The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CaaStle, a startup that runs subscription rental programmes for retailers like Vince and Banana Republic, has expanded its business into Europe, announcing partnerships with UK-based retailers Moss Bros and L.K. Bennett.
Moss Bros will be the “first of its kind” rental programme for men in the UK, according to CaaStle.
Rental is shaping up to be a promising retail category this year as lockdowns have begun to ease in the West and vaccine rollouts continue. Rent the Runway, which struggled during the pandemic, told BoF last month it expects the number of active customers to exceed that of 2019.
“In today’s challenging retail landscape, subscription rental offers accretive operating income through better return on assets and a powerful new digital acquisition tool for brands that previously relied heavily on their physical stores to grow their customer base,” CaaStle founder and chief executive Christine Hunsicker said in a statement.
Fast-growing start-ups like Hettas, Saysh and Moolah Kicks created sneakers designed specifically for active women. The sportswear giants are watching closely.
The companies agreed to cap credit-card swipe fees in one of the most significant antitrust settlements ever, following a legal fight that spanned almost two decades.
In an era of austerity on Wall Street, apparel businesses are more likely to be valued on their profits rather than sales, which usually means lower payouts for founders and investors. That is, if they can find a buyer in the first place.
The fast fashion giant occupies a shrinking middle ground between Shein and Zara. New CEO Daniel Ervér can lay out the path forward when the company reports quarterly results this week.