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.

Inset: Year on year sales for Tu were up 57.6% in Sainsbury’s Q1 trading statement.

H&M shows artistic side

Inset: The deal with H&M was secured via licensing agent Artestar. Below: The launch of the range was backed by a host of promotional activity. Below right: Primark sales reached £1.6 billion in the 16 weeks to 19 June.

Good sports

Online retailer Character.com has launched its new Peppa Pig x Team GB collection.

The line – which include t-shirts and outfit sets – aims to showcase the spirit of Team GB and the Olympics, while adding the fun and playfulness of Peppa Pig. Character.com worked closely with Hasbro to create the range, explained buying director, Karen Hewitt.

“We’re so excited to launch our Peppa Pig x Team GB range,” she commented. “Working alongside our partners at Hasbro, as well as Team GB, we’ve been able to launch a range that really captures the spirit of the Olympics, and will hopefully inspire kids to get active.”

The product launch was backed with a host of promotional activity including a special email campaign, a website takeover for Peppa Pig, a bespoke video and social media.

Selfridges celebrates Factory Records

H&M is continuing to collaborate with a variety of brands, with its latest being a menswear collection featuring prints from US pop art specialist, Keith Haring, via licensing agent Artestar.

The Keith Haring x H&M streetwear range includes men’s hoodies, t-shirts, an oversized denim jacket and shorts, featuring some of the artist’s most recognisable artworks.

The cartoon style illustrations can be found across apparel and accessories including a reversible bucket hat, a shoulder bag and trainers. Underwear and socks are also part of the collection.

The marketing campaign was shot on location at the famous ‘Crack is Wack’ mural in East Harlem along New York’s FDR Drive.

Primark’s successful re-opening

There’s been good news from fast fashion retailer and major licensing industry supporter, Primark, reporting that revenues had soared to £1.6 billion since re-opening.

The easing of lockdown restrictions meant that the retailer put in a better than expected Q3 performance.

It confirmed that sales in its value retail business in the 16 weeks to 19 June reached £1.6 billion. This compares to £600,000 in sales which were recorded in the same period last year.

In addition, Primark’s like-for-like sales grew 3% on a two-year basis in the quarter.

Parent company AB Foods also said that a number of new sales records were set in Primark stores, reflecting an increase in both consumer confidence and a willingness to spend.

However, it did sound a note of caution, saying that volatility remained high and performance did vary from region to region depending on the levels of Covid-19 restrictions in place.

Fans and fashionistas alike can get their hands on a whole range of products celebrating

Factory Records

exclusively at Selfridges.

In the early days, Factory was not just a record label but an ad-hoc, holistic enterprise that included posters, records, cassettes, films, concepts and concerts. Each of these was given its own individual FAC catalogue number starting with FAC1, Peter Saville’s first poster for the Factory Club in June 1978.

Warner Music Artist Services has collaborated with high-end fashion designers and homeware partners – including Palm Angels, Softcore, Raf Simons, Stain Shade, Bang & Olufsen, Cedar Lifestyle, MJB and Umbro – to delve into and reinterpret this iconic artwork. Merchandise includes t-shirts and scented candles (inspired by Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures and New Order’s Power, Corruption & Lies), plus skateboards, homeware and fashion. Above: Candles inspired by Joy Division and New Order albums are included in the range.