News
Robinsons expands
Robinsons expands
Philippines retail giant Robinsons said it had set a capital-expenditure budget of PHP5bn ($108.7bn) this year to further expand its store network. Robinsons Retail president Robina Gokongwei-Pe said that the capital expenditure would help build 200 new stores, adding to the 1,506 stores the company had at the end of 2015. The company also plans to build at least one community shopping mall this year, on top of the 10 malls it has. Last year, the company opened 179 stores including supermarkets, department and convenience stores, drugstores and speciality do-it-yourself stores.
Karl Lagerfeld for Seibu Sogo
Karl Lagerfeld for Seibu Sogo
Beginning in September, Limited Edition by Karl Lagerfeld will be offered exclusively in 15 Seibu Sogo locations including Seibu Ikebukuro and Sogo Yokohama, as well as the Japanese retailer's online department store. The label spans women's ready-to-wear and accessories based on the design concept of "elegance with a touch of fun," according to Seibu Sogo. Lagerfeld becomes the first international designer to collaborate with Limited Edition, a private-label Seibu Sogo introduced in 2009, focusing on quality over price in an effort to achieve a unique market positioning.
Closing down sales starts at BHS
Closing down sales starts at BHS
With the BHS rescue plan having failed at the 11th hour on June 2, the 88-year-old retail giant is starting a winding-down sale that will see one of the UK's best-known chains closing and up to 11,000 jobs being lost. The chain's administrators said that potential bidders for the chain had not been able to find enough financing to take it forward and that liquidation was the only option.
Macy's CEO to resign
Macy's CEO to resign
Terry Lundgren will step down as Macy's CEO next year, bringing an end to a reign of 14 years at the department store giant. He will be succeeded by current president and former chief merchandising officer Jeff Gennette. Gennette will join the Macy`s board immediately and will assume additional responsibilities during the transition period, including taking a bigger role in store operations. Lundgren will continue on at the company as executive chairman of the board, working side-by-side with his successor, who will be president and CEO.
LVMH sets 3-D Showcase for la Samaritaine Project
LVMH sets 3-D Showcase for la Samaritaine Project
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has opened a high-tech project showcase for its controversial renovation of La Samaritaine. The Maison du Projet, initially opened in 2011 when work began on the landmark Paris department store, has moved to a new space at 1 Rue du Pont-Neuf. It features an updated scenography including a 3-D tour of the project using virtual reality platforms. Some 60,000 people visited the previous showcase space on Rue de Rivoli. LVMH got the green light to move ahead with the project a year ago, after being forced to halt construction following legal action by residents
Liberty of London Partners with Lesportsac
Liberty of London Partners with Lesportsac
Liberty of London and LeSportsac have partnered on a fall capsule collection. Three prints, each produced in two colorways, have been applied to 21 of LeSportsac's most popular styles — from backpacks to makeup pouches. The colorways were created for LeSportsac — a concession Liberty has never made in its work with other labels. The brands worked together to "pair identifiable yet bespoke Liberty prints with LeSportsac's newly upgraded lightweight modern fabric," said D'Arcy Jensen, LeSportsac's vice president and global creative director. Retail prices for the collection, which launches at the end of July, range from $30 to $240.
House of Fraser an Sanpower
House of Fraser an Sanpower
When House of Fraser was acquired by Sanpower of China in 2014, the plan was to take the store global with openings in Russia, the Middle East and China under the name Oriental Fraser. So far no openings have happened and the group posted losses for the fifth year running. The promised investment in the UK business has not materialized either. There is now a possibility that House of Fraser may change hands again and that C.banner International, the Chinese owner of UK toy store Hamleys, may acquire an interest in the business.
Nordstrom & Palacio to sell Tesla cars
Nordstrom & Palacio to sell Tesla cars
Nordstrom has announced that it is selling Tesla cars in its store in The Grove in Los Angeles. For Nordstrom this creates a customer experience since test-drives will be available in the car park. For the car company, it is a way of avoiding dealerships and being associated with imaginative selling. Palacio de Hierro in Mexico is also negotiating sales of the Tesla.
CEO changes at Matahari
CEO changes at Matahari
Indonesia's Matahari Department Store has appointed Richard Gibson, the current CFO, as the company's new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) replacing Michael Remsen (see picture). Gibson will officially take over the position on 15 August, while Remsen who has been CEO for the past 8 years will continue to work with Matahari. Richard Gibson has been CFO for 6 years and has experience at Debenhams, Warner Bros and Nike.
Falabella to enter Mexico
Falabella to enter Mexico
Chile-based retail group Falabella, is to invest over half a billion dollars with grocery retailer Soriana to open do-it-yourself stores in Mexico in the next five years. The Sodimac store format is already present in Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Brazil. Soriana is Mexico's second-largest grocer and is planning to open 20 DIY stores. The main competition will be US-based chains Home Depot and Lowe's with 115 and 10 stores respectively.
How Seattle became « AmazonTown »
How Seattle became « AmazonTown »
Amazon now employs around 20 000 people in Seattle and occupies 15% of the city's office real estate. This has had a major impact, in particular on South Lake Union, Amazon's main campus, which used to be a rough neighbourhood. Transport links have adapted, shops and food trucks have changed, and house prices have risen sharply. The decision to implant the headquarters in the city itself has meant more taxes and jobs for Seattle which, however, has become dependent on the company. Moreover, Amazon is still growing and is constructing a new building due to open in 2017 in the city to be connected by streetcar to the current headquarters. The new offices called "biospheres" (above) will employ a full-time horticulturalist to look after the 300 plants from 30 countries which will grow inside the building.
Galeries Lafayette to open on sundays
Galeries Lafayette to open on sundays
The coast is clear for Galeries Lafayette. Their Haussmann flagship store, located in an international tourist zone, was finally given the green light to open on Sundays by the district court. It validates the agreement on Sunday work signed between Galeries Lafayette and two trade unions on 20 May.
Nordstrom to sponsor Red Carpet
Nordstrom to sponsor Red Carpet
Nordstrom is stepping up its involvement in the Tony Awards red carpet — and viewers will even be able to shop the accessories worn by the stars as the ceremony airs. Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour and her staff will again team with Nordstrom and public relations firm KCD this year to style nominees and presenters, but this time with a more formalized wardrobing infrastructure. In the lead up to the event, the retailer has erected a "Nordstrom Red Carpet Accessories Suite" within KCD's Meatpacking District office. Artistically managed by the department store's executive vice president of designer merchandising Jeffrey Kalinsky, the suite is stocked with bags and shoes from an assortment of designers including Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Fendi, Charlotte Olympia and Alexander McQueen.
Calvin Klein Home at Bloomingdale's
Calvin Klein Home at Bloomingdale's
Calvin Klein is adding some sex appeal to its bedding. Calvin Klein Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PVH Corp., will introduce Calvin Klein Home Modern Cotton Bedding line exclusively at Bloomingdale's flagship store on July 7. The line will become available at additional retailers nationwide starting Aug. 1. The bedding is inspired by Calvin Klein Underwear styles and the success of the #mycalvins social media campaign. Bloomingdale's flagship will feature the bedding in its Lexington Avenue and 60th Street windows, starting July 7 followed by additional in-store activations and special appearances that day. On Aug. 1, the bedding will be available at additional Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Nordstrom and calvinklein.com.
Le Bon Marché to celebrate Paris
Le Bon Marché to celebrate Paris
Left Bank department store Le Bon Marché is planning a storewide exhibition this fall devoted to the City of Light named "Paris!" – with around 250 new labels and Christian Louboutin as a guest of honor. Slated to run from Sept. 2 to Oct. 15, the showcase is to span men's and women's fashions, accessories, beauty products, kids' wear, home and gifts items and specialty foods (at La Grande Epicerie de Paris gourmet food hall) from all neighborhoods of Paris including Château Rouge, Barbès and Montorgueil. Among new labels are Maison Château Rouge, Sézane and Pigalle, the 2015 ANDAM Fashion Award winner.
Berluti shoes for women at Le Bon Marché
Berluti shoes for women at Le Bon Marché
Berluti is playing prince to Cinderellas in Paris. The luxury men's brand is to introduce five of its most emblematic shoes adapted to women's feet this September at Le Bon Marché, the Left Bank department store. (Both the brand and the store are owned by luxury giant LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.) These include the Alessandro lace-up and the Andy, the latter a loafer named after Andy Warhol. Berluti also downsized its Un Jour briefcase and added a cross-body strap, rounding out the women's range. In the past, Berluti has shod many famous women in bespoke shoes including Patti Smith, Greta Garbo and Sophie Marceau.
H&M teams up with Bloglovin'
H&M teams up with Bloglovin'
H&M and and Bloglovin', the lifestyle social discovery platform, have teamed up to launch a global blogger mentorship program led by Leandra Medine, creator of Man Repeller. The series gives aspiring fashion bloggers a chance to win a mentorship with Medine, where they will learn how to distinguish themselves within the influential space. To enter, bloggers are being asked to create a blog or Instagram post that represents their brand and personal style incorporating their favorite H&M pieces. This will be H&M and Bloglovin's second year partnering to support the blogging industry, which has grown significantly in the past few years.
JC Penney teams with Michael Strahan
JC Penney teams with Michael Strahan
J.C. Penney is teaming with Michael Strahan again, this time for an active lifestyle collection. The new line will be called MSX by Michael Strahan and will be exclusive to the retailer. It will feature details not typically found in men's clothing lines, such as no-chafe seams and auto-lock zippers. The line will also feature UV protection and reflective strips. The active brand will range from T-shirts to polos to jogger pants and chinos. The fabrication will include Quick-Dri stretch technology. Price points range from $12.99 for a performance tank to $25.99 for a knit jogger pant. The collection will be available in 500 J.C. Penney stores and at jcp.com starting May 21.
John Lewis teams up with Jim Chapman
John Lewis teams up with Jim Chapman
John Lewis has teamed with YouTube style personality and blogger Jim Chapman on a capsule collection. Chapman & Lewis is an edited men's wear line curated by Chapman that will be released in three phases: summer, fall and winter. Chapman went through the retailer's existing collections — including Kin, John Lewis and John Lewis & Co. — to select his edited range of suits, jeans, shorts, button-down shirts and printed shirts. Prices for the summer edit range from 10£ for a T-shirt to 240£ for a suede jacket. The items are available for purchase in-store and online
Nordstrom welcomes House of Matriarch
Nordstrom welcomes House of Matriarch
Nordstrom has rolled out the welcome mat for House of Matriarch. The Bellevue, Wash.-based fine fragrance purveyor brings natural perfumes to a department store assortment in which they are rare, and demonstrates an increasing interest in natural alternatives to conventional scents. Nordstrom carries nine of House of Matriarch's fragrances in 10 doors, four that were newly created and five previous bestsellers. Each fragrance is priced at $330 for 1.7 ounces. House of Matriarch founder and master perfumer Christi Meshell called entering Nordstrom epic for a small natural fragrance specialist.
