What on earth is going on with consumers and retail at the moment? In the US and UK, and many parts of Europe, we’re a long way from the recession, unemployment is lower and salaries are rising. It may not be some golden age in which we’re all skipping around feeling rich. But in circumstances…
It always irritates me when fashion writers use the word ‘futuristic’ about some new style statement. It usually means it’s either a) silver, b) a jumpsuit with a zip or c) something that looks vaguely like a retro sci-fi character would have worn.
Now this is interesting. Debenhams (you know, the big department store chain) has named an executive from Amazon (you know, the e-tailer currently sucking sales from big department store chains) as its next CEO.
Following the news that Adidas is to open its robot shoemaking factory for full production next year, I was browsing the new Campaign magazine website and found this gem. Apparently Pepper, the undeniably appealing humanoid robot is starting work at Pizza Hut. I then came across a piece in an Australian newspaper saying that two…
Last December, I published a piece about Adidas unveiling a prototype robot-based factory to make sports shoes. It all seemed a bit sci-fi but this week it became more real with the company saying it will start production in Germany next year.
M&S released its full-year results this morning. But before we go into the figures. Let’s look back. In the financial year 1997/98, M&S had a clothing market share approaching 14%, pre-tax profits of almost £1.2bn on sales on £8.24bn and was the UK’s most profitable retailer. The company’s decline started in the following financial year…
In a fashion industry with fairly liberal returns policies, one of the biggest problems for brands is not knowing whether the item you just sold really had been, well, sold… Or whether it might come winging its way back in the next 30 days. Another problem is when a category around which so many big names…
I’ve always loved embellished denim. No, wait. Make that, I’ve loved embellished denim since 1973 when my sister bought a pair of shrink-to-fit Levi’s. After wearing them in the bath for several hours they emerged a perfect fit, if rather damp, and she proceeded to add studs. For 13-year-old me, that was the ultimate in…
Supermodels get everywhere these days and it always shocks me how the fashion industry doesn’t seem to mind that its latest campaign star is in everyone else’s campaign too. In fact, given that the very word ‘fashion’ does presuppose a herd mentality, brands seem to like that she (or occasionally he) is everywhere. It means…
How serious do women et when it comes to buying a new bag? Very. At least according to researcher NP Group, which said this month that the Millennial customer treats a handbag purchase as a multi-step process, and 41% start thinking about their most recent handbag purchase more than a month in advance. Basically, it…
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