Alex Barreira’s Post

M&S’s Polo Some 30 years ago, BDALondon was working with M&S to help develop products that they could no longer make in their supply chain in the UK. At the time, 99% of goods sold in M&S were made in the UK, but they were under price stress from competitors sourcing from the East. Quality and styles had been compromised to hit commercial price points. We landed in Hong Kong (still a British colony) with lots of product ideas around 1990. One of the M&S buyers (or selectors, as they were called) for the leisurewear department (known as T28) was thrilled to have discovered the factory that made the polo shirt for Ralph Lauren, which was the gold standard at the time for quality, style, and fit. M&S developed a very similar polo with the said factory and realized they could hit a retail selling price of circa £5*, compared to RL's £25*. *These price points are what I remember, so don’t quote me, but it gives you an accurate relativity. (Please, anyone in my network, help with more accurate price pointing.) The assumption was this superior quality, fit, and style would offer the M&S customer such great value that sales would grow exponentially. However, what wasn’t factored in was the old dark arts of marketing! As you’ve probably guessed, there was no significant change in sales. The same guys came into the same store and bought the same amount of polos that they’ve always needed. From both brands. The strength of the M&S brand was so strong that customer loyalty drove a perception that M&S quality was always superior to anyone else’s. The strength of Ralph Lauren doesn’t need explaining. #innovation #offshore #sustainabilty #bdalondon #trendhub #marksandspencer #ralphlauren

I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen this much activity in an A mall - 10 new stores and 8 remodels! In a digital world, we can sometimes overlook that ~70% of consumer spending in retail happens in physical stores. Digital still influences these purchases, so I view this era as the convergence of physical & digital to enable exceptional customer experiences. ⭐️ Dallas Northpark Center’s has 10 new stores and 8 remodels booked now through fall. ⭐️ Trending brands - Reformation, Hill House Home , and Marine Layer ⭐️ Luxury new stores or renovations - GIVENCHY, Prada, AMIRI, Etro and Tiffany & Co. #futureofcommerce #futureofretail #retail #malls #luxury #customerexperience

Superdry opens flagship store in Bengaluru’s Mall of Asia Contemporary fashion brand Superdry has announced the opening of its flagship store in Bengaluru. Located at the Mall of Asia, this new store marks a significant milestone in Superdry's expansion in the city. Superdry India Fashion Forum Anjali Sondhi Nikhil Behl Lokesh Chopra Praniti Parasramka #superdry #fashion #FashionNews #FashionUpdates #BoFDaily #BoFNews #BoFUpdates #FashionRetailNews

Bloomingdale's CEO on the Future of American Department Stores. About a year into his tenure as Bloomingdale’s chief executive, Olivier Bron knows what’s ailing American department stores: too much focus on financial returns, and not enough on shoppers. An outsider to American #fashion who has worked as an executive for Parisian department store Galeries Lafayette and Thai retail conglomerate Central Group, Bron believes the value of the format hasn’t changed since its invention 300 years ago — a sprawling space promising endless variety, with beautiful displays and persuasive salespeople. Simply displaying a mainstream offering of fashion isn’t enough. Discovery is about creating something new: bringing two brands together in collaboration, for instance, or an intricately themed event that people have never seen before. A New Standard for Partnership Bron’s strategy is rooted in winning back the favour of fashion brands that have grown wary of #wholesale, as well as making changes that will resonate with Bloomingdale’s’ particular demographic. Its shoppers tend to be younger and prefer a less formal shopping experience — a largely different profile from customers who visit standalone brand boutiques. The Bloomies’ Experience Bron also has big plans for the 57 existing Bloomingdale’s locations, taking a page out of his experience managing department stores in Asia and Europe: strong product assortment, great customer service and an emphasis on Bloomingdale’s own unique branding. In recent months, Bloomingdale’s has started making store improvements, from lighting upgrades and new furniture to renovating entire departments. Now, it’s looking to make major alterations in its 59th street Manhattan flagship, including expanding the luxury footprint, building new shop-in-shops and revamping its design shoe section. “It’s not just about products, but the joy and pleasure of shopping, from the façade and curbside of the building to all the small things inside the store,” said Bron. “It’s always a surprise to our customers, and that’s fantastic.” #retail #fashionindustry #bloomingdales #nyc #paris #toronto #manhattan #shopping #womenswear #shoes #ceo #fashionbrands #luxury

From Macro to Micro: The Ripple Effects of the Saks-Neiman Marcus Merger 💡 As a brand strategist, technologist, and President of the Chicago Fashion Coalition, my perspective will focus on how this merger represents broader shifts in the retail landscape and what it means for both national and local markets. My Key Takeaways: ➡️Merger Impact: The $2.65 billion merger between Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, backed by Amazon and Salesforce, aims to revitalize the department store model through technology and scale. ➡️Retail Transformation: Nationally and globally, the merger sets a precedent for integrating online and offline retail experiences, driven by data analytics and AI to meet consumer demands for personalization and convenience. ➡️Local Strategies: Locally, the merger presents both, opportunities and challenges for retailers in Chicago, emphasizing the need for unique experiences, technology adoption, and a balanced approach to online and offline retail channels. Take a Deeper Dive 🔑 Post-COVID market shifts indicate that consumers prioritize convenience and low costs, as evidenced by the popularity of platforms like Amazon Prime, Shein, and Temu. With a struggling economy, discretionary spending on non-essential items like fashion has decreased. To counter this trend, retailers must focus on providing experiential shopping experiences that entice customers to leave their homes. Chicago boutiques like Congruent Space excel by combining art, fashion, and interactive events, making shopping a unique experience. The strategic integration of scale and technology is crucial for revitalizing the department store model. Retailers must utilize trend forecasting, social listening, and AI tools for sentiment analysis to make informed buying decisions and optimize customer engagement. Balancing online and offline retail channels is essential for future success, as relying solely on e-commerce or physical stores presents significant trade-offs. A diversified approach to revenue generation will be key to thriving in the evolving retail landscape. Join the Conversation 🗣️ What are your thoughts on… How will the Saks and Neiman Marcus merger affect the retail industry? What are the benefits of retail mergers? How can local retailers compete with large department stores? #RetailRevolution #LuxuryMarket #AmazonInvests #Saks #NeimanMarcus #FashionIndustry #RetailInnovation #SupplyChain #TechnologyInRetail #Ecommerce #BusinessStrategy #LuxuryStores

First of so many things to be coming soon

It was only a matter of time that department stores would want to have a cut of the resale market for luxury handbags as more and more luxury brands are focused on their own stand alone stores. Bloomingdale's has teamed up with leading luxury preloved digital retailer Rebag to launch in select Bloomingdales locations. It makes sense as consumers want to see condition of bags they are purchasing before pulling the triggger. I do see a time when even luxury brands will want to control their own second hand market of their own brands. The preloved market for luxury is booming and accounting for billions of dollars so it makes sense more traditional retailers will want to have access to this lucrative market and its consumers. #resale #luxurybrands #luxuryretail #preloved https://lnkd.in/eZMCHBnT

Prada Group, Fendi, CHANEL, Swatch Group and other international luxury brands are closing their boutiques in Russia as the war in #Ukraine enters its third year, the Ukrainian Council of Shopping Centers (UCSC) reported on April 3. Prada is leading the exodus by closing three of its Moscow outlets, including a prominent location in GUM (shopinh centre facing Red Square) reducing its presence from six stores at the start of 2024. Similarly, Fendi is set to close its doors in Moscow, not renewing leases for three locations and planning to exit its TsUM (another luxury shopping mall) boutique by Aug. 1. CHANEL's Russian operations are following suit, opting to end leases for its 17 boutiques, predominantly located in Moscow. Meanwhile, the Swatch Group has already concluded leases for 15 stores across Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other locales.  In contrast, several #luxury retailers like Gucci, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton remain operational in Russia, with impending lease expirations prompting forthcoming decisions about their presence in the country. Despite these significant exits, only 27% of foreign luxury retailers halted Russian operations post-invasion, with conglomerates such as LVMH, Kering, and Richemont maintaining leases in Russian shopping venues. This cautious approach aligns with a broader trend identified by the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), which noted that under 10% of foreign firms have officially severed ties with Russia, highlighting a reluctance among global businesses to exit the Russian market entirely. https://lnkd.in/dJfXW9-H

You can still get Allen's Boots in Austin, but these days you can also grab a pair of Gucci or Versace loafers! If you're into luxury goods, you might be happy to know Austin now has stores for 24 of the world's most luxurious brands. Granted, Houston and Dallas are still far ahead when it comes to high-end stores, but we're definitely getting there. #AvantResidential #AvantResidentialGroup #SusanAvant #compassaustin #compassatx #compass #luxurylifestyle #movetoaustin #atx #sellingaustinsfinestproperties #internationalrealtor #relocationspecialist #leadersinluxury #localexpert #luxuryrealestate #realm #realmglobal