fashionFall Inside Gemini Woman Live stream selling Sustainable fabrics Cosy homewares
19–20 CentralManchesterJanuaryConvention Complex 08–09 TrumanLondonFebruaryBrewery Show With Us ↓| › UK’s fastest growing fashion trade event › New ‘Body’ zone featuring swim, resort, nightwear and lingerie › ‘Beauty & Lifestyle’ covering beauty, wellness, fragrance, skincare and jewellery › New brands from our established womenswear, footwear and accessories zones › Complimentary food, coffee & pastries › Order writing environment › Premium bespoke fixtures and furniture › Accessible pricing for all exhibitors › Central locations, next to main transport hubs@JATCEvents /JATCEvents justaroundthecorner.co.uk/JATCEventsGet in juls@justagroup.co.ukTouch→
GIANT CUSHION, CANDLE,
STOCK UP 28 boutique. SEPTEMBER 2022 SEPTEMBER 2022 boutique. 29 AS TEMPERATURES PLUMMET AND ENERGY PRICES RISE, SHOPPERS WILL BE LOOKING FOR EXTRA COSY PIECES TO BUNKER DOWN IN Getting cosy STOCK UP W ith energy prices set to reach record highs this winter, shoppers will be turning down thermostats and reaching for warm fashion and homewares. So from sumptuous knits to cosy cushions and candles, we pick out some key pieces for AW22 that will help bring customers in from the cold… UK, SAMSOE £POA SWEATSHIRT, BRIGHTON, £POA SLIPPERS, EMU LEATHER, £POA ARMEDANGELS E: shop@armedangels.com, BARBOUR E: sales@barbour.com, BY BASICS/ OWN E: pg@bybasics.com, E: wholesale@peopletree.co.uk, E: vitus@samsoe.com, E: wholesale@sugarhillbrighton.com, SUMMERY COPENHAGEN E: tadas@summerycopenhagen.com
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 3 boutique.
Inspiring indies to a new completely compostable thermoplastic used for footwear, turn to pages 44-45 for a guide to fashion’s favourite ethical materials. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for buying inspiration, don’t miss our cosy homewares and accessories edit on pages 27-29 and pick of brilliant short order brands on 34-35 We also share the details of our first free webinar taking place next month in collaboration with live stream specialist ELISA. This must-attend event will offer invaluable insight for retailers looking to harness the rising popularity of live stream shopping on social media. Turn to page 40 to find out more.
Getting cosy STOCK UP W ith energy prices set to reach record highs this winter, shoppers will be turning down their thermostats and reaching for warm fashion and homewares. So from sumptuous knits to cosy cushions and candles, we pick out some key pieces for AW22 that will help bring customers in from the cold…
GIANT CUSHION, CANDLE, UK, JOGGERS, SOCKS, ARMEDANGELS, £POA DELILAH SHEEPSKIN SLIDERS, EMU ARMEDANGELS E: shop@armedangels.com, BARBOUR E: sales@barbour.com, BY BASICS/ OWN E: pg@bybasics.com, E: wholesale@peopletree.co.uk, E: vitus@samsoe.com, E: wholesale@sugarhillbrighton.com, SUMMERY COPENHAGEN E: tadas@summerycopenhagen.com
Down to Business INSIGHT FOR FASHION INDIES S ustainability has become an supplierstosomenew-seasonwhenconsiderationimportantforbuyerschoosingtheiredits.Herewerevealpopulareco-friendlyfabricslookoutforandsomekeytobookmark…
HARPER SUNDAY DOWN TO BUSINESS Fabrics guide SEPTEMBER 2022 boutique. 29 AS TEMPERATURES PLUMMET AND ENERGY PRICES RISE, SHOPPERS WILL BE LOOKING FOR EXTRA COSY PIECES TO BUNKER DOWN IN
JOGGERS, SOCKS, ARMEDANGELS, £POA DELILAH SHEEPSKIN SLIDERS, HAT, MITTENS, TREE, £POA SHEEPSKIN COAT, EARMUFFS, BARBOUR, £POA SCRUNCHIE, COPENHAGEN, £POA SCARF,
Gemma Ward, Editor Follow us on Instagram @boutique.magazine
STOCK UP EDITOR’S LETTER ON THE COVER: Image courtesy of Gomaye; Tel: 0207 636 3063 godske.com EDITOR Gemma gemma@bpmedialtd.co.ukWard PRINT AND ONLINE SALES Julie Neill – julie@bpmedialtd.co.uk Tel 01795 515288 Tel 07960797383 DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Jack Witcomb – jack@bpmedialtd.co.uk CREDIT CONTROL Jilly Barker - Jilly@bpmedialtd.co.uk PUBLISHERS Julie Neill, Beccy Wells
MANAGING DIRECTOR Julie Neill © 2022 Boutique Professional Media Ltd, Office 2, The Old Stable Block, Crescent Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 7GU. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical or physical – without express prior permission and written consent of the publisher. Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and addressed envelope. Manuscripts should be type written. No responsibility can be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographic or artistic, belongs to Boutique Professional Media. The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the Publisher. The Publisher cannot accept liability for any loss arising from the late appearance or non publication of any advertisement. A fter scrutinising countless entries, we’re thrilled to announce the shortlist for the Boutique Star Awards 2022. We’ve been overwhelmed by the high standard of entries this year and would like to thank each and every one of you who has taken part. Turn to page 12 to see who’s made the list. When we first launched the awards in 2019, we wanted it to be a celebration of our amazing readers –and that remains at the very heart of the competition. While the pandemic meant we had to take a three-year break, we’re excited to be back with an even bigger competition and winners’ party. To say it’s been a tough couple of years for small businesses would be an understatement. What with a pandemic, Brexit, soaring energy prices and now a cost of living crisis, succeeding in the notoriously tough retail sector is a challenge to say the very least. But what’s clear from your entries is that indies are constantly evolving to overcome testing times and many are coming out even stronger on the other side. This year’s Boutique Star Awards winners’ party will take place on Tuesday 8 November at London’s May Fair Hotel (a limited number of tickets are on sale now, turn to page 11 for Elsewheredetails).in this issue we nod to Sustainable September with a special feature on alternative fabrics. From recycled polyester and bamboo
www.capriclothingonline.com • sales@capriclothing.co.uk • Tel: 0203 819 0819
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 5 boutique. SEPTEMBER 2022 16 43542028 COMFORTSCOSY Shortorderfashionandhomewarestobringshoppersoutfromthecold GOALSGRID22 fromOurfavouritepoststhe‘gram 11FASHIONFIXEssentialnewsforwomenswearindies16TREASURETROVEStepintoAutumnwithourpickofcovetablefashionfinds ECO18CHIC andSustainableproductsbrands ALTERNATIVE43FABRICSandsustainableFashion’sfavouritealternatives–wheretobuythem 49FLYINGHIGHWrightGemmaWardmeetsGeminiWomanfounderClairetodiscoverthestorybehindher37-year-oldbusiness LOVESBOUTIQUE20fallingThekeypieceswe’reforthismonth SHOPPING40LIVEWEBINAR FindouthowlivestreamshoppingcanboostyourbusinesswithourfreewebinarinconjunctionwithELISA
To view UK showroom dates and show venues near you please visit www.godske.com/g-en/trade-shows GODSKE GROUP, LONDON SHOWROOM, Ground Floor, Great Titchfield House, 14-18 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 8BD TEL: 0207-636 3063 | FAX: 0207-636 3863 | EMAIL: pug@godske.com
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 9 To view UK showroom dates and show venues near you please visit www.godske.com/g-en/trade-shows GODSKE GROUP, LONDON SHOWROOM, Ground Floor, Great Titchfield House, 14-18 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 8BD TEL: 0207-636 3063 | FAX: 0207-636 3863 | EMAIL: pug@godske.com
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 11 FASHION FIX T ickets are now on sale for the Boutique Star Awards winners’ party, taking place on Tuesday 8 November at London’s May Fair Hotel. Television presenter Hayley Sparkes will compère this year’s event and present trophies to the winners of 14 different categories. Retailer awards include Womenswear Independent of the Year, New Independent of the Year sponsored by City Goddess and Social Media Strategy of the Year sponsored by ELISA. Meanwhile, supplier categories include British Brand of the Year sponsored by Just Around the Corner, Distributor of the Year and Footwear/ Accessories Brand of the Year . Three nominationonly awards including Lifetime Achievement and Newcomer will also be announced on the evening.
Fashion Fix ESSENTIAL NEWS FOR FASHION INDIES Join us for the Boutique Star Awards 2022 winners’ party at London’s May Fair Hotel THE MAY FAIR HOTEL’S DANZIGER SUITE
“We can’t wait to welcome you all to this year’s winners’ party,” says Boutique magazine publisher Julie Neill. “We have a great evening planned where we can all get together and toast the industry’s amazing achievements over the past few years. The entries for this year’s competition were absolutely outstanding and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all in style.” The inaugural Boutique Star Awards in 2019 awarded 12 trophies to the UK’s leading retailers and brands. Entries poured in from all over the country, with shortlisted businesses based everywhere from Elgin to Newquay. Young Ideas won Womenswear Independent of the Year and I ndependent Group of the Year while sister business Henmores took home the prize for MultiChannel Independent of the Year. Other winners included Tilletts for Social Media Channel of the Year, Naeco for British Brand of the Year and Lofina for International Brand of the Year. Turn to page 12 for this year’s shortlist...
Guests will receive welcome drinks and canapés inside the luxury hotel’s vaulted Atrium before sitting down for dinner in its stunning Danziger suite. There will be a delicious three-course feast with wine before the awards begin followed by a DJ and dance party. All womenswear independents and brands are invited to join the Boutique team to celebrate. Tickets cost £150 each and more information on purchasing can found at buy-tickets.boutique-magazine.co.uk/
12 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 BOUTIQUE STAR AWARDS 2022 SHORTLIST WomenswearRETAILERS Independent of the Year Biscuit Clothing and Living DJV StickSimplyKittyIrisGeminiDressedBoutiquebyDeeWomanandVioletBrownDevineandRibbon Independent Group of the Year Biscuit Clothing and Living Iris and Violet Sassy and Boo The Pantry Underwear Creative VM Independent of the Year Dressed by Dee Sassy and Boo The Pantry Underwear Velvet Ladieswear Social Media Strategy of the Year Chloe James Lifestyle Gemini Woman The Pantry Underwear Maisie K New Independent Retailer of the Year EvieCuckooBlack Occasionwear Moo and Boom SustainableSUPPLIERSBrand of the Year NudeaNoNesavaaliNaecoJianhuiCapriByAspigabasicsLondonLondonOneTrueAnything British Brand of the Year Capri London Chalk UK From My Mother’s Garden ThePomodoroMissLuellaMillyBamboo Wardrobe International Brand of the Year OrientiqueJianhuiFoilCarlaCapriceRuizLondon Fashion Distributor of the Year Capri London Carol C Tate Fashion Ocassionwear Brand of the Year Carla Ruiz Gill SimplyOliviaLizabellaHarveyDarceyDevine Accessories/ Footwear Brand of the Year ScreamMissLIOUCapriceMillyPretty LifetimeNOMINATIONSAchievement To be announced during winners’ party Newcomer To be announced during winners’ party Outstanding Business To be announced during winners’ party Boutique Star Awards 2022 shortlist announced The shortlist for this year’s Boutique Star Awards has now been revealed with 15 fashion and lifestyle independents selected as finalists. Biscuit Clothing and Living, Sassy and Boo, The Pantry Underwear, Stick and Ribbon and Gemini Woman are all up for awards while British brands Pomodoro, Chalk UK and Luella, sustainable labels by basics, Capri London and Aspiga are also on the shortlist. The competition first launched in 2019 to celebrate the UK’s best indies and suppliers. Back this year after a three-year hiatus, the winners will be announced on Tuesday 8 November at London’s May Fair Hotel. Tickets are now on sale and cost £150 each. Visit ticketsboutique-magazine.co.uk/buyfor full details. FASHION FIX
Tickets Now on sale Book now: Please email: Julie@bpmedialtd.co.uk Date: 8th November 2022 Venue: The May Fair Hotel London Welcome drinks and canapes 3 course dinner with wine Awards ceremony DJ after party Tickets £150 ST AR AW ARDS 2022
Average sales quantity Average selling price Profit margin INDUSTRY SALES FIGURES JULY 2022 (VERSUS JULY 2021)
Shoppers are prioritising product quality over cheap bargains as the cost-of-living crisis bites, reveals the latest IMRG Capgemini Online RetailSinceIndex.March, online sales for budget retailers have fallen -16 per cent year-on-year (YoY), while premium retailers (-9 per cent) and their mid-market counterparts (-5 per cent) have fared significantly better. This is particularly the case for mid-market retailers, who saw positive growth in July at +4 per cent and +1 per cent in June.
JOSHUA
New research reveals one third of shoppers (32 per cent) plan to start buying Christmas gifts earlier this year to save money. eBay Ads’ Christmas Spend Trends research, which surveyed 2,010 UK consumers, found that three in ten (29 per cent) were even planning to start buying gifts before the end of August.
14 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 FASHION FIX Boutique4.12%1.89%5.09%+++barometer
As inflation rises to a record high, six in ten (60 per cent) of those surveyed said value for money will be the most important factor when shopping for Christmas this year. Three in ten (29 per cent) said they were planning to spend less, with almost a third (31 per cent) aiming to buy fewer gifts than they did in 2021. Black Friday is set to be popular this year as half of shoppers (50 per cent) said they plan to take advantage of offers and deals to save money on gifts.
Shoppers plan to buy Christmas gifts early this year to save cash
More movement in general within the ABV for both the premium and mid-market categories also points to discounting being used as a tactic to boost sales, which is strategy budget retailers may not be able to adopt.
Simon Binge, commerce senior manager at Capgemini, comments: “With mounting economic pressures and very little positive news on the horizon, it’s telling that UK consumers are opting for quality compared to price in the value equation. While there are signs of trading down, consumers are still unwilling to compromise on quality and are being helped by discounting. It remains to be seen, however, whether this behaviour will survive the potential worsening economic conditions in autumn and beyond.”
Online sales rise for mid-market retailers as shoppers prioritise quality over low-cost bargains
RAWSON HARRIS ON UNSPLASH KIRA AUF DER HEIDE ON UNSPLASH
Analysing the Average Basket Value (ABV), the rise in spend for mid-market goods between January (£106) and July (£146) suggests some Brits are compromising on luxury goods with mid-market options to balance new budget constraints.
These figures represent findings from a cross section of independent online and bricks-and-mortar retailers around the UK. Total stock management and EPoS provider Top to Toe has compiled this industry index to offer Boutique readers an insight into what’s happening on the high street and online. Tel: 0203 376 5888 E: info@toptotoe.com Toptotoe.com
orders@lilyandmeclothing.com lilyandme.com +44(0) 1452 207 766 AW22 is available to order for immediate delivery and while stocks last. With modern silhouettes and considered sustainable fabrics, the collection offers beautiful clothing that delivers on quality and style. To view the collection or place an order, contact your local agent or get in touch with us at Lily & Me Head Office using the details below.
STRIKE GOLD WITH OUR LINE-UP OF COVETABLE FASHION BUYS
FASHION FIX
Candy girl Keep the summer feeling going with
Wrap up in Munthe’s cosy AW22 knitwear from boxy sweaters and tanks to easy-wear long-line cardigans. £POA; E: hlm@munthe.com
An elegant design with a contemporary twist, Scream Pretty’s scrunchie huggie earrings feature a stunning ripple effect that resembles the flowing curves of a scrunchie. Style with its matching ear cuff for a bold look. Crafted in sterling silver with the option of 18ct gold plating, £16.95; E: trade@screampretty.comtradescreampretty.com
womenswearCopenhagen’sSummerypastelandaccessories.Itscandy-stripetoteisjustthetonicfordullAutumndays. £POA; E: summerycopenhagen.comtadas@
In a scrunch
Treasuretrove
Autumn style Available for in-season delivery, Capri London’s AW22 collection combines natural fabrics, clever use of colour and contemporary styling. Expect easywear dresses, tunics and separates in effortless shapes and ethical materials such as bamboo and cotton cord. £POA; Tel: 0203 819 0819 E: sales@capriclothing.co.uk capriclothingonline.com
Cosy knits
Layer up Designed to complement each other perfectly, Luella’s cashmere colour block tanks and printed cotton shirts come in a range of hues - from autumn berries to cobalt blue. Style together for the perfect transitional solution. Tamsin Tank and Leonora Shirt (pictured) available in blue, teal and berry colourways, £POA; Tel: 01454 238 940 luellafashion.com
Crafted using eco-friendly Tanboocel Bamboo fibres, Magic Bodyfashion’s seamless hipster knickers are invisible under clothing – making them a great choice for conscious fashion fans this AW22. £POA; Tel: 0207 499 4598 magicbodyfashion.com
Winter warmer Perfect for cold autumn days, blusbar by basics’ merino wool neck warmer with placket looks great styled over a shirt or under a blazer. Button up when going outdoors for instant cosiness whatever the weather. Buyers can choose from a palette of more than 60 colours while its entire range is produced to order to reduce waste. £POA; E: pg@bybasics. com bybasics.com
Produced ethically for over 35 years, British brand TLC offers stylish and technical activewear in an inclusive size range. Its team works with certified suppliers and local producers to create its garments as sustainably as possible. It also launched its own campaign to highlight the importance of ethical manufacturing and fair pay. £POA; E: charlotte@tlcsport.com
18 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022
FASHION FIX Check it out The brainchild of London College of Fashion alumni Harriet Saywood-Bellisario, Saywood creates elevated wardrobe essentials in small volumes using ethically sourced materials. Its collections include timeless reworked classics such as this hand-cut Rosa shirt dress made from deadstock cotton. £POA; Tel: 07745 245 512 E: info@saywoodstudio.co.uk
Produced in collaboration with the V&A, People Tree’s Celestine Shirt features 100 per cent organic cotton that has been handwoven in a traditional Ikat pattern by highly skilled artisans. Each limited-edition piece is unique and made to last. £POA; E: wholesale@peopletree.co.uk Ethical activewear
Fair trade favourite
chicEco
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS AND BRANDS
pg@bybasics.com bybasics.com
Belt up Mule it over Pool-sideglamour
Your new-season jewellery edit will shine as brightly as the sun and moon with Celeste Starre’s statement-making Cassiopeia Earrings. Trust us, they look just as good matched with an evening gown as they do with a chunky winter knit. £POA; E: sales@celestestarre.com celestestarre.com
THE AUTUMN FASHION BUYS WE’RE
moonlightAutumnsunshine
20 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 FASHION FIX
FALLING FOR THIS SEPTEMBER
Paisie’s belted wool blend coat is a great way to ease shoppers into the new season gently. Style with trainers in autumn then boots and a scarf when the cold arrives.weather £67; E: sales@paisie.com
Styled with ankle-grazer jeans and a cashmere knit, Cocorose London’s Highgate Mules are perfect for transitioning into autumn. Each pair is handmade using premium leather and includes double cushioned insoles for extra comfort. £POA; Tel: 0208 829 8919 cocoroselondon.com
Boutique loves…
Known for its lush fabrics, directional designs and statement prints, Australian brand Aqua Blu creates stylish swimwear with a bold aesthetic. Expect attentiongrabbing swimsuits, bikinis and cover-ups with innovative shapes and details. Tel: 01423 885 374 E: info@patricia-eve.co.ukpatricia-eve.co.uk
From bold diamond-stud rings in 18ct gold to stunning drop earrings, Danish brand Georg Jensen has added a series of artsy jewellery designs to its iconic Moonlight Grapes collection. £POA; E: info@georgjensen.com
Dancing in the
22 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 FASHION FIX#Grid goals Social butterflies THREE INSPIRATIONAL INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW NOW @maryportasoffical Follow the ‘queen of shops’ on Instagram for retail insight and opinion, small business tips and her thoughts on the ‘kindness economy.’ easylivesales@elisa_ Danish live stream sales expert ELISA helps retailers sell their products via live video on Instagram and Facebook. Follow for top tips. @sassyandboo Offering beautiful colourful womenswear brands including its own Luella label, indie group Sassy and Boo offers stacks of inspiring content for its fashionable followers. @geminiwomanuk “…September is a very exciting month for us...we have lots of new season stock coming in and we are also in the Drapers Independent Awards finals…” @eqwoman “Not sure if our new windows predicted or jinxed the weather. Either way they are looking gorgeous @luciecookedesign…” @biscuit_clothingandliving “Autumn colours are starting to take precedence in the shops. Happy 1st September everyone!” @youngideasfashion “We’ve had lots of dreamy newness arrive from @bella_freud. Christmas has come early with these super cute boxed baubles…” TOP POSTS WE’VE LIKED ON THE ‘GRAM THIS MONTH
Showing at Top Drawer Scotland Trade show Sigal Distribution 01784-482888 sigaldistribution@gmail.com www.sigaldistribution.com ZSISKA
CONTACT: Tel: 07825 148 040 E: info@frommymothersgarden.co.uk frommymothersgarden.co.uk
24 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 BRAND SPOTLIGHT
CELEBRATE THE NEW SEASON WITH FROM MY MOTHER’S GARDEN’S LATEST BOTANICALINSPIRED WOMENSWEAR C reated by boutique owner Penny Callaghan, From My Mother’s Garden is a celebration of nature. Bold in both colours and sentiment, the wearable art collection blends sustainable fabrics and exclusive prints with timeless womenswear shapes and accessories. At the heart of the range are its colourful kimono jackets and long robes in silky viscose and velvet. There’s also a growing line of womenswear and pretty accessories. For AW22 the collection is dominated by opulent jewel tones with prints featuring hydrangeas, dahlias and peonies. The brand is introducing new products this season including georgette mid-length kimonos and long silky robes. Buyers can also expect feminine tulle dresses, skirts and tops as well as stretch cotton floral camo print trousers in three different colourways. There’s also a velvet collection with dresses, kimonos, stoles, palazzos and duster coats. The range is complemented by accessories including bamboo scarves, make-up bags, cuffs, collars and - new for this season - two styles of crossbody handbags. Wholesale prices range from £8 to £49 while the minimum order requirement is £300.
Autumn florals
EMBRACE THE CHANGING SEASONS WITH LUELLA’S VIBRANT SHORT ORDER COLLECTION
Summer may be over, but Luella’s latest colourful collection is sure to bring warmth to cooler days. Exclusively designed by its in-house team in the Cotswolds, the brand’s collections are manufactured to the highest standards in Italy. Its AW22 knitwear range features high content cashmere and merino wool yarns in rich berry shades, blue and evergreen pine balanced by core neutrals, charcoal and Arctic white. The range has been designed as a complete merchandised rail and includes a fresh collection of cotton dresses and shirts in complementary tones. Luella’s dresses are effortlessly stylish and designed to be worn from weekday to weekend. Made from soft viscose, there’s a range of statement prints, styles and lengths to choose from to suit all shoppers and tastes. When it comes to Christmas, Luella’s festive styles go all-out on glamour with shimmer and sparkle sequin skirts alongside cosy knits with metallic threads and glimmering details. Standouts include its sequin arm knits to bring glitz to everyday dressing and its all over sequin skirts, which are perfect for seasonal celebrations. Ordering Luella’s collection is easy and the range is available for fast delivery directly from its Cotswoldsbased warehouse.
Fall in love
CONTACT: Tel: 01454 238 940 luellafashion.com
Autumn collection available now O rde r now 0 14 54 2 38 940 sa les@luellafashion.co.uk luellafashion.com
EAstern Counties Leather SAWSTON CAMBRIDGE sales@ecleather.co.uk 01225 865317 www.ecltrade.co.uk
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 27 STOCK UP Stock Up WHAT TO BUY NOW
Cold call A utumn has arrived and shoppers will soon be stocking up on warm layers and winter woollens. Here we pick out some super-cosy knits, homewares and accessories ready for when the temperature drops…
ANDAM AW22
28 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 AS TEMPERATURES PLUMMET AND ENERGY PRICES RISE, SHOPPERS WILL BE LOOKING FOR EXTRA COSY PIECES TO BUNKER DOWN IN Getting cosy STOCK UP W ith energy prices set to reach record highs this winter, shoppers will be turning down their thermostats and reaching for warm fashion and homewares. So from sumptuous knits to cosy cushions and candles, we pick out some key pieces for AW22 that will help bring customers in from the cold… GIANT CUSHION, CHALK, £POA CANDLE, CHALK UK, £POA PADDED GILET, NOTES DU NORD, £POA TOP, BY BASICS/ OWN, £POA JOGGERS, ARMEDANGELS, £POA SOCKS, ARMEDANGELS, £POA DELILAH SHEEPSKIN SLIDERS, EASTERN COUNTIES LEATHER, £POA HOT WATER BOTTLE, CHALK UK, £POA
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 29 HAT, MUNTHE, £POA MITTENS, PEOPLE TREE, £POA SHEEPSKIN COAT, MUNTHE, £POA EARMUFFS, BARBOUR, £POA SCRUNCHIE, COPENHAGEN,SUMMERY £POA SCARF, SAMSOESAMSOE £POA NOAH SWEATSHIRT,LIGHTNING BRIGHTON,SUGARHILL £POA SLIPPERS, AUSTRALIA,EMU£POA CARDIGAN, PEOPLE TREE, £POA DEBBIE LEATHER GLOVES, EASTERN LEATHER,COUNTIES £POA ARMEDANGELS E: shop@armedangels.com, BARBOUR E: sales@barbour.com, BY BASICS/ OWN E: pg@bybasics.com, CHALK UK chalkuk.com/wholesale, EASTERN COUNTIES LEATHER ecltrade.co.uk, EMU AUSTRALIA Tel: 0207 713 2080, MUNTHE E: hlm@munthe.com, NOTES DU NORD E: sales@notesdunord.com, PEOPLE TREE E: wholesale@peopletree.co.uk, SAMSOE SAMSOE E: vitus@samsoe.com, SUGARHILL BRIGHTON E: wholesale@sugarhillbrighton.com, SUMMERY COPENHAGEN E: tadas@summerycopenhagen.com STOCK UP
To view UK showroom dates and show venues near you please visit www.godske.com/g-en/trade-shows GODSKE GROUP, LONDON SHOWROOM, Ground Floor, Great Titchfield House, 14-18 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 8BD TEL: 0207-636 3063 | FAX: 0207-636 3863 | EMAIL: pug@godske.com THE FASHION TROUSERS BRAND
| EMAIL:
GODSKE GROUP, LONDON SHOWROOM, Ground Floor, Great Titchfield House, 14-18 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 8BD
To view UK showroom dates and show venues near you please visit www.godske.com/g-en/trade-shows
TEL: 0207-636 3063 0207-636 3863 pug@godske.com London
| FAX:
Designed in the UK, Capri London offers relaxed womenswear styles in effortless shapes and ethical fabrics such as bamboo, cotton Lycra and cotton cord. Its designs are led by fit and it reworks its best-selling shapes each season with new hand-drawn exclusive prints. Colourblocking and patchwork prints give its styles a unique point of difference while its use of cosy textured jerseys helps its collections stand out. For AW22, its line-up combines natural fabrics, clever use of colour and contemporary styling. The brand’s prints are inspired by primary shapes, which are manipulated in the studio to create striking abstracts. Hero pieces include a new 21 wale cord cotton shirt dress, colour-block bubble hem dress and cowl neck tunic. Stockists are offered branding blocks, POS advertising and access to its image bank to help drive sales. Wholesale prices are around £25 per piece on average while there is no minimum order requirement for new customers.
CAPRI LONDON
34 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 SHORT ORDER
Offering high quality occasion and eveningwear at competitive prices, Goddiva reworks the latest catwalk and red-carpet trends into affordable gowns and dresses. Available for in-season delivery exclusively via City Goddess, its AW22 collection features slinky satin in opulent jewel tones, sparkling sequins and bold embellishments. Amethyst and emerald contrast with jet black and luxe gold in sumptuous satins and sheers. With a nod to Art Nouveau style, key pieces include a black maxi dress with gold sequins, a party-season-perfect long-sleeved gown embellished with emerald sequins as well as a knee-length body-con LBD featuring a Bardot neckline adorned with black feathers. City Goddess offers stockists a dedicated account manager, low minimum order requirements and instant access to hi-res images. Its new-look website, launching soon, will also offer buy-now-pay-later credit terms. Wholesale prices are around £25 to £35 per piece on average while the minimum order requirement is £150.
CONTACT: Tel: 0208 597 2744 E: customer.support@citygoddess.co.uk citygoddess.co.uk
GODDIVA BY CITY GODDESS
CONTACT: Tel: 0203 819 0819 E: sales@capriclothing.co.uk capriclothingonline.com
Available now TOP UP YOUR STOCK THROUGHOUT THE SEASON WITH THESE QUALITY SHORT ORDER COLLECTIONS
LUELLA
SCREAM PRETTY
Launched in 2013, British brand Luella offers high quality short order knitwear and womenswear in feel-good colours and standout prints. Led by independent retailer and founder Alison Townshend, buyers can expect capsule ranges that make buying and merchandising easy. The label’s signature soft cashmere blend knitwear is manufactured in Italy with one of the highest cashmere contents available on the high street. For AW22 its line-up includes super-soft knits and easy-to-wear dresses in an autumnal palette of rich berries, vibrant blues and pine greens balanced by core neutrals, charcoal and Arctic white. Key pieces include its colour block cashmere-blend Tamsin Tank, which looks great styled with its range of printed cotton shirts, its best-selling Tess Jumper in new-season colours and its classic Margot shirt dress available in both long and midi lengths. Luella holds stock all-yearround in its large UK-based warehouse for immediate delivery.
CONTACT: E: tradescreampretty.comtrade.screampretty.com
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 35
CONTACT: Tel: 01454 238 940 luellafashion.com
SHORT ORDER
British jewellery brand Scream Pretty creates luxe and affordable jewellery designed in the UK. Its range is packed with stylish high-quality jewellery options - from wear-all-day huggie hoops, ear cuffs and threader earrings to mismatched stud sets, pendants, rings and layering chains. Named Emerging Brand of the Year 2020 by Retail Jeweller magazine, its designers create on-trend jewellery with an edge. The brand’s signature style is the curated ear, combining piercings and ear cuffs in eclectic and co-ordinated combinations. Its earrings and ear cuffs are cast from recycled sterling silver to help protect the planet’s natural resources. The brand’s latest in-season collection embraces the ‘dopamine dressing’ trend, offering mood-enhancing colours and feel-good retro designs. Wholesale prices range from £9.95 to £21.95 while the minimum order requirement is £200.
To view UK showroom dates and show venues near you please visit www.godske.com/g-en/trade-shows GODSKE GROUP, LONDON SHOWROOM, Ground Floor, Great Titchfield House, 14-18 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 8BD TEL: 0207-636 3063 | FAX: 0207-636 3863 | EMAIL: pug@godske.com EXPRESS IN SEASON COLLECTION
Find the basic add-ons: does your customer love wearing skirts and dresses? Add an extra of each. Choose the perfect colour mixcombine basics with favourite accent colours to bring extra sparkle to their style. Go for colours that can be mixed and matched for easy styling. Add seasonal selections such as a woollen hat and shirt for winter or linen dress for summer. Include a cardigan and some shirts to create layers for any season.
Add a few new styles
Danish label by basics believes in slow fashion and adopts an ethical approach throughout its entire operation. All of its styles are made from natural fabrics and produced in Europe with a strong focus on high quality. Importantly, each garment is made to order to reduce waste and protect the planetmeaning buyers can choose the exact number of styles, colours and sizes for their specific customer base. The perfect capsule wardrobe should include the garments and colours your customers’ love and feel great wearing. Here’s how to help shoppers create a conscious selection of clothes without harming the planet or their wallet... Find the basics and ensure they’re all favourites - this will create a great foundation for everything else. Basics depend on your customers’ daily needs, but will most likely include a few t-shirts and trousers as well as a shirt and dress.
CREATE THE PERFECT CAPSULE WARDROBE BY ADDING A FEW NEW PIECES EACH SEASON
Remember, personality is important - it’s not all about the basics. Finish with styles and colours that create your customer’s unique look.
The by basics collection does not change each season. So when they’ve found their perfect cardigan you can reorder it again later, ensuing customers can always keep their favourites.
Wardrobe basics
EASY TO LOVE Danish label by basics offers ethical fashion in a world of colours and natural fabrics for building the perfect basics wardrobe. Choose from 100 per cent mulesing-free merino wool, organic cotton, bamboo, linen, brushed wool, cotton wool and poplin. All of the brand’s styles are designed in Denmark and produced in Europe to order, reducing waste and protecting the planet.
The idea of a basics wardrobe is that it is timeless. But your customers’ needs will change over time, clothes will get worn out or they’ll want to try something new, so offer advise on reusing and recycling pre-loved clothes and help them choose some new ethical styles.
CONTACT: pg@bybasics.com bybasics.com
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 37 PROMOTION
PICKS OUT THIS MONTH’S BEST BAGS, JEWELLERY AND FOOTWEAR
Snow day Made from premium waterresistant Australian sheepskin with waterproof rubber trims, Emu Australia’s Blurred boots are ready for any cold-weather adventure. £POA; Tel: 0207 713 2080
Jump through hoops Ethically made from silver plated brass, People Tree’s Small Beaten Hoop Earrings are an update on a classic. Each pair comes inside a gift bag made from fabric off-cuts. £POA; E: wholesale@peopletree.co.uk
It’s a date Made in Italy using the country’s best materials, D.A.T.E sneakers’ AW22 collection encompasses contemporary styles in vintage-inspired colourways. £POA; Tel: 07816 893 902 E: claire@goldfinchagency.com
38 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 GEMMA WARD
Timekeeper
Rain or shine
ACCESSSORIES
ExtrasFashion
Cosy night-in Handmade in Yorkshire, Cosy Cottage Soap offers eco-friendly all-natural bodycare products such as its new mood-enhancing Cosy Spa massage oils. £POA; E: wholesale@cosycottagesoap.co.uk
Radio magic
A remake of a cult Italian design from the 1960s, Brionvega’s Radio. Cubo has been updated for 2022 with digital and Bluetooth functions. Choose from several colourways. £POA; E: mattia.franzini@sim2.it
Designed for its inaugural Paris Fashion Week show, Rains’ first solo footwear range includes two reinterpretations of the classic combat boot made with water-repellent fabric. £POA; E: jc@rains.com
Decorated with a bold bumblebeeprint dial, Londonetti’s vegan leather strap Bee Watch is the perfect accessory for enhancing womenswear this AW22. £POA; E: trade@newgateworld.com
By candlelight
Created in collaboration with Japanese studio Nendo, Georg Jensen has relaunched its stunning silver organic-shaped candle holders in stainless steel. £POA; E: info@georgjensen.com
Dancing queen With comfort-driven footbeds and elegant design details, Caprice’s green sling-back court shoes are the perfect choice for enhancing occasionwear edits this SS23. £POA; E: capriceshoes@gmail.com
Recycling day Designed in Switzerland and handmade in Europe, INUIKII Footwear creates state-of-the-art styles in recycled and sustainable materials. €102.50; Tel: 0041 448626118 E: nicole@inuikii.com
Italian sneakers brand Premiata creates sustainable footwear made from 80 per cent renewable materials such as its John low-top sneakers. £POA; E: showroom@premiata.it
Feeling blue Munthe’s sustainable beanie hats will add a pop of colour to winter outfits until the warmer weather returns. Available in numerous colourways with matching scarves, £POA; E: hlm@munthe.com
Sustainable steps
Developed using some of the most precious fragrance elements in the world, 15DegreesLondon’s Eau de Parfum Trio features an intoxicating cocktail of scents. £POA; E: sofia@blackpr.co.uk
Hug it out
Making scents
Created as part of its AW22 Smart Rebels Collection, Armedangel’s reusable tote bag is perfect teamed with its timeless womenswear.sustainable £POA; E: shop@armedangels.com
Moonshine Featuring sparkling half-moons and dainty gold chains, Scream Pretty’s reverse huggies can be combined with its clear stone huggies to create a cool-girl ear stack. £POA; tradescreampretty. com
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 39
Scandi style With a modern pale plywood case and minimalist graphic dial, Newgate’s Monopoly Wall Clock will bring a Scandi aesthetic to any interior. £POA; newgatetrade.com
Crafted in 18ct gold plated sterling silver, Lily Charmed’s Hug Ring is the ultimate gift for best friends. Each comes in its own hand-tied ribbon gift box. £17.95; tradelilycharmed.com
Happy shopper
ACCESSSORIES
Selling via live video on Instagram and Facebook means you can potentially reach thousands of shoppers in minimal time while still offering a boutique shopping experience. Many UK indies are already harnessing the benefits of live streaming and are boosting their revenue stream in the process. However, if an indie’s lives generate too many sales for its small team to manage, the retailer can become a victim of its own success. And that’s where ELISA comes in. The solution makes live shopping easy for both the retailer and consumer. The system’s ‘comment selling robot’ automatically sends product links to viewers, creating a seamless experience for shoppers and simplifying the process for you.
Want to know more? Join Boutique magazine founder Julie Neill and ELISA’s Joris Volmering on Monday 10 October for a free webinar, which will take a deep dive into live streaming and how it can generate extra revenue for indies. Sign up today at live-shopping.elisa-io.webinargeek.com/
Selling made easy
BOOST YOUR BUSINESS IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS WITH BOUTIQUE MAGAZINE’S FREE LIVE SHOPPING WEBINAR
All indies are invited and we’ll be sharing invaluable information on how you can dramatically increase your profits using live videos on social media.
Customers can choose their delivery method and pay online while they’re still watching or after the stream has finished. This means there’s less work for the retailer and a more cohesive buying journey for consumers.
40 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 DOWN TO BUSINESS B outique magazine is hosting its first free webinar next month in conjunction with live stream selling specialist ELISA.
Live stream shopping is a game changer for indies selling online, particularly during the golden quarter. With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas all just around the corner, tapping into the huge influx of online traffic these events bring will be essential for retailers that want to boost profits during the short autumn/winter selling season.
Throughout the live stream, ELISA keeps track of viewer comments and automatically adds orders to customers’ baskets while watching inventory levels.
NODGE BY NAGY
LIVE SHOPPING WEBINAR WHEN: 10am on Monday 10 October WHY: Join Boutique magazine’s free webinar to find out how you can boost your business with live shopping. ELISA’s Joris Volmering will present you with amazing stats from independent retailers that are flying high with social selling.
SIGN UP: elisa-io.webinargeek.com/live-shopping
THREE INDIES ALREADY UTILISING ELISA
STATS: Nodge by Nagy has increased its daily customer base from 30 to 100 shoppers while boosting revenue by 50 per cent. The retailer has received as many as 25,000 views during one live event and 9,600 comments.
RETAILER VERDICT: “With live auctions we get more customers both in our physical store and online. Without ELISA, we’d never be able to reach out to so many people - let alone keep up with the messages.”
RETAILER VERDICT: “I love using ELISA since it takes care of all the admin work. With live sales, I am not only increasing my revenue, but also keeping my audience engaged with ‘Special Buys,’ which is a price I set for selected items only available through ELISA. People love it!”
DOWN TO BUSINESS
TOPSHOP Danish womenswear indie Topshop sells products via its physical store and Facebook. Owner Marianne Degn began utilising live stream shopping during the lockdowns when her store was forced to close. And to keep up with the increasing number of orders, she enlisted ELISA. Her main aim was to gain an overview of sales and automate the administrative process so she could concentrate on other aspects of running the business and create more live events.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 41
RETAILER VERDICT: “We absolutely love ELISA. Our sales and reach have grown more than we could have dreamed of! It’s super easy to use and the support from its team is without comparison. We absolutely recommend using ELISA for live shopping and social commerce.”
STATS: The indie’s most successful live streams have pulled in 30,500 viewers and 10,000 comments. Topshop also sold 1,953 products during just one event, generating two weeks’ worth of revenue in two hours.
Swedish indie Nodge by Nagy doesn’t operate its own online store, but creates extra revenue with live shopping events. Founder Åsa Nagy decided to sell her products via live streams so she could offer a personal service while engaging with many shoppers at once. Thanks to ELISA, the admin is now fully automated as the system manages comments, keeps track of the inventory and shares the correct information.
STATS: The retailer has seen a dramatic uplift in sales, from £1,835 during its very first live sales event to £3,299 in the second and £11,238 in the third live show.
DRESS CHESHIRE UK indie Dress Cheshire sells preloved womenswear and accessories both in its physical store and online. Its owner Christine Colbert also hosts live shopping events on Facebook where she can reach both existing and new potential shoppers thanks to the platform’s video-favouring algorithm. By enlisting ELISA, viewers can easily purchase products directly through the comment section as the ‘comment selling robot’ responds to viewers instantly by sending a purchase link.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 43 Down to Business INSIGHT FOR FASHION INDIES S ustainability has become an supplierstosomenew-seasonwhenconsiderationimportantforbuyerschoosingtheiredits.Herewerevealpopulareco-friendlyfabricslookoutforandsomekeytobookmark… HARPER SUNDAY DOWN TO BUSINESS Fabrics guide
44 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 DOWN TO BUSINESS A GUIDE TO FASHION’S FAVOURITE SUSTAINABLE FABRICS (AND WHERE YOU CAN BUY THEM) Alternative fabrics ORGANIC COTTON FROM CAPRI LYOCELL FROM LILY AND ME RECYCLED POLYESTER FROM LILY AND ME LINEN FROM BY BASICS MULESING-FREE MERINO WOOL FROM BY BASICS ECONYL FROM MASARA ECOVERO LENZING FROM LILY AND ME BAMBOO FROM CAPRI LONDON BIOCIR FROM BALENA
ECOVERO LENZING
LINEN Strong, moth resistant and made from flax plant fibres, linen is one of the oldest fibres on earth – making it the original sustainable alternative. The flax plant can grow in poor soil unsuitable for food production and can even rehabilitate infected soil. Plus, it also boasts a high carbon absorption rate, making it an eco-friendly choice for fashion. OWN by basics offers 100 per cent linen garments in numerous styles and colourways. “It’s breathable and highly absorbent,” says the brand’s Gitte Borup. “All by basics/ OWN styles are garment-dyed and Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex certified, with production taking place right here in Europe.”
BIOCIR Lastly, material science company Balena has created the world’s first pair of fully circular slides using biodegradable material BioCir (pictured left). Its breakthrough thermoplastic material will go through a biodegradation process when placed in a compost environment – leaving no waste behind after use. The company says there are plans in the pipeline for future collaborations with major footwear manufacturers, so watch this space.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 45 DOWN TO BUSINESS ORGANIC COTTON
BAMBOO Softer and more luxurious than cotton, bamboo is a great sustainable alternative for womenswear. It doesn’t need pesticides to grow and helps clean the air as its grass absorbs five times more CO2 than equivalent hardwood trees.
Mulesing is a painful procedure for sheep, which involves cutting skin away from their rear to prevent potentially life-threatening parasitic infections. PETA strongly opposes mulesing, describing the practice as cruel and painful and calling for wider use of alternatives such as special diets and spray washing. Danish label by basics/ blusbar (bybasics. com) offers short order merino wool garments from mulesing-free sheep, which have been treated humanely. All of its styles are Oeko-Tex certified and biodegradable with everything made to order to reduce waste.
MULESING-FREE MERINO WOOL
Meanwhile, because it’s grass, it regrows when harvested.
Dubbed “the world’s dirtiest crop,” non-organic cotton uses synthetic chemical inputs like nitrogen fertilisers and artificial pesticides to grow, which contributes to climate change. Womenswear brands are increasingly introducing organic alternatives that are cultivated without harmful chemicals to help keep soils and rivers healthy. “We have been using sustainable cotton for the past three years now in all our collections,” says Capri London’s Hari Krishnadasan (capriclothingonline.com). “There are many benefits, such as using less water for irrigation, which can be used by other local water users and natural habitats instead. The cotton seed is grown without using synthetic chemicals while farmers also benefit as they can sell at the organic price.”
ECONYL Perfect for swimwear, Econly is made using nylon waste such as discarded fishing nets and carpets that otherwise pollute the earth. It undergoes a complex process that produces a premium quality fabric resistant to sun cream, chlorine and pilling. “Econly is a more viable solution to virgin nylon that is sustainable and better for the environment overall,” says Francesca Fabric, founder of Italian swimwear specialist Masarà (masaramilano.com). “The fabric is also made in Italy where our beautiful swimwear is created, so using it for our collections means we can also cut down on our carbon footprint.”
Derived from certified renewable wood sources using an ecoresponsible production process, Ecovero Lenzing is a great sustainable alternative to traditional viscose. Its fibres generate 50 per cent lower emissions and water impact plus the fabric is fully biodegradable. British brand Lily and Me offers dresses and separates in the material, with various options available for AW22 (lilyandmeclothing.com). “Our Ecovero Lenzing woven viscose is available in two prints - Zebra and Pansy – this season,” says the brand's Polly Webb. “Meanwhile, our Giraffe print Ecovero Lenzing viscose elastane has been extremely popular, particularly in the Witcombe skirt and dress.”
“We introduced bamboo for the first time in Capri London’s AW22 collection,” say Hari. “As well as being more sustainable than more traditional fashion fabrics, it’s three times more absorbent than cotton. The bacteria that makes clothing smell doesn’t sit on the surface as it does with synthetics, helping our clothes stay fresher for longer and reducing the need to wash so frequently.”
RECYCLED POLYESTER
Polyester is one of fashion’s favourite fabrics, with nearly half of the world’s clothing made from the synthetic material. It’s made from polyethylene terephthalate – a common type of plastic – meaning it’s not a sustainable choice for shoppers. As an alternative, more brands are using recycled polyester. Created by melting down existing plastic and re-spinning it into a new polyester fibre, it uses less resources and keeps things like discarded drinks bottles out of landfill. Lily and Me has created a line of knitwear this season using a wool and recycled polyester blend. “Our new knitwear includes recycled polyester derived from household plastics,” says Polly. “It takes 50 per cent less energy to make clothes from recycled plastics compared to virgin polyester without compromising on hand feel or performance.”
LYOCELL Made using wood pulp from sustainable sources, lyocell – or Tencel – was first developed in 1972. The fabric is considered semi-synthetic as it is processed with synthetic substances, much like viscose. However, it uses 20 per cent less emissions and up to 50 per cent less water compared to cotton while it’s also fully compostable and biodegradable. This season, Lily and Me has introduced a cotton and lyocell blend throughout its denim range, with several garments on offer including its Rowan Jacket (pictured left).
“Meanwhile, years of mild winters have resulted in excess inventory of outerwear and heavy knits. Brands like Capri London have adapted and produce collections that are disconnected from the seasons. Our pieces are lighter, softer and airier with finer gauges to give people flexibility and options to layer. Winter clothing traditionally appears in stores towards the mid to end of summer. However, if weather patterns continue to result in hotter and longer summers, extending into the autumn as it has been doing for many years now, then shoppers will delay buying winter clothes until they feel the cold weather has arrived. This means early sales of outerwear and knits could be delayed and suppliers may ship in-season, resulting in price cuts in-store as customers expect retailers to be on sale. This would harm both suppliers and“Whenretailers.the warm weather starts as early as March and extends into October and even November, it throws off the seasonal retail calendar. Consumers are wearing the same clothes for longer periods of time and are just foregoing the seasonality. The calendar might say it’s autumn, but the last thing on people’s minds is buying coats and jumpers for their wardrobes when the temperature outside is 20+ degrees.”
“If weather patterns continue to result in hotter and longer summers, shoppers will delay buying winter clothes”
HARI KRISHNADASAN, MD AT CAPRI LONDON, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANS-SEASONAL FASHION AMID CLIMATE CHANGE
46 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022 SHOP TALK
“W e are facing a crisisclimateand the effects are already being felt across the world. From unprecedented heatwaves and deadly flash floods to rising sea levels and wildfires, it’s clear that climate change is not a future threat but a present reality.
“The colossal carbon impact of clothing occurs at every stage of the fashion supply chain and product life cycle. However, 70 per cent of fashion’s emissions originate from upstream activities such as raw material production and processing. Generally, the most common carbon intensive phases are dyeing and finishing, yarn preparation and fibre production. These processes are massively underrated by many fashion brands, which mostly account for the emissions of their own operations such as transport.
“With more and more brands making commitments to position themselves as sustainable, most are basing this on specific materials and not the full life cycle of the garments. This includes switching to renewable energy and considering solutions for the full front-to-back workforce and supply chain. Technology plays a part here and some processes cannot be sustainable yet due to the tech being not quite there.
JOIN US NEXT SEASON ON THE 5TH - 6TH FEBRUARY WWW.HARROGATEFASHIONWEEK.COM2023TOEXHIBITCALLSARAH:07551329675ABIGTHANKYOUTOEVERYONEWHOATTENDEDANDSUPPORTEDHARROGATEFASHIONWEEKHARROGATEFASHIONWEEK
T: 01260 226 588 Email: info@dantejewellery.co.uk
Spring collection and digital catalogue are available on our website www.dantejewellery.co.uk
No for online orders no-quibble returns policy if an item is not
No minimum for online orders and no-quibble returns policy if an item is not what you expected via our Freepost address
minimum
and
Telephone 01260 226 588 Email : Info@dantejewellery.co.uk
To view the full collection and digital catalogue visit our website www.dantejewellery.co.uk
laire Wright has vivid memories of opening the first Gemini Woman, not least because she was about to give birth to her first child. Fast-forward to 37 years later and the business has gone from one single store to a group and then back again. Here she talks to Gemma Ward about loyalty, profits and staying calm in a crisis…
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 49
SHOP
Shop Talk INDUSTRY OPINION GEMINI
Off the rail WOMAN TALK
C
AND EVOLVING WITH THE
Flying high
Retail career
50 | boutique. I n the summer of 1985, just a week before welcoming her first child into the world, Claire Wright opened the first Gemini Woman. That store in Banbury rapidly grew into a small group before scaling back down to one again. Today the business boasts a hugely popular bricks-andmortar store in Stratford-upon-Avon alongside a thriving e-commerce operation. And its original team, which started small, has grown into a troupe of 21 members - the baby, now a grown woman, included.
| SEPTEMBER 2022
SHOP TALK A RETAIL
DISCUSSES THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING
The Gemini Woman Today Gemini Woman operates one store in Stratford-upon-Avon, stocking European brands such as Masai Clothing, Amazing Woman, Robell, MamaB, Thing, Sandwich Clothing, Sahara, Orientique, Adini OWNER FOR 37 YEARS, GEMINI FOUNDER CLAIRE WRIGHT CUSTOMER LOYALTY TIMES
Owner Claire remains as involved as she was 37 years ago, steering the business through many challenges over the decades while evolving with changing consumer behaviour.
WOMAN
But retail wasn’t always part of her career plan. After leaving school as an aspiring photographer, Claire began working for a local jeweller as a stopgap before university. And the rest, as they say, is history. “I quickly realised that I loved selling – and I was very good at it,” she says. “I’ll always remember my first big sale: a diamond and ruby ring I sold to a gentleman who’d only come in for a small gift for his wife. One day a chap came in and I sold him a rather expensive Breitling watch. He was so impressed that he came back to offer me a job.” The position was for denim retailer The Westerner, which operated several stores around the UK. Claire began working on the shop floor before progressing to assistant manager. Later she was asked to travel to other stores within the group on holiday cover. And during this time her sales skills really began to get noticed: “Sales would increase quite substantially every time I was working at a store,” she says. “I eventually worked across the company to help boost revenue.” By 1985 life had changed quite dramatically for Claire. She was now married, owned her own home and was pregnant with her first child. And it was at this point that she decided to go it alone and open her firstTheboutique.firstBanbury-based Gemini
Woman was a huge success and was quickly followed by a second in Leamington Spa then another in Stratford-upon-Avon. But as changes occurred in the towns and Claire gave birth to her son in 1995, she decided to concentrate on one single boutique. “I wanted to have one really good shop instead of trying to spread myself too thinly,” she says. “I really admire people who run multiple boutiques, but for me I felt it was easier to manage one, especially with two children. I decided to focus on Stratford as my parents also ran a shoe shop there and it was closest to where I lived.”
Move to online By 2008, before the financial crash, Claire had invested in the launch of Gemini Woman’s first transactional website. “One of our former staff members, who had been working for Arcadia at the time, came back to help create the site,” she says. “We ran it as a business within a business and it did well right from theDespitebeginning.”theeconomic woes of the time, the site was re-platformed just a couple of years later and by 2012 it was a lucrative business in its own right. Today the online operation is run by a team of 13 people with picking and packing taking place inhouse at its Stratford store. Claire says online differs quite considerably from bricks-andmortar retail and that “moving into e-commerce was a real eye-opener.” Its customer base, for example, is split into two: those who buy fullprice items and those who only purchase discounted lines. “Selling online means you can have a sale running 52 weeks a year,” she says. “So, both of these shoppers are equally important – and they need marketing to specifically.”
SHOP TALK
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 51 and Coster Copenhagen. The owner describes the store’s line-up as “easy wear, easy care” with elevated basics that shoppers can wear every day. Meanwhile, after taking over her parents’ shoe shop in 2001 and subsequently amalgamating it onto Gemini’s main shop floor, the boutique also offers a strong footwear line-up from brands such as Kennel und Schmenger, Victoria, Emu Australia, Ash and Caprice.
The store has also introduced its own in-house brochure, which it publishes eight times a year. These include a mix of brand-specific brochures (a recent version focusing on the different shapes available in Robell’s trousers range did very well) as well as seasonal edits featuring multiple brands. “These are really key for us now and help to build loyalty,” says Claire. “We send out hard copies to our loyalty customers and digital versions to online shoppers. They’re really great for promoting what’s available at Gemini and increasing sales.”
Competing with huge corporations is also part and parcel of running an online business. And for Claire, this can often mean going into sale earlier than she’d like to or partaking in national events like Black Friday.
Once a customer spends £75, they are automatically placed on Gemini Woman’s retention programme and will begin receiving silent promotions by email or post. “We’ll send out specific offers that are only available for our loyalty shoppers,” says Claire. “For instance, higher spending customers might receive a voucher worth £30 to spend on transactions over a certain value. We’re found the more discount we offer, the better the return. Around 50 per cent can end up using it, which is great for boosting revenue.”
“When you sell online you are visible to the rest of retail, so even if the likes of Mint Velvet and Jigsaw go into sale early, it means you have to introduce some sort of offer to compete,” she says. “Black Friday is a prime example. I know a lot of boutiques stand fast and don’t do it, but the reality is that you will miss out on a huge volume of traffic if you don’t get involved.”
“Bringing everything under one roof was an emotional decision as my parents had been running that store (originally Strutters, then renamed Gemini Shoes) since the 1980s,” says Claire. “The type of product we sell has evolved as it’s now tailored to complement our womenswear.” Retail tech As well as bringing her natural flair for selling and customer service to the business, Claire was a trailblazer in customer loyalty too. Gemini Woman was an early adopter of EPoS at the beginning of the 1990s, which led it to developing its own customer database. “That in itself really helped escalate the business as we were able to market to the people who were already shopping with us,” she says. “By the early 00s we created our own loyalty scheme and moved to bigger premises, which really increased our revenue. I just knew from then on that loyalty was something we needed to keep building on.”
“I decided to be very cautious from the first lockdown and pulled everything back, really going right back to basics,” she explains. “The loss of that brand did throw us backwards, but it meant I was able to consider other suppliers and we actually adopted some new ways of working.”
Future focus While SS22 proved to be a successful season for the retailer, Claire does have concerns about AW22. “Last year goods came in late because of shipment delays, so we had quite a poor September followed by an amazing October and November,” she says. “But compared to pre-covid figures, it’s only where we should have been. We don’t expect delays this time so September 2022 should be stronger, but it’s a short selling season so we’ll need to peak within the first three months. By December we’ll probably need to start doing mark downs without going into sale, which we’ll hold out on for as long as weClaire’scan.”
SHOP TALK
main focus continues to be on covid recovery – only now she has to do so in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. “I think it would be wrong to say we aren’t worried about rising energy prices, but we will try our best to get through this winter,” she says.
Learning curve The owner says some of the biggest lessons she’s learned as a small business owner have been from the tough times, whether that’s been an economic downturn or Brexit: “There have been many times when I’ve had sleepless nights,” she says.
The owner is also working closely alongside UK-based brand Amazing Woman, taking part in product selection, sampling and factory visits. “We sell the brand on our site but it’s delivered directly from their own warehouse, so it’s almost like a marketplace arrangement,” she says. “This is working really well for both of us and sales from the brand now make up around 15 per cent of our overall revenue.”
“Because sometimes, no matter what you do, consumers just don’t shop and there’s not a lot you can do about it. But my advice to other indies is to collect data so you can communicate with your customer base. Always reward your best customers, but don’t forget about the others as one day they might end up becoming your best too.” For Claire and many other indies, one of the biggest challenges was the pandemic. One best-selling brand she doesn’t want to name went into administration – leaving a huge gap in the store’s product offer and revenue. So, while Gemini Woman was set up to sell online and had been operating successfully for 12 years, it was still left in a dangerous position.
52 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022
In-season ordering has subsequently become more important for the business. Pre-pandemic, Claire says she only held back 10 per cent budget for short orders. Today she dedicates closer to 30 per cent for “lower risk brands.” She explains: “Since the pandemic I haven’t panicked as much about not having stock in the order book. I’m comfortable with having extra budget to spend in-season because I’m more confident we can fill the gaps.” Lifestyle brand Chalk UK has become a key seller, with Gemini placing orders every three to four days at its peak during the lockdowns. “We had such a brilliant reaction to the brand and worked with its team to create exclusives, which our customers loved,” Claire says. “We probably went from selling £1,000 worth of stock each week to £20,000 – it was quite incredible.”
“We’ll be encouraging customers to buy more layers and heavier pieces to keep warm. We’ll also be supporting our staff and paying the livingMovingwage.”forward, Claire will continue developing the online business, focusing on profitability and rebuilding its brands. “I will be focusing on my core business, working with brands and creating really good relationships,” she says.
“I want to make sure I’m staying true to our original values and not diluting the brand as we get through what could be a tough few months ahead.”
CONTACT: Tel 020 3376 5888 toptotoe.com
HOW TO BOOST YOUR BOUTIQUE’S
FOOTFALL AHEAD OF 2023
Popping in
A s summer draws to an end, retailers are preparing for what could be a long and challenging season ahead. Today it pays to be proactive rather than reactive. Growing your audience is easier said than done, but with some fresh thinking there’s a way you can start today. R eminding your audience what they liked and what’s new is a great way to drive sales. Top to Toe can assist with email marketing and SMS notifications, so keeping customers in the loop can be stress-free. Take notes from how other fashion retailers are marketing themselves for more inspiration.Remember that customers can be put off instantly by the smallest hurdles at the online checkout process, so make purchasing as easy as possible. Allow fields to auto-fill, offer various payment methods and don’t surprise customers with unexpected shipping costs. F or those that don’t buy first time or just buy once, there’s plenty you can do to encourage returning customers. With help from the right fashion specialist EPOS system like Top to Toe, loyalty schemes can be started within minutes so you can keep your customers coming back. Meanwhile, creating your own 'refer a friend offer' will help grow your footfall further. F or more tips on staying ahead of the game, visit the blog section of Top to Toe’s website or call the team directly for a chat.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 53 PROMOTION
ANDREW GOODACRE, CEO AT BIRA, ON THE IMPACT OF THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS
“Last October, prior to the budget, we asked the chancellor not to increase business rates due to the rising energy cost faced by independents. We were ignored at the time. Now we are pushing for the same type of action taken during the pandemic, which would reverse the increase in rates announced last April.
“I would like to see a cap on energy prices for businesses, 100 per cent relief on business rates for the current tax year and fiscal stimulation to create demand by reducing VAT. In the longer term,
Since last October we have been warning about the impact of rising energy costs as members were telling us then that their energy bills were increasing by 300 per cent. I am afraid that both the government and the Bank of England have been too slow to respond and they now run the risk of doing too little too late.
I’d like to see a complete overhaul of the tax system (including business rates) so that tax is truly proportionate to the affordability of the “Whenbusiness.Iwrite about high streets and indie retailers, I try to be positive as there is much to be proud of. There are still opportunities in local shopping, social media engagement and sustainability. Independent retailers are known for their resilience, creativity and determination. I fear that they will need all these characteristics and more to survive this latest challenge.”
SHOP TALK
“Indies are known for their resilience, creativity and determination – they’ll need all this and more to survive their latest challenge”
“T his time last year we were all ourrunningbusinesses with a degree of freedom having left covid restrictions behind us. While retail was still a challenge (when isn’t it?), we could all look ahead with more optimism, believing that the worst was behind“Twelveus. months on and retailers are now facing their biggest challenge – and it’s even more daunting than the covid period.
The current economic crisis is a toxic mix of high inflation, rising costs, higher wages, diminished consumer confidence and ultimately reduced spending on the high street. We are already starting to see the impact with reduced footfall and lower retail sales in general. “I am pleased to say that the clothing sector (especially wedding attire and holiday outfits) has done better than most. However, in general, we are seeing consumers start to be more selective with how and where they spend their money. “The difference for retailers between this economic crisis and covid is the lack of demand (you may have been forced to close your shop, but there was demand when you reopened) and government support. During the pandemic the government was quick to respond, which was something we all appreciated. At the time of going to press there’s been no concrete support for helping retailers through this crisis. “The lack of support from government is disappointing and frustrating. It is not as though they did know it was coming because for the past 18 months we have been warning ministers and government departments about supply chain inflation being much higher than consumer inflation.
54 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022
ANTHONY TRAN ON UNSPLASH
cath@bpmedialtd.co.uk www.boutique-magazine.co.uk
CONTACT: Tel: 01229 588 628 citruslime.com @bpmedialtd.co.uk
Taking stock
As a complete EPOS, Stock Control and Ecommerce System, Citrus-Lime’s Cloud POS takes the hard work out of retailing, so you can get on with running your boutique.
New Season print and digital campaigns booking now Please speak to Julie or Cath for more information We look forward to hearing from you... Julie
Cloud POS is a comprehensive Point of Sale system that has an easy-to-use till with powerful stock control that enables you to manage your inventory. With it, you can oversee your lines in-store and online, so you never lose sight of when stock is running low. It’s normal for people to shop around the clock, so it’s important for your website to be always up to date. Cloud POS Ecommerce is linked directly with your current stock positions, so you’ll never oversell. It also has a Click & Collect facility that provides your customers with the option of picking up items at a time that’s convenient for them.
TAKE THE HARD WORK OUT OF RETAILING WITH CITRUS-LIME’S CLOUD POS
Built-in Cloud Reports offers insight into which lines are selling well so you can make informed decisions about where you’re achieving your margins, which stock to discount and when.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 55 PROMOTION
K
eeping on top of your stock levels can take up a huge amount of time, but it’s crucial to keep your business running smoothly. This can be difficult if you’ve got a collection of software that isn’t designed to workCitrus-Lime’stogether.
Facebook: /capriceshoes Extravagance Brands: Marco Moreo shoes
Pure London Organiser: Hyve Group Website: www.purelondon.com T: +44 (0)203 855 9550 E: visitor@purelondon.com Show Dates: 12 – 14 Feb 2023
Scream Pretty Company name - Lily Charmed Ltd Brand names - Scream Pretty Contact name - Lucy Lee T: 01753 424160 E: trade@screampretty.com W: tradescreampretty.com / screampretty.com Tempest Designs Fashion Jewellery, Handbags & Accessories Contact: Sarah Tempest T: 01656 842102 E: enquiries@tempestdesigns.co.uk W: www.tempestdesigns.co.uk
Contact: Nazma Chaudhry T: 07881 622 888 E: nazmachaudhry@gmail.com Lofina Agent: Joanna Edwards Agency T: 07989014141/ 07512550346 W: www.shoebox.dk
Boutique Star Awards Organiser : Boutique Professional Media Ltd T: Tel 01795 515288 E: Julie@bpmedialtd.co.uk Event Date : 8th November 2022
Harrogate Fashion Week Harrogate Convention Centre W: harrogatefashionweek.com T: +44 (0)1423 623 701 / 07551329675 E: sarah@harrogatefashionweek.com Show Dates : 5 – 6 February 2023
Euroleathers Euroleathers are a supplier of premium shoe and leather care products and accessories. HQ: Ibex House, Ferrofields, Brixworth, Northampton NN6 9UA T: 01604 881 097 E: sales@euroleathers.com W: www.euroleathers.com
Scoop Organiser: Hyve Ltd Website: scoop-international.com Show dates: 29-31 January 2023, Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea Top Drawer Olympia – London Organiser: Clarion Events W: topdrawer.co.uk Show Dates: A/W 11 -13 September 2022 S/S 15 – 17 January 2023
56 | boutique. | SEPTEMBER 2022
Footwear Caprice Shoes T: 07734 247 669 E: Capriceshoes@gmail.com W: www.capriceshoes.co.uk
BUYER’S GUIDE
Business Futura Retail Solutions Ltd The Old Forge, The Street, Tidmarsh, Reading, Berkshire, RG8 8ER T: 01189 841925 E: sales@futurauk.com W: www.futura4retail.co.uk Top To Toe Senator house, 2 Graham Road, London, NW4 3HJ Software Systems T: 020 3376 5888 E: info@toptotoe.com Events and Exhibitions
Home and Gift Harrogate Convention Centre Organiser: Clarion Events W: homeandgift.co.uk AutumnModa/ and Spring Fair Organiser: Hyve Group Website: www.moda-uk.co.uk Indx womenswear and footwear Cranmore Park Exhibition Centre Organiser: indx shows W: www.indxshows.co.uk
Accessories Capri Clothing T: +44 203 819 0819 E: sales@capriclothing.co.uk W: www.capriclothingonline.com
From My Mothers Garden Contact name Penny Callaghan T: 07825 148040 / 01308 426517 E: info@frommymothersgarden.co.uk W: www.frommymothersgarden.co.uk
MDA INTERNATIONAL Brands: Blueberry, Mama B, Mes Soeurs Et Moi, Kedziorek, Thing, Papucei, Baci & Amici. E: office@mdainternational.co.uk
Instagram: mdainternational Nomads 9 Western Road, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 7AR
From My Mothers Garden Contact name Penny Callaghan T: 07825 148040 / 01308 426517 E: info@frommymothersgarden.co.uk W: www.frommymothersgarden.co.uk
City GoddivaGoddess/Goddiva/plus T: 0044 208 597 2744 E: sales@citygoddess.co.uk W: www.citygoddess.co.uk
Double H Agency Brands: Eden Park , St James . Contact: Marc Querol Linkedin - Facebook - TwitterInstagramW: www.doublehagency.com T: 02034326387
Partners In Fashion (2019) LTD Brands: Erfo – Franks Walder – Just White – Kris Fashion – Lecomte -Manisa -Maria Villalobos – Marina V – Relaxed by Toni – Toni 35 Percy Street London W1T 2DQ Contact: Cathy Vandeputte T: 020 7636 4207 E: partnersinfashion.co.ukcathy.vandeputte@ W: www.partnersinfashion.com
Apt Collections: Brands: Alembika, Alquema, Elsewhere, Igor, Ozai n Ku, Philomena Christ
Capri Clothing T: +44 203 819 0819 E: sales@capriclothing.co.uk W: capriclothingonline.com
Contact: Mark Rowe London showroom: by appointment only 1st floor, 40-41 great castle street, london w1w 8lu Jrdl uk ltd Addlepool business centre, clyst st george, exeter, devon ex3 0nr T: 01392- 876390 Leap N Link Ltd Brands: Pause Café , Fuego Woma –Oliver Philips – Bleu d’Azur Contact : Pierre & Bhavna T: 0161 713 1803 E: info@leapnlink.co.uk W:www.leapnlink.co.uk
Contact : Carol ,Andrew and Lisa T: 0800 6129009 E: info@carolccollections W: www.carolccollections.com
Contact: Nigel Hughes T: 020 7580 3202 W: www.aptcollections.co.uk
SEPTEMBER 2022 | boutique. | 57 BUYER’S GUIDE
E: comenquiries@lilyandmeclothing.info@lilyandmeclothing.com
T: General: 020 7971 1084 Hannah: 07813925975 W: www.mdainternational.co.uk
Pomodoro Contact : Noreen and Hemant E: info@pomodoroclothing.com W: pomodoroclothing.com T: 0208 961 4000 Tate Fashions Brands: Lizabella, I.nco, Ella Boo, Bella Premium & Gracie B E: tatefashions@hotmail.com T: 07712398549 01132459064
Contact: Nazma Chaudhry T: 07881 622 888 E: nazmachaudhry@gmail.com W: www.sarahpacini.com W: www.ny77design.com
Carol C Collections Brands : Foil, Orientique ,Tirelli, Oopera , Moke , Tara Vao
Womenswear
Joseph Ribkoff
W: www.lilyandmeclothing.com
Tempest Designs Brand names: Sarah Tempest Fashion Jewellery, Handbags & Accessories Contact: Michael Webster T: 01656 842102 E: enquiries @tempestdesigns.co.uk W: www.tempestdesigns.co.uk Tor Fashion Brands: Cream, Frank Lyman, Orientique, Tirelli, Condici, Ispirato, MOKE T: 07855 481651 E: info@torfashion.co.uk W: www.torfashion.co.uk Instagram: torfashionltd
Extravagance Brands: Sarah Pacini, Thanny, Caraclan, Marco Moreo shoes
Lily & Me Amari Designs Ltd, Unit 15, Gabwell Business Park, Quadrant Distribution Centre, Hardwicke, Gloucester, GL2 2JH T: 01566 779477 / 01566 772121
Contact: Shallon and Jo T: 01566 777 338 E: info@nomadsclothing.co.uk W: www.nomadsclothing.com
ST AR AW ARDS 2022 Ticket info contact: Julie@bpmedialtd.co.uk Date: 8th November Venue: The May Fair Hotel London Welcome drinks and canapes 3 course dinner with wine awards ceremony and DJ after party goody bag Tickets £150 Book now!
