Retail News CRM

Tag: h&m

  • Swedish brand H&M opens first Da Nang store

    Swedish brand H&M opens first Da Nang store

    Swedish fashion brand Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) opened its first store in Da Nang and eighth in the country on Thursday.

    The 1,600 square meter outlet is located in the Vincom Ngo Quyen mall in downtown Da Nang. Starting from VND99,000 ($4.27), the story aims to offer reasonably priced products for men, women, and children.

    Fredrik Famm, the brand’s Southeast Asia manager, said popular travel hotspot Da Nang was a market with good potential and they could open even more outlets in the central city.

    H&M was keeping its prices reasonable in order to develop sustainably in Vietnam, Famm said.

    With three outlets in Hanoi and four in Ho Chi Minh City, H&M is now established in all three regions of the country, while its Spanish competitor Zara has only two in Hanoi and HCMC.

    The expansion of H&M comes as major international brands set up shop in Vietnam to tap a rapidly growing fashion market.

    Australian brand Cotton On opened its first store in HCMC earlier this month, while Japanese casual wear retailer Uniqlo announced it would open its first store in the country on December 6, also in HCMC.

    The fashion garments industry, estimated at $5 billion in 2018, is expected to reach $7 billion by 2023.

    Lees ook:

  • H&M unveils small format retail stores in Berlin

    H&M unveils small format retail stores in Berlin

    Fashion retailer H&M has opened a new ‘hyper-local flagship’ in Berlin’s creative Mitte Garden district.

    The 300sqm store, one of the brand’s smallest worldwide, offers curated womenswear, selected external brands, vintage pieces and a showroom for customers. It features curated fashion from H&M’s own assortment as well as selected external brands, most of them Berlin-based.

    The selected assortment is paired with a digital tool offering H&M’s full range where customers can browse and build their looks on their own or aided by a stylist.

    “It’s a test for us as a global retailer to elaborate around how we can be more personal and locally relevant,” said H&M Group laboratory business developer Anna Bergare.

    H&M Mitte Garten will regularly offer events such as lectures, fashion talks, and yoga for its customers. Upcoming trends and looks will be presented in the public showroom. Here consumers can try on and borrow pieces to make sure their future purchases are consciously made.

    “This is a unique location and it has served as a meeting place for Berliners for more than 100 years,” said H&M Germany country manager Thorsten Mindermann. “[It’s] a tradition we want to honor. We aim to offer a neighborhood store serving as a platform for local and global talents within retail, culture, and art.”

    Rentals move in Sweden

    The opening comes as the brand gets ready to debut clothing rentals in its Stockholm flagship store. The brand is offering the chance to rent selected party dresses and skirts from its 2012–2019 Conscious Exclusive collections to members of its customer loyalty program.

    “We have looked at clothing rental for quite some time and are so happy to for the first time soon offer fashion fans the possibility to rent some stunning pieces from our Conscious Exclusive collections,” H&M said head of sustainability Pascal Brun. “We look forward to evaluating this as we are dedicated to change the way fashion is made and consumed today.”

    Members will be able to rent up to three pieces a time for a week at a cost of around SEK350 (US$36) per piece.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • H&M profit soars in latest quarter

    H&M profit soars in latest quarter

    H&M’s pre-tax profit rose 25 percent in the latest quarter to US$506 million as the Swedish-headquartered global fast-fashion retailer trimmed its inventory and customers embraced its summer range.

    “The new season has got off to a promising start,” said CEO Karl-Johan Persson.

    Globally, net sales rose by 12 percent in the third quarter to $6.35 billion, helped by a 30-per-cent jump in online sales. In the US market, where it has been struggling, it cut prices on core lines to reduce inventory, and sales rose 19 percent.

    Kate Ormrod, lead retail analyst at GlobalData, said the results showed H&M’s strategic overhaul – in which it has embraced the shift away from physical retail to digital – is beginning to reap rewards.

    The increase in full-price sales and a reduction in markdowns resulted in the group’s first double-digit growth in operating profit and its first quarterly increase since the second quarter of 2016/17.

    The Swedish retailer now expects to only open around a net 120 stores this year, a further reduction on the 175 stores originally planned – although expansion in growth markets remains a priority. Ormrod said that while Persson says a ‘high level of activity’ remains in its transformation work, the scale and coverage of its investment, extending to almost all parts of its business, is notable, and signifies the evolution of the retailer as it strives to satisfy changing consumer demands.

    “This year has not been without its challenges, however, especially in the UK, and while it remains under pressure from value rivals as well as more frequent discounting from mid-market players, H&M’s proposition continues to resonate,” she said.

    Ormrod also praised H&M’s commitment to embracing sustainability.

    “Its longstanding commitment to sustainability sets it apart from other value players and with new initiatives such as green home delivery (for example via cars that run on biogas) in the Netherlands and trialing clothing rental in Stockholm in the autumn, H&M has found its niche which it can continue to exploit as consumer focus on sustainability grows.”

    However, she offered a cautious response to news leaked last month that H&M-branded stores are to trial selling third-party products.

    “While the idea holds merit to extend its reach and bolster appeal, with sister brands & Other Stories and Arket already selling external brands, taking on Asos and Zalando is a big ask, so third-party brands are unlikely to become a cornerstone of its proposition.”

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • H&M opening fourth retail store in Auckland

    H&M opening fourth retail store in Auckland

    Swedish fashion giant H&M announced it will open its fourth store in Auckland at Westfield Newmarket on December 12.

    The 2300sqm store, the retailer’s ninth store in New Zealand, will have two levels and will feature a range of apparel and accessories for men, women, youth, kids and baby, as well as the retailer’s home concept.

    “We are thrilled to be a part of the much-anticipated Westfield Newmarket.” said Daniel Lattemann, Country Sales manager for H&M New Zealand.

    Lettemann said they are also delighted to be able to finally offer a second Auckland location for their H&M home concept.

    “We have seen such a demand since launching the concept in our Commercial Bay store last year,” he said.

    According to H&M, recruitment for approximately 50 employees is underway.

    The fashion retailer, which entered the New Zealand market in 2016, now has seven stores nationwide located in Sylvia Park, Commercial Bay, and Botany Town Centre in Auckland, The Crossing in Christchurch, Queensgate in Wellington, Tauranga Crossing, and Chartwell Shopping Centre in Hamilton.

    The recently announced store opening is the eighth and is set to open in Westfield Riccarton on November 7, 2019.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Sales at H&M stores sees strong growth

    Sales at H&M stores sees strong growth

    Sales at H&M stores worldwide rose by the steepest rate in three years in the third quarter.

    “Well-received summer collections and increased market share confirm that the H&M group is on the right track with its transformation work,” the company said in a statement.

    Net sales rose by 12 per cent to US$6.48 billion in the three months to August 31, marking the company’s fifth consecutive quarterly increase. Excluding currency fluctuations, sales were up by 8 per cent.

    However, analysts took a little of the gloss off the figures pointing out that during the comparable period a year ago, the company’s turnover was hit by difficulties implementing a new logistics system in some markets.

    Besides its namesake brand, H&M operates Arket, Weekday, Cos, Monki, and & Other Stories.

    Full-year results will be released on October 3.

    While the global third-quarter result was strong, sales at H&M stores in the UK have plummeted, leading to a 71.2-per-cent crash in full-year pre-tax profits to £10.72 million, according to figures obtained by Retail Gazette.

  • H&M Fall 2019 Conscious Collection extends sustainability approach

    H&M Fall 2019 Conscious Collection extends sustainability approach

    H&M’s Fall 2019 Conscious Collection has exemplified the firm’s commitment to only use sustainably sourced materials by 2030 with pieces made from recycled materials or materials that have less impact on the environment.

    H&M’s Fall 2019 Conscious Collection has exemplified the firm’s commitment to only use sustainably sourced materials by 2030 with pieces made from recycled materials or materials that have less impact on the environment.

    From the softly tailored check separates to the animal print dresses and oversized hoodies, all in a colour palette of light neutrals, black and pops of orange-red, H&M’s new vibe is laid back yet sophisticated.

    The H&M Fall 2019 Conscious Collection launches in September and will be available worldwide, in store and online. Recycled polyester, most often made from used PET bottles, is the key material for the collection, found in the dresses, shirts, knitwear, outerwear and tailored pieces.

    “The H&M Fall 2019 Conscious Collection is all about the timeless classics and wardrobe staples you never get tired of,” said H&M’s head of design womenswear Maria Östblom. “Long-lasting design in more sustainable materials and the autumn must-haves you need to update your wardrobe.”

    “We want to use our size to lead the change towards circular and renewable fashion,” said the firm’s global sustainability manager Pascal Brun. “The H&M Fall 2019 Conscious Collection is an amazing example of how far we have come with technology and innovations replacing conventional materials with recycled alternatives.”

    From the softly tailored check separates to the animal print dresses and oversized hoodies, all in a colour palette of light neutrals, black and pops of orange-red, H&M’s new vibe is laid back yet sophisticated.

    The H&M Fall 2019 Conscious Collection launches in September and will be available worldwide, in store and online. Recycled polyester, most often made from used PET bottles, is the key material for the collection, found in the dresses, shirts, knitwear, outerwear and tailored pieces.

    “The H&M Fall 2019 Conscious Collection is all about the timeless classics and wardrobe staples you never get tired of,” said H&M’s head of design womenswear Maria Östblom. “Long-lasting design in more sustainable materials and the autumn must-haves you need to update your wardrobe.”

    “We want to use our size to lead the change towards circular and renewable fashion,” said the firm’s global sustainability manager Pascal Brun. “The H&M Fall 2019 Conscious Collection is an amazing example of how far we have come with technology and innovations replacing conventional materials with recycled alternatives.”

    Lees ook:

  • H&M Foundation opens Global Change Award for innovation

    H&M Foundation opens Global Change Award for innovation

    Non-profit H&M Foundation has opened the fifth round of its innovation challenge Global Change Award.

    The award is an attempt to move the needle in a space where global consumption of textiles and shoes are on track to increase by 65 percent on 2015 levels by 2030. Organizers believe that creativity and innovation can flip the numbers in the planet’s favor and help enable great transformations in the fashion industry.

    The Global Change Award was initiated in 2015 by the H&M Foundation in collaboration with Accenture and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. It has received more than 14,000 entries from 182 countries. Named the Nobel Prize of fashion, it aims to reduce fashion’s impact on the planet and our living conditions by helping groundbreaking ideas move from tissue-sketch to market.

    Several of the previous winners have on-going co-operations and pilot projects with the industry, and some are already on the market.

    “In its fifth year, the Global Change Award has proven a great gateway for innovators to enter the fashion industry and transform it from the inside,” said H&M Foundation board member and H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB CEO Karl-Johan Persson.

    “We’ve seen previous winners move from sketching table to market – but more importantly, inspiring a new generation of creatives, scientists and entrepreneurs to reduce the planetary impact of the fashion industry through innovation. The next big idea that will change the game can come from anyone anywhere. So, if you have an idea you believe in this is the place to go.”

    Perhaps more important than the €1 million grant, the five winners will embark on a one-year Innovation Accelerator Program taking them to Stockholm, New York, and Hong Kong. In the accelerator, H&M Foundation, Accenture and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology support the winners in taking their ideas to the next level, with guidance on how to scale up quickly and maximize their impact on the industry.

    “This year, we are especially looking for innovations that make it easier for us as consumers to act more sustainably, ideas that use technology and data that make the fashion industry smarter and solutions that facilitate design with a circular intention,” said H&M Foundation innovation lead Erik Bang.

    To win, the innovation should have the potential to make fashion circular and to scale. Other criteria are a novelty, that the idea is economically sustainable, and that the innovation team is committed to making a difference. H&M Foundation initiated the challenge to find innovations that allow major change for the entire industry, and the winner can collaborate with whoever they want. Neither the non-profit H&M Foundation nor H&M Group takes any equity or intellectual property rights in the innovations.

    Submission deadline is October 16, and the five winners are crowned at the Grand Award Ceremony in Stockholm City Hall in April 2020.

    The H&M Foundation was set up by Persson and his family as an independent organization. While it bears the H&M name it is not part of H&M.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • H&M collaborates with Chinese designer Angel Chen

    H&M collaborates with Chinese designer Angel Chen

    H&M has teamed with Angel Chen in a capsule collection – the fast-fashion label’s first partnership with a Chinese designer.

    The Angel Chen x H&M collection will be available in selected stores and online in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Canada this September, as well as online in Macau and the Philippines. It will also be sold on H&M’s Tmall flagship store.

    “With lines for both women and men, this collaboration perfectly encapsulates the essence of Angel’s signature styles,” says Pernilla Wohlfahrt, H&M assortment manager for collaborations and special collections.

    Heavily influenced by Angel’s design ethos of East meets West, this capsule collection features an urban wardrobe of versatile pieces with strong Chinese elements in colours like Oriental red, bubble-gum pink and bright yellow.

    Embroidered details, from dragons to cranes and pine trees, are used across the entire collection. Traditional dragon and floral embroidery are also weaved into Angel Chen’s logo that is featured on sweatshirts, hoodie dress and jackets.

    Chinese characters such as “Yuan Qi” (energy) and “Kung Fu” written in brush calligraphy is also featured on a denim boiler suit and satin shirt.

    Statement pieces include a knitted mesh suit in a vivid all-over dragon and crane print, a sequin maxi dress with crane motif and a bubble-gum pink faux-fur coat. Other items include accessories such as the phone case sling, faux fur bag, and unisex boots.

    “With the development of global market, more Chinese designers are stepping on the international stage,” says Angel Chen. “And I hope that through this collaboration, more people will pay attention to Chinese designers, and also the Chinese culture and spirit behind their designs.”

    Chen moved from her native Shenzhen to study in London aged 17 and graduated from Central Saint Martins. Chen launched her own label in 2015.

    Lees ook:

  • H&M to scale back store openings and focus on E-commerce

    H&M to scale back store openings and focus on E-commerce

    H&M says it will scale back its store-opening program in the year ahead, and reported strong sales in its stores this month.

    The company had already announced a 5 per cent increase in same-store sales in the second quarter; now it is estimating June’s growth at 12 per cent. It is also selling more stock at full price, lessening its reliance on discounting which had been necessary to shift an unusually high inventory during the last year.

    “Inventory increased by less than sales, the composition of inventory is better and markdowns are lower,” said CEO Karl-Johan Persson during an investor conference call. “We will see more improvements, it’s heading in the right direction.”

    As the company slows its rate of store openings, forecasting 130 now rather than the 175 flagged earlier, it will invest more on building up its e-commerce business.

    “We have decided in certain markets to hold back from new openings. We think rents are higher than they should be,” Persson said.

    Kate Ormrod, lead retail analyst at GlobalData, says the company’s results and Persson’s comments shows H&M remains on track with its transformation plan.

    “Efforts to strengthen its product ranges and availability are clearly resonating with shoppers, helping to drive full price sales and reduce markdowns. One sticking point for the first half remains profitability, with operating profit still down on the year, and margin falling from 7.3 per cent to 6.4 per cent. The true test of its strategy lies in the second half where tougher comparatives can be found – although with the retailer reporting a strong June, … the signs are encouraging.”

    She said that having been a laggard for so long in e-commerce, H&M’s investment continues apace as the retailer is still yet to fully harness the opportunities that lie within online.

    “While it now plans fewer store openings, minimising costs, the new strategy puts pressure on H&M’s existing stores and online operations to deliver.”

    Lees ook:

  • H&M’s & Other Stories Launching on Tmall

    H&M’s & Other Stories Launching on Tmall

    H&M Group’s womenswear brand & Other Stories will launch a Tmall flagship store in the fall, making the Alibaba Group-owned B2C online marketplace the label’s first official sales channel in China.

    The Tmall store will offer collections designed by its three ateliers in Paris, Stockholm and Los Angeles, ranging from shoes, bags and jewelry to accessories and ready-to-wear items, according to a release.

    “This collaboration marks another important milestone in our long-standing partnership with H&M Group brands, and we look forward to continue working together to bring elevated shopping experiences to Chinese consumers,” said Jessica Liu, GM of Tmall Fashion and Luxury.

    & Other Stories will be the fourth H&M brand to join Tmall, following the Swedish fashion group’s namesake H&M brand and home-accessories brand H&M Home last year. H&M’s street-style label Monki opened a flagship store in 2016. The fast-fashion giant also owns denim lines Weekday and Cheap Monday, boutique-style label Cos, as well as the fashion-and-lifestyle brand Arket.

    “We look forward to the launch this autumn and can’t wait to get to know our Chinese customers and seeing their interpretations of our wardrobe treasures,” & Other Stories MD Sanna Lindberg said.

    Launched in 2013, & Other Stories operates 70 stores worldwide, while its online shop currently delivers to 15 countries in Europe, the U.S. and Korea.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • H&M India charts stable growth path as profit rise

    H&M India charts stable growth path as profit rise

    H&M India reportedly surpassed Rs 1100 crores (US$157.6 million) in sales in the 12 months to November, just three years after the Swedish fast-fashion label entered the market.

    There are now 42 H&M India stores trading and consumer demand continues to meet the pace of expansion. That means that the Indian business has not been swamped with unsold inventories requiring aggressive discounting strategies, in contrast to most other  international markets in which H&M trades.

    “H&M India’s expansion strategy has been successful and the company has been expanding in the right way,” observed Shubhangi Bidwe of Fashion United.

    “A tight control on expenditure, including ad spend, economies of scale, well-managed back-end, lower product prices and penetration in tier 2 and tier 3 cities have helped the brand grow faster in India compared to most of its peers.”

    Given the footfall H&M stores attract, the brand is coveted among shopping centre managers in India who typically place them in anchor spaces.

    The company plans to continue to open new stores at the rate of about one per month. Online, the brand is registering double-digit sales growth.

  • H&M Expanding into home decor in India

    H&M Expanding into home decor in India

    H&M India is seeking to enter the country’s home decor and furnishings market.

    The market entry will see the firm competing with Ikea as well as local retailers under its H&M Home brand.

    “We are looking at the home segment and it will be decoration products and not furniture, said H&M India CEO Janne Einola. “There are not many players in that category and the product range doesn’t change for years. In the organised sector, our strength will be the latest assortment.”

    Internationally, H&M Home trades predominantly in shop-in-shop formats, with only eight standalone stores out of 370 locations in roughly 50 countries.

    H&M India has achieved considerable success after three years in the country, currently holding second place in the apparel market behind Zara.

    Lees ook:

  • H&M LGBTQI range celebrates ‘love for all’

    H&M LGBTQI range celebrates ‘love for all’

    Global fashion retailer H&M is supporting “love for all” with a new capsule collection celebrating equality.

    The H&M LGBTQI range will be available in selected stores worldwide and on hm.com from this month.

    Celebrating “everybody’s right to love whoever they want”, the fast-fashion brand’s show of support for LGBTQI equality is a capsule collection for women, men and non-binary individuals. The range features slogan t-shirts, sportswear-inspired garments and fun accessories.

    “We wanted to create a certain vibe with a colourful collection – vibrant, statement-making and joyful,” said H&M’s head of design Emily Bjorkeheim. “There´s actually a lot of mixing and matching that can be done, which reinforces H&M’s messages of inclusivity and equality. Anyone can find their favourite piece and simply wear it with self-confidence.”

    The H&M LGBTQI capsule collection includes tops and t-shirts with graphic prints championing diversity, equality and pride as well as rainbow colours. Silhouettes range from cropped and boxy to body-hugging and sporty – all with a retro nod while remaining modern in expression.

    “H&M strives to be a mirror of global society, one that fully embraces a central message of ‘Love for All’, standing up for people’s right to love whoever they want, wherever they are,” said H&M’s global marketing and communications director Sara Spannar. “We are proud to continue our support for LGBTQI equality by celebrating love and raising awareness about the fight for equal rights, diversity and inclusivity.”

    H&M is donating 10 per cent of capsule sales to the UN Free & Equal campaign for equal rights and fair treatment for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex people around the world.

    Lees ook:

  • H&M and Indian marketplaces Collaboration

    H&M and Indian marketplaces Collaboration

    Swedish fast-fashion label H&M is partnering with Indian marketplaces Jabong and Myntra to sell online.

    The association with the two local partners is structured to meet Indian regulations forbidding marketplaces from forming exclusive associations with brands, despite both Flipkart-owned e-commerce firms owning full online rights to eight global fashion brands.

    The Swedish retailer has been trading online in the country for around one year. The new Indian deal – the brand’s second territory permitting online trade on an external platform after China – will allow Jabong and Myntra exclusive access to the brand’s online sales for a period of six years.

    H&M items are expected to begin trading on the Jabong and Myntra Indian marketplaces within three to four months, while the brand makes preparations to open physical stores within India.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook:

  • Tong Liya helps Launching new H&M Conscious Collection

    Tong Liya helps Launching new H&M Conscious Collection

    Global fashion label H&M has launched its Conscious Collection with Chinese actress Tong Liya among the 13 women featured in the promotional campaign.

    Every piece in the collection is made from sustainably sourced materials, such as 100-per-cent organic cotton, Tencel or recycled polyester.

    “We’re absolutely thrilled to have this spring collection made out of sustainable materials,” said the brand’s head of design womenswear Maria Östblom. “With feminine, easy-going silhouettes, dreamy floral prints and separates all created by our in-house design team that can easily be mixed and matched, it shows how style and sustainability can work together beautifully.”

    The floral prints and earthy colours of the collection are styled to complement feminine details such as ruffles, off-the shoulder necklines and balloon sleeves.

    Throughout the month of April, H&M will not only celebrate their sustainability actions and goals as a company, but also highlight the Conscious Collection in stores all around the world. Promotions will emphasise H&M’s status as among the world’s largest users of sustainably-sourced materials and its continued commitment towards a sustainable fashion future.

    “This Conscious Collection is a wonderful step towards meeting one of our main goals – to use only 100 per cent recycled or other sustainably-sourced materials by 2030,” said H&M’s global sustainability manager Isak Roth. “Sustainability is one of our core values, and while there is a lot of work going into this throughout the entire value chain, it’s always exciting to see the more consumer-facing campaigns really showcase our conscious way of thinking.”