Christmas news and archive

Freemans strategy to target 40-plus females drives sales growth

British online department store Freemans has reported a sales increase of 13 percent for the last quarter of 2024, as its new strategy to target women over forty pays off. The pureplay retailer, which scrapped its catalogue in 2023 as part of its transformational journey, saw its total fashion sales grow by 5 percent for the 14 weeks to December...

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Retail

Seasalt reports record Christmas sales

British clothing and lifestyle brand Seasalt, based in Cornwall, has reported a 10 percent rise in total sales for the five weeks to December 28, 2024, across online, stores, marketplace partners and wholesale. In a statement, Seasalt said it had set “new records for the Christmas period” across every channel, led by a “particularly noteworthy...

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Retail

December sales boost fails to save UK retail’s “Golden Quarter”

Christmas fails to save 2024 trading, as new data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG International reveals that UK total retail sales for the year increased by just 0.7 percent from 2023, while non-food declined by 1.5 percent. For the three months to December, known as the “Golden Quarter,” sales growth was 0.4 percent...

Retail

UK post-Christmas returns higher this year

As British consumers returned to work last week after the festive break so did 1.51 billion pounds worth of unwanted items back to retailers, according to home delivery specialist Parcelhero. New data from Parcelhero reveals that post-Christmas returns on January 2 soared by 6.8 percent, compared to the same day last year, while Royal Mail...

Retail

US Mastercard report: Sales increase over festive season, apparel leads digital sales

This festive season appeared to be a valuable time of the year for US retailers according to preliminary insights from Mastercard SpendingPulse, which reported a year-over-year uptick in retail sales in the region, with a peak coming in the final five days before Christmas. According to the data, US retail sales (excluding automotive) rose 3.8...

Fashion

Happy Holidays from FashionUnited!

FashionUnited wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Retail

Urban Outfitters and Gymshark among retailers accused of hiring festive workers without basic rights

A new report has accused a number of UK retailers of hiring young “freelance” employees via hiring apps that leave them without basic employment rights. According to The Observer, Urban Outfitters, Gymshark and Uniqlo are understood to be among those carrying out such practices as they fill out staff in preparation for the festive season. Such...

Retail

Shopping malls see comeback in pre-holiday surge

U.S. shopping mall foot traffic delivered a robust performance in November, signalling a potential renaissance for brick-and-mortar retail that could extend into the December shopping season, according to the latest industry data. The revival is particularly noteworthy for indoor shopping centres, which registered a 6.4 percent year-over-year...

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Fashion |In Pictures

Christmas displays from around the world

With Christmas fast approaching, FashionUnited has rounded up the best of this year’s festive displays, from Sir Paul Smith’s takeover at Claridge’s in London to Selfridges maximalist take on the holiday season, Saks Fifth Avenue’s dazzling 100th-anniversary showcase in New York, Fenwick’s 12 Days of Christmas in Newcastle, Dior’s showstopping...

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Fashion

Why gift guides have lost their gloss

Holiday commerce has gotten more tedious with the onslaught of the gift guide, which has devolved into a ubiquitous marketing mechanism that has consumers rolling their eyes and scrolling past. What was once a curated selection of thoughtful recommendations has become a relentless affiliate marketing machine, driven more by commission potential...

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Business

Spain: Fashion sales in fall for the first time in November since 2020

Madrid – A cold and unflattering Christmas for the Spanish retail fashion industry is what we are heading towards in 2024, based on the -2.8 percent drop in sales for the sector as a whole during this already surpassed month of November. A period in which, with the arrival of “Black Friday”, the unofficial start of this strategic holiday...

Retail

UK retailers feed off public affection for festive ads

They come with big budgets, are wrapped in sentimentality and boost company revenues -- Britain's latest instalment of eagerly awaited Christmas television advertisements has a nation tuned in. Known for talking about the weather 12 months a year, Britons will begin sharing thoughts on the latest festive commercials as soon as they hit screens,...