Internet private sales, Couture endures, Neiman Marcus still down, Mass fashion retailers struggle

| Daily Digest 10 July, 2009

Private Sale

Designer Bargains, for the Invited (WSJ) “Online retail startups that specialize in “private sales” of discount designer apparel are gaining traction in the U.S. and, armed with fresh venture capital, plan to branch into new businesses.” Couture houses refuse to tumble (Toronto Star) “You can never be too rich, too thin or own too many couture items. High-end buyers continue to pop in to Paris for the

Abercrombie shares tumble, Retail sales fall, Safilo open to bids, Giancarlo di Risio to step down

| Daily Digest 5 June, 2009

Abercrombie & Fitch ad campaign, courtesy of Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch shares drop sharply (AP) “Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. tumbled Thursday after the teen retailer posted a bigger-then-expected drop in same-store sales for May. Its stock shed $3.56, or 11.3 percent, to $28.12 in midday trading.” Across Low and High Ends, Retail Sales Fell in May (New York Times) “While there have been early signs of stabilization, including improving consumer

Theyskens at Nina Ricci, Retail stocks, New consumer mind-set, Retail winners and losers

| Daily Digest 13 January, 2009

Nina Ricci Pre fall 2009, courtesy of WWD

Nina Ricci: Theysken’s Beat Goes On (WWD) Olivier Theyskens will be staying put at Nina Ricci with an “expanded accessories line, particularly handbags.” Retail Stocks: Sizing Up 2009 (Seeking Alpha) Seeking Alpha lists the reasons why 2009 will be an ugly year for many brands. Retail’s winners and losers (Just-Style) Wal-Mart was a retail winner in 2008, but Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch were amongst the

ASOS up 68%, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch’s skimpy sales, Burberry’s flat profits, Adidas’ SLVR

| Daily Digest 18 November, 2008

Online fashion firm ASOS H1 profit up 68 pct (The Guardian) In another signal that affordable online retailers could fare better than bricks and mortar operations in the economic downturn, ASOS H1 profit rockets up 68%. H&M Still In Fashion (Forbes) “Swedish-fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz posted a decent set of October sales.” But “analysts warned the company would not be able to avoid the ripple