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This week, department stores tried to reverse market share losses in 2024, Puig and Charlotte Tilbury extend their partnership, and more.
RETAIL NEWS
Eurozone Retail Trade Declines as Political Worries Mount
Retail trade in the eurozone fell in October for the first time since June, a sign of jitters among consumers despite accelerating wages and the economy expanding more than expected.
Todd Snyder, Fanatics Create Premium NFL Collection
The line of collegiate-inspired, upscale merchandise will include coaches' jackets, hoodies and sweaters.
Saks Owner HBC Secures $2 Billion Bond to Buy Neiman’s
As Saks Fifth Avenue parent HBC inches closer to its deal to buy Neiman Marcus Group, it is taking a close look at its own store portfolio and is said to be closing its Palm Beach, Fla. store. But overall, the Saks world is set to get much bigger. According to sources, HBC has secured a $2 billion-plus junk bond this week that puts the company firmly on track to close its deal to buy the Neiman Marcus Group.
Skims Opens First NYC Flagship
The shapewear brand, co-founded by Kim Kardashian and Jens Grede, unveiled its first New York City flagship on 5th Avenue.
Prada Lands in Dallas in an Over 10,000-square-foot Boutique at NorthPark Center
The store showcases the women's and men's collections, including ready-to-wear, leather goods, footwear and accessories, along with gift items and Prada fine jewelry.
Macy’s Probe Found Employee Acted Alone in $151 Million Accounting Scandal
Macy’s has completed its investigation into accounting problems and found that a single employee’s mistake—and subsequent coverup—created $151 million in false bookkeeping entries, according to a person briefed on the probe.
An impossible hire: Why Matthieu Blazy is the man for the Chanel job
Six months after Virginie Viard’s abrupt exit, Chanel has announced Matthieu Blazy as its artistic director.
Thom Browne, Missoni among brands opening their first U.S.-based off-price stores
In mid-October, Value Retail kicked off the rolling opening Belmont Park Village, which houses the first U.S. off-price boutiques of luxury brands including Thom Browne and Missoni.
Gen Z to the rescue? How malls are winning over a generation of in-person shoppers
Gen Z consumers, despite growing up as digital natives, shop in stores about as much as their baby boomer grandparents do, according to a survey by the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Where Did the Luxury Consumers Go? It’s Been a Bad Year for Big Brands
Chinese consumers have fallen out of love with luxury, and shoppers around the world are wondering why prices are so high. This might be remembered as the year luxury consumers thumbed their nose at fashion.
Vera Wang Fashion Brand Sold to WHP Global
The Vera Wang fashion brand has a new owner. WHP Global, a leading brand management firm in New York, has agreed to acquire the IP of the Vera Wang brand. As part of the transaction, Vera Wang will continue in her role as founder and chief creative officer and will join WHP Global as a shareholder, continuing to have a role in shaping the brand’s creative direction and growth.
How Department Stores Tried to Reverse Market Share Losses in 2024
Investors, vendors and retail experts are watching and waiting to see whether changes in merchandise, brick-and-mortar footprints and value propositions improve financial performance and generate greater shareholder value.
Capri Puts Versace and Jimmy Choo Up for Sale
Bankers and would-be buyers are buzzing about what comes next for Versace and Jimmy Choo — and where they land next year. Financial sources told WWD that Capri Holdings, which owns both brands, is working with Barclays to try to find buyers for the businesses.
Real Estate Can’t Save Department Stores
Their struggling, often bloated businesses and valuable properties make them tempting targets for investors. Selling off these assets can be lucrative, but rarely produces retail success stories.
L Catterton: Finding Value in a Tough Market
Nikhil Thukral, managing partner at the LVMH-affiliated private equity fund, talks about the ingredients of winning companies, the dynamics challenging fashion’s incumbents and how economic shifts are shaping investor strategies in the BoF-McKinsey State of Fashion 2025.
Gap launches elevated subbrand designed by Zac Posen
Gap launched GapStudio, a new line with elevated styles designed by Zac Posen and his New York City-based team.
Why fashion brand x hotel collaborations are in high demand
With luxury fashion prices skyrocketing, it seems brands and giftees alike have realized a luxury gifting loophole: iconic luxury logos on accessible luxury products.
Activist Investors Call On Macy’s To Spin Off Bloomingdale’s And Bluemercury. Maybe It’s Time.
Activist investors called on Macy's Inc. to make sweeping changes, including exploring strategic alternatives for Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury.
Luxury Has a Pricing Problem. What Now?
Steep price hikes have put pressure on big luxury’s value proposition, contributing to the sharp downturn in demand for luxury megabrands this year. Smart executives will take action to rebalance the price-value equation — and fast.
Simon Malls Copresident Reveals Why Foot Traffic Is Increasing
Eric Sadi, copresident of Simon's mall properties, details how the company's shopping centers have increased their power to draw shoppers.
BEAUTY NEWS
The Year in Viral TikTok Beauty Products
From lip combos to sheet masks, here’s every viral beauty trend and the products that defined this year.
The Estée Lauder Companies Brings More Bio-based Ingredient Manufacturing In-house
The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) has opened its BioTech Hub focused "exclusively on manufacturing cutting-edge bio-based raw materials," per the company. The site supports the company's broader pivot away from a reliance on biomass and natural resources, while ensuring business continuity.
How Do You Make Body Lotion Cool?
The brands driving the body care boom are using technology, innovation, fragrance and collaborations to make their personal care products covetable.
How Major Leadership Shake-ups Reshaped the Global Beauty Industry in 2024
From The Estée Lauder Cos. to Shiseido, there were significant leadership changes in the beauty industry in 2024.
Meh And Awkward: Beauty M&A In 2024
The golden age of beauty M&A isn’t over, but the manic period is. Cheap money, hyper growth in China and frenzied DTC demand are gone. Welcome to a more disciplined, value-conscious era. In this era, valuations are coming down to reality, and buyers aren't only looking under the hood, they're checking the oil, coolant, brake fluid and more to ensure there aren't unforeseen dings that could impede potential acquisition targets' future performance. Still, brands that prove their worth will achieve exits. Beauty conglomerates aren't good at starting new brands, which means they'll have to pay for them, and will be hunting for brands with authentic missions, loyal customers and real staying power.
The Year Our Lips All Looked like Jelly
If you feel like you’re seeing lip oils (along with lip butters, balms, serums, and masks) everywhere this year, you’re not wrong. According to multiple beauty founders, that was because big retailers pressured them to make a category Gen Z and Gen Alpha would buy into. This year, Summer Fridays, Milk Makeup, Eadem, and Osea all launched their own versions.
Puig and Charlotte Tilbury Extend Partnership
Puig and Charlotte Tilbury have extended their partnership, whereby the Spanish beauty and fashion company will progressively assume full ownership of the label by the start of 2031.
Beauty's Blind Spot: Why Older Millennials Are the Key to Future Growth
As brands rushed to win over Gen Alpha, a more strategic opportunity emerged: older millennials. These consumers, now in their late 30s and early 40s, hold deep brand loyalties and significant purchasing power—not just for themselves but also for their Gen Alpha children. Recognizing this, several heritage brands have revitalized their iconic franchises to align with millennials' evolving needs. These brands are stepping into a new era, shifting focus from what millennials once wanted to what they value now.
The Colossus of Rhode
Rhode, the Hailey Bieber-founded beauty brand, has scaled up from a one-off celebrity lip gloss line into a nine-figure business with aspirations to be the Skims of beauty—and that includes charting a future that’s less dependent on its famous founder.
COMINGS & GOINGS
- John Galliano to Exit Maison Margiela BoF
- J. Jill CEO will retire next year Retail Dive
- Tata Harper Steps Down as President of Eponymous Skin Care Brand, Taps Lauder Alum WWD
- Elemis Names Antonio Statelli North American President Happi
- Bottega Veneta Names Louise Trotter New Creative Director WWD
