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January 31, 2008
Tod's Reports Double-Digit Growth For 2007
Tod SpA’s 2007 sales grew 14.7% to $900 million on strong sales of footwear, particularly in Europe. The sales boom comes despite a general slowdown in leather goods and accessories.
Apparel sales also gave the brand a boost. Revenue from apparel increased 10.2% last year to $122 million.
Posted by Blacks at 10:22 AM | Comments (0)
January 30, 2008
Choo Steps Into Three New European Locations
Jimmy Choo is stepping out in Europe with three new stores slated to open over the next few months. The high-end shoe brand is opening doors in Cannes, Barcelona and Rome, bringing its total number of European stores to 20.
The expansion comes as Choo is riding high on strong sales growth. The company saw sales increase by 27% in 2007 to $171 million.
Posted by Blacks at 09:25 AM | Comments (0)
January 29, 2008
Net-a-porter In Exclusive Deal With Halston
Online retailer Net-a-porter has struck an exclusive deal with Halston to sell two of the soon-to-be relaunched brand’s runway looks the day after they debut in New York on Monday. This means that Net-a-porter will have Halston product before it is shipped to retailers.
The deal underscores the changing pace of fashion, where the Internet allows customers to see and buy new fashions almost immediately.
Net-a-porter’s fast fashion deal is also being closely watched because it showcases the return of the Halston brand, which was bought by the The Weinstein Company and Hilco Consumer Capital in March.
Posted by Blacks at 09:54 AM | Comments (0)
January 28, 2008
Outdoor Endeavors Goes Exclusively Online
Chicago-based retailer Outdoor Endeavors is closing its three brick-and-mortar stores to concentrate on its booming online business. The company originally started as an outdoor apparel operation and then slowly added some fashion categories. In 2003 it launched an e-commerce site which is now pulling in $10 million in sales a year.
With sales at its physical locations dwindling, the company plans to focus on its online business while significantly reducing its overhead.
Posted by Blacks at 09:15 AM | Comments (0)
January 25, 2008
Yamamoto Opening Two New NY Stores
Yohji Yamamoto is opening two new stores next month in New York’s Meatpacking district. A 1,500-square foot space on Gansevoort Street will contain his signature collection, while a 2,100 square foot space nearby on West 13th Street will offer the designer’s Y-3 collaboration with Adidas.
Yamamoto already has a flagship on Mercer Street which opened in 1988. The new stores are part of a greater expansion on the designer’s retail network.
Posted by Blacks at 11:27 AM | Comments (0)
January 24, 2008
LV Raises Prices To Offset Weak U.S. Dollar
Louis Vuitton raised its U.S. prices by 5% this week in an effort to offset the declining value of the U.S. dollar, which is eating into the European company’s margins.
LV is betting that consumers will tolerate the increase despite the economic downturn. A number of luxury vendors have already been affected by a slowdown in spending amongst U.S. consumers. It will be interesting to see if shoppers are put off by LV’s price rise or if the strength of the brand will insulate it from sticker shock.
Posted by Blacks at 09:49 AM | Comments (0)
January 23, 2008
De La Renta Opening Two New Stores
Oscar de la Renta is opening a new freestanding store in Atlanta. The two-storey, 2850-square-foot space is due to open in fall 2009 in the city’s Streets of Buckhead development.
The Atlanta store will be the designer’s eighth freestanding store. De la Renta is opening his seventh store in Costa Mesa, Calif. next month.
Posted by Blacks at 10:20 AM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2008
Swatch Profits From Demand For HIgh-End Watches
Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group reported a 17.6% surge in full-year sales, thanks to strength in Asia and the Middle East.
The company, whose brands include Omega, Breguet and Swatch, said that it benefitted from a demand for high-end watches, despite unstable exchange rates that ate into its margins.
The company predicted further growth ahead, including a double digit increase this month.
Posted by Blacks at 09:14 AM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2008
Tiffany’s Same Store Sales Slide
U.S . same store sales at Tiffany & Co. were down 2% over the holiday season as shoppers controlled their spending. This compares to a 7% growth in comps for November.
However, the jewelry retailer said that overall holiday sales were up 4% in the U.S. and 18% internationally.
Tiffany expects fourth-quarter earnings to come in in-line with expectations at $2.25 to $2.28 per share.
Posted by Blacks at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2008
Banana Hires Brooks Bros. Exec As New Creative Director
Simon Kneen has been selected as the next creative director at Banana Republic. Kneen hails from Brooks Bros. where he held the same title. He replaces Debra Lloyd, who left Banana in October to join Kate Spade.
Banana parent company The Gap Inc. is hoping that Kneen will be able to reinvigorate the flagging brand. Kneen previously designed for Casual Corner and Italian fashion house Maska.
Posted by Blacks at 04:48 PM | Comments (0)
January 16, 2008
Mayor Tries To Block Fast Fashion On The Champs-Elysées
Swedish fast fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz is once again being thwarted in its efforts to open a store on Paris’s famed Champs-Elysées. H&M’s initial request to have a location on the street was rejected because the commission thought the store was too “banal” but that decision was eventually overturned. Now Paris’s mayor is trying to block the move again and has appealed to the commission to reject H&M’s bid.
A decision isn’t expected for several months.
Posted by Blacks at 05:47 PM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2008
Claiborne Taps Bartlett To Design Men's Line
John Bartlett will be designing Liz Claiborne’s new sportswear line for men, which is set to launch in spring 2009. The line, dubbed Claiborne by John Bartlett, will wholesale in the range of $15 to $300 and be carried in around 1000 locations.
Claiborne is currently shopping around for a designer to do a similarly-priced line for women. A decision is expected to be made within a matter of weeks.
Posted by Blacks at 08:28 AM | Comments (0)
January 11, 2008
Jil Sanders Appoints New Retail Director
Jil Sander has appointed Lorenza Cavalli as its new worldwide retail director, replacing Barbara Calo.
Cavalli will be in charge of scouting new retail locations, overseeing buying and brand image.
The company is looking to expand its retail profile and has recently added new stores in London and Sardinia. What’s more, a new store concept is reportedly in the works.
Posted by Blacks at 09:39 AM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2008
Donna Karan Offers Zodiac-Themed Handbags
Once again Donna Karan is trying her hand at bags with a prefall collection of handbags inspired by the signs of the zodiac. The leather and exotic skin bags are crafted for longevity and considered separate from her ready-to-wear collection.
Leather handbags wholesale from around $400 to $1100, while evening bags range from $350 to $2,550. Exotic skins such as python start at around $400 and go up to $12,000 wholesale.
Posted by Blacks at 08:02 AM | Comments (0)
January 09, 2008
Calvin Klein Puts Retail Push Behind White Label
Calvin Klein opened a new 12,000-foot store in L.A. this month as part of an expansion of the brand’s white label line. The store is located in the Beverly Center and features sportswear, jeans, fragrances and accessories.
More Calvin Klein stores are slated to open in 2008, in Costa Mesa, Las Vegas and Miami.
The company said that up to 125 units could eventually be scattered across the U.S. as it continues to push the casual White Label experience.
Posted by Blacks at 10:55 AM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2008
Houston Loses Top Luxe Retailer
Luxury specialty store Mix: Modern Classics in Houston shut its doors last month because its owner decided to relocate to Manhattan. The closing affects a number of high-end shoppers who used to count on the shop to locate pieces by designers such as Comme des Garçons and Alexander McQueen.
Mix owner Evelyn Gorman told WWD that business had been challenging in recent months and the strength of the euro made the price of European goods prohibitive.
Blacks is curious to see if another retailer steps in to fill Mix’s shoes and serve Houston’s luxury customers.
Posted by Blacks at 10:04 AM | Comments (0)
January 07, 2008
Luxury Handbag Sales To Slow
The luxury handbag market has slowed, partly due to “aspirational shoppers” feeling short on cash. Aspirational shoppers are defined as middle class consumers who occasionally splash out on luxury goods.
Accessories Magazine predicts that growth in handbag sales will slow to 4% this year, down from the 8% growth rate recorded for 2006.
Posted by Blacks at 10:04 AM | Comments (0)
January 04, 2008
Talbots Exits Men's, Kids Businesses
Talbots Inc. announced that it is exiting its men’s and kids business by September of this year. The move will result in the closure of 78 stores.
After a review of its business, Talbots decided to concentrate on its core women’s wear lines, where it sees the greatest amount of growth potential.
The closures are expected to impact the company’s revenue by $100 million a year and produce an operational benefit of $13 million to $15 million annually.
Posted by Blacks at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)
January 03, 2008
Betsey Johnson Warms Up With Outerwear Line
Betsey Johnson has signed a licensing deal with The Levy Group to produce a full line of outerwear. The collection will be priced to compete with better products and will be available at department and specialty stores this fall.
Jackets, coats and rainwear will feature Johnson’s signature design elements, such as bright colors, prints, hearts and roses.
Johnson is also looking to expand her brand with licenses in other categories, as well as the addition of more freestanding retail stores.
Posted by Blacks at 11:02 AM | Comments (0)
January 02, 2008
Macy's To Close Nine Low-Volume Locations
Macy’s is shuttering nine stores that didn’t meet its minimum volume requirements and have low growth prospects. The stores, which include locations in Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah and Indiana, will be closed over the next several weeks.
Macy’s CEO Terry Lundgren played down the closings by saying that the company would open new stores in better performing markets. Five openings are planned for 2008 and nine for 2009.
Posted by Blacks at 09:43 AM | Comments (0)
