22-23 LSB Retail Round up 2021 22-23.qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 31/07/2021 16:22 Page 22
RETAIL ROUND-UP
Sales force Inset: The collection launched earlier this summer in Next stores and online. Right: The exclusive range includes 43 pieces including crop tops and tees.
Since the re-opening of ‘non essential’ stores in the UK in April, bricks and mortar retailers have been busy making up for lost time. And from a licensing point of view, the collaborations, partnerships and launches are continuing apace, both on the high street and online. LSB rounds up some of the latest news.
Next collaborates with Morris & Co Next is currently enjoying success with a new collection that it designed and created exclusively with the Morris & Co brand. The range comprises womenswear, menswear and childrenswear and features an ornate selection of iconic Morris & Co patterns, including Golden Lily, Pink & Rose, Sunflower and Honeysuckle & Tulip. “Morris & Co.’s iconic designs have truly stood the test of time, experiencing an enduring appeal which has continued for 160 years,” commented Claire Vallis, creative director at Morris & Co. “We’re absolutely thrilled to partner with Next, paying homage to William Morris’ own ethic of sharing great design as widely as possible. The joy of working with Next has been in bringing the brand to new audiences, reinventing favourite designs for Next’s well-established market position.”
ISAWITFIRST welcomes Clueless Online fast fashion retailer ISAWITFIRST is heading back to the 1990s, launching loungewear and nightwear celebrating Clueless. The exclusive 43-piece collection includes a range of pyjamas, crop tops and t-shirts, all featuring scenes from the film and bold prints, as well as the ‘totally clueless’ slogan. The launch follows on from the success the retailer enjoyed earlier this year with its Mean Girls collection, another movie from the ViacomCBS stable. “We are so excited to be launching our Clueless collection because we’ve seen first-hand from our shoppers that the demand for these collaborations is high, especially following the success of our Mean Girls and Hello Kitty launches,” commented Leanne Holmes, brand director at ISAWITFIRST.
Tu clothing sales ‘ahead of expectations’ Sainsbury’s is enjoying strong sales for its Tu clothing brand, with the grocer confirming it is running ‘ahead of expectations’. In its Q1 trading statement for the 16 weeks to 26 June, year on year sales for Tu were up 57.6% and full price sales were up 95%. Clothing sales were also 15.5% up on the equivalent period in pre-pandemic 2019. Sainsbury’s also reported strong growth in seasonal and womenswear ranges, gaining market share on both a value and volume basis. Total Q1 year on year retail sales (excluding fuel) increased by 1.6%, and were up 10.3% on 2019.
22
LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2021
Inset: Year on year sales for Tu were up 57.6% in Sainsbury’s Q1 trading statement.
