Drapers
Anna Czerny
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Planet, Walton-on-Thames
8 December 2007
The youngest of Jacques Vert’s four womenswear fascias unveils its most youthful look yet in Surrey. -
Which stores are wearing the trousers?
27 November 2007
The menswear market is booming, but competition is as fierce as ever. So what are retail’s big names doing to stay in the race? -
Indie influx ups style quota on Carnaby St
17 November 2007
A host of independents are set to open in London’s Carnaby Street area this month, following the launch of US-branded independent LA Sugar last Friday. -
John Lewis boosted by menswear
17 November 2007
A strong performance on menswear helped sales at John Lewis climb 1.8% for the week to November 10. -
Michael H appoints UK sales manager
17 November 2007
Fashion house Michael H has appointed Karen Peacock to the newly created role of UK sales manager. -
Mosaic appoints Coast MD
17 November 2007
Liz Shipwright has been promoted to the new role of managing director of womenswear chain Coast. -
Mosaic joint venture to bring more brands to Germany
17 November 2007
High street fashion group Mosaic will expand its chains in Germany as part of a joint venture with Arctic Group. -
Planet launches new-look shopfit
17 November 2007
Jacques Vert is to roll out a new store concept for its Planet chain, following the launch of a revamped shop in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey last week. -
Sales slide 8% at Gap
17 November 2007
Sales at US casualwear giant Gap dropped 8% last month. In the four weeks to November 3, total sales at the retailer fell to US$1.23 billion (£590 million) from US$1.24bn (£600m) the previous year. -
Will the tills ring out for Christmas?
13 November 2007
A new report predicts a bumper Christmas on the high street. But what are retailers doing to grab a share of festive spend. -
Blog: the good, the bad and the ugly of customer service
10 November 2007
Apart from the infuriating crowds on Oxford Street in London, the only thing that puts me off shopping in the UK is the appalling customer service. -
Department store sales growth set to double
10 November 2007
Sales growth at department stores will double over the next five years, according to research from retail analysts Verdict. -
House of Fraser signs Episode in licensing deal
10 November 2007
House of Fraser has confirmed it has signed a licence for womenswear brand Episode and will roll the brand out to all of its stores. -
New John Lewis store opens in Cambridge
10 November 2007
A new John Lewis store featuring £12.5 million worth of stock and 350,000 product lines has today opened in in Cambridge's Grand Arcade development. -
Uniqlo to double UK sales with Oxford Street shops
10 November 2007
Uniqlo’s two new London Oxford Street stores will double the retailer’s UK sales, according to Tadashi Yanai, chairman and chief executive of parent company Fast Retailing. -
Esprit found guilty of copying G-Star
3 November 2007
Casualwear brand Esprit has been found guilty of copying four garments from G-Star's autumn 07 collection. -
New shopping magazine for London's West End
3 November 2007
The New West End Company and tourism body Visit London have launched a shopping and lifestyle magazine to support trading in London's Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street. -
Next raids catwalks to raise its spring fashion credentials
3 November 2007
Next has pushed its fashionability a step further for spring 08 by introducing womenswear trends inspired by September’s London Fashion Week catwalks. -
Nike opens design studio in London store
3 November 2007
Sportswear retailer Nike has opened a studio in its Nike Town store in central London allowing shoppers to customise footwear and clothing. -
Trading rises at indies in first BSSA sales monitor
3 November 2007
Sales performance at independent fashion retailers rose by 1% for the three months to September 30, according to the inaugural sales monitor from the British Shops and Stores Association (BSSA). -
Asda to cut price of clothing for Christmas
27 October 2007
Supermarket Asda is to slash the price of George Clothing as part of a £150 million price cut across the retailer's offer in the run up to Christmas. -
Betty Barclay bags new chief exec
27 October 2007
Stacey Booth, former sales director at womenswear brand Bianca, has been appointed UK chief executive of Betty Barclay. -
Blog: In Toronto, it's all about comfort
27 October 2007
As predicted in a previous blog, my visits to Toronto have yielded no interesting fashion finds. -
Brioni joins forces with the Royal College of Art
27 October 2007
Luxury Italian menswear brand Brioni has signed a three-year deal with the Royal College of Art that will see one of the brand's master tailors work with menswear fashion design students. -
Menswear sales up at John Lewis
27 October 2007
Branded men's casualwear continued to sell well for the second week in a row, according to the latest figures from John Lewis. -
New venue announced for Londonedge New York show
27 October 2007
The second New York installment of streetwear show Londonedge New York will be held at The Javits Center in the Big Apple, organisers have announced. -
Sainsbury takeover bid given deadline
27 October 2007
Delta Two's takeover bid for supermarket Sainsbury's has been given a deadline of November 8, 2007, as the Qatari-backed investment vehicle announced it was seeking an additional £500 million in funding for the deal. -
Sports Direct makes new appointments as non-exec quits
27 October 2007
Sports Direct, owned by billionaire Mike Ashley, has appointed two new non-executive directors to its board following the departure of non-executive director Chris Bulmer. -
Carnaby Street Xmas lights revealed
20 October 2007
The Christmas lights in Carnaby Street will be eco-friendly and are due to be switched on November 14. -
Cruise back in profit as sales rise
20 October 2007
Cruise, the Scotland-based designer independent chain, is back in the black with turnover up £3 million to £19.1m. -
Hot Tuna sees rising sales
20 October 2007
Surf and lifestyle brand Hot Tuna posted a 68.2% hike in revenue to £619,131 compared to sales of £367,992 in 2006. -
Idex takes over streetwear show TBC
20 October 2007
Idex Media, organiser of the Off-Price Show, has taken over the UK's main streetwear event To Be Confirmed. -
Menswear drives John Lewis fashion sales
20 October 2007
Men's branded casualwear was the top performing fashion area at John Lewis last week, with sales up 16%, according to the retailer's latest figures. -
Nike sets sights on Umbro
20 October 2007
US sportswear giant Nike is understood to be the unnamed suitor behind a bid for Umbro, following an announcement yesterday by the business that it had received a buyout approach. -
Retail sales growth in London lowest since May
20 October 2007
Retail sales growth in London in September was the weakest since May and could have a knock-on effect on Christmas sales, according to the London Retail Consortium. -
Mall fortunes
13 October 2007
More than two years ago, the town of Exeter in Devon was nicknamed a clone town because only one in 50 of its high street shops was an independent retailer. Not great news for a place that began life in 50AD as a Roman fortress and town. -
Stores wise up to value fatigue
6 October 2007
Value and middle-market fashion retailers are trying to cash in on shoppers’ desire for quality by launching premium ranges. But will this strategy survive the current trading climate? -
Like-for-likes rise at Envy, but sale is unlikely until December
29 September 2007
Alexon Group is not expected to complete a sale of Envy until Christmas, despite a6% increase in like-for-like sales at the menswear chain. -
Retail trio reveal new stores in Exeter mall
29 September 2007
High street chains Faith, Debenhams and Fat Face unveiled new-concept stores at the opening of the Princesshay shopping centre in Exeter last week. -
Brands launch EU alliance
29 September 2007
A group of fashion brands and retailers have formed an alliance to highlight their contribution to European competitiveness and employment. -
BRC appoints new business environment director
29 September 2007
The British Retail Consortium has appointed Jane Milne as its new director of business environment. -
DKNY Jeans on expansion trail
29 September 2007
DKNY Jeans will open standalone stores in the UK as part of a major international expansion drive. -
Gerry Weber announces record breaking results
29 September 2007
Middle market german brand Gerry Weber has announced record-breaking results for the third quarter of its financial year. -
New initiatives at LFW to focus on emerging talent
8 September 2007
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. -
Oli smashes sales targets in first weeks of trading
8 September 2007
Oli - Otto UK's answer to Asos.com - racked up £3 million in sales over its first three weeks, smashing internal targets by £1m. -
Puma buyout helps to pep up profits at PPR
8 September 2007
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. -
House of Fraser boosts own-label roster with Episode licensing deal
8 September 2007
House of Fraser has bought the rights to the Episode brand to bump up its own-label offer. -
Autumn stock lifts spirits at womenswear independents
1 September 2007
Womenswear independents are confident that the next few weeks' trading will make up for a poor summer, after encouraging early sales of autumn styles. -
BSSA launches web survey to monitor independent sales
1 September 2007
The British Shops and Stores Association is to launch a sales monitor survey to provide independent retailers with a snapshot of trading patterns. -
Reiss in retail venture with John Lewis
25 August 2007
Niche fashion retailer Reiss is to launch a joint venture in John Lewis stores in a bid to broaden its customer base. -
Boden plans German book to test European potential
18 August 2007
Home shopping retailer Boden is to test the European market this autumn by sending 125,000 womenswear catalogues to Germany. -
City warns Monsoon to update its image
4 August 2007
Womenswear retailer Monsoon must update its product offer and resolve distribution issues if it is to halt sliding sales, City analysts have said. -
Pure and CPD clash could cause travel turmoil
4 August 2007
Exhibitors and buyers may be forced to choose between womenswear shows Pure and CPD next February, with both events now scheduled to take place on the same dates. -
La Redoute's mini catalogue lures shoppers on the move
21 July 2007
French catalogue retailer La Redoute has launched its first handbag-sized catalogue to target 'mobile' customers, ahead of its debut on the UK high street. -
London store adds to USA Pro's game plan
21 July 2007
Women's sports retailer USA Pro has set out ambitious plans to open 40 UK stores in the next five years, after its retail debut on Broadwick Street in London's Soho next month. -
N Brown launches two new brands to lure higher-spending shoppers
21 July 2007
Home shopping retailer N Brown will launch two new brands next month in a bid to target older, more fashion-conscious and higher-spending customers. -
Buyers are poised to fight it out for troubled Hawkshead
14 July 2007
Outdoor clothing retailer Hawkshead is being eyed by at least three industry buyers, after going into administration because of stock delays and mail order failures. -
Peak Performance to launch fashion line ahead of UK push
14 July 2007
Swedish sports label Peak Performance is launching a fashion sportswear range, ahead of its UK retail debut early next year. -
Buyers eye Musto as business is reviewed
7 July 2007
Private equity bidders are circling sailing, shooting and equestrian clothing retailer Musto, after it kicked off a strategic review of the business ahead of a potential sale. -
Weighing the work of Portas effect
7 July 2007
The self-styled Queen of Shops has turned around the fortunes of four indies. But is this success solely down to her advice? -
Baugur eyes Envy as sale approaches
30 June 2007
Icelandic investor Baugur has run its ruler over Alexon's young fashion chain Envy, after it received a prospectus on the business earlier this month. -
Stores discover there's something about Mary
30 June 2007
Four struggling independents featured on BBC2 TV series Mary Queen of Shops have seen their sales soar as a result of changes put in place by Mary Portas, who fronts the show. -
TM Lewin asserts its feminine side with new flagship and standalone
30 June 2007
Classic shirtmaker TM Lewin is upping its focus on womenswear with the opening of a new-look 3,000 sq ft flagship that will be geared more towards female customers. -
Irish chain Lifestyle Sports to focus on performance clothes amid expansion
23 June 2007
Irish sports chain Lifestyle Sports is repositioning itself as a performance sports retailer as it embarks on an aggressive expansion drive. -
The public face of private equity
23 June 2007
With the private equity industry facing criticism from unions and politicians, is venture capitalist cash still on trend with fashion retailers? -
Abercrombie & Fitch gunning for UK locations to launch Hollister Co
16 June 2007
Abercrombie & Fitch is scouring the UK for sites to launch its surf-inspired Hollister Co chain. -
Hobbs on the hunt for larger stores to show off its expanded collection
9 June 2007
Womenswear chain Hobbs is beefing up its average store size to cope with a larger product offer after its sales soared 24% to £94.7 million. -
Envy up for grabs as Alexon plans sell-off
2 June 2007
Alexon Group is looking to sell off its menswear arm to focus on its better-performing womenswear brands such as Bay Trading. -
Sales up as women's indies weather the storms in May
2 June 2007
Mainstream womenswear independents are defying the changeable weather, reporting positive trading with uplifts of up to 10% on last year. -
Brands devastated as inferno hits Manchester's fashion hub
19 May 2007
A huge fire that destroyed several fashion showrooms in Manchester has cost the local fashion industry 'hundreds of thousands of pounds', with many brands unable to salvage stock and forced to relocate. -
Freemans adds fast fashion to its offer
19 May 2007
Home shopping retailer Freemans is pushing towards a more trend-led offer with its first fast-fashion range, as parent Otto UK moves into profit for the first time in at least five years.
