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just-style.com editor's weekly highlights | |
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Unlock Hidden Profits: Think Outside the Spreadsheet Watch the video for proven ways to ensure profitable collections each season!
US lingerie giant Victoria's Secret is mulling expansion in the UK and Japan to capitalise on the brand's world-wide appeal, but has declined to put a time-frame on the plan after admitting it needs to find the right location first. Martin Waters, executive vice-president of international business at the chain's parent company Limited Brands, said the initiatives were likely within the next few years, and would focus on flagship stores in strategic markets. He admitted other plans in the pipeline include a European online retail site offering sales in euros and next-day delivery, but that among the firm’s more pressing priorities are re-building the La Senza business in Canada. INSIGHT: Victoria’s Secret sets sights on international growth Growth is also on the cards at Urban Outfitters, where strong sales at its Anthropologie chain combined with inventory and cost controls to lift third-quarter earnings by 5.2%. The results have prompted the company to suggest its store growth will get back on track to around 50 new stores next year – up from 33 this year. INSIGHT: Urban Outfitters eyes growth on upbeat Q3 Likewise, UK department stores group Debenhams Plc is making moves to build its presence in mainland Europe after last week revealing it is to buy Danish retailer Magasin du Nord for DKK101m (US$20.3m). Debenhams says the close fit between the two businesses will be “mutually beneficial” and that it plans to roll out its Designers at Debenhams line-up, which includes Jasper Conran, Betty Jackson, John Rocha and Matthew Williamson, at the Danish department store chain. UK: Debenhams buys Denmark’s Magasin du Nord for $20.3m Supermarket group Sainsbury’s has also revealed ambitious plans for its non-food offer – which includes fashion and footwear – after sales continued to accelerate around two and a half times faster than food despite the difficult economic environment. The company last week posted a 5.7% jump in first-half like-for-like sales excluding fuel, lifting underlying pre-tax profits by 18.5%. Speaking at an analyst meeting in London, chief executive Justin King said the retailer expects half of its space and one-third of its sales growth to come from non-food in the medium term, helped by new stores, online sales, and a move towards direct sourcing via the company's own supply chain. INSIGHT: Fashion focus drives growth at Sainsbury’s UK: Strong fashion sales help Sainsbury's lift H1 profit And finally, struggling plastic clog maker Crocs is on a collision course with Porsche after the German car-maker sued it for alleged infringement of the ‘Cayman’ trademark – which not only appears on one of its sports cars but is also the name of Crocs’ best-known style of clogs. Crocs says it intends to “vigorously defend itself against these claims” – but with sales and profits only just starting to recover from a $185m loss last year, this is likely to be an unwelcome and expensive diversion as it tries to steer a turnaround of its business. GERMANY: Crocs embroiled in legal battle with Porsche Until next time... Leonie Barrie, Managing Editor Web: www.just-style.com
Four steps to steer your company towards being more profitable and resistant to market volatility.
The long-term prospects for the performance apparel sector are good, according to just-style's new report.
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COMMENT: Lack of solidarity hinders Asian wage campaign [MEM] The Asian Floor Wage (AFW) Campaign, lauded so widely by activists in India and Sri Lanka and their supporters in the West, may not be as effective as its proponents expect.
The clothing industry and the economic crisis - a just-style review Since the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, results across the clothing and retail sectors have demonstrated how exposed the apparel industry is to the economic turmoil gripping the world. just-style has tracked its impact on the industry and, as this briefing shows, made sense of an unprecedented time. This collection of articles from just-style's team of leading researchers, analysts and commentators puts the complex events of the last year and their impact on the manfacturing, sourcing and retailing of apparel into focus, whilst laying out the challenges that still lie ahead.
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November 16, 2009 
