Drapers
8 September 2007
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Asos.com
After making its name with celebrity-inspired styles, etailer Asos.com tells Lauretta Roberts why it has a lot more to offer than just copycat clothes -
Beauty and the beach
Heidi Gosman and Penny Klein launched premium beachwear brand Heidi Klein after working as retail management consultants. Tapping into the holiday wardrobe needs of the jet set, the company opened its first standalone store in London's Westbourne Grove (below) in April 2002. A second London store followed in 2004, and a website was launched a year later. Since September 2006 the brand has been sold in Harvey Nichols in London and Barneys in New York. -
BRC lobbies for rate cut as retail sales slow
The British Retail Consortium has called for the Bank of England to cut interest rates, after its sales monitor reported a like-for-like sales rise of just 1.8% in August across the retail sector, against 2.5% last year. BRC director general Kevin Hawkins said the squeeze on disposable income and worries about interest rates, which have risen five times in a year, were hitting retail sales and shop prices. -
Buchanan Galleries expansion kicks off
Work has begun to double the size of Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries mall. The scheme, a partnership between Land Securities and Henderson Global Investors, includes rejigging the Open store, owned by JD Sports, to create two 25,000 sq ft units. The first phase will be completed by next summer. -
Charli London dives into wholesale for spring 08
Womenswear independent Charli London will launch an eponymous wholesale brand for spring 08 at streetwear show Who's Next in Paris this weekend. The two-store London indie is aiming for 30 accounts in its first year. The range, focusing on premium quality basics, will wholesale for between £7 and £22. Who's Next is at Porte de Versailles this weekend. -
City worried by sales drop
Market speculation suggests like-for-like clothing sales plummeted 3.1% in the week to September 1, causing concern for analysts banking on a strong autumn season for fashion multiples. -
Clarks set for online onslaught
Clarks is to shake up the footwear market by launching its first ecommerce site next April. -
Cut-price uniforms don't always add up
After the worst summer since records began, the nation's children are now back at school wearing uniforms they could have bought with their lunch money. Or, according to anecdotal evidence that has reached the Drapers office, in the same uniform they wore last term. -
Department stores up the ante in the battle for fashion spend
As House of Fraser spells out its vision for the future, rival department stores are also making moves to grab a bigger slice of the fashion market. But which is most likely to succeed? -
Figure fixers
Merchandisers' love for Excel spreadsheets can turn sour as the files grow bigger and data gets lost in the muddle. Penelope Ody seeks out some alternatives -
Franchise boost at French Connection
French Connection franchisees have reported mixed sales this summer, but the market is predicting group performance will be up against last year ahead of next week's interim results. -
Gateshead hosts Berghaus standalone debut
Berghaus opened its first standalone store this week at Gateshead's MetroCentre. The 2,000 sq ft store sells the brand's entire range of footwear, clothing and accessories for men, women and kids. -
GfK to challenge TNS and BRC with fashion monitor
GfK, the world's fourth largest research agency, is to launch a free monthly fashion sales performance monitor to rival Taylor Nelson Sofres' FashionTrak. -
Hot Tuna to make waves in Middle East
Surfwear brand Hot Tuna has signed a three- year distribution deal for the Middle East with distributor Sourcerite. Hot Tuna said Sourcerite will open a number of stores for the brand in the Middle East during the three-year period as part of the agreement. The first store, measuring 2,000 sq ft, will open in Dubai in autumn 2008. -
House of Fraser boosts own-label roster with Episode licensing deal
House of Fraser has bought the rights to the Episode brand to bump up its own-label offer. -
International visitors give Londonedge a lift
Overseas buyer attendance helped to lift the mood at streetwear and clubwear exhibition Londonedge and Londoncentral this week. -
Jahan Cashmere to open base in Scotland
Iranian textiles manufacturer Jahan Cashmere has invested £20 million in a new facility in Kelso, Scotland, creating up to 60 jobs in the next three years. It has received £500,000 from the Scottish Executive and will open in the former Border Electronics factory, initially employing 20 staff. -
K Fashion (UK) denies copying Arrogant Cat
K Fashion (UK), the supplier and retailer accused of copying by womenswear brand Arrogant Cat, has hit back against the allegations. In its defence filed at the High Court, K Fashion denies it has copied any of Arrogant Cat's designs and is demanding the brand prove its ownership of the designs. -
Legal notices
PETITIONS PRESENTED -
Lucia says farewell to Bainbridge
Lucia agent Marianne Bainbridge is to retire after 28 years at the German womenswear brand. -
M&S makes shortlist for RSPCA business awards
A handful of fashion retailers and suppliers have been shortlisted for the Drapers-sponsored fashion category at this year's RSPCA Good Business Awards. -
M&S retail boss joins George at Asda
New global managing director for George Anthony Thompson will start his tenure with an in-depth consultation with customers. He said that he would also assess Asda's three retail formats and their suitability for George. The former Marks & Spencer retail boss joins on September 17. He replaces Angela Spindler. -
Material thinking
Autumn 08 heralds some innovative fabric blends and finishes as producers aim to keep pace with fashion's seasonal changes. Over the next six pages, we take a closer look at the textiles market ahead of this month's fabric shows -
Miller sisters launch Twenty8Twelve store
Sisters Sienna and Savannah Miller opened a Twenty8Twelve boutique last week in Westbourne Grove, London. The store will house their entire autumn 07 collaborative fashion collection. -
Monsoon ups trend levels with Storm
Monsoon is aiming to boost its fashion credentials after launching a second trend-led sub-brand called Storm. -
Moss Bros rethinks its strategy for the future
Moss Bros has kicked off a strategic review, led by non-executive director and Baugur representative Don McCarthy. -
Myla unveils autumn 07 ad campaign
Lingerie brand Myla will launch its autumn 07 marketing campaign next week, after adding Harvey Nichols to its wholesale stockists. The campaign, called Myla - Beauty and the Bedroom, features a model draped against a silk backdrop. The autumn 07 collection includes pure silk satin, silk chiffon and lace in nude, soft pink, ivory, blue and black. The ads will appear in October issues of Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and V magazine. Myla also used brand consultancy Valerie Wicks. -
New initiatives at LFW to focus on emerging talent
The Exhibition at London Fashion Week will feature 44 designers and a new initiative called Demure Untamed, showcasing luxurious and avant-garde accessories designers this season. -
Next raises its ethical stance as industry faces second backlash
Next has introduced a new logo to communicate its ethical stance as the industry is battered by a second round of allegations about poor conditions at clothing factories. -
Off the record - Rumours, gossip, parties
Twenty8Twelve tears it up -
Oli smashes sales targets in first weeks of trading
Oli - Otto UK's answer to Asos.com - racked up £3 million in sales over its first three weeks, smashing internal targets by £1m. -
One for the road
Deciding whether to outsource distribution depends on each individual retailer. But if they decide to go ahead, there are plenty of providers, says Simon Jack -
Own label tops the agenda in John Lewis's fashion assault
John Lewis aims to bump up its own-label clothing sales to represent more than a third of its fashion sales within three years. -
Personal trainers
The trainer is shedding its classic look, with 1980s-inspired styling heralding bright colours, high-shine finishes and painterly graphics for spring 08 -
Puma buyout helps to pep up profits at PPR
Profits at fashion house PPR soared 54% to EUR303 million (£204.3m) in the first half of the year, boosted by growth from its luxury goods and the acquisition of sports brand Puma. -
Retail Trust brings industry stars to book
Who would George Davies or Sir Philip Green most enjoy taking out to dinner? The answers are in a new book launched by charity Retail Trust. Art of Retail, which celebrates the industry's leaders, will be launched with a portrait exhibition at Harrods' Dress Circle Restaurant in London next week. It profiles 34 retailers, such as Davies (pictured) and River Island's Bernard Lewis, who reveal titbits including their favourite luxury item and ideal dinner companion. The £60 book can be ordered -
Rigby & Peller plans to increase its store count
Lingerie retailer Rigby & Peller will open two stores in the next two months, as part of plans to expand within the M25. The first store, which will open at the end of September on King's Road in west London, will be the retailer's largest at 1,800 sq ft. Another shop will open at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent at the end of October. -
Roulette gambles on growth
Jersey-based independent Roulette is gearing up to open a dedicated womens-wear store and expand its online offer. -
Sports doyens launch upmarket fascia
A group of sportswear industry veterans have launched a new sports concept called Lab Sport. -
Staff training teaches us all a lesson
When trading is tough, Investing in training sessions can reap big rewards, says Hilary Cookson -
The drapers fashion fix poll
Every week we ask Drapersblog.com readers their opinion on the question of the week. -
The Officers Club cuts its losses and refocuses
The Officers Club posted losses of £1.05 million for the year to August 31 2006, compared with a loss of £4.86m the previous year. Group sales fell 13.8% to £57.6m, from £66.9m. The 70-store chain aims to move away from its discount stance following competition from value retailers, and said there was potential to grow its online sales. -
Tightly knit
A merger between two Australian wool organisations could revitalise both the Woolmark brand and the knitwear industry, as Linda Foster discovers -
TM Lewin unveils City of London flagship
Shirtmaker TM Lewin has opened a 3,000 sq ft flagship store on Fenchurch Street in the City of London, featuring its new brand identity. The store is TM Lewin's largest and offers a bespoke tailoring service and the full range of women's clothing. It also features a new layout, window designs, signage and merchandising. -
Tomorrow's world
As the autumn 08 textiles show season kicks off, key experts predict the dominant trends, ranging from technical blends to natural neutrals and brights -
Value chains make a play for kidswear share
Value retailers have gained kidswear market share at the expense of high street chains such as Bhs and Gap. More than £1 in every £3 spent on kidswear is spent at a value retailer, according to a report from Verdict Research. The likes of George and Primark are forecast to grow their share of total kidswear sales from 35.9% in 2006 to 38.6% in 2007. -
Which boots are made for autumn?
With no defining trends for autumn footwear, leanne o'shea weighs up the styles on offer -
Your chance to be a Drapers Awards winner
The deadline to enter this year's Drapers Awards, which take place on November 21 at the Grosvenor House in London, is fast approaching. To find out whether you are eligible to enter and be in with a chance of winning, visit the Awards website at www.drapersawards.co.uk. If you are struggling to meet the deadline, email clare.west@emap.com to discuss an extension. Good luck!
