Fashion Retail News

 

• Primark is to open another store on famous shopping destination Oxford Street at the eastern end of the road.

• Department store group Debenhams is reportedly considering a sale and leaseback deal over nine of its stores as it looks to pay off debt and invest further in the company.

                                                             

• Value fashion retailer Select is on a retail drive with plans to open 13 new stores by the end of year.

 

• Next posted a 1.3% increase in total retail sales for the 26 weeks to July 31 as the fashion and home wares retailer said its clothing retail prices will jump by as much as 8% next year.

 

• Marks & Spencer has named Alan Stewart its new chief finance officer.

 

• New Look chief operating officer Lex Gemas has exited the value fashion chain after little more than a year at the business.

 

• Suits You parent company Baird Group has been given £17m financing from financial services company GE Capital, according to reports.

 

• Next-owned young fashion brand and retailer Lipsy is to broaden its offer by selling third-party brands on its website and in stores.

 

• Non-food inflation in July was the lowest since November 2009, slowing to 1% compared to 1.4% in June.

 

• Primark has poached John Lyttle from rival Matalan to the role of chief operating officer.

                                                                   

• Benetton net income increased from €29m (£24m) to €40m (£33m) in the first half of 2010, as a focus on higher value products drove sales.

 

• French Connection has said that it has reduced returns and improved customer engagement with the launch of ratings and reviews on its website this month.

 

• Aurora Fashions, the group that operates womenswear chains Oasis, Coast, Karen Millen and Warehouse, has said it has achieved strong single-digit like-for-like growth in the first half of its current financial year across all four brands.

 

• Young fashion brand Gio Goi is to make its retail debut with the opening of a shop in Aberdeen in mid-October, ahead of a possible wider roll out.

 

• Young fashion retailer Republic has relaunched its website to give it a fresher, less cluttered look.

 

• Selfridges has chosen the theme ‘Play’ for this Christmas, celebrating a return to fun and frivolity and a move away from the more austere traditional festive themes seen at the height of the recession last year.

                                                                    

• Sports Direct lost out on sales and potential profits after being left with excess stock following England’s early exit from the World Cup.