Simparel, ERP for Fashion. All of your processes on ONE platform.
“In this challenging business environment we need the ability to make decisions and react quickly, and being on one system gives us complete transparency."
– Lisa West, VP of Production Operations of Maggy London
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After the warmer weather and early Easter helped US apparel
retailers to higher same-store sales in March, it was
perhaps not surprising there would be a slowdown in April.
Add in tough comparisons with the same month last year,
which was in turn boosted by a late Easter, and it's easy to
see why many US retailers fell short of expectations.
US: Retailers' April 2012 sales roundup
US apparel retailers see sales soften in April
But retailers, private equity firms and even manufacturers
are also making the most of the uncertain environment to
boost their portfolios – with a number of acquisitions over
the past week led by plans to buy Collective Brands in a
deal worth $2bn. A consortium made up of Wolverine Worldwide
and private equity firms Blum Capital Partners and Golden
Gate Capital are to buy the parent of Payless ShoeSource in
an agreement that will split the shoemaker.
US: Collective Brands to be sold in $2bn deal
Spotlight on... Collective Brands' search for steady footing
Other deals will see women's wear retailer Ascena Retail
Group acquire plus-size apparel specialist Charming Shoppes
for US$890m. While T-shirt and sock maker Gildan Activewear
is buying apparel manufacturer Anvil Holdings for US$88m and
German lingerie group Schiesser AG has cancelled its IPO
after being sold to Israel-based intimate and seamless
apparel maker Delta Galil for EUR68m (US$90m).
US: Ascena Retail acquires Charming Shoppes for $890m
CANADA: Gildan Activewear buys Anvil Holdings for $88m
UPDATE: GERMANY: Schiesser bought by Delta Galil in EUR68m deal
Meanwhile, for sporting goods giant Nike Inc there is a
new focus on labour and sustainability standards when it
comes to choosing and evaluating the factories making its
products around the world. The Sourcing & Manufacturing
Sustainability Index is currently being rolled out across
Nike's global supply chain – and the firm wants all its
suppliers to meet the increased standards by 2020.
US: New Nike index to rate suppliers on sustainability
Nike raises the bar on sustainability in sourcing
The Indian government is to allow cotton exports again,
after a decision last week reversed nearly two-months of
restricted shipments from the country. However, the
situation is set to be reassessed in a couple of weeks'
time.
INDIA: Ends cotton export restrictions
And in this month's management briefing, just-style
canvasses the views of software experts on the biggest
challenges facing the global apparel supply chain in 2012
and the ways technology can help tackle some of these
issues. We also ask where firms should be focusing their
investments now if they want to remain competitive into the
future.
May 2012 management briefing: Apparel software trends in the year ahead
just-style management briefing: Apparel supply chain
challenges in 2012
just-style management briefing: How software can help
tackle key industry issues
just-style management briefing: The future focus for
apparel supply chain software
just-style management briefing: What else is on the
software agenda this year?
Until next time...
Leonie Barrie
Managing Editor
Web: http://www.just-style.com
Email: editor@just-style.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/juststyle
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