Steinberg & Tolkien closes

Due to rising rent, independent vintage fashion gem Steinberg & Tolkien is forced to close its doors on September 24 th . Fourteen years ago, Anne Steinberg and daughter Tracy Tolkien started their vintage clothing shop on King's Land road. Until today, the boutique is known as the most legendary antique designer stores of London . The shop established its name by stocking rare vintage pieces from 1890 to 1990, all presented in an extravagant and eccentric interior. Prices range from very affordable for curiosities up to thousands of pounds for one of collectors items.

Celebrities like Kate Moss, Madonna and Ossie Clark were regularly spotted on the shop floor and also designers like Stella McCartney, Basso&Brook and Alexander McQueen made their way down to find true treasures and get inspiration.

The closure of Steinberg & Tolkien is yet another example of the unhealthy climates independents have to deal with nowadays. Next to increasing rent, the London congestion charge, red route and not enough American and Japanese tourist finding the destination contributes to the closures of the specialist stores. Until September 24 th , vintage fashion fans have the change to purchase Steinberg & Tolkien's must haves with a discount up to 80%.

www.streetsensation.co.uk/kingsrd/kr_05htm
22 August 2007

London shoppers spend more and shop less

Retail sales in Central London in April were 4.5% higher than a year earlier, on a like-for-like basis, comparable to 11.9% the previous year. According to the SPSL, retail footfall remained below year-earlier levels, but strong sales is in line with reports of people making fewer shopping trips but spending more on each trip. Visitor numbers remained higher than a year ago, with Western Europeans still the main overseas shoppers, together with Russians, but Americans less numerous.

Warm sunny weather boosted summer fashions and outdoor living, but there was less interest in 'indoor' homewares and big-ticket items. Kevin Hawkins, LRC Director, said “This is a reasonable result bearing in mind the challenging comparatives with April 2006. The declining rate of sales growth is in line with the UK trend but it should be noted that the increase of 4.5% is the lowest reported figure since 2005.

Helen Dickinson, Head of Retail, KPMG, added “The London results for April were below the trend of the last quarter, which is exactly what we have seen across the rest of the UK . This could represent the beginning of a lower growth phase as the comparatives become much tougher and the outlook less favourable. While a growth rate of 4.5% looks low in the context of recent figures for London , this is not a bad result, but it does reflect a wide degree of variation of performance between individual retailers and different sectors.”

Established in 1989, retail research group SPSL is the largest European provider of proprietary tools for high accuracy customer traffic and behavioural analysis deployed by retailers. The company monitors more than 520 million visits to over 3,100 retail premises per annum in the UK alone. Its customers include many of the retail industry's most successful companies across all retail sectors.

16 May 2007

Neues „Weltstadthaus“ in Mannheim

Der in Düsseldorf ansässige Textileinzelhändler Peek & Cloppenburg hat am Donnerstag in Mannheim sein zehntes „Weltstadthaus“ eröffnet. Und wie schon bei seinen anderen neuen Prestigebauten setzt das Unternehmen auch hier wieder auf spektakuläre Architektur: Für den Entwurf konnte der US-amerikanische Stararchitekt Richard Meier gewonnen werden, der bereits für den Neubau des Peek & Cloppenburg-Stammhauses in Düsseldorf verantwortlich gewesen war. Herausgekommen ist in Mannheim ein klarer Kubus mit transparenter Stahl-Glas-Fassade, die viel ungefiltertes Tageslicht in die Verkaufsräume lässt. Peek & Cloppenburg nutzt die Architektur seiner „Weltstadthäuser“ ganz bewusst, um das eigene Image zu schärfen: „Peek & Cloppenburg sieht die neuen „Weltstadthäuser” als Investition in das Unternehmen. Denn gute Architektur kommuniziert. Sie dokumentiert die Unternehmensphilosophie auf die sichtbarste Weise und schildert plastisch die eigenen Ansprüche in punkto Niveau und Geschmack,“ erklärt das Unternehmen auf seiner Homepage, auf der die Architektur der repräsentativen Warenhäuser dann auch entsprechend großen Raum einnimmt.

Den „Anspruch von Weltstadtarchitektur“, den Peek & Cloppenburg auch an Standorten wie Mannheim einlösen will, repräsentieren international angesehene Architekten wie Renzo Piano, Gottfried Böhm oder eben Richard Meier, die alle bereits „Weltstadthäuser“ entworfen haben. Referenzpunkt bei diesen ambitionierten Projekten sei die „Weitläufigkeit der großen Kaufhauspaläste in London, Paris und New York“, übertragen in die „Ästhetik des 21. Jahrhunderts“, so Peek & Cloppenburg.

Das Mannheimer „Weltstadthaus“ realisierte als Generalübernehmer der Hamburger Projektentwickler ECE, der bereits in vielen deutschen Städten mit seinen Shopping-Malls vertreten ist, über seine Tochterfirma GB Immobilien. Auf fünf Geschossen bietet es etwa 11.000 Quadratmeter Verkaufsfläche. Gefeiert wird die Eröffnung mit verschiedenen Aktionen und Veranstaltungen noch bis Samstag.

www.peek-cloppenburg.de
www.ece.de
09.03.2007

Coco Ribbon in partial administration

Hip London boutique Coco Ribbon has been forced to close down its Sloane Street store and has gone into partial administration. It will remain open for business over Christmas but will close shortly thereafter. The Notting Hill store, which co-founders Alison Chow and Sophie Oliver opened in 2002, will continue to trade, as will the shop's website. “It was a tough decision to close Sloane Street , but now we are going to re-huddle and fine tune,” Chow told Vogue. Committed to simplifying the business model, the duo now plans to open concessions, reduce third-party stockists from 80 percent to 50 percent and focus on growing their own label. It will launch in time for spring/summer 2008 and will include dresses, cashmere and swimwear. Coco Ribbon is currently in talks with a designer to work on a range for the brand. Chow also said that the Notting Hill store will be refurbished to look “less girly and more contemporary and chic.”

www.cocoribbon.com
29 November 2006

Urban Outfitters sees European expansion

Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters is opening of its 100th store next month. And the fact the 100 mark will be achieved in Copenhagen underscores the growing importance of Urban's international business. "The international business produces a positive bottom line," said Tedford Marlow, president of Urban Outfitters. "It's been productive for us." The company opened its first store overseas in 1997 in London. It now operates three units in the capital, and one each in Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham,.

"With the foothold we have in the U.K., we decided to look at other opportunities in the European market," Marlow said. "We decided the best way would be to cross the Channel." In addition to the Copenhagen store, Urban Europe will open a unit in Stockholm in September. The company is also considering locations in Sweden and Belgium. "We have a location in Antwerp that we're excited about."

Many specialty retailers have store fleets in the 500 to 1,000 range. Urban, which has been in business for 35 years, takes a deliberately restrained approach. "We've grown dramatically over the last five years and doubled our store count," Marlow said. "There are opportunities for continued expansion in the U.S. We feel comfortable opening 15 stores a year worldwide. This year, we're going to open 13 to 15 stores in the U.S. and two to three in Europe."

Martin Parker, managing director of Urban Europe, said the company tailors the product mix to local tastes. "It's important that you don't plunk everything down" that sells in the U.S., he said. "We have a wish to work with local designers and local brands to add that Scandinavian flavor. We're not assuming that the mix in Copenhagen will be the same as in the U.K. There's only a 50 percent overlap between the U.K. and the U.S. When we move to Scandinavia, we're looking for a 25 percent twist."

Urban in the U.K. features Anglomania by Vivienne Westwood, Girbaud, Erotokritos, Paul & Joe, Sister and Sonia Rykiel. "We sell brands equivalent to those at Selfridges," Parker said, adding that Urban's closest competitor is Topshop. The Web site for Urban Europe features frilly blouses, while the U.S. site shows plaid tops.

"The seismic shift in fashion began about two quarters earlier in Europe than it did in the U.S.," Richard Jaffe, a retail analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, said in a research note. "European customers' acceptance of the fashion change, evident in an 11 percent comp-store sales increase at Urban Europe, bodes well for future customer acceptance in the U.S., possibly in the second half of 2006." Urban's disappointing results in the first quarter were blamed in part on consumers' ambivalence about the new fashion silhouette, which caused Jaffe to trim his 2007 earnings per share estimate to $1.15 from $1.25.

Urban Europe's prospects seem bright. The five-year objective calls for 30 to 40 stores across the Continent. There will be 10 locations operating by yearend. "The long-term ambition is to be in all the major capitals and second cities," Parker said. "We approached Scandinavia and Benelux because we thought they were the closest to us fashion-wise. We could look at Oslo and Helsinki if the Scandinavian stores work well. We want to look at the German and Spanish markets and Eastern Europe."

www.urbanoutfitters.com
22 August 2006

Zara expands in south coast

Zara is expanding in the country’s south coast acquiring four new stores so far this year. In Brighton, the Spanish fashion retailer has acquired the former Mothercare unit, totalling 1584 sq m, at Churchill Square Shopping Centre, on a new 10-year lease. And in Southampton, unit MSU4, West Quay Shopping Centre, totalling 1,740 sq m, has been taken on a new 15-year lease.

In March this year, Zara opened its 1,604 sq m Bournemouth store on Commercial Road. The retailer has also acquired a new store at Drakes Circus in Plymouth, due to open on 5 October 2006. The Plymouth store totals 21,055 1,956 sq m over ground and mezzanine levels. Bershka, Zara’s sister company, has taken the adjacent unit, with a similar layout, totalling 536 sq m.

David Harper of Harper Dennis Hobbs comment: “This is an important area to target and the result is one Zara store now open in Bournemouth, with Southampton and Plymouth currently fitting out and Brighton due to open in December.”

www.zara.com
20 August 2006

Too hot to shop

It's bad enough coping with soaring temperatures on London Transport, but for most commuters this comes as expected. The continued spell of hot weather is setting retailers temperatures soaring, with the number of shoppers visiting the high street falling for the second week in a row.

Figures released today by Footfall suggest that consumers continue to spend their spare time enjoying leisure activities with friends and family rather than spending money in the shops, with a 0.9% drop week-on-week and a year-on-year fall of 5%, which brings levels below 2005 for the first time in July.

Natasha Burton from Footfall comments: "The ongoing hot weather spell continues to impact the number of people out shopping during the week. For example, Wednesday 19th July, which proved to be the hottest July day since records began - saw footfall down 7.3% compared with a year earlier. Even the sudden outbreak of storms and the start of some high profile sales this weekend failed to lift numbers.

"The department store sector has also performed disappointingly. It fell over 5% both week-on-week and compared to 2005. However, this sector tends to fare well during the holiday period when it acts as a one-stop shop for consumers holiday needs, so this week may well prove the lull before the storm, with footfall levels expected to climb in the coming weeks as the school holidays begin."

27 July 2006

22 Fashion Boutique Labels are coming your way this season

22 Fashion Boutique Labels from mid to high end are coming your way this season, some showing at Pure in the Elan section, E4 under the trade name of Sukimoo, some showing in the Metropolitan Hotel during London Fashion Week. Most of these labels are new to the UK but have been huge successes in their own countries. For a preview of the labels please log on to www.sukimoo.com or to make a booking to view, contact margaret@sukimoo.com.

www.sukimoo.com
14 juli 2006

Dries van Noten to open in Paris

Belgian designer Dries van Noten has plans to open a store in Paris. The designer, who founded his business in 1985, has chosen a location at Quai Malaquais on the Left Bank, in a neighbourhood known for antiques. The boutique is said to carry his women’s ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories, reports WWD. The store, which is currently a bookstore, will open in 2007. The designer’s sales last year jumped 25 percent, yet Van Noten is slow to expand his retail presence. In stead, he prefers to build solid relationships with wholesales clients. He currently ha a 3,500 square foot flagship store in Antwerp, which opened in 1989, and a 3,000 square store in Hong Kong. The latter is in partnership with local retailer Joyce.

www.driesvannoten.be
5 July 2006

Nanette Lepore opens in London

US designer Nanette Lepore has opened a boutique on London’s Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill. It is the designer’s first European outlet. “London is huge for me. It’s such an important market and centre of commerce. I have a real passion for this city, and I really want London customers to love this store,” Lepore told WWD. The Notting Hill store is similar to her US stores, which were designed by her uncle, Raymond Lepore. It offers her complete collection, including footwear and fragrances, like the recently released Shanghai Butterfly. The store also stocks jewellery by Erickson Beamon and David Aubrey and handbags by Ipanema.

Lepore already has a showroom in London that wholesales to clients including Fenwick’s, Question Air, Mimi and Anna in London, Hero in Cambridge and The Square in Bath. First-year sales are projected to be between £800,000 and £1 million. Although Lepore says international sales only represent a small proportion of total sales, she believes “there’s a lot of potential here.”

www.nanettelepore.com
5 July 2006

Topshop to open in Moscow

Russia is the latest country that will see a Topshop invasion. The high street fashion chain will open its first Russian outlet this autumn, after signing a franchise deal with Russian company Firma Enrof, which also operates franchised chains of Mexx, Calvin Klein jeans and underwear, and Pinko in the country. The store will open in Moscow 's Yevropeisky shopping mall, and will be followed by several stores in malls on the city's outskirts.

Other branches are planned for St Petersburg and other Russian regions over the next two years.

14 June 2006

Littlewoods cuts warehouse jobs

Littlewoods Shop Direct Group will close three warehouses in Eccles and Wigan in Lancashire and Worcester n ext year, with 1,200 jobs lost as a result. It also plans to reduce lead times from 26 to 8-10 weeks for a faster fashion operation. It will invest further in online activity as website sales are predicted to double from £370 million to £750m by 2009.

17 May 2006

Wade Smith closes shop

Wade Smith, the famed Liverpool retail independent is closing its doors a second time in a failure to secure funds to keep trading. Owner Robert Wade-Smith bought the store out of administration only last year, however was unable to prevent the store being closed for good.

According to Draper's Record, Wade-Smith had been refurbishing the five-storey boutique into a menswear only store on three floors, when the site was returned to its landlords.

The downfall is partly due to key brands such as Armani, Hugo Boss and Levi's opening their own retail stores in Liverpool. Wade-Smith was previously the destination for fashionable menswear, however was unable to compete when major brands left to set up their own stores. The entrepreneur is further considering launching a namesake wholesale line.

Wade-Smith was quoted as saying “There was no way we could climb back up to where we were. The rent had gone up to around £600,000 and I decided it was best to make a clean break.”

Wade Smith started as a small independent footwear retailer in 1982, specialising in vintage and difficult-to-get Adidas trainers. The company was sold to Arcadia Group, who also own Topshop and Burton, in 1998 for £17,3m and bought back by Wade-Smith for £7m in 2001.

High Street chic

This summer you'll be guaranteed to find inspiration on the high street. Shopping in London has never been so versatile, fabulous, and well, affordable. Catwalk-inspired looks are available to suit practically every budget and the season's must-haves can be found anywhere, from supermarkets, to budget stores Primark, to fashion-forward high streets such as Topshop and Zara.

The trick is to spot the most stylish, well-made items and put them together in a contemporary, chic way. But don't think that summer is all about showing off tans, midriffs and too much leg. The first rule of summer is to play it cool. Good summer references for how to dress stylishly include Gwyneth Paltrow in crisp cotton in ‘The Talented Mr Ripley,' and Audrey Hepburn in ballet pumps and full skirts in ‘Roman Holiday,' says Marie-Claire.

The colour for summer is irresistibly white. Mix and match different shades for a complete look or go for sharp tailoring, such as a classic white jacket over a skinny jean and vest. The classic strapless dress by Chloe has been high on every editor's wishlist, but savvy shoppers will know it is also available in a broderie anglaise version from C&C California. Much more affordable and just as stylish.

Summer dressing should be anything but complicated. Shift and shirt dresses require little thought and are perfect shapes for day into evening. Accessorise with belts (but please, no patent with white) bows or just a simple chain necklace. Summer chic is about relaxed glamour and should be as effortless as possible. After all, the more time you spend getting ready, the less time you have to enjoy the sunshine.

7 April 2006

Shopper numbers down due to weather

The latest figures from FootFall show that the number of people visiting retail destinations has returned to the levels seen before the boost that half-term shoppers gave to the High Street, however the cold weather has prompted people to stay at home.

Natasha Burton at FootFall said "After a period of remarkable trading performance, the Department Store Index is also now following the national trend with the number of shoppers heading to department store locations down by over 2% compared to last year.

"These are disappointing statistics for retailers who were hoping that an improvement was on the horizon, and the cold weather has played a significant role. February 2006 was the coldest for a decade and discouraged many shoppers from venturing out.

"Nonetheless, we would still expect to see an improvement in the number of shoppers as the weather improves and demand for Spring product ranges, which have already been launched, increases in line with previous years," concludes Burton.

8 March 2006

Shoppers returning to high street with caution

The latest figures from FootFall show an expected increase in the number of people visiting retail destinations across the UK last week as Valentines Day and the half-term school holidays combined to give retailers a much needed boost. Despite this, the sector experienced a 6.9% fall in shopper numbers compared to the same week in 2005, causing some concern.

A spokeswoman at FootFall said "While Valentines Day provided some relief for retailers, there is still a lot of work to done before High Street shopper numbers reach those of early 2005. The size of the year-on-year fall may partly be due to the half-term holidays being staggered across two weeks in different parts of the UK, though it is also indicative of the reduced consumer confidence levels we've seen this year, marked by a reduction in credit spending levels and in the number of mortgage approvals.

"For department stores, the picture remains brighter than on the High Street. Last week showed an increase of 15% in visitor numbers compared to the previous week, as major Valentines Day marketing campaigns successfully helped drive shoppers into stores. The sector did, however, record the first year-on-year fall in shopper numbers since the last week of 2005 though the high profile introduction of Spring 2006 product ranges is likely to help department stores maintain the momentum gathered in recent weeks."

Smalls shops thing of the past?

Small shops could be but a memory by 2015, according to a report by the All-Party Small Shops Group in Westminster. The reports states that the livelihood of small shops is being threatened by increased competition from supermarket chains and 2000 small shops are disappearing per year. For a market that counts 278,630 shops, this is an alarming number.

The £120 billion grocery market is dominated by Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrison who compete amongst themselves by bringing down prices, which presents a danger to small shops. According to the report, convenience stores, newsagents, off licenses and specialist retailers are most likely to fall prey to the conglomerates.

Sunday shopping laws retain popularity

MPs from across the political divides have overwhelmingly rejected the complete relaxation of Sunday trading hours in a survey for retail union Usdaw. The survey conducted by independent analysts Communicate Research found that 78% of MPs questioned rejected the idea that Sunday trading should be completely liberalised and there was almost uniform support from MPs from Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem MPs as well as other smaller parties at Westminster .

“This is a massive thumbs down to the idea that there is widespread support at Westminster for any relaxation of the present six hours large stores can open on a Sunday,” says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “The Department of Trade and Industry are conducting a review to see how much support there is for relaxing the present arrangements but this poll clearly shows that there is massive disquiet from backbench MPs.

“Nearly half of all backbench MPs from every political party have also signed an Early Day Motion opposing more shopping hours on a Sunday and we believe that the new evidence from this poll shows the Government will have a real fight on their hands trying to get any new legislation through Parliament. “We believe MPs have rightly taken note of an independent poll we commissioned of British shoppers which found 64% didn't want shops to be open any longer on Sundays and a survey of our members which found 92% didn't want to work longer on a Sunday.”

Nearly two thirds of the Parliamentarians said they didn't believe the present Sunday trading laws provided effective protection to employees who choose not to work on Sundays. “There is a legal right for staff in retail to opt out of working on Sundays but the MPs have correctly identified that there is a massive problem with actually having the confidence to take up this right,” says John Hannett. “Our survey discovered the alarming fact that only 11% of our members have the confidence to take up the opt-out and a staggering 62% come under pressure to work on Sundays when they don't really want to.

“Relaxing the Sunday trading laws will only increase pressure on our members and this will seriously impact on more vulnerable staff who may not be able to say no. We are delighted that such a large number of MPs recognise the intense pressure many shopworkers are under to turn up for work on Sundays when they would rather be at home with their families like most other people.”

29 January 2006

Shop workers prefer Sundays off

More than 90% of shopworkers have rejected any extension to Sunday trading hours as the Department of Trade and Industry launches a consultation on this issue. The survey of over 500 shopworkers by retail union Usdaw found that 92% of shopworkers reject any relaxation of the present rules that allow big stores to open for six hours on a Sunday.

“This is a very clear signal to Ministers that Britain's 2.7 million retail workers are utterly opposed to any extension of the present six hour limit,” says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “Our members are the people who will have to work the extra hours if the Government decide to change an arrangement that works perfectly well so we want to make sure they listen to their voice.

“This survey backs up our independent survey of Britain's shoppers that found 64% didn't want any more hours to shop on a Sunday. A clear majority of people understand the negative impact on shopworkers and local communities. “Our survey also found that 56% of our members actually want to work less hours on a Sunday because this is the one day that they have a fighting chance to be at home with their families in what is already the most deregulated retail market in Europe.

“Our members want to spend more time with their families especially if they have children, which many retail staff do. When shoppers already have 150 hours a week to spend their money we think six hours on a Sunday means everyone wins, shoppers get to shop, retailers get to make money and retail workers get to see their families.”

London sales higher during Christmas trading

Retail sales in Central London during December were 5.7 per cent higher, on a like-for-like basis, than in December 2004, when sales had fallen back 2.6 per cent. Sales have now risen for two consecutive months after a four-month decline following the July bombings.

Weaker sales earlier in the year mean that the average monthly change for the whole of 2005 was a 1.0 per cent decrease, much worse than the 2.1 per cent increase in 2004. The three-month trend rate of growth improved to a 1.9per cent increase from a 1.2 per cent decrease in November. Footfall strengthened further, with shoppers attracted by promotions, mega-days and clearance sales. Cold weather boosted clothing, and internet audio remained very popular but homewares continued to struggle, apart from some discount-driven sales.

London sales outperformed UK sales in November and December, after four months of substantially larger declines than in UK sales. Kevin Hawkins, LRC Director, said “This is an impressive like-for-like figure and encouraging news for retailers in the Capital, especially considering the severe and very worrying drop in sales seen in July through to October last year. However, we must bear in mind that this figure is up against a weak comparison of -2.6 in December 2004.

Some sectors still struggled and in many cases growth was largely driven by discounting. Nevertheless, it appears trading in London is showing some signs of improvement, helped by initiatives like Oxford Street's traffic-free festival day and also a slight lift in consumer confidence as seen across the rest of the UK.”

Helen Dickinson, Head of Retail, KPMG, added “London like-for-like sales have outperformed the rest of the UK for the second month in a row. The various initiatives in the capital to drive footfall and improve performance, including the closure of Oxford Street to traffic on one of the key Christmas trading days, appear to have had some impact. Many London retailers will be breathing a loud sigh of relief and have now moved into the sales period with much cleaner stock positions than at this time last year.”

Rise in post-Christmas shoppers

Latest figures from SPSL's Retail Traffic Index show that there has been a bright start to the bargain season. On Boxing Day the number of people out shopping was up by an estimated 17.3% overall compared to last year, partly attributed to the greater number of stores launching Sales or opening on the 26th for the first time.

Like-for-like store footfall was up by 15.9% year-on-year for the day. “After a slow start, the Christmas season has grown increasingly buoyant for retailing, closing the gap against last year's figures” comments Dr Tim Denison, Director of Knowledge Management at SPSL. With the likes of Marks & Spencer and Next starting their Sales this week, higher numbers are expected as long as snowfalls don't put off or prevent shoppers from getting to the stores.

More stores than ever before decided to open their doors yesterday and some began their Sales, but in truth Boxing Day is still a relatively quiet day in the festive season's retail calendar. To put it into context, there were 32.6% fewer shoppers out on Boxing Day compared to the previous Monday (19th) and 12.7% fewer than Christmas Eve.

The fact though that shopper numbers were up on last year vindicates the decision to open by those retailers who did so. Even after a 6-day trading Christmas week this year, some people still clearly had an appetite to go out shopping the day after Christmas, mostly no doubt in the hope of picking up the earliest and best bargains.

Results for the full week commencing 18th December are this week, but they are expected to show that the number of shoppers out and about in the final week before Christmas were considerably up on the same week last year, mainly due to the extra day's trading in the week this year. The SPSL long range forecast for the whole of December was that footfall would be down by 2.2% year-on-year, a statistic which looks as if it will end up being close to the mark.

Did you receive your gift?

More than half the country's consumers have already bought Christmas gifts via the internet, according to the Mail on Sunday. So the chances are that not all of them will be happy with what they received and many may still be waiting for presents to be delivered well after the big day. Fortunately, the law is on the consmer's side. There are special regulations to protect consumers who buy goods from home – by phone, by post or online - in addition to the rights that safeguard shoppers who use the High Street.

One of the biggest differences is the cooling-off period. After you have placed an order, you have the right to change your mind without giving any reason within seven days and to ask for a full refund. So if you get carried away in the New Year sales, all is not lost.

The other major difference, and one that is crucial at this time of year, is the right to have your money refunded if goods are not provided by an agreed date. However, the Office of Fair Trading, which is the country's chief consumer watchdog, says: 'It is not enough just to say to the suppliers that it was obvious what you were buying was a Christmas gift. You would have to establish that it was clearly agreed that goods would arrive by Christmas.' This is fine if you bought over the phone and you can say that you mentioned Christmas delivery, but it may be less simple to show that 'time was of the essence' if you used the internet.

However, in the run up to Christmas, sites have been clearly displaying their delivery deadlines. So if they fail to live up to their promise, you can reject the goods and ask for a refund, even if they try to shift the blame to the delivery company. The OFT says: 'It is no good saying it's the courier's fault. If a company cannot supply goods by an agreed date it must inform the customer before the deadline expires. It can try to agree a revised delivery date, but the customer is not obliged to accept it. If the customer says 'no' the contract between them becomes null and void and any refunds should be made within 30 days.'

If the delivery was on time, but the goods are faulty you should tell the supplier as soon as possible and keep a record of your complaint. Just because you signed a delivery note when you received the goods doesn't mean you signed away your right to reject them, says the OFT. And it adds: 'Allowing the seller to try to put faulty goods right also does not affect your rights. If the repair fails you still have the right to reject the goods. If they are faulty, you should not be charged anything, including the cost of returning goods.'

However, there are some exceptions to the additional regulations. The right to cancel does not apply to unsealed audio or video tapes, unsealed computer software, and contracts for accommodation, transport, catering or leisure services, which are arranged for a specific time or date, for example train, airline or concert tickets, or hotel bookings. Also, if you received the goods from someone else as a gift, you cannot demand that the supplier pays the cost of returning them. Your additional home shopping rights in the UK should also apply in other countries that are members of the European Union, says the OFT, but it adds the regulations may not be exactly the same, so you should check before you shop.

27 December 2005
www.dailymail.co.uk

Topman in search of flagship

Topman is looking to launch its way into menswear and is hoping to replicate the success of Topshop's Oxford Circus store with its own dedicated flagship.
The majority of the men's young fashion stores share sites wit Topshop, but brand director David Shepherd told Drapers the his team was on the hunt for a suitable megastore site. He further stated it would not necessarily be in London and that the proposal will be pu to Arcadia's senior team, including Philip Green.

Topman has been pushing its fashion credentials forward in recent years, and a statement store would help push its reputation of edgy and modern styles.

13 December 2005

Microzine opens second store

Microzine, the uber-cool store tucked away in North London is one of those concept stores we all love but rarely go to due to its obscure location. Luckily, though, the owners of Microzine have collaborated with Exposure and a brand new sister store is opening in Central London. Same concept, but this time with a W1 postcode.

The space is gallery-esque and houses the usual limited edition treats we have come to expect from Microzine. Highlights of current stock include adidas/mcm collaboration kicks (there are only 125 in the world and they have five here), vintage Eames and even a '79 Björn Borg tracksuit (a definite upgrade from the neighbouring Topman trackies).

The store is now open on Little Portland Street.

Topshop in New York

Topshop these days is as much a London attraction as Buckingham Palace and Picadilly Circus. As one of the true icons of British fashion, the high-street fashion emporium reigns as a style leader and selling it's trendy ware at affordable prices.

This month, Topshop is off to new New York . Opening Ceremony, a Manhattan concept boutique which showcases a different country's design talent each season, is celebrating UK fashion this autumn, and Topshop is filling its 500 sq ft dedicated space with Topshop lines esigned by the likes of Jonathan Saunders, Preen and Markus Lupfer. Anyone visiting New York and wanting to be home away from home, should go. Topshop at Opening Ceremony, 35 Howard St , New York . +1 212 219 2688

5 September 2005

West-end shopping numbers call for crisis meeting

The New West End Company, which is the elected voice of businesses on Oxford Street, have called for crisis talks with the capitals authorities and key agencies to ask for help in encouraging shoppers back to the West End. The number of shoppers in central London has fallen by 21.9 per cent according to customer tracking firm SPSL. Visit London has predicted a fall of £150m in spending in the capital this summer.

13 August 2005

TopShop rocks the party

TopShop's Oxford Street flagship store is the place to be if you're in the mood for swinging while you're shopping. The iconic London store is hosting a Glastonbury-esque festival on its lower level. Nine bands have been invited to perform in a setting that would put any real open-air festival to shame. The stage has been set up as an open-air stage, with a Holistic Valley space around it. Enjoy free smoothies, reflexology, tarot reading, LA stone therapy and iridology (the reading of the iris) while you shop and rock.

The band Ladytron performed yesterday. Today the entertainment is up to Thee Unstrung. Friday sees the Soho Dolls perform, followed by the Brakes and Client on Saturday and The Pipettes on Sunday.

www.topshop.co.uk
4 August 2005

Discount shopping is hot

The explosive demand for cheap imitations of designer labels is at its peak, with the likes of Sienna Miller and Kate Moss at the forefront. British retailers are enjoying the success with sales increases at low-price retailers like Asda's George and TK Maxx. Meanwhile, mid-market retailers like Marks & Spencer and Next are continuing their battle with the current retail climate.

Earlier this week, value chain Primark bought 120 Littlewood shops, thereby expanding its presence onto some of the UK's top high street sites. The timing is right, as even the wealthy have turned to bargain-prices.

According to the Scotsman, a recent survey showed that shoppers in the top "A/B" socioeconomic group spent 4.8 million more items of shoes and clothing from discount chains and supermarkets as they had the year before. The cheaper the shop, the better it does, according to Nick Bubb, a retail analyst for Evolution Beeson Gregory. He told the Scotsman: "In that game you've either got to be special or chep. Companies such as M&S are struggling because they are neither. Companies such as Primark seem to be doing well because they are cheap."

British high streets have always been able to emulate the catwalk looks for a fraction of the price best. Furthermore, our high streets have extremely swift supply chains, offering looks similar to those worn by celebrities not long after they have been seen wearing them. This is because the British consumer public demands continuous reinvention. A perfect example is our pride and joy, TopShop. It always manages to imitate the catwalks styles perfectly, offering its own take on what is hot and creating its own, fabulous versions. And the process is always moving forward.

Offering a uniquely personal take on an imitated item is important though, as many of the big labels are responding to blatant copycatting with legal measures. Earlier this year, Primark was taken to court by Monsoon, who demanded £200,000 in damages from the discount retailer for allegedly copying a patterned skirt. The year before Primark has already to pay Monsoon a £23,000 out of court settlement for copying a girl's top and a butterfly dress.

12 July 2005

Shopping with a conscience

There are many ways to make accessories and a variety of materials to work with, but onion skin? Are they kidding us? Apparently not. The new online retailer Latestsale.com offers not only non-smelly onion skin handbags, but also bags made from pineapples and roses by Nakabi Moda and accessories made from coconut and silver by OM Dise_orfebre, to name just a few.

Latestsale.com offers products from around the world for you and your home and prides itself on finding tomorrow's trends. "My trips abroad always saw me returning with distinctive fashions and gifts that were never available in the UK," says the company's founder Michelle Ogbonna. "My friends were envious of the things I'd bought when I was travelling and wanted to find the same items over here. Even when these products were available in the UK, it would take far too long to track them down."

With a little research, Michelle found that her friends were not the only ones who craved exciting and different gifts and items. In a world where everyone is strapped for time, her website appeared to be an answer to their prayers. And the site is one with a difference, in that it has a social conscience. It also works closely with designers and manufacturers the world over and employees are all multilingual with several years' experience working with leading online and offline companies.

"Many of the best products are produced by people who value their independence as part of the creative process. We work with family-based manufacturers and undiscovered designers around the world by offering exclusive distribution and marketing support through latestsale.com, enabling them to access an international audience without losing control of their business."

Not only that, but the site also has a loyalty programme, whereby customers are rewarded and donations to the UK charity, Sight Savers International, is encouraged.

Latestsale.com offers fashion, homeware solutions, exclusive health and fitness products, business accessories, state of the art electronics and new gadgets.

www.latestsale.com
21 June 2005

Your heart's desire

Are you searching for that perfect dress for a particular occasion but can't find it in the shops? Your search ends here as Palette London takes over where you left off. The esteemed London vintage boutique has found a way to free up time for its customers. It has launched a finder-service, whereby clients can tell them what they're looking for and Palette London will scour the globe in search of it.

The service is available to clients throughout the UK. The way it works is that the prospective buyer will first be mailed a photo of the item before buying it in person of by post. With a shop full of the most beautiful pieces by such great names like Ossie Clark, Pucci, Diane Von Furstenberg and Biba, rest assured that they will be able to fulfill your heart's desire.

www.palette-london.com
5 April 2005

Shopping numbers

Fears that shoppers are losing their nerve will be confirmed this week, when the first snapshot of the high street this year reveals weak trading. The British Retail Consortium monthly sales monitor is expected to show that retail sales grew by less than 1 per cent in January compared with the same month a year ago. This was despite deep discounting in the seasonal sales, designed to rescue the worst Christmas for at least a decade.

7 February 2005

Pin & chip not easily implemented

Shoppers may expect chaos in the coming weeks with experts warning that the widespread introduction of new Chip and PIN card technology could double the length of queues at checkouts. The number of shops that will demand PIN numbers is set to grow rapidly. This could result in long queues as shoppers struggle to remember the number. Research carried out by Alastair Charatan, a retail analyst at PA Consulting, suggests that in the short term supermarkets could see a steep increase in queueing times.

4 January 2005

UK Travellers Avid Shoppers

Almost 90 per cent of UK travellers shop during a visit to the US, according to a new survey by Taubman Centers, a leading US shopping centre developer, and the US Department of Commerce. The study compares and contrasts shoppers and cultural shoppers visiting the US in 2003 versus 1997 and examines market size, trip planning, travel characteristic, travel behaviour and expenditures.

The findings show that the UK represented 22 percent of total overseas visitors to the US in 2003. It also generated more shoppers, 3.5m, to the US than any other market. That's a 6 per cent increase in total travel and a 7 percent increase in shopper travel over 1997. The UK market and Mexico were the only countries to generate more shoppers to the United States in 2003 than in 1997.

The UK also led all other countries in producing the most "cultural shoppers" to the United States - those who not only shop, but who also participate in a cultural or ethnic heritage activity. The 1.3m in 2003 is more than double the number from runner-up Germany and far outdistances other top markets: Japan, France, Mexico, and the Republic of Korea.

The study also distinguishes between British shoppers, cultural shoppers and general travellers from the UK. The average planning time (104 days) for British travellers to the US is shorter than for shoppers who tend to make their trip decisions and book their reservations earlier than the cultural shoppers from Britain. The planning time in 2003 was about five days less than what is was in 1997. The percentage of shoppers who state they are on a leisure/holiday trip is higher, and the cultural shopper has the highest share of leisure/holiday trips as a purpose of trip.

Of the 25 activities tracked, shopping won. In 2003, 15.6m overseas visitors to the US shopped while they were in the country, spending US$5.8bn on gifts and souvenirs. That's an average of $347 per person, per trip. Cultural shoppers spent over $1.8bn on gifts and souvenirs. The top spenders were the UK, Japan, Germany, Republic of Korea and Mexico shoppers.

Florida was the favourite state for British travellers and British shoppers in 2003. But those travellers interested in combining shopping with cultural tourism picked New York as their top destination.

21 December 2004

Shopping Centres Report Record-Breaking Trading

Despite reports of a seasonal slowdown, some shopping centres have reported record-breaking trading in the last weekend before Christmas, with many beating last year's figures. Annie Walker, director of London's Regent Street Association, which includes some of the capital's flagship stores, said Saturday was a "stunning" day, with the world-famous Hamleys toy store reporting the best Saturday before Christmas for five years.
At the mammoth Brent Cross shopping centre, commercial director Tom Nathan said around 75,000 had come to shop in north London, ahead of last year's figures for the same day.

Birmingham's £530m Bullring mall was enjoying "booming" pre-Christmas trade and is thought to have attracted more than a million shoppers in the past week. A spokeswoman for the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent said the mall had seen one of its busiest weekends of the year, with car parks half full more than an hour before the shops opened for business. It is estimated that over the Christmas period, six million people will have visited the centre spending in excess of £200m.

21 December 2004

Late night shopping disappointing

Any UK retailers pinning their Christmas trading hopes on a late shopping surge could be disappointed, according to the latest figures from KPMG.
Data from the third and final study of Christmas shopping trends, undertaken by YouGov on behalf of KPMG, shows that many people are still planning to complete their Christmas shopping as late as possible. However, the numbers also suggest that much of that late shopping surge may not actually be worth as much in real terms as retailers would have hoped.

The survey, undertaken on December 14 and 15, revealed that 17 per cent of shoppers now expect to complete their festive purchasing on Christmas Eve, up from 13 per cent in the previous survey two weeks ago. Forty-four percent of people were planning to leave it until the last full week before the holiday. Ten per cent of shoppers have still done no Christmas shopping whatsoever although the figure is markedly higher amongst men (16 per cent) than women (5 per cent).

21 December 2004

Silly sells

This holiday season US retailers are hoping to attract shoppers with silly items like lab-made sapphire rings, hot pink leather gloves, sweaters with faux-fur trims, mink handbags and hot pink suede puffy boots.

Human beings are a strange breed. We seem to want whatever is being sold, and because the powers-that-be have decreed that bling and kitsch is in, we crave these items. Let's put it this way: would you have been caught dead in pastel coloured, misshapen boots that give you a clubfoot-look five years ago? No? So what are we doing wearing Uggs? These days we even like to attach granny's brooches to said boots. Which look are we trying to project: old-fashioned deformation? And yet, I am the first to admit that one look at a brooch on an Ugg and I almost swoon. It's truly terrifying.

Merchants are trying to be more creative to combat the effects of a poor economy. The retailers are the first to admit that the items they are selling are not necessarily hot off the presses, but have simply been elaborated upon to lure customers. And apparently with some success. Manhattan's up-market department store, Bergdorf Goodman, has seen mink handbags with dragon embellishments and faux leopard print shrugs cross the counters like hot cakes, according to vice president of fashion, Robert Burke.

Meanwhile Sears has also been doing well with striped ponchos in bright colours and Abercrombie % Fitch Co. is hoping its fur-lined flip-flops will give the company's sales an extra impulse.

Analysts expect luxury stores to do the best. This is not entirely surprising, taking into account that households troubled by financial concerns are planning on keeping spending under control. Those that can afford up-market items will certainly make the most of this seasons frills, sparkles and fur trimmings (be it real or faux).

The danger of all this is that we are all slowly turning into a breed of fashion victims. Food for thought, perhaps?

27 November 2004

Regent Street Christmas Lights Will Be 'Incredible'

London's Christmas will kick off in truly incredible style on November 7 when the famous Regent Street Christmas lights are switched in association with the opening of Disney/Pixar's 'The Incredibles'. From the Academy award-winning creators of Toy Story, Monsters, Inc and Finding Nemo, 'The Incredibles' is an action-packed animated adventure about a family of superheroes.

To mark 50 years of Regent Street Christmas lights, Mr Incredible and his superhero family will light up London's most stylish shopping destination using ground-breaking technology to create the most innovative and sophisticated lights the capital has ever seen.

The lights will be launched with a switch-on party that promises to be more special than ever. Regent Street will be closed to traffic for the afternoon of Sunday November 7, and will come alive with a programme of entertainment for all the family, climaxing in a free concert and the switch-on of the lights by a major celebrity, still to be revealed.

The UK premiere screening of 'The Incredibles' will take place immediately before the switch-on at the Empire Leicester Square, attended by Britain's own superheroes - sports personalities and film and TV celebrities.

29 October 2004

Boutique Alternative

A new shop has opened on the King's Road in London. But this is not just any shop. Elival Fashion Incubator is the antithesis to the classic boutiques that seem to be popping up everywhere. It's owner Valentina Vatistas spent three years researching unexpected and unusual interior designs befor finally opening EFI this summer. The name of the shop combines Valentina's and her mother's name Elizabeth, and is dedicated to the memory of her mother.

The shop stocks women's wear and accessories by designers from destinations as far flung as Colombia, Hawaii, Africa, as well as the US and Europe. Part of the stock is exclusive to EFI, including designs by Stephanie Rapp, Pantelis Mitsu and Francesca Miranda, among others. The store itself included an in-house DJ and staff on hand to model the collections. Furthermore, EFI has a policy of opening its doors by appointment only.

EFI will be hosting in-store promotions and there will be a Shopping Event with the Renaissance Club this novemer.

www.elival.com
27 October 2004

Christmas Day Shopping Banned

Large stores in England and Wales will be banned from opening on Christmas Day after a private members bill won parliamentary backing. The Christmas Day (Trading) Bill, now just needs to jump the formal hurdle of Royal Assent to become law. It won cross-party and government backing after being sponsored by Labour MP Kevan Jones.

While few UK stores open on Christmas Day, the bill was designed to meet concerns that increased competition might tempt some to change their approach in future. The bill, which applies to all shops of more than 280 sq m, followed a campaign by shopworkers union USDAW to enshrine Christmas Day closing in law.

Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett said: "This new legislation will be greeted with a huge sigh of relief by millions of retail staff, who in the recent past were worried some retailers were looking to open on December 25. "Our members can now rest assured they will be able to enjoy Christmas Day with their families and friends and take a well-earned rest after the hectic pre-Christmas rush.

The British Retail Consortium pointed out that despite strong competition in the run-up to Christmas, trading on Christmas day in most cases has proven uneconomical for the few retailers who have tried it. It quoted recent figures from the DTI which show more than 90 per cent of retailers have no intention to open, which the BRC said means enforcing a ban on large stores opening "seems unnecessary and a little heavy-handed".

It argued that "retail should be viewed on a level playing field to other businesses such as hotels and restaurants, which have no restrictions". In a separate move, Scotland also is facing a ban on trading for both Christmas day and New Years day, The BRC said that, with a global reputation as the place to be at New Year, a ban on shops opening could damage Scotland's reputation as a tourist and retail destination.

18 October 2004

Smart Shoppers Beware

We have good news for you! The UK based firm 'Information Initiative' has launched a new edition of the Fashion Directory. This directory provides the avid shopper with up-to-date information about outlets and warehouse and sample sales in the UK. Over two hundred designer brands such as Donna Karan , LK Bennett, Fendi, Joseph and Prada are available at a discount. Not only does the directory provide fashion for men, women and children, but also home furnishings, household goods and electronics.
Information Initiative will provide their service coupled with email notification of future sales for one year.
For GBP 20.95 you can receive a catalogue, containing all the information, by mail.
So if you are fed up with paying top dollar for fashion, this is the link for you.

www.information-i.org.uk/secret_sales.html
27 September 2004

A Curated Shopping Experience

Fashion trends come and go. It's the nature of the beast that one season's hot hot pink is another season's hot-no-longer. In the case of fashion retail, however, the scenario of boutiques and buyers has been left relatively unaltered all this time.

Perhaps it's a cause of some excitement that the concept of Curated Consumption, a phrase coined by Amsterdam-based independent trend agency Trendwatching.com, has been getting so much exposure lately. The concept is simply encompassed in three points. One, consumers are getting hungrier for cool and looking for that one product that sets them apart from the crowd. Two, in the process of prospering, they are starved for time to make those kinds of crucial choices. Three, fashion retailers act as 'curators', pre-selecting unique products for these time-constrained, individual minded, status-conscious consumers.

Already, shops are beginning to look like artisan's workplaces, with interiors resembling museums, art galleries, and antique shops. Of note is London's Microzine, a combination of a website, a magazine, and a retail outlet. In their words, "Microzine is a haven for men who will go to great lengths to surround themselves with rare and exclusive items." Typifying the curated shopping experience, the store chooses quirky and chic products, adds related commentary to give it a 'must-buy' character, and changes the product lines as often as a magazine changes issues. This creates a retail mis-en-scene where choices narrow down to a few products, ensuring that consumers stay in the embrace of trendiness and self expression.

Another example of this Curated Consumption is Rei Kawakubo's Dover Street Market (which opens this week in London), as well as her guerilla stores opening (and closing) in several cities spanning the globe. At Dover Street, curated designers include Hedi Slimane, Azzedine Alaia, Joe McKenna, Boudicca, Bruce Weber, Lanvin, Undercover, and of course, Comme des Garcons - all chosen for the feelings of intrigue and discovery they hold for the buying audience that demands something unique.

24 September 2004

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