Another week has zipped by encompassing the merry ups and downs of the fashion industry! It appears however that the retail market seems to be on the up for the run-up to Christmas. The British Retail Consortium reported that there were encouraging signs that the high street crisis may be bottoming out as Christmas is on it way – no real surprise there then!

The retail sales for October were 0.2% lower than a year ago but the decline was less than for the last seven months. The winners were food shops but the clothes shops are suffering due to the unseasonably mild weather. But what do we really see here? The peak selling time for clothing during the Autumn Winter season is actually end October beginning November. This is when stores tend to be at full price so pressure on margins is off. Can the retailers keep their nerve and not break for sales before Christmas…..I doubt it. The UK high street is dominated by the big players who are all edging for higher footfall. Customers can only spend their money once and you know how everyone likes a bargain! I feel as though the high street has become Sin City out there. Everyone is so keen to discount on a regular basis it encourages the consumer to wait for sales.

So with pressure on cash flow what are we all to do? The ever-so-helpful team at LFF have found a new contributor to help with financial affairs. Fashion designer turned wealth coach Nicola Cairncross and accountant Judith Morgan of  The Money Gym (www.themoneygym.com) will be offering sound and sensible advice on how to secure your financial future. It’s great to have on board a company that understands the fashion business but also your monetary restrictions and considerations. The Money Gym will help to make your business work whether you plan building on an empire, or a business that suits your lifestyle.

Click here for more information regarding Ten Top Tips To Get To Grips With Your Business Today. https://www.fashioncapital.co.uk/index.php?option=content&task=view&Itemid=27&id=5250/27/

Each month Judith and Nicola will be providing a diary overview to give you hot tips on how to run your finances!

We have had a great series of articles from Kyrsty Hazell in particular the article entitled; ‘The Myth of Beauty’  has received a great response so has the article for Jessie Petelin from Fashion Barn.

https://www.fashioncapital.co.uk/index.php?option=content&task=view&Itemid=27&id=5240/27/

https://www.fashioncapital.co.uk/index.php?option=content&task=view&Itemid=27&id=5209/27/

The hit rate has gone through the roof for the month of October, the best month ever and I am sure it is because we pride ourselves on offering very select articles that are all genuinely researched. We use original material for an original site that is fast becoming the largest fashion portal in the UK, Europe….the world….getting carried away I know! www.fashioncapital.co.uk is an amazing site and the team is exceptionally dedicated.

Clotheshow Live is now well underway and we have some excellent exhibitors that we are taking with us for the event on 2nd – 7th December at the NEC.

For all the designers exhibiting please note that the details for the fitting session for the catwalk is Tuesday 22nd November at:

Style Academy UK

40 Parkgate Road

(Entrance in Worfield Street)

Battersea SW11 4JH.

Please note William will be there at 11am that day for a briefing meeting, so I suggest the outfits are delivered, just prior to this time. Remember you need a delivery note too.  There are going to be ten great themes on the catwalk including    Warsong and   Addicted to Love – it is going to be brilliant!

Also we are delighted to have our section sponsored by H2eau.

www.hteauplus.com/co.uk

We are most grateful for their support and you must come and see us at stand 8 in the Purple Zone. Complete with plasma screen, one to one mentoring sessions and fashioncapital updates we will be there flying the flag for British designers!

We have our second session with Langley Park School for Boys today where we will be meeting up for the next instalment with the Candy Stripes, The Lads, Femininity et al. A great learning concept for some very inspiring students.

The lads

Until next week. Have a good one!

Regards

Jenny Holloway

Industry Advisor

London Fashion Forum