What: Frasers Group made a mandatory cash offer to acquire Mysale after becoming its biggest stakeholder in June.

Why it is important: Directors originally urged shareholders to refuse the offer but are now willing to accept what is still believed to be an undervalued offer at 2 pence per share.

The decision to back the offer comes after Frasers Group again upped its stake in the group at the beginning of October and warned it could delist the company from the stock exchange even if the takeover wasn’t accepted. Frasers Group continues to purchase partial or entire stakes in various companies and rivals throughout this and the past few years.

Mysale directors urge shareholders to support Frasers takeover

What: Real estate operator Simon Property Group is teaming up with Alibaba for a livestream 11/11 holiday shopping event.

Why it is important: Simon Property Group is expanding from a strict mall operator role into various directions, including the opening of pop-ups during the popular 11/11 Chinese livestreaming event by teaming up with Alibaba.

As part of 11/11, Simon will set up a pop-up studio at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets to livestream the events.

Simon and Shop Premium Outlets (SPO) have partnered with Tmall Global, opening the door for consumers in China to virtually shop SPO’s online inventory as well as buy direct from participating retailers.

The partnership involves SPO providing the back-end technology for Tmall Global to access inventory in real-time.

Simon Property teams up with Alibaba on liveshopping event

What: A Jungle Scout Consumer Trends surveyed 1,000 U.S. shoppers and found that 25% of the respondents are planning to purchase used items as gifts to reduce their holiday spending.

Why it is important: The trend of buying second-hand gifts for the holidays began before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the retail industry, but Jungle Scout’s research suggests that it has continued considering consumers’ inflation concerns.

Among the top ways shoppers are cutting back their holiday spending are paying less per person on gifts (54%), purchasing discounted items (47%), buying gifts for fewer people (38%), reducing their holiday decorating spending (36%) and cutting their holiday activities and travel (34%).

Jungle Scout’s report echoes previous research indicating that consumers are turning to used goods to combat rising prices.

A Morning Consult survey found that 79% of respondents were looking for deals, 77% had reduced their shopping and 85% said they are changing their habits due to inflation.

In a ThredUp survey released in May, 44% of respondents said they are cutting back their clothing spending, more than every other category except dining at restaurants.

Retailers also have to adjust to costs rising, for example, Target, Walmart and Best Buy have all cut guidance as they prepare for consumers to spend less in response to inflation.

Consumers turn to second-hand as inflation increases and the holiday season approaches

What: Harrods is back in the black thanks to sales jumping +35% in 2021.

Why it is important: Timing is key: communication about the CEO pay rise might be extremely controversial in these difficult times for the country.

Harrods has made a pretax profit of £51m in 2021 (ending January 2022) after a loss of £68m in 2020, with sales increasing +35% to £582m, thanks to more international customers coming to the UK, including from the Middle East.

The company benefited from furlough support of £23.5m in 2020 and £5.8m in 2021, and reduced its total headcount by 400 to 3.511.

Among controversial decisions taken, the CEO, Michael Ward, had his pay doubled, and the royalties paid to the controlling company (the Qatar Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund) were increased from £23.2m to £33.5m.

Harrods is back to profits 

What: The traditional mall business is likely in trouble as is demonstrated by the 50% stake acquisition of Jamestown, a mixed-use developer, by Simon Property Group, a mall real-estate trust.

Why it is important: The acquisition hints at Simon Property Group accepting that they can no longer rely on a portfolio dependent on enclosed malls.

The group has stated that the acquisition will assist in accelerating future densification projects. Ultimately, the group has intentions to diversify and bring its enclosed malls up-to-date in order to remain dominant in the market.

Simon Property Group acquires 50% stake in mixed-use developer

What: A 14-piece exclusive collection designed by Ann-Kathrin Götze which will be available from November 9th online and November 10th in select P&C stores across Germany and Austria.

Why it is important: Department stores continue to target strong communities by collaborating with influencers particular to their location to tap into a devoted audience.

This will be P&C’s third “Talent Collection” this year. The collection of minimalistic staple garments is co-created with influencer and model Ann-Kathrin Götze.

Peek & Cloppenburg launch collection with Ann-Kathrin Götze

What: Shein launched a resale platform this month to offer American customers the ability to buy and sell their second-hand clothing through the app.

Why it is important: Shein’s move into resale demonstrates its continued pursuit of customer loyalty by reaching them through multiple new touch points and building engagement across channels.

Other fast-fashion resale apps have seen relative promise, with PrettyLittleThing’s second-hand marketplace app recieving more than 100,000 signups within the first weeks of its launch.

Shein joins the resale market

What: Located on the fourth floor of the Printemps Haussmann location in Paris, Le Studio is a space dedicated to media content creation equipped with high-performance technology aiming to provide rich programming from live shopping, podcasts, meet-ups and video shooting.

Why it is important: The space is an open area to develop a true eco-system for the co-creation of content in connection with partner brands, customers and teams. It will also be possible to attend certain performances live, making the place a point of animation.

Printemps presents ‘Le Studio’: a space for media content

What: Sebastian Manes is moving to Chrome Hearts after having worked at Selfridges since 2004.

Why it is important: Following the ownership change this year, more changes are happening at Selfridges as Sebastian Manes, buying and merchandising director for women’s, kids and accessories, steps down and new executives come on board.

Andrew Keith, managing director of Selfridges & Co., will replace Manes until a replacement is found.

As well, Laura Weir will be joining Selfridges as creative director to fill the role that had been temporarily filled by Linda Hewson, group director.

More changes at Selfridges: Sebastian Manes departs

What: Big spenders on the platform can now ask the service to find that one-of-a-kind item with the click of a button.

Why it is important: Farfetch started offering the concierge service in 2017 to the top tier shoppers spending at least USD12,000 annually. But now any of Farfetch’s private clients can submit requests to the “proprietary sourcing service” through the company’s app, receiving results via email and push notification.

People who use the concierge service haven’t shown any real reticence given the economy — with inflation, war and the threat of recession all bearing down.

Farfetch expands its concierge service

What: Shares plunged more than 20% in after-hours trading once Amazon reported the possibility of zero dollars in profit.

Why it is important: Amazon anticipates net sales to land between 140 billion and 148 billion dollars, for growth of between 2 and 8% year-over-year which disappointed analysts, who expected 155 billion dollars.

Uncertainty over its projected operating income also stood out as Amazon announced it would fall somewhere “between 0 dollars and 4 billion dollars.”

The company’s convenience and accessibility are expected to support them this holiday season as brands, retailers and customers face inflation and economic strain.

Amazon warns of 0 profit holiday

What: The Mall launches, The Emsphere which is part of THE EM District, a unique and progressive shopping experience creating the Epicentre of Bangkok and making retail history in Thailand.

Why it is important: The new retail district is modern, unique and utilizes world-class, never-before-seen innovation with a business centre and entertainment complexes.

The projects consist of business centres, trading hubs, luxury fashion destinations, art, technology, lifestyle, living, and dining from over 1,000 leading brands from Thailand and around the world.

The Emsphere is the latest piece of the puzzle that will fulfil the EM District to perfection, under the concept of “Future Retail” that will gather the latest trends, immersive experiences and futuristic lifestyle in an area spanning over 200,000 square metres and an investment of over THB15,000 million.

It will be the economic force to elevate Bangkok and Thailand to become the centre of retail businesses for the world.

The Mall Group plans on opening The Emsphere, a multi-billion baht retail project

What: The leather goods space remains on the ground floor in a 300-meter-squared space with merchandising inspired by Parisian newsstand codes.

Why it is important: The space has added services with a renovation workshop and customization through embroidery.

The space mixes historic brands with newer, trendier designers in backlit curved shelves with metallic structures.

Le Bon Marché redesigns its leather goods space

What: Expected to start operating in Q4 of 2023, L’Oréal’s second factory in the city sits in a 9.7 million-square-foot park.

Why it is important: Construction started this month for L’Oréal’s first global Intelligent Fulfillment Center in Suzhou, China, only 30 minutes from Shanghai by high-speed train.

The project aims to offer local customers more customized beauty products and services while also integrating digital technologies such as auto-picking systems and robots to boost annual direct-to-consumer parcel capacity. Sustainability has been considered in the construction by meeting LEED Gold certification standards and using eco-friendly materials and design for its ‘green parcels’.

L’Oréal unveils intelligent fulfilment centre in Suzhou, China

What: Isetan-Mitsukoshi is opening again international outposts, this time in Philippines

Why it is important: The conglomerate closed its entire Chinese operations during the summer of 2022 and announced its will to focus on the Japanese national market. Such an announcement shows that they are still on the hunt for opportunities.

Isetan Mitsukoshi will open in 2022 a first location in Bonifacio Global City, the business district in Manila. It aims to attract a young and middle class crowd, thanks to an assortment of Japanese cuisine, fashion and cosmetics offer. A whole floor will also be dedicated to wellness.

Isetan Mitsukoshi posted an operating loss of $191.9mn in 2021, and closed all of its Chinese locations earlier in July this year.

Mitsukoshi to open a Philippines location this year 

What: Sephora will be opening a London flagship store and extending its e-commerce reach back into the UK after closing its stores in 2005.

Why it is important: Sephora will be transforming Feelunique, which it purchased for 135 million pounds last year, into Sephora.co.uk on October 17th. A London flagship store is set to open in the spring of 2023.

All products and services popular across North America will be available to UK consumers. The Feelunique reward program will remain but will be renamed upon completion of Sephora’s takeover.

Sephora returns to the UK

What: Amazon-owned Shopbop became the third high-end fashion e-tailer this year to get into beauty.

Why it is important: Amazon is trying to generate traffic to their Shopbop site by launching a beauty category that they hope will generate traffic to the site to buy other luxury goods.

The e-tailer isn’t taking on no-name brands; most of the beauty lines it’s carrying already have high brand awareness or some interest surrounding them, like Dr. Barbara Sturm or Vintner’s Daughter.

Shopbop’s homepage features a beauty takeover, with the picture of youth and diversity: models with (what appears to be) foundation-free complexions and eyelids painted in bright blue, purple, orange and pink. It’s showcasing the modern, undone way to wear makeup now, as they are trying to attract younger customers.

Amazon breaks into prestige beauty with Shopbop

What: Walmart announced the beta release of its Walmart Creator platform as it moves into social commerce.

Why it is important: Content creators on Walmart’s Creator platform will be able to make a commission, without limit, on any Walmart product links shared across all social media platforms.

The beta platform provides users with performance data and product recommendations based on their interests. Creators have the possibility to apply for beta access ahead of the holiday season with plans for a full launch of Walmart Creator set in 2023. Creators on the platform can also apply to be a part of upcoming brand campaigns.

The content creation platform follows Walmart’s expanded live-streaming partnership and Roblox virtual world earlier this yet.

Walmart moves towards social commerce with creator platform

What: Macy’s has promoted an internal profile to look after a strategic set of categories.

Why it is important: Even though Macy’s advertises on the performance of its fashion business, the title suggests that the beauty department accounts for a disproportionate share of the total business.

Macy’s has announced the promotion of Julie Walsh as SVP and GM of centre core and beauty, from her current role as DMM for fragrances. She will now have to deal with beauty, jewelry, handbags, shoes and accessories and report to Nata Dvir, CMO, whose interview was published earlier this year.

Walsh has conducted her entire career at Macy’s.

Macy’s names a new GM for center core and beauty 

What: Printemps introduced the make-over of its private-label fashion line, which are part of the modernisation strategy deployed by the group in March.

Why it is important: As part of its rejuvenation efforts, Printemps has made progress in the field of sustainability, after launching the ‘Unis vers le beau responsable’ (Together for positive engagement) initiative a year ago. With this initiative, Saison 1865 favours GOTS-certified cotton, recycled polyester and lyocell (eucalyptus cellulose), and mostly relies on Europe-based sourcing.

The aim was to create a fully-fledged fashion brand featuring the main wardrobe essentials, with an excellent value for money, and a directional twist in terms of volumes and fabrics; to be transgenerational, appealing to everyone, and eventually able to function on its own.

Giving Saison 1865 an international dimension is another growth driver for the label. Online of course, but also in upcoming locations set to open in Doha, Qatar, by the end of this year, and in New York, in 2024.

Saison 1865’s launch is supported by a press campaign and online initiatives such as partnerships with influencers and short videos broadcast online every week.

Printemps revamps private label 

Printemps Saison 1865 - Store Pictures 

What: Overseas visitors will be able to shop tax-free again after it was ended in January 2021, bringing a well-needed boost to UK retail.

Why it is important: The reintroduction of tax-free shopping for overseas tourists is expected to draw in visitors and allow the UK to properly compete with Paris and Madrid while also boosting the economy.

The chancellor’s announcement of tax-free reintegration, part of the 45-billion-pound tax-cutting mini-budget plan, comes at the perfect moment as visitors begin travelling again post-pandemic.

Overall, the retail sector is expecting the UK to gain greater standing as a top luxury shopping destination with the hopes that the reinstatement will bring more visitors and create jobs across the UK.

Tax-free shopping returns to the UK

What: Harrods has announced a dedicated loyalty programme, MyBeauty, as part of Harrods Rewards, allowing members to access various benefits and earn points.

Why it is important: As part of the launch event, Harrods five H Beauty locations will host DJs, masterclasses, champagne bars and beauty vending machines to celebrate the start of their long-term engagement strategy.

Customers who sign up for the rewards programme will receive 20 pounds in rewards points for their first 25-pound purchase.

Harrods beauty loyalty programme

What: Nike is set to release hoodies and crewnecks using its new sustainable material on September 8th.

Why it is important: Nike has famously cut down on production waste and improved manufacturing processes through its previous innovations such as Dri-Fit and Flyknit. Now, its newest fibre, Forward, could cause another shift in sportswear and garment production while reducing the company’s overall carbon footprint.

The non-woven fibres cut out some of the most carbon-intensive steps in traditional clothing production by eliminating the yarn spinning and weaving process. Similarly, to how surgical masks are created, Nike feeds a web of fibres into a machine containing a bed of needles that punch the fibres together to attach them. The resulting material is industrial and thin yet stiff creating a more rigid drape than a typical sweatshirt material.

The fabric has a higher warmth-to-weight ratio and a carbon footprint that’s 75% smaller than the brand’s comparable knits. The initial release is undyed, cutting out the water and harsh chemical used. The colour of the fabric will be influenced by the fibres fed into the machine.

While the new manufacturing process enables Nike to use a variety of recycled materials, the first release is made of 70% recycled polyester, a known polluter. Despite this, Nike has tried to offset the fibre choice by not using any zippers or extra trims, making it easier to recycle. According to Nike, the Forward fabric remains more sustainable and sheds fewer microfibres than knit fabrics also comprised of polyester.

Nike’s newest material innovation: Forward

What: The department store will reduce its Iowa distribution staff, formerly 1,100 employees, by 222 employees.

Why it is important: Business is declining for Nordstrom, and they continue to change their supply chain network to adapt to the diminished consumer demand.

In August, the department store lowered guidance, having reported Q2 earnings of 126 million USD which was greater than the same quarter of the previous year. Net sales also increased 12% in the quarter and net sales for Nordstrom Rack in Q2 increased 6.3% to 1.22 billion USD.

Nordstrom lays off over 200 fulfilment workers