US Retail Sales Unexpectedly Flat in April
Consumers are focussing spending on essentials and cutting back on luxuries amid higher prices. But sales have held up as a strong labour market helped households navigate the high inflation environment.
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.
Decarbonising the industry is expected to take $1 trillion over the coming decades. Where that money will come from and how it’s distributed remain open questions.
Funding rounds are getting slimmer, smaller and more spaced out, but investors still want to find – and fund – the next big thing. Here’s what’s catching their attention in 2024.
While the DTC landscape’s turbulence isn’t completely over for brands, the prospect of a better economy in 2024 is encouraging profitable brands that shied away from M&A last year to start preparing for an exit.
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In a conservative investment environment, the few start-ups that can access traditional venture capital are opting to take out loans, and battle higher interest rates, to fund business essentials like marketing and inventory.
In a conservative investment environment, the few start-ups that can access traditional venture capital are opting to take out loans, and battle higher interest rates, to fund business essentials like marketing and inventory.
As the pandemic wreaked havoc on global logistics, investors poured $65.6 billion into supply chain start-ups last year that promise to revolutionise everything from warehouse automation to shipping.
An oft-overlooked natural asset, mushrooms are not just infiltrating the fashion industry, but also have the potential to unlock new ways of thinking and healing.
Brands are pursuing a raft of initiatives to adopt recycled textiles, regeneratively farmed cotton and mushroom-based leather, but giving fashion’s major materials a sustainability makeover still requires billions of dollars worth of investments and deeper, longer-term commitments to scale. BoF breaks down some of the key innovations, the companies leading the charge and the barriers to change.
Brands are pursuing a raft of initiatives to adopt recycled textiles, regeneratively farmed cotton and mushroom-based leather, but giving fashion’s major materials a sustainability makeover still requires billions of dollars worth of investments and deeper, longer-term commitments to scale. BoF breaks down some of the key innovations, the companies leading the charge and the barriers to change.
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Hedge funds are urging Kohl’s and Macy’s to consider radical changes to how they operate as the retailers struggle to reverse decades of decline.
Elysewalker, a chain of boutiques in the Los Angeles area, is opening an online shop this month, joining an already-crowded landscape of luxury fashion e-tailers. Here’s how it plans to stand out.
Clearco has invested more than $2.4 billion in over 6,000 businesses, leveraging AI to remove the bias. Its portfolio has eight times more women-founded businesses than traditional VC firms and 30 percent of founders are people of colour.
Clearco has invested more than $2.4 billion in over 6,000 businesses, leveraging AI to remove the bias. Its portfolio has eight times more women-founded businesses than traditional VC firms and 30 percent of founders are people of colour.
A $400 million investment in Faire, which pairs brands with retailers, is a sign of how multi-brand stores are here to stay after a decade where direct-to-consumer brands dominated the conversation.
Consumers are focussing spending on essentials and cutting back on luxuries amid higher prices. But sales have held up as a strong labour market helped households navigate the high inflation environment.
Founder Roksanda Ilinčić, who will stay on as creative director, had filed a notice of intent to appoint an administrator before finding a white knight in TBG.
In its first-quarter results, the Brazilian beauty company’s losses widened and revenue dropped, but grew margins as it continues a turnaround plan that has seen it shed Aesop and The Body Shop.
Nike is undergoing a $2 billion cost-cutting plan that includes slashing 2 percent of its workforce.
During her tenure, Drucker Mann was instrumental in ushering the business into the digital age, said Roger Lynch, Condé Nast’s chief executive.
The miner set out its plans for a potential break-up via a demerger or sale of some of its assets, as it fights off a $43 billion takeover bid from BHP Group.
The company, whose stock soared to a record during the pandemic, has languished as faster inflation and shoppers returning to stores pummelled sales in 2022 and 2023.
Fast-growing DTC sales helped the brand beat Wall Street expectations in the quarter ending March 31.