Stop all that corporate drivel and get to the point July 29, 2019 Lots of recent heavy-duty research suggests that millennials and generation Z are different from other consumers. According to such studies, these younger generations care more about ethical issues and the environment, they want to know what their pensions and investments are being used for, and they want to buy from companies that have a higher [...]
Asos profit warning: Three factors behind online retailer’s fall from grace July 18, 2019 Shares in fast fashion retailer Asos plummeted this morning as the online marketplace warned that profits will be lower than expected this year. The company blamed this morning’s profit warning – its second in just over six months – on operational issues at new warehouse facilities in Europe and the US. Operational issues plague retail [...]
Retailers, don’t blame poor sales on the weatherman October 29, 2018 In the longstanding narrative of the “death of the high street”, analysts point in all directions to identify the causes of changes in customer spend in any given period. And, in true British fashion, one problem that is given a lot of attention is the weather. The weather is somehow both the cause and the [...]
Market influencer: City brokers look for the likes as social media boosts brands’ growth August 21, 2018 Brokers are hitting “like” on companies that have strong social media engagement, as UBS yesterday became the latest to factor Instagram influence into its ratings. The Swiss bank announced that it will now track the performance of 19 luxury brands on Instagram and Google Search,tracking “social media heat”. Analyst Julie Zhuang said there is a [...]
Missguided’s cosy relationship with ITV2’s Love Island is a hit with younger consumers, according to YouGov data June 27, 2018 The return of hit ITV2 show Love Island may provide contestants with the chance to find romance – but for brands it is a great opportunity to appeal to a youthful audience. TV programmes often generate very specific audience profiles, giving brands affiliation opportunities that can generate powerful targeted marketing. In this case drinks company [...]
On trend: Invest in the new era of British fashion brands February 21, 2018 The past few days have been some of the most important in London’s fashion calendar. As Fashion Week graced us with its presence once more, City A.M.’s Alys Keys reported on the shift towards a more democratic industry, propped up by the power of digital influencers. The internet will continue to redefine how we shop, [...]
Bricks or clicks? Rumours of the high street’s demise have been greatly exaggerated November 28, 2017 The way we shop may have changed markedly over time, but the nation’s appetite for shopping is as voracious as ever. This was shown, once again, in the frenzy around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, now important landmarks in the retail calendar. Early estimates suggest that spending exceeded £7bn. The fundamental shift has been driven [...]
Augmented reality startup Snatch wins £4.4m in latest funding and backing of LastMinute.com founder Brent Hoberman November 2, 2017 Augmented reality game Snatch has won £4.4m in seed funding from a raft of investors, including the co-founder of Lastminute.com The startup, established by British co-founders Joe Martin and Jamal Hirani, officially launches its app in the UK this week. It has attracted backing from LastMinute.com founder and cexecutive chairman of First Minute Capital Brent [...]
This business scanning women’s feet to make heels that don’t hurt December 12, 2016 Leaving for work in the morning, a City worker will check they have their keys, wallet, and phone. And some of them will also check that they've packed their shoes. Many women in the City bring a second pair of shoes because the ones they wear in the office aren't actually suitable for walking in. It's [...]
Missguided website crash: 50pc off sales causes technical problems for online retailer and leaves customers unable to complete orders March 14, 2016 The website of online retailer Missguided has suffered technical problems after announcing a sale leaving many of its customers unable to complete orders. An offer for 50 per cent off appears to have left the retailer, which counts Asos and Boohoo.com among its rivals, struggling to cope. Shoppers turned to Twitter to express their disappointment and frustration [...]