‘Allbirds is an outlier’: Why VC-backed direct-to-consumer brands are hitting a wall Throughout the 2010s, numerous fashion brands popped up with a simplistic business model: focus on a single product or small suite of related products, sell direct and online-only, and advertise aggressively on social media. This model worked for brands like Warby Parker and Bonobos, and countless brands followed suit. But...
DTC brands’ growth-at-all-costs strategy is stunting product development Cost-per-acquisition on social media is much higher than it used to be, meaning that the Warby Parker approach to aggressive expansion is eating up the budget that could otherwise go toward product development.
Fashion is linking with travel to offer customers new convenience Colin Hunter, co-founder of bespoke menswear brand Alton Lane, has a goal is to integrate his brand’s custom suit-fitting into travel. Right now, the brand is working on a cruise partnership where customers get fitted on the first day of a cruise and have a custom suit waiting for them...
Resale and rental platforms are becoming department store staples This week, Rent the Runway announced its latest partnership with Nordstrom: RTR Revive. At 24 Nordstrom Rack locations, customers can purchase (not rent) worn items from Rent the Runway’s catalog, essentially hosting a small resale section within the store.
As Gucci’s sales slow, Bottega Veneta is emerging as Kering’s new star Prior to ex-Celine designer Daniel Lee’s appointment as creative director at Bottega Veneta, the brand was a sore spot on Kering’s earnings sheet, with several years of declining sales. Now, less than two years since he joined, the brand is growing faster than its sister brands including Saint Laurent and...
Payless emerges from bankruptcy with a plan to focus on Latin America, other international markets When it filed for its second bankruptcy last year, the company closed more than 2,000 stores throughout the world. Its massive overhead was a contributing factor in the company shutting down. Upon its return, Payless will shift its focus away from the U.S. to pour more resources into Latin America,...
Collaborations are providing fashion brands a gateway to the Chinese market As the Chinese market continues to slow down after several years of being the fastest-growing market in fashion, collaborations can provide the necessary boost brands need to keep Chinese customers engaged.
Where are the early 2000s brands that popularized skater style? Skateboarding has been a popular pastime for American youth since its introduction in the 1970s, but it wasn't until the early 2000s that skateboarding became a popular hobby, professional skateboarders became celebrities, and apparel brands started catering to them both.
Why UK luxury department stores are outperforming their US counterparts While the U.K. retail world is having much the same difficulties that American retail has had -- suffering one of its worst years on record in 2019 -- but when it comes to luxury department stores, the U.K. is actually coming out ahead.