Hotter Comfort Concept, a multichannel retailer
of footwear, is launching a catalogue in the US this autumn.
Managing director Stewart Houlgrave told
Manchester Evening News that Hotter would invest around
£250,000 to develop its product ranges, “which are
likely to include footwear for the gym and sports such as
tennis”. If sales take off in the States, Hotter will
target European expansion, Houlgrave added.
Aurora Fashions, the parent company of
Coast, Karen Millen,
Oasis, and Warehouse, reported
sales of £661 million for 11 months to 30th January. The
group’s first annual results also saw net debt reduce to
£109 million, ahead of schedule. Online sales were up 32
percent, growing to £42 million in the period. International
sales were also up-by 10 percent-and now represent 34 percent of
the group’s total retail sales.
Cornwall-based childrenswear cataloguer Frugi
has moved from a converted barn into a purpose-built office at
the Wheal Vrose business park, reports This Is The Westcountry.
The Guardian interviews Simon Fox, chief
executive of HMV, on his plans to turn the
business into an “entertainment superbrand”.
The
Financial Times has a piece on the launch of the menswear
website from Net-a-Porter. For more on
“Mr Porter” and how other online
retailers are handling range expansions see All
in the Family in the July/August issue.
Maternity and nursery products retailer
Mothercare is investing in social media and has
hired Diffusion to develop an “online engagement
strategy” that will see it bolster its presence on
parenting blogs, forums and social-networking sites. The agency
will also work on increasing the profile of Mothercare’s social
network Gurgle in the national and lifestyle press.
Menswear brand Bagga Menswear has entered
creditors’ voluntary liquidation. According to Drapers, “technical problems with its
website and falling sales and rising overheads” were to
blame.
Net sales increased at Amazon.com increased 41
percent to $6.57 billion (£4.25 billion) in the second
quarter, compared with $4.65 billion this time last year
(£3.01 billion). International segment sales, representing
the company’s UK, German, Japanese, French and Chinese sites,
were $2.98 billion, up 35 percent from second quarter 2009.
Marks & Spencer has announced it is launching a
range of plus-size clothing for children. Among the headlines
are: “Marks and Spencer to sell ‘plus size’ clothes to
three-year-olds” from the Telegraph, UNIFORMS IN XXXL from the Mirror, and from
the Daily Mail: M&S launches size 18 school uniforms as childhood
obesity soars.
Share