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Retail Gazette •

Opinion: Does banning ads featuring 'unhealthily thin' models undermine fashion’s body diversity? - Retail Gazette

The recent wave of Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) bans targeting ads featuring “unhealthily thin” models — including campaigns by Zara, M&S, and Next — shines a spotlight on one of fashion’s toughest challenges: balancing the promotion of healthy body standards without erasing the diversity of real bodies.
For instance, Zara’s recently banned ads included images (above) where clothing choice, poses, and lighting accentuated models’ collarbones and thin legs, creating an impression deemed...
Retail Gazette •

Opinion: Retailers claim to value staff - but ditching flexible working says otherwise - Retail Gazette

Flexible working was hailed as one of the few silver linings of the pandemic for retail workers— and one that gave some breathing room in a fast-paced industry that couldn’t match the pay packages of other private sectors.
But fast forward to 2025, and that ‘perk’ is rapidly disappearing.
Over the last 12 months the number of retailers issuing return to office orders has picked up pace. And in the last few weeks, a spate of retailers who had previously been lauded for their flexibility credentia...
Retail Gazette •

From Percy Pigs to price pressures - what's the impact of Trump tariffs on UK retailers? - Retail Gazette

President Trump’s tariff overhaul has introduced fresh challenges for retailers with a significant UK presence, particularly in the fashion sector.
Brands are now grappling with rising costs, disrupted supply chains and shifting consumer behaviour—and these pressures come as UK retailers are already facing £5.6bn in additional costs from the October Budget.
As businesses navigate this landscape, KPMG warns that US tariffs on UK exports could slow GDP growth to just 0.8% in 2025 and 2026, adding...
Retail Gazette •

The Shein effect: Is fashion stuck in a race to the bottom? - Retail Gazette

Shein has moved from its humble beginnings as a small player in the ultra-fast fashion world has grown to a global juggernaut – reshaping the fashion market with rock-bottom prices, a lightning-fast supply chain, and dominant social media presence.
And the fashion etailer’s ascendency shows no signs of slowing as GlobalData predicts it will become the UK’s sixth-largest apparel retailer by 2027.
But as the Chinese giant continues its rise, it raises a crucial question: Are fashion retailers chas...
Retail Gazette •

From swoosh to stumble, can Nike regain its stride? - Retail Gazette

Since its inception 60 years ago, Nike has long dominated the sportswear market, fuelled by innovative products, global reach and out-of-the-box marketing.
But in recent years its chokehold on the industry seems to be slowing.
The American sportswear giant is in the midst of its worst slump in a decade. Earlier this year it unveiled plans to cut 1,600 roles as it looks to make £1.6bn in cost savings over the next three years on the back of softer sales.
When making the announcement to staff abou...
Retail Gazette •

M&S Clothing - how the retailer revamped its fashion arm

One of the good news stories of 2023 has been the resurgence of M&S, which just last month hailed a better-than-expected 75% rise in first-half profit.

A big driver of his performance has been the long-awaited revival of its fashion arm.

In fact M&S clothing is – dare we say it – cool again. With stylish celebrity ambassadors and a booming social media channel, the retailer’s designs are a fry cry from the frumpy fashion that filled its stores not so long ago.

And it is paying off. M&S achiev
Retail Gazette •

Opinion: Did JD Sports trip itself up this Christmas? - Retail Gazette

As one of the UK’s retail heavyweights, JD Sports has long been a barometer of success in the UK’s sports fashion market.
But this Christmas, its performance didn’t exactly meet expectations.
Despite organic revenue growth of 3.4% for the nine weeks to 4 January, JD Sports downgraded its profit forecast due to “challenging and volatile” market conditions and declining like-for-like sales, especially during November.
While December brought a much-needed boost as like-for-like sales rose by 1.5%,...
Retail Gazette •

Are resellers creating a new battleground for retail?

In recent years, retailers specialising in trainers – such as Nike, Adidas and even Yeezy – have relied on sneakerheads to drive demand for its new releases. Hype around limited edition releases, marked as “drops”, often transcend to viral social media trends and long queues outside stores on release days.

While sneakerhead culture is clearly important for these brands, what happens when their retail partners don’t do enough to clamp down on staff quietly offering them to resellers? It it even
Retail Gazette •

The battle of the resale site: will eBay, Depop or Asos emerge victorious?

Second-hand fashion is en vogue, especially among Gen Zers. With the help of social media, the perception of buying pre-worn clothes is now seen as cool, and not just for those on a budget.

This new interest in thrifting is spilling over to online channels, with the number of resale sites such as Depop and Thredup that are dedicated to the sale of secondhand clothing growing at a rate.

As the rise of resale continues, huge brands such as Levi’s, New Look and Allbirds are getting in on the act
Retail Gazette •

The Asos reset: How loyalty, partnerships and Topshop will drive growth - Retail Gazette

It’s no secret that Asos is on a mission to turn things around after navigating a challenging few years, marked by fierce competition from brands like Shein and struggles with a drop in consumer spending.
The online fashion retailer saw its pre-tax losses widen to £379.3m in the year to 1 September from a £296.7m loss the year before, as sales plunged by 18% to £2.9bn.
In a bid to bolster its flagging performance the online giant has launched its ‘Back to Fashion’ turnaround strategy aimed at de...
Retail Gazette •

If fashion brands aren't inclusive, are they out?

Glamazonian models have adorned magazine spreads and billboards since time began to promote fashion brands in marketing campaigns that were aspirational rather than realistic.

While that has worked for decades, in this day and age shoppers looking to part with their hard-earned cash want to see themselves in advertising campaigns, rather than models who are photoshopped to death.

Amid heightened social awareness of discrimination and underrepresentation within the fashion industry, more brands
Retail Gazette •

Apple Knightsbridge: is this the tech giant's best store to date?

Experiential retail is more important than ever post-pandemic. Apple’s new store on Brompton Road in London’s Knightsbridge nails this with a store that is more interactive than ever before.

Whilst certainly aesthetic, Apple stores of the past have teetered on the edge of being too clinical for my tastes. This is not the case with the Brompton Road store.

The store environment is much warmer than its White City or Stratford outposts with bursts of colour coming from the foliage within the stor
Retail Gazette •

How H&M is facing sustainability head on - despite greenwashing pushback - Retail Gazette

H&M has no problem with being called out on its sustainability efforts. In fact, the Scandi fashion giant welcomes the scrutiny.
Speaking at the inaugural BRC x H&M Fashion Sustainability Summit in London earlier this year, Marcus Hartmann, head of public affairs & sustainability for H&M in Northern Europe, highlighted how the retailer is embracing transparency, seeing it as an opportunity to improve rather than something to shy away from.
“We want to be transparent because we think it’s importa...
Retail Gazette •

Gender-neutral fashion: should retailers ditch the labels?

Back in 2020, Harry Styles broke the internet when he appeared on the front cover of Vogue in a Gucci dress, since then the pop sensation has become the poster child of gender neutral fashion, regularly wearing womenswear pieces on stage and in music videos for millions to see. And he’s not the only one. For years, actor and singer Billy Porter has regularly attended red carpets in ballgowns, while just last week at the Met Gala pro basketball player Russell Westbrook rocked a pleated skirt. Gon
Retail Gazette •

Why has Asos sold Topshop - and what happens next? - Retail Gazette

Just three years after buying Topshop and Topman, Asos is selling a 75% stake in the iconic British fashion brand, creating a joint venture with Heartland, an investment firm owned by Bestseller owner the Holch Povlsen family.
Under the joint venture, Asos will retain certain design and distribution rights for the brands, in exchange for a royalty fee, allowing it to continue selling the brands, with the proceeds of the sale set to “significantly strengthen” its balance sheet.
CEO José Antonio R...
Retail Gazette •

Depop, fashion resellers and the gentrification of thrifting

In recent years, vintage clothing has undergone quite a transformation, becoming a trending theme within the fashion sector as shoppers look to make more sustainable choices when on the hunt for their next outfit.

According to the online thrift store Thredup, we can expect to see the resale market grow much faster than traditional retail, with the second-hand fashion market expected to be twice the size of fast fashion by 2030.

The global report – which was conducted by Thredup, with analysis
Retail Gazette •

Can Sephora crack the UK this time round? - Retail Gazette

The world of social media was alight last week when US beauty giant Sephora revealed it would be returning to the UK 17 years after it closed all its stores here.
Sephora, which bought Feelunique last year for £135m, said it would switch the website of its acquisition to Sephora.co.uk next week and has set its sights on opening a London flagship store in Spring 2023 to the delight of UK beauty fans.
For the brand may have not traded here for almost two decades, but young consumers are very aware...
Retail Gazette •

Sports Direct Birmingham - can the new flagship really elevate the brand?

At the start of the month, Sports Direct opened the doors to its new £10 million, 60,000 sq ft flagship store on Birmingham’s New Street.

The move is part of the retail giant’s elevation strategy, pioneered by new chief executive Michael Murray, who took the top seat at the retailer this month.

The strategy aims to create shopping environments that are fit-for-purpose in not just today’s retail market but for years to come.

The new Sports Direct store is the first flagship to house USC, Game,
Retail Gazette •

The battle to win the beauty market

During recessions, there’s a phenomenon known as the ‘lipstick effect’, where instead of splurging on bigger and more expensive items, shoppers will buy smaller items like lipstick as a treat. At the height of the pandemic when face coverings became compulsory in public settings, even lipstick sales took a plunge, but as restrictions have relaxed customers have started investing in their self-care routines – including beauty.

The UK beauty market, which was valued at £33.8 billion in 2020, is b
Retail Gazette •

Is homeware the new high street staple?

At the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, Brits were forced to stay home amid multiple nationwide lockdowns and as a result of staying indoors many shoppers took the opportunity to decorate their homes and update their interiors with new furniture.

A recent survey from Made.com revealed that during lockdown, 40 per cent of consumers decided to invest in their homes with new homeware.

During the home renovation boom, even fashion retailers saught to capitalise with Mango launching its first ev
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