Latest finance news and analysis articles 
Monthly, quarterly and annual financial updates on the leading apparel and footwear retailers, brands and manufacturers around the world, as well as details of expansions, mergers and takeovers, bankruptcies and closures
US: People’s Liberation changes name, business model
10 February 2012
Apparel business People’s Liberation is to change its name and business model after raising up to US$14.5m in funding from private equity group Tengram Capital Partners.
US: True Religion Q4 profit dips, sales robust
10 February 2012
Luxury jeanswear brand True Religion Apparel recorded slightly lower fourth quarter profits, but increased sales on the back of a 23.7% revenue surge in US retail.
FINLAND: Investments weigh on Marikekko FY profit
10 February 2012
Finnish fashion and textiles firm Marimekko Group today (10 February) posted a 57% drop in full-year operating profit as changes to its domestic distribution network and investments in its international expansion overshadowed higher sales.
SWEDEN: New Wave Q4 profit dips in “tough year”
10 February 2012
Brand developer New Wave Group’s fourth quarter profit dipped on the back of static sales, concluding a “tough year” for the company.
US: Ralph Lauren ups FY guidance after buoyant Q3
9 February 2012
Luxury apparel business Ralph Lauren Corporation increased its full-year revenue guidance after a double-digit third quarter sales increase and a marginal rise in profit.
SWEDEN: Strong Q4 profit gain boosts Björn Borg
9 February 2012
Apparel business Björn Borg boosted full-year profits by 10% thanks to a strong fourth quarter performance which brought annual sales level with 2010.
GERMANY: Hugo Boss hits FY record after buoyant Q4
9 February 2012
Designer fashion house Hugo Boss recorded strong revenue and earnings growth in the fourth quarter to reach record levels of sales and profits for 2011.
CANADA: Gildan Q1 loss blamed on destocking
9 February 2012
Gildan Activewear slid to a first quarter loss as sales fell by 8.3%, and despite a strong retail showing thanks to new acquisition Gold Toe Moretz.
US: Jones Group nearly halves Q4 loss
9 February 2012
Footwear and apparel business Jones Group nearly halved its fourth quarter net loss as revenues edged up – but still fell short of expectations.
UK: Retailer Shoon collapses into administration
9 February 2012
Family owned footwear and clothing retailer Shoon Limited has collapsed into administration after failing to sell some of its loss-making shops.
US: Rising costs push yarn maker Unifi to Q2 loss
9 February 2012
Yarn maker Unifi Inc has reported its first quarterly loss in over two years after high raw material prices and weak demand overshadowed higher sales.
US: Cotton costs halve Levi Strauss Q4 profit
8 February 2012
Jeans giant Levi Strauss & Co has seen its fourth quarter profit nearly cut in half as rising cotton costs outpaced higher ticket prices.
UK: Slowing January sales to weigh on SuperGroup FY
8 February 2012
Shares in clothing retailer SuperGroup Plc have fallen by 18% in early trading today (8 February) after the owner of the Superdry youth clothing brand warned full-year pre-tax profit would be at the lower end of forecasts after sales slowed in January.
US: RG Barry Q2 profit up 47% on strong slipper sales
8 February 2012
Strong Christmas demand for footwear lines like slippers have helped RG Barry Corporation to a 47.3% jump in second quarter profit, the company said yesterday (7 February).
DENMARK: IC Companys repeats H2 profit fears
7 February 2012
Managers at clothing business IC Companys have repeated their fears that the company could suffer a second half loss of DKK10m (US$1.8m) or more if economic conditions deteriorate in the coming months.
CHINA: Li Ning to shed jobs, cut costs
7 February 2012
Chinese sportswear specialist Li Ning Company is embarking on a cost-cutting initiative and business restructuring, axing jobs in the face of falling sales.
UK: French Connection issues another profit warning
6 February 2012
Fashion retailer French Connection Group Plc has issued its second profit warning in three months blaming "disappointing" trading over the Christmas period.
Cautious US consumers weigh on January retail sales
3 February 2012
Post-holiday discounts helped many US retailers lift their sales in January, according to monthly figures released yesterday (2 February), but overall results were mixed as many consumers shopped cautiously amid the struggling economy.
ITALY: Benetton family makes EUR276.6m takeover bid
3 February 2012
Edizione Srl, the investment firm controlled by the Benetton family, has made a EUR276.6m (US$364.4m) bid to buy all the shares it doesn't already own in Benetton Group SpA and delist the clothing company.
US: Columbia Sportswear Q4 profit soars on sales boost
3 February 2012
Double-digit sales growth helped outdoor apparel business Columbia Sportswear to record a 40% surge in net profit in 2011 – but the company expects slower growth in 2012.
US: Bebe Stores Q2 profit boosted by sales hike
3 February 2012
Women’s apparel retailer Bebe Stores posted an increased net profit for the second quarter, boosted by a double-digit net sales increase and a comparable store sales rise of 9.6%.
US: LaCrosse Footwear FY profit cut after poor Q4
3 February 2012
LaCrosse Footwear blamed falling sales to the military for double-digit revenue declines in the fourth quarter of 2011, which led to full-year net profit being more than halved.
FRANCE: LVMH FY profit breaks EUR5bn barrier
3 February 2012
Double-digit growth for its fashion and leather goods brands helped luxury powerhouse LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton to record full-year net profits of EUR5.26bn in 2011.
US: Retailers' January 2012 sales roundup
2 February 2012
The following is a general roundup of US apparel and shoe retailers' January 2012 sales results.
US: United Retail Group files for bankruptcy during sale
2 February 2012
United Retail Group, the owner of the Avenue women's plus-size apparel brand and a subsidiary of Redcats USA, has begun Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings while it sells the company.
US: Gap same-store sales fell 4% in January
2 February 2012
Specialty clothing retailer Gap Inc today booked a 4% drop in January comparable sales as it took steps to clear merchandise - and lifted its fourth quarter earnings guidance.
US: Stage Stores seeks new chief merchandising officer
2 February 2012
Regional department store operator Stage Stores Inc is looking for a new chief merchandising officer after Rich Maloney resigned to pursue other interests.
JAPAN: Uniqlo sales rise 7.9% in January
2 February 2012
Fast Retailing Co today (2 February) said same-store sales at its Uniqlo casual clothing stores in Japan rose 7.9% in January as cold weather boosted sales of winter clothing.
US: Bernard Chaus in debt agreement with China Ting
1 February 2012
Women's wear manufacturer Bernard Chaus has agreed a debt restructuring with its main supplier, the China Ting Group.
US: Talbots opens books to Sycamore Partners
31 January 2012
Troubled US clothing retailer Talbots has agreed to open its books to private-equity firm Sycamore Partners after it rebuffed an offer for the company last month.
