Drapers
15 March 2008
View all stories from this issue.
-
Build your retail brand says John Lewis Partnership boss
Retailers that act as brands rather than just a group of fascias will engender loyalty from their customers, John Lewis Partnership chairman told the Retail Week conference in London this morning. -
Buyout deal saves Emma Somerset
Womenswear mini-chain Emma Somerset has been rescued from administration by Moda In Pelle owner and serial retail investor Stephen Buck. -
Chancellor urges retailers to clamp down on plastic bags
Plastic bag usage will need to drop by 90% in 2009 to avoid the government imposing legislation forcing retailers to charge for them, Drapers has learnt. -
Chloe appoints new creative director
Chloe has appointed Hannah MacGibbon as creative director. -
Chloe appoints new creative director
Chloe has appointed Hannah MacGibbon as creative director. -
Chloe replaces creative director
Chloe has appointed Hannah MacGibbon as creative director. -
Claire’s gears up for Euro growth
Women’s accessories retailer Claire’s has bolstered its buying team by 70% as it prepares for major European expansion. -
Claudia Schiffer appointed Graduate Fashion Week judge
Graduate Fashion Week has appointed supermodel Claudia Schiffer to its board of judges this year’s event. -
Designer bags to suffer in wake of consumer slowdown
Sales of designer handbags and celebrity 'It-bags' will dip as shoppers tighten their belts and opt for cheaper high street versions according to a report by Mintel. -
Donatella Versace to chair Fashion Fringe
Donatella Versace is to take over from Tom Ford as chair of the Fashion Fringe competition. -
Eastern Europe best bet for value retailers
Eastern Europe provides the greatest opportunity for value retailers looking to expand internationally, Peacocks chief executive Richard Kirk told the Retail Week conference today. -
Egyptian firm snaps up SRG
Mid-market menswear business Speciality Retail Group, which owns the Suits You chain, has been bought by Egyptian supplier Arafa Holding in a deal brokered by BMB Group chief executive Peter Lucas. -
February clothing sales down for fifth consecutive month
Like-for-like retail sales in February rose 1.5% but clothing and footwear sales were well below last year for the fifth consecutive month. -
Franco Miroglio dies
Franco Miroglio, who was at the helm of the Miroglio Group for more than 50 years, has died. -
Freedom eyes third store after record trading year
Northern Ireland young fashion independent Freedom Clothing is on the hunt for a third store, following a record year of trading. -
Freesoul sold to investor
Denim brand Freesoul has been sold to a Luxembourg-based private investor for an undisclosed sum. -
Freesoul sold to Luxembourg investor
Denim brand Freesoul has been sold to a private Luxembourg based investor for an undisclosed sum. -
French Connection hit by consumer downturn
French Connection saw profits plunge 22.5% to £3.1 million for the year to January 31. -
GDS in positive mood as pick up in numbers expected
The mood at the first morning of German footwear fair GDS was upbeat with exhibitors optimistic, despite the grey weather slow moving visitor traffic. -
Hirsch is rescued by Delmod parent
Delmod’s parent company CFC has taken over the order books for Hirsch for autumn 08, following the German brand’s collapse earlier this year. -
House of Fraser raises the stakes in Belfast
House of Fraser opened its first premium concept store in Belfast last week, as part of its new upmarket positioning. -
House of Fraser to introduce staff bonus scheme
House of Fraser is to introduce a new staff bonus scheme, which will net its store staff the equivalent of four weeks pay if it hits profit targets this year. -
Indies untroubled by minimum wage hike
Independent retailers are unconcerned about the rise in the national minimum wage, saying a 4% increase is “fair”. -
Jan Shutt
Drapers probe leading Indies to get their View From The Shop floor. -
Jesire opens five new concessions
Womenswear brand Jesiré is set to open five new concessions in Hoopers department stores this year. -
John Lewis hires new online boss from Figleaves
John Lewis has appointed Figleaves chief operating officer Robin Terrell to head up its mail order business. -
Joseph Abboud plots UK launch
US menswear brand Joseph Abboud will debut in the UK next year, to take on premium brands such as Hugo Boss and Polo Ralph Lauren. -
Last chance to celebrate your footwear business
The deadline for the Drapers Footwear Awards 2008 is fast approaching. -
Littlewoods launches new Trinny & Sussanah TV campaign
Littlewoodsdirect.com will launch a new Trinny & Susannah television advertising campaign tonight. -
Losses grow as Liberty invests in its own label
Losses at London department store Liberty rose to £3.6 million for the year to December 31 2007, blamed on increased investment in its Liberty of London own brand. -
Losses widen at Liberty
Department store Liberty saw EBITDA losses widen to £3.6m for the year to December 31 2007 because of increased investment in its Liberty of London own brand venture. -
M&S' Rose warns trade will be tough until 2010
Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose warned retailers today they should expect trade to remain tough until 2010. -
Marchpole appoints group finance director
Marchpole has promoted John Macaulay to group finance director. -
Massimo Dutti in line for latest Inditex overhaul
Inditex is set to launch a new-concept Massimo Dutti store on London’s Oxford Street by the end of 2009. -
Nell McAndrew is the new face of Adore Moi
Model and celebrity Nell McAndrew has replaced Kimberley Stewart as the new face and body of lingerie range Adore Moi. -
New M&S jobs for Bostock and Rose
Sir Stuart Rose will step down from Marks & Spencer in July 2011. Confirmation of Rose’s planned retirement date came as part of a rejig of the management team prompted by the resignation of M&S chairman Lord Burns, who will leave the retailer in June. -
News in brief
News in brief for the week ending February 9, 2008. -
Oasis appoints retail operations director
Oasis has appointed Ann Summers director Ian Wallis into the role of retail operations director. -
Oliver London rebrands as Blaqua
Men’s shirting label Oliver London has rebranded as Blaqua for autumn 08. Its new range contains 90 pieces, including shirts, suits, outerwear, jackets, knitwear, footwear and accessories. -
Original Factory Shop to open nine stores in Northern Ireland
The Original Factory Shop is ramping up its presence in Northern Ireland and plans to open nine stores there in the next two years. -
Premier Kids and Spring Fair to share dateline
Exhibitions Premier Kids and Spring Fair will take place alongside each other from February. -
Rob & Mart Drake-Knight
The founding brothers of eco brand Rapanui tell Alex Hudson about environmental issues and ethical trade, and their opinion of value retailers. -
Rose announces retirement date amidst M&S management rejig
Sir Stuart Rose will step down from Marks & Spencer in July 2011. -
Sainsbury's launches plus and petite sub-brands
Sainsbury's has launched two new sub-brands under its Tu clothing collection this spring. -
Selfridges to wait for 2010 for ecommerce launch
Selfridges chief executive Paul Kelly said the department store business would not be rushed into online retail, but will wait until 2010 to launch its ecommerce site. -
Shucandi hits the market
Marianna Katsoulis, former head of accessories at womenswear chain Wallis, has launched footwear label Shucandi London for autumn 08. -
Small businesses hampered by 'unrealistic' landlords and financiers
Financiers and landlords should walk the walk rather than just talk the talk, a panel of fast growing independent retailers told the Retail Week conference today. -
Sports Direct confident of meeting forecasts
Sports Direct International said it was confident it would meet revised EBITDA forecasts of £148 million for the full year. -
Sports Direct ups stake in JD
Sports Direct has increased its stake in the John David Group, which runs the JD sports chain, to more than 12%. -
Steve Madden
The founder of the eponymous US footwear brand has had a colourful past. But with plans to conquer the UK market in full swing, the future looks even brighter. -
Suits You bought by Egyptian supplier
SRG, the company behind Suits You, has been bought by Egyptian menswear supplier Arafa Holding. -
Swedish duo to grow after H&M acquisition
Young fashion retailer H&M will lead the expansion of Swedish fashion chains Monki and Weekday, after it bought a 60% stake in parent company Fabric Scandinavien last week. -
Toms
With its sell-one donate-one strategy, Toms is busy putting shoes on the feet of kids across the developing world. -
UK comeback for Von Dutch
Streetwear brand Von Dutch is being relaunched in the UK by a new licensee for autumn 08 with a heritage-styled collection. -
Urban Outfitters’ profits surge
US young fashion chain Urban Outfitters is mulling the launch of new concepts and new brands, after scoring record profits for its fourth quarter. -
Victoria Square lifts Belfast’s retail offer
Victoria Square, the £400 million shopping centre scheme in Belfast, attracted 70,000 visitors on its opening day last week. -
White City scheme fills up
Westfield London has signed a raft of stores for the launch of the White City development in west London on October 30. -
Yoox launches online menswear department store
Yoox, the fashion etailer, has launched an online designer menswear department store called Thecorner.com. -
Zara, Oxford Circus
Fast fashion has been given a luxury makeover in the Spanish retailer’s central London flagship.
