H&M (Sweden) will launch Afound, a marketplace that the company has dubbed a “style- and deal-hunting paradise” selling discounted fashion and lifestyle products. The retail concept will feature  both external and the H&M group’s own brands, offering a wide range of well-known, popular brands for both women and men, the company said in a statement.Afound will present a carefully selected, season-less range from Swedish and international brands in a variety of price...

Farfetch's (UK) soaring revenues came at a cost to profits. Net loss widened to $44 million compared with $36 million last year,  while revenue grew 74 percent to $198 million for the year ending December 31, 2017.Operating loss was $32 million and loss on an EBITDA basis was down to $28.6 million compared to $30 million last year.The company said that the value of goods sold on its online platform increased to around $720 million, while its gross merchandise value jumped almost 81 perc...

U.S. retail sales rose modestly in October as consumers increased purchases of motor vehicles, sporting goods and a range of other goods, the Commerce Department reported.Retail sales rose 0.2 percent from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted $486.6 billion in October, following a revised 1.9 percent gain in September, the Commerce Department said. Year on year, total retail sales rose 4.6 percent last month.The U.S. economy is expected to expand at 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter, foll...

J. Crew continues to miss the mark with consumers, while sister brand Madewell has found a retail sweet spot with trendy, young shoppers.Third Quarter highlights: Total revenues decreased 5% to $566.7 million. Comparable company sales decreased 9% following a decrease of 8% in the third quarter last year. J.Crew sales decreased 12% to $430.4 million. J.Crew comparable sales decreased 12% following a decrease of 9% in the third quarter last year. Madewell sales increased 22% to $107.5 million. ...

The challenge for most retailers is getting consumers to buy one more pair of jeans. For suppliers it's about getting a little better margins on those jeans, while for consumers it’s all about finding a better fitting pair of jeans.Can we make jeans that meet the increasingly high standards that consumers are setting while at the same making them a more profitable category at retail and thus helping to reduce some of the price pressure upstream? Thanks to ongoing R&D from INVI...

Retailers saw a quieter-than-expected activity on Black Friday (Nov. 25).   In major cities retail sales were bolstered by an influx of tourists who came to take advantage of discounted merchandise, as well as the participate in the season’s festivities.   Cross-border trade helped drive online sales as international shoppers had greater opportunities to grab deal-priced products from American or British online stores.Despite the intense promotions, consumers have small...