Online retailing continues to post healthy gains, and the latest analysis from Hitwise reveals that this growth is set to continue through the busy Christmas season. The online retail sector will grow 25 per cent in share of visits from July 2005 to December 2005, representing a 12 per cent year-on-year increase since December 2004….
Read moreBenetton posts mixed 2005 results
Italian fashion retailer Benetton recorded consolidated revenues of €1.765 million (£1.229 million) for 2005, up from €1.704 million the previous year. Net income rose to €112 million from €109 million in 2004, while the net financial position fell to €351 million from €441 million the year before. The group said revenues growth was boosted by…
Read moreChinese shoe import regulation in disarray
The European Commission’s plans to regulate imports of leather shoes from China and Vietnam are in disarray, after EU member states rejected its latest proposals. The Commission wants to introduce a formal system of import duties, to replace emergency measures introduced in April. The temporary system was introduced following allegations that shoes were being “dumped”…
Read moreH&M to launch Harmony
Swedish fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz has introduced Harmony, a new one-off collection for women which will launch in September. The collection will feature soft, body-skimming, feminine pieces that easily transcend the separation between evening, homewear and athletic wear. H&M wants to show women how to mix and match to carry over from day to…
Read moreClaire’s comp sales rise
US accessories and costume jewellery chain Claire’s Stores Inc has reported a comparable store sales increase of 4 percent in the four weeks ended 27 May. Total sales for the period rose 8 percent to $102.5 million. “Our international comparable store sales remained in positive territory, delivering growth in the low single digits,” said co-chairman…
Read moreMatalan finally sees sales rise
sales rise for the first time in two years. Total sales gained 2.2 percent in the eight weeks ended 26 August. Like for like sales grew 1.3 percent, up from a slide of 3.1 percent during the same period last year. New space increased 3.2 percent. Gross margins gained 0.2 percent, lifting margins for the…
Read moreNo model behaviour
What is it with models these days? It’s been a violent week and no model behaviour in the land of the beautiful. The Guardian reported that last week Danish Victoria’s Secret star May Anderson was wrestled off Martinair Flight 643 charged with battery, resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication, after she allegedly hit an air stewardess…
Read moreSS07 fashion show dates revealed
The season may only just have ended, but the dates for the spring/summer 07 catwalk shows have been set. This time there seems to be less conflict and overlap between cities, however tradeshows dates are still to be confirmed. The women’s ready-to-wear shows will commence in New York from September 11-16, followed by London from…
Read moreSpending shifts from High Street to internet
It is estimated that by 2010, UK consumers will be spending £18.5 billion a year on the internet that otherwise would have been spent on the high street, according to research by leading global payments system PayPal and Datamonitor. This is the first time that the shift from high street to internet has been calculated…
Read morePatrick Cox for sale
Patrick Cox, the Canadian born London-based shoe designer has put his shoe emporium up for sale. The price tag is a hefty £10m. Cox enjoyed enourmous success in the early 90’s with his famous loafer outselling the one million mark. The intellectual property rights to the loafer design, however, are ownbed by Italian footwear manufacturer…
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