Founder’s first crisis: How shoe designer Sarah Flint is handling coronavirus fallout For founders who launched brands in only in the last few years, this massive disruption to both life and business is not only a crisis unlike anything they've faced before, but it’s also their first real crisis in general. Sarah Flint, who founded her eponymous footwear brand in 2013, fits...
Sneaker brands are delaying releases, putting a strain on retailers Sneaker retailers are facing myriad issues. Their stores are closed, sales of sneakers are down, and the entire country is facing an economic downturn. In addition, according to Wil Whitney, a sneaker veteran who now manages brand relations in the U.S. for retailer Sneakersnstuff, the hype model is causing sneaker...
The fate of retail tech incubators A common refrain when it comes to fashion's tech incubators is that they need the proper investment from either their parent company or the external retailers they work with in order to be fully effective. But in a fashion world rocked by coronavirus, where everyone is looking for ways to...
The retailer guide to negotiating rent relief A number of retailers are already in discussion with landlords about ways to alleviate that pressure, but those negotiations can be tough. Landlords aren’t always so understanding and they have their own financial situations to deal with as well. Glossy talked to a few experts in the real estate and...
Inside DTC brands’ approach to first-time discounting The current strained retail environment has forced many DTC brands that normally avoid discounts at all costs to put products on sale. But to avoid diluting the brand or completely killing their margins, they're offering sales on the sly. That includes hosting exclusive sales events and offering discounts only through...
How retailers fared on their 2-week plans for stores and employees Two weeks ago, when coronavirus was in full swing but brands were still feeling hopeful, a number of players in the fashion industry made several large changes to their business with the optimistic timeline of two weeks -- two weeks of store closures, two weeks of full pay for retail...
Luxury fashion retailer The Modist closes its doors The Modist, the barely-3-year-old luxury e-commerce platform that focused on modest fashion, is ceasing operations permanently, according to a note from founder Ghizlan Guenez posted on the company’s social media channels on Thursday.
How brands are using new online events for data acquisition Fashion brands have long known that events are a great way to build a community, but in the days of coronavirus, when gatherings are impossible, some brands are taking those in-person events online. From workout classes to coffee meet-ups, brands are finding that doing events online isn’t just stopgap replacement...
How online marketplaces are providing support to small business partners There’s been a wave of marketplaces and platforms doing what they can for their smaller partners, either via assistance in logistics and fulfillment or through marketing. For those marketplaces, including Farfetch and Bulletin, it’s not just the right thing to do morally, but it’s also vital to keeping their own business business...