New-in comp shop: The Bardot top

The Bardot top was big news on the SS16 runways and crept into the high street offer as early as party season 2015. It’s set to hit big for warm weather deliveries over the next few months as part of a general trend for shoulder-baring tops. Come sunnier weather and you won’t be able to move…

Sneak preview: Nordstrom’s New York City store

Can’t wait for Nordstrom to open in New York City? Well the retailer has given us a sneak preview of what its store will look like. Covering four properties in the Columbus Circle neighbourhood of Manhattan along Broadway between West 57th and West 58th Streets, the 363,000 sq ft store should open in 2019.

US shoppers: Keep on spending in 2016 says NRF

The world may be getting economic jitters generally but US consumers are going to keep on spending. That’s the option of The National Retail Federation, which released its 2016 economic forecast late yesterday. But the good news comes with a sting as the increase won’t necessarily be about individuals spending more. Instead, falling unemployment means…

John Lewis: First hint of shoppers buying new season looks

We had the first hint of good news around new-season fashion retail today as John Lewis (now giving its weekly update on Tuesdays rather than Fridays) said its sales rose 2.5% in the seven days to February 6. Fashion sales rose 4.4% within that figure with “some encouraging reaction to new season ranges”, according to John…

Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy: Must do better

It’s a funny thing about Gap Inc but it’s one company that has always shown itself able to make a profit, however tough it finds sales growth. I’ve been following this company’s results for 17 years now and the sales picture has been bad for most of that time. But in reporting its January and…