80,000 sqm,” stated Colin Dowall, head of retail asset administration, China.

    “Now when a improvement is proposed the Chinese language authorities needs to monetize it and more and more this requires making a improvement mixed-use and financially sustainable,” he added.

    “On the sale of land the federal government asks ‘what number of jobs will the event create?’”

    Authorities affect, it appears, is altering retail area in additional methods than one. A clamp down on ‘gifting’ – the follow of providing extravagant company favors – has curtailed luxurious purchases and prime tier retailers are struggling the fallout.

    “There’s been an enormous knock on impact on watches and jewelry particularly,” stated Tibbott.

    Meals and beverage is affected, too, as lavish lengthy lunches turn out to be a factor of the previous. “Earlier than the brand new guidelines, a Chinese language restaurant might have occupied a big 2000 sqm area, however they will’t justify that today,” she added.

    This altering shopper conduct has inspired landlords to put higher emphasis on expertise and idea shops. Additionally newly developed malls are dedicating more room to F&B and fewer to unbranded trend (as this phase has swiftly moved on-line). Landlords look internationally for solutions to offer higher buying environments and undertake know-how as a way of scrutinizing shopper habits. In lots of instances they discover themselves main the best way on this regard.

    With cellular penetration in China among the many highest on the earth, landlords are engaging smartphone savvy consumers via progressive promotions. In lots of malls, provides are projected on to screens and buyers are inspired to play video games to win prizes, which they will then redeem instore.

    This know-how adoption is spreading via e-commerce adoption. Current figures present on-line gross sales now account for 11 % of complete retail gross sales in China. Cellular know-how can also be serving to some landlords to measure footfall and document what clients are shopping for by means of their cellular pockets knowledge. Retailers may also profit from this knowledge as a way of monitoring inventory or they will use it to tailor promotions consistent with fashionable gadgets.

    Invaluable knowledge insights

    Knowledge wealthy insights similar to these are key, in accordance with Dowall.

    “Understanding the market is extra essential than ever. Once I first arrived I met a purchaser and a designer for H&M who had been right here 5 years simply making an attempt to know the market. Some manufacturers have entered too quick and located it onerous to adapt or have failed.”

    The event pipeline is encouraging for the way forward for the bodily retailer, regardless of competitors from growing on-line gross sales. Nevertheless, the query is what the Chinese language malls will present to outlive and what is going to they seem like in years to return?

    “Giant enclosed malls will develop into much less widespread and the price of operating these malls will form improvement; there will probably be some however the taste of the month is decentralisation that locations quick style alongside premium manufacturers.

    “Neighborhood purchasing facilities that replicate Western improvement cycles are arising and outlet malls on the peripheries are proving common.”

    Within the brief time period the most important change in Chinese language retail is the ever-increasing competitors between the landlords and tenants: “I all the time ask, ‘is it a landlord or a tenant market’, once we enter a brand new undertaking as a result of the technique will differ relying on the product they’re promoting.”

    Retailers undoubtedly have their work minimize out however landlords have to be smarter than ever about their tenant combine and purchasing expertise.

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  • H&M to open first store in India

    H&M to open first store in India

    Swedish multinational retail-clothing company Hennes & Mauritz is to expand its presence to India, with the launch of the first store in the nation’s capital Delhi.

    The move follows H&M’s announcement in 2013 to invest around INR7bn ($109.3m) to open 50 single-brand retail stores in India.

    Spread over an area of around 25,000ft2, the proposed store will be located in Select Citywalk mall in Delhi, besides other foreign fashion brands including Zara, Mango, Tommy Hilfiger and GAP.

    H&M Hennes & Mauritz Retail India country manager Janne Einola said: “This Fall, fashion will have a brand new address in India: from a world-class shopping destination to sustainable and quality fashion offerings at the best price, we are excited to present the complete H&M experience to our Indian customers.”

    Currently H&M operates more than 3,600 stores in 58 markets across the globe.

    The retailer generated around $22.33bn in sales last year.

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  • Hole India makes debut

    Hole India makes debut

    Hole has lastly made its debut in India – opening its first retailer at Choose Citywalk in an upmarket suburb of Delhi on Saturday.

    India represents one of many final remaining main creating markets the US informal attire model had not entered. It trails Zara by 5 years however nonetheless arrived forward of Uniqlo and H&M who’re reportedly months, relatively than years, away from their very own debuts.

    India’s retail attire market is estimated to be value $41 billion by proper now, with progress of round 50 per cent predicted for 2020 as the center class continues its speedy enlargement, promising burgeoning disposable incomes.

    Hole India will open a second retailer in Mumbai inside about two months, in line with Indian information media stories. It has a 5 yr plan to open 40 shops in main cities.

    The model has been delivered to India by Arvind Group, which has already launched Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, amongst others, and boasts 1000 shops bearing totally different model names throughout the nation.

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  • H&M soars in first quarter

    H&M soars in first quarter

    H&M says global sales in its first quarter – to February 28 – soared 15 per cent year-on-year on a local currency basis.

    CEO Karl-Johan Persson says the increase reflected well-received collections for all brands in the group, which boosted market share.

    Sales excluding VAT totalled US$4.73 billion.

    Gross profit increased by 26 per cent to $2.6 billion, which corresponds to a gross margin of 55.2 per cent, compared with 54.9 per cent the previous year.

    In the first quarter, H&M opened its first store in Taipei, Taiwan, and in the next three months will make its debut in Macau where it has two stores planned, along with entering Peru for the first time. In the second half of the year it will add Africa and India to its global footprint.

    The company said in a statement that sales in the first three weeks of the second quarter rose nine per cent in local currencies.

    “The year has got off to a very good start and we have great faith in our offering. Although the strong US dollar will affect our sourcing costs going forward, we will make sure that we always have the best customer offering in each individual market,” said Persson.

  • Gap, H&M and Levi’s among the most ethical brands

    Gap, H&M and Levi’s among the most ethical brands

    Gap, H&M and Levi’s are the three fashion brands that have been named on the Ethisphere Institute’s ninth annual list of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. The New York-based research firm listed 132 groups and companies that it believes foster a culture of ethics and transparency at every level from 21 countries, representing over 50 industries.

    Gap is one of only fifteen to have been honoured every year since the list’s inception. It received qualifying scores across five categories including ethics and compliance; corporate citizenship and responsibility; culture of ethics, governance, and leadership; innovation; and reputation. French cosmetic giant L’Oreal, Brazil’s Natura Cosméticos and Japanese brand Shiseido are also honoured in the list at the Health and Beauty category. Marks & Spencer and US pet food retailer Petco Animal Supplies are featured in the list at the retail category.

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  • H&M earnings miss forecast, to add 400 stores in 2015

    H&M earnings miss forecast, to add 400 stores in 2015

    Hennes & Mauritz, the world’s number two fashion retailer, missed quarterly earnings forecasts as it spent heavily on new ranges and websites in its battle with cut-price rivals, a drive it plans to extend in 2015 with a new beauty line.

    H&M said on Wednesday pretax profit rose 7 percent to SEK7.80 billion (USD953 million) in the three months ended November, missing analysts’ average forecast of SEK7.96 billion as it booked a staff incentive payout.

    The Swedish company is investing heavily in new concepts including sportswear and higher-price brands such as COS to try to protect margins over the long term as discount chains Primark and Forever 21 push prices down.

    It aims to keep that up in 2015, planning to add 400 stores to its current 3,511, bring online sales to another nine markets and launch a new range of beauty products, as well as speeding up expansion of upmarket brands including COS.

  • H&M extends Beckham deal

    H&M extends Beckham deal

    H&M has extended its global branding collaboration with football star David Beckham, with a whole new menswear collection for Spring 2015.

    Beckham will choose his favourite menswear pieces from the Modern Essentials collection at H&M, to create ‘Modern Essentials selected by David Beckham’. This new collaboration is a natural evolution of David’s relationship with H&M, following the unprecedented success of David Beckham Bodywear, and will allow men around the world to share in David’s globally recognised sense of style.

    Beckham is especially popular in Asia where following football is a regional pastime and his Bodywear ranges sold out in many of H&M Asian markets.

    Modern Essentials selected by David Beckham will be celebrated with a campaign shot by the famous film director Marc Forster.

    Beckham has also created a new bodywear spring collection for H&M. Both collections will be launched in stores and online worldwide on March 5.

    “I am thrilled to continue and extend my collaboration with H&M by selecting my favourite pieces from this spring’s Modern Essentials collection. Each piece is a new wardrobe classic that will update every man’s spring wardrobe with great style. Marc Forster is one of my favourite directors – I can’t wait to reveal the new campaign with H&M,” said Beckham.

    “Most of us are familiar with David’s innate sense of style and design, however it was his acute eye for cinematic storytelling that struck me during the filming of this campaign. He doesn’t make H&M clothing look good, he makes it look great,” said Forster known for directing the films Monster’s Ball, Stranger than Fiction, The Kite Runner, Quantum of Solace, and World War Z.

    Modern Essentials selected by David Beckham focuses on the important key pieces of the season, each updating a men’s classic in fresh fabrics, colours and fits for spring 2015. Key pieces include a linen bomber jacket; a white chalk-washed denim jacket; a car coat; a sharp linen blazer; a city-slick polo shirt and the perfect poplin white shirt.

    Meanwhile, Beckham’s new Bodywear collection includes loungewear pieces; Henleys, raglan-sleeved shirts, crewnecks and a jersey vest. The collection is centred around navy blue, grey melange and broken white, with accents of orange red. Stripes appear as either trims or across whole garments to add a new classic twist.

    The collection is supported by a brand new print campaign, featuring the star wearing selected looks from the David Beckham Bodywear collection, exclusively available at H&M.

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