Tatsuya Takaku

Chow Tai Fook (CTF) Group is one of largest jewelry retailers in China. It has over 7000 retailer stores. Its Shenzhen factory closed at the end of May. This is one of three #CTF factories on mainland China, as far as I know. There are various rumors about why CTF closed this factory. One of the reasons is the high operating costs at the Shenzhen factory. However, upon closer examination, the rising price of #gold appears to be the primary factor. 24K gold jewelry products are one of CTF’s main products. These items have been very popular over the past few years due to technological advancements in gold processing. They were among the most prominent products in the Chinese jewelry industry and retail business. However, this year’s increase in gold prices has negatively impacted consumer demand in China. By the end of April, there was a noticeable slowdown in the demand for gold jewelry. Jewelry retailers are now hesitant to restock these products. For 18K gold #jewelry, there is also a noticeable slowdown due to the high gold prices. #VCA has also announced price increases in China. Setting aside the overall Chinese economy, the high price of gold is currently the biggest risk factor for the jewelry business in China and globally.

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Noble Concept (VN) - Perseverance and resilience are key. I always try to remain true to my vision. The idea in creating Noble Concept Fashion is to create go-to pieces for a woman's wardrobe and her life—beautifully crafted pieces that a woman will love today, in two months, in two years, in five years—and to do that for as many women as possible My commitment is to make a strong and modern collection without compromising my ethics and key values, taking into consideration where materials come from and who is making them. Noble Concept (VN)- a place to be.

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The new venture, called Authentic Luxury Group, will initially focus on Authentic Brands Group owned luxury and accessible luxury names including: Barneys New York, Judith Leiber Couture, Hervé Léger and Vince. Essentially, the new luxury group plans to serve as an incubator for brand growth through strategic licensing agreements and distribution channels across #fashion, #retail, #digital, #hospitality, #realestate, #art and #travel, according to the joint venture; all related to luxury lifestyle and activities. Perhaps, we are witnessing the emergence of a new luxury powerhouse from the United States, poised to join the ranks of the prestigious luxury conglomerates that dominate the fashion and lifestyle markets from France and Italy. While these European giants have long set the standard, this could signal a shift in the global landscape. Time will reveal if this American contender lead by Authentic Brands Group Jamie Salter & Saks Richard Baker can truly redefine the luxury industry on a global scale (in my personal opinion highly feasible).

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A strategic pricing and discount approach is essential for building a sustainable business.

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The pending (re)sale of Supreme from VF Corp to Essilorluxottica, made me curious about what product categories consumers look to Supreme for in 2024. At first glance, leading searches align well with VF's stable of brands (shirts, jackets, bags, and hoodies). One point of tension is that consumer affinity with Supreme footwear has become synonymous with its Nike collaborations. Nike is a higher-ranked associated term than generic ones such as “shoes” or “sneakers”. A missed opportunity for Supreme under VF's umbrella could be establishing performance skate sneaker franchises independent of Nike SB, utilizing VF's extensive footwear resources and connection to skate culture via Vans. With the Essilorluxottica handover establishing sunglass franchises agnostic of previous collabs with brands like Louis Vuitton is the low-hanging fruit. They are experts in optics and manage an impressive portfolio of luxury labels in the category. There is also be less conflict of interest with Supreme's ongoing brand collaborators compared to VF Corp. Supreme was established in 1994, qualifying it as a heritage brand. The 20-year-olds who waited in line for the first Nike x Supreme collab in 2003 are now 41. If the handover to Gen Z has been challenging, Supreme can still access Zalphas/Alphas reviving the dormant brand loyalty of their parents, similar to what Nintendo did. This could mean that Supreme becomes a choice brand at Sunglass Huts. #supreme #streetwear #sneakers #nike #merchandising #accessories #brandcollaborations #fashion #trendforecasting

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Nike ranks fourth on Depop and second on eBay with over 219,000 and 893,000 items, respectively. #Retail #TextileRetail #ApparelRetail #RetailNews #DailyNews #Nike #ApparelResources #ApparelIndustry #RetailIndustry #FashionBrand

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Guess appoints Andrew Rosen as CEO of Rag & Bone. The appointment comes nearly two months after Guess Inc. and WHP Global will complete the acquisition of the New York-based brand. In February, Guess and WHP Global announced a final deal to acquire Rag & Bone, which was completed in April. Under the terms of the agreement, Guess paid more than $57 million for the purchase, in addition to contributions from WHP Global, according to a press release. OptimaRetail.eu: Experts in worldwide #Retail #maintenance and #repairs - SMART FACILITY MANAGEMENT  #RetailInnovation #FutureTrends #OptimaRetail #facilityManagement #PreventiveMaintenance #ReactiveMaintenance #NewsOptimaRetail #NewsRetail #OptimaRetail

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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

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Attention #Buyers and Store Owners: Sourcing Tips You Need to Know! 💥 What does #FashionSourcing mean to you? 💫 Many in the industry know that #China is the go-to destination for diverse apparel needs. Here's a quick guide to help you find exactly what you're looking for: - #Jeans: Head to Zhongshan in Guangdong Province. 👖 - #WomensClothing: Check out Guangzhou or Hangzhou. 👗 - #GeneralApparel: Chenzhou in Fujian Province is your destination. 👚 - #Sportswear: Jinjiang in Fujian Province has you covered. 🏃‍♂️ - #KidsWear: Huzhou is the place to be. 👼 These regions have honed their expertise and become leaders in their respective categories. Exploring these #FashionHubs can help you uncover the incredible craftsmanship and variety that make China a global leader in the #garment industry. Do you know of other great places in China for finding quality #clothing? Share your knowledge and experiences in the comments below! 👇

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A small 1.3% rise in sales at US jewelers in April. The increase in revenue was fully spurred by a 2.5% increase in the average consumer expenditure per unit purchased. A few of the figures: Natural diamond jewelry sales rose 1%, Prices of LGD-set DERs declined, Loose LGD was 57% of loose diamond sales, but just 25% of revenue. Here is an issue: LG prices are down, but gross margins and unit sales are up. What does it impact gross profits? We took a look at that and have some findings. https://lnkd.in/dDw4s8MQ

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The topic of innovation is top of mind in the performance running shoe market – especially if you ask Nike, which has been widely criticized for having a lackluster product pipeline by analysts and the Street in recent months. But for Deckers chief executive officer Dave Powers, this isn’t an issue for its star running brand Hoka. Indeed, on the product front, Hoka is driving growth and consumer acquisition through innovative updates and new introductions across a diverse assortment of footwear. Footwear News Deckers Brands HOKA Nike Dave Powers #running #hoka #runningshoe #earnings #sneakers #nike #marathon

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Applied Series: Is No MOQ On-Demand Fashion Production Possible? With Dr. Kitty Y. M. Yeung 🚀 From Corporate to Independent Entrepreneurship: Driving Innovation We explore Kitty Yeung's transition from leading a Microsoft fashion tech project to pursuing independent ventures such as Wear It on the WeChat Platform, all while exploring the transformative potential of AI and digital tools in streamlining fashion workflows for Browzwear. Yeung's mission is to make fashion cleaner and more efficient through digitization and consumer-driven adoption. 💼 Entrepreneurship vs. Corporate: Understand the pros and cons of freedom in entrepreneurship versus structured support in corporate incubation programs. 📊 Scientific Business Approach: Learn how Yeung applies data-driven insights to optimize business models and foster innovation in the fashion industry. 🔮 Future Outlook: Discover the vision for a digital-first fashion industry driven by AI technologies and sustainable practices. ✨Try the Beta version of Wear It here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e36AAEjc Stay updated on the latest trends and initiatives, and embrace digital solutions in your own fashion choices. 🎧 Listen to the episode here: beyondform.io/podcast 📚 Read about Kitty’s initiatives in "Fashion Tech Applied," Chapter 3 🔗 www.beyondform.io/book  #FashionTech #FashionTechApplied #GenAI #Sustainability

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Behind the collaboration: Gioia Pan and Clarks link up for Taipei Fashion Week A designer collaborating with a footwear brand is not an unlikely scenario at fashion week. This was also the case for established designer Li-Yang Pan, who for the presentation of her brand Gioia Pan’s AW24 collection at Taipei Fashion Week onboarded British shoe brand Clarks as a primary collaborator. As such, Pan’s show was rife in the iconography of Clarks; the brand’s ads were displayed on the screen at the end of the runway up until the show started, front row guests were gifted bags filled with shoe-related goods and attending celebrities and influencers also appeared to be wearing pairs of Clarks to show support. On the runway, meanwhile, Clarks shoes were paired with Gioia Pan’s functional sports collection, notably the first time Pan has ventured into the sports fashion category and a choice made due to Clarks’ “pursuit of the best wearing experience deeply rooted in its DNA” and the brand’s “centuries-old craftsmanship” that resonated with Pan’s own design values. The Gioia Pan brand is also known for such practices, having established itself as a leader in innovative knitwear since Pan founded the brand in 2001. Partnership comes as Pan ventures into sports fashion The collaborative process was a one that saw both Pan’s and Clarks’ teams work closely together on outlining brand positioning and design concepts, before the two looked at integrating the footwear with the sportswear line, ensuring what Pan said was “a perfect blend of style and functionality for both brands”. This then extended into a series of marketing plans alongside the fashion show, including social media activations to help maximise market impact. When asked what the appeal was in working with Clarks, Pan told FashionUnited: “This collaboration was a strategic decision from a business perspective. It aligns with our brand values and image. Clarks, as a heritage British brand with almost 200 years history, shares the same value with us – pursuing high quality and comfort, which resonates well with our brand’s focus – high-end functionality product and style. This resonance will enhance the market appeal of our products.” For Pan, the partnership goes hand-in-hand with Gioia Pan’s goal of internationalisation, with the perspective of reaching a wider consumer base particularly in the UK and European markets. With this in mind, she hopes the collaboration with Clarks is not just a one-time event, and will instead develop into a long-term partnership that could potentially see the development of new product lines and technologies. learn more: https://lnkd.in/gZZcKBcX #ai #metaverse #fashion #investment #tech #innovation

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Interesting read from Erica La Sala from Beauty Independent related to the Saks and Nieman merger. The question asked: What do you make of the Saks Fifth Avenue/Neiman Marcus deal? How will it impact the luxury beauty market? Will it strengthen the declining department store sector?  According to Cristina Nuñez, "... the department store channel is a challenging one. Historically, it has been the main retail channel for luxury beauty brands given it is more suited for a higher price point. But with continued declines in traffic at department stores, the channel has proven to be a difficult place for luxury brands to rely upon for growth. Instead, growth is being driven at specialty retailers such as SEPHORA and Ulta Beauty, whose dominance has largely been at the expense of department stores". "At the end of the day, consumers will continue to shop for beauty at retailers offering best-in-class in-store experiences optimized for brand discovery. Brands should seek out these partners offering the best brand building support and a path to achieving scale. Perhaps the combination of Saks and Neiman Marcus will allow for a more enhanced retail experience overall that is even better suited for luxury beauty. Time will tell." True Beauty Ventures

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Barneys Plots a Bigger Comeback Thanks to Neiman-Saks Deal. Talks include Barneys-branded home goods, outerwear lines. Contingent on negotiations, close of Saks-Neiman deal https://lnkd.in/euFeFyzJ #tradeguard #receivableputoptions #arputs #receivableputs #tradereceivables #accountsreceivables

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With the increasing expansion of digital engagement and changing consumer behaviours, luxury brands have embraced a more relaxing distribution strategy. It is an art for luxury brands to search for new engagement models while maintaining a perception of scarcity, a critical differentiator in the luxury space. More than 700 American brands are selling on TikTok’s Chinese counterpart, Douyin and the platform is gaining market share. Does it help in converting the “likes” into sales? What is it doing to your brand equity? I found the post from Iris Chan (陳淙韵) super insightful. #luxury #distributionstrategy #ecommerce #saleschannel #BOF

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Thank you Inside Retail US for quoting International Association of Department Stores - IADS in their latest article on the Saks Fifth Avenue / Neiman Marcus Group mega merger (link in comments)! 🎯 On the global department stores stage, the US represent a very specific market (apart from its size), as most of the nationwide companies are public (maybe not for long anymore, as Nordstrom, for instance, is planning to go private). This means that they have to be transparent on their numbers, which are not-so-good for a wide variety of factors (the missed e-commerce train, the customers' disaffection for the malls where they are located, a low differentiation between each other, an ageing clientele, a wide variety of competing channels and formats, an oversupply of stores on a market with the highest number of retail sqm per capita...). The Saks Fifth Avenue merger with Neiman Marcus Group, orchestrated by Saks' owner, Hudson's Bay Company, is therefore not so surprising as the pie has shrunk over the past twenty years. 💥 It can be expected that this merger will be as much of a game-changer as the latest one that took place in 2005, when Federated (aka Macy's now) acquired May Department Stores for $17.2bn (for comparison, the current NM / SFA merger price tag is $2.65bn), ending a 20 year-long consolidation cycle that saw the disappearance of legendary US destination stores (such as Filene's, Kaufmann's, Marshall Field's, Foley's, the Bon Marché, Hecht's, Stern's...) which were rebranded Macy's or Bloomingdale's according to the locations. 🚚 The new entity created, Saks Global, aims at maximizing the synergies between the companies, since Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman (part of the Neiman Marcus group) are the undisputed leaders in luxury retail, while Saks Fifth Avenue has separated its stores from its e-commerce entity in 2021. However, while the leadership of the new company has been announced, the plans remain vague, since this merger remains to be approved by the Federal Trade Commission. Pro tip: more than layoffs and store closures, the location of the new offices will be the most interesting thing to watch. The reason is that Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue are entirely different animals: the former, specialized in luxury, is one of the last operator in the US to operate in wholesale (which requires savoir-faire, ability to select, curate and sell) while Saks Fifth Avenue is concession-based, which is another job. The place where the bosses will gather will tell everything about the direction of the new entity: Dallas (NM's current headquarters) or NY (SFA)? Not convinced? Look at what happened to Boeing since they decided to leave Seattle for Chicago when they merged with McDonnell Douglas... Thank you Nicole Kirichanskaya for the cool article and what a pleasure to be quoted along the great Marie Driscoll, CFA!

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