Global apparel markets: business update, 1st quarter 2014
This report provides information, analysis and valuable insight on developments relating to the global apparel industry in the following categories: acquisitions, divestments and mergers; corporate restructuring; corporate social responsibility (CSR); corporate strategy; e-commerce; financial results; international trade policy; investments; joint ventures, cooperation, licensing and distribution; markets; new stores; and online retailing. Companies, organisations, individuals and brands analysed in the report include & Other Stories, Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, African Cotton & Textile Industries Federation (ACTIF), Al Futtaim Group, Alvanon, American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), Arcadia Group, Asos, Aurora Fashions, Boohoo.com, Burberry, Cadillac Fairview, Fast Retailing, Gap, Gildan Activewear, Greenpeace, Hudson's Bay Company, H&M (Hennes & Mauritz), Inditex, International Labour Organization (ILO), JC Penney, J.Crew, Levi Strauss & Co, Mango, Marc O'Polo, Marks and Spencer (M&S), Next, Old Navy, Perry Ellis International, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), Primark, Saks Fifth Avenue, Schiesser, TJX Companies, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Violeta and Woolworths.
SUMMARY
ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTMENTS AND MERGERS
Fast Retailing has expressed an interest in acquiring J.Crew
CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING
Levi Strauss & Co is restructuring its business in order to cut costs and increase efficiency
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
Arcadia Group has banned the use of angora wool in its products in response to public concern over animal cruelty
Burberry has committed to eliminating the use of hazardous chemicals from its supply chain by 2020
Primark and the International Labour Organization (ILO) will pay compensation to the victims of the Rana Plaza building collapse
CORPORATE STRATEGY
Aurora Fashions is reviewing the supply chain and pricing strategies of its coast brand as part of a restructuring programme
Boohoo.com has been floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM)
E-COMMERCE
Marks and Spencer (M&S) has redesigned its online store in a bid to increase its online sales
FINANCIAL RESULTS
Abercrombie & Fitch: net sales and net income were down in 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2013/14
Asos: group revenues were up by 34% in the first half of 2013/14 thanks to strong sales in the EU
Two-month period ending February 28, 2014
First half of 2013/14
Gap: net sales and net income were up in 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2013/14
Gildan Activewear: net sales increased by 7.3% and net earnings by 18.1% in the first quarter of 2013/14
Outlook
H&M: sales increased by 6% in 2012/13 and by 13% in the first quarter of 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2012/13
First quarter of 2013/14
New stores
Inditex: net sales were up by 5% and net income by 1% in 2013/14
JC Penney: a net loss was incurred in 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2013/14
Levi Strauss & Co: net sales were down by 1% and net income by 53% in the first quarter of 2013/14
Marks and Spencer (M&S): sales were up by 1.9% in the fourth quarter of 2013/14
Perry Ellis International: total revenues were down by 6% in 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2013/14
Outlook
TJX companies: net sales and net income were up in 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2013/14
INTERNATIONAL TRADE POLICY
A new alliance has been formed to promote investment and trade in textiles and apparel between Sub-Saharan Africa and the USA
INVESTMENTS
The Chinese government will invest in the textile and apparel industry in Xinjiang
JOINT VENTURES, COOPERATION, LICENSING AND DISTRIBUTION
Schiesser has entered into a licensing agreement with Marc O’Polo relating to the development of Marc O’Polo branded beachwear, underwear and sleepwear
Woolworths and Alvanon have undertaken a sizing survey of customers in South Africa
MARKETS
EU clothing imports were up in value and volume in 2013
US clothing imports were up in value and volume in 2013
New Stores & Other Stories will open its first store in the USA at the end of 2014
Adidas has opened the first stand-alone Adidas by Stella McCartney store in the USA
Arcadia Group will open a flagship Topshop and Topman store in New York City, USA, at the end of 2014
Gap has opened the first Old Navy store in China
Gap has opened two Old Navy stores in the Philippines and will open a further three stores in the second half of 2014
Hudson’s Bay Company will open the first Saks Fifth Avenue department store in Canada in autumn 2015
J.Crew has opened its first two stores in Hong Kong
Mango has opened the first Violeta store in Russia
Marks and Spencer (M&S) has opened its first stand-alone lingerie and beauty store in Saudi Arabia
ONLINE RETAILING
Next has launched a new online store called The Label
ACQUISITIONS, DIVESTMENTS AND MERGERS
Fast Retailing has expressed an interest in acquiring J.Crew
CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING
Levi Strauss & Co is restructuring its business in order to cut costs and increase efficiency
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
Arcadia Group has banned the use of angora wool in its products in response to public concern over animal cruelty
Burberry has committed to eliminating the use of hazardous chemicals from its supply chain by 2020
Primark and the International Labour Organization (ILO) will pay compensation to the victims of the Rana Plaza building collapse
CORPORATE STRATEGY
Aurora Fashions is reviewing the supply chain and pricing strategies of its coast brand as part of a restructuring programme
Boohoo.com has been floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM)
E-COMMERCE
Marks and Spencer (M&S) has redesigned its online store in a bid to increase its online sales
FINANCIAL RESULTS
Abercrombie & Fitch: net sales and net income were down in 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2013/14
Asos: group revenues were up by 34% in the first half of 2013/14 thanks to strong sales in the EU
Two-month period ending February 28, 2014
First half of 2013/14
Gap: net sales and net income were up in 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2013/14
Gildan Activewear: net sales increased by 7.3% and net earnings by 18.1% in the first quarter of 2013/14
Outlook
H&M: sales increased by 6% in 2012/13 and by 13% in the first quarter of 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2012/13
First quarter of 2013/14
New stores
Inditex: net sales were up by 5% and net income by 1% in 2013/14
JC Penney: a net loss was incurred in 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2013/14
Levi Strauss & Co: net sales were down by 1% and net income by 53% in the first quarter of 2013/14
Marks and Spencer (M&S): sales were up by 1.9% in the fourth quarter of 2013/14
Perry Ellis International: total revenues were down by 6% in 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2013/14
Outlook
TJX companies: net sales and net income were up in 2013/14
Fourth quarter 2013/14
INTERNATIONAL TRADE POLICY
A new alliance has been formed to promote investment and trade in textiles and apparel between Sub-Saharan Africa and the USA
INVESTMENTS
The Chinese government will invest in the textile and apparel industry in Xinjiang
JOINT VENTURES, COOPERATION, LICENSING AND DISTRIBUTION
Schiesser has entered into a licensing agreement with Marc O’Polo relating to the development of Marc O’Polo branded beachwear, underwear and sleepwear
Woolworths and Alvanon have undertaken a sizing survey of customers in South Africa
MARKETS
EU clothing imports were up in value and volume in 2013
US clothing imports were up in value and volume in 2013
New Stores & Other Stories will open its first store in the USA at the end of 2014
Adidas has opened the first stand-alone Adidas by Stella McCartney store in the USA
Arcadia Group will open a flagship Topshop and Topman store in New York City, USA, at the end of 2014
Gap has opened the first Old Navy store in China
Gap has opened two Old Navy stores in the Philippines and will open a further three stores in the second half of 2014
Hudson’s Bay Company will open the first Saks Fifth Avenue department store in Canada in autumn 2015
J.Crew has opened its first two stores in Hong Kong
Mango has opened the first Violeta store in Russia
Marks and Spencer (M&S) has opened its first stand-alone lingerie and beauty store in Saudi Arabia
ONLINE RETAILING
Next has launched a new online store called The Label
