FASHION MERCHANDISING – AUSTRALIA

Retailers duck for cover as global chains battle it out

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 10-Jun-15

International fast-fashion retailers H&M and Forever 21 will shortly open stores in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall. The growing presence of offshore retailers has forced Australian rivals such as Just Jeans and Sussan to relinquish space in the prestigious shopping precinct, and experts warn that local retailers’ sales are likely to be adversely affected by the growing competition in the sector. Forever 21 boasts more than 700 stores worldwide, and it will open about 70 outlets in 2015.

CORPORATES
HENNES OCH MAURITZ AB, FOREVER 21 INCORPORATED, ZARA, JUST JEANS PTY LTD, PREMIER INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX PMV, SUSSAN-SUZANNE GRAE, GLUE, TOPSHOP, COTTON ON, SUPRE PTY LTD, SES, VALLEY GIRL FASHIONS PTY LTD, SHARAF RETAIL, AGENT PROVOCATEUR

Cold snap heats up store clearance sales

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 3-Jun-15

The mid-season clearance sales of Australian retailers are expected to benefit from a chilly start to winter across much of the country. The cold weather is likely to boost demand for warm clothing, allowing department stores and specialty retailers to reduce their winter inventory. Myer has commenced its clearance sale more than a week ahead of schedule, and aims to sell about $150m worth of stock, while David Jones is offering big discounts in its mid-year sale.

CORPORATES
MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, DAVID JONES LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, PORTMANS PTY LTD, SABA, OROTONGROUP LIMITED – ASX ORL, DAVID LAWRENCE, CUE, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, COLES GROUP LIMITED, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TOP RYDE SHOPPING CENTRE

Pacific Brands: hope after loss

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 18-Feb-15

Restructuring costs and impairment charges contributed to Pacific Brands’ $A108.7m for the first six months of 2014-15. Revenue was six per cent higher at $A391.8m, and its Bonds brand achieved sales of $A176.3m. CEO David Bortolussi warns that the recent fall in the Australian dollar will force all underwear manufacturers to increase their prices in 2016. Some market watchers have suggested that prices could rise by 10-15 per cent

CORPORATES
PACIFIC BRANDS LIMITED – ASX PBG, BONDS INDUSTRIES LIMITED, HARD YAKKA, KING GEE CLOTHING COMPANY, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, SHERIDAN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TONTINE BEDDING, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, GROSBY FOOTWEAR, VOLLEY, BRAND COLLECTIVE

David Jones profit up 10.3 per cent under new owners

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 13-Feb-15

David Jones has posted an operating profit of $A107m for the five months to December 2014, which is 10.3 per cent higher than previously. Its department stores division recorded earnings of $A100m, an increase of 14.9 per cent. Woolworths Holdings stablemate Country Road posted 9.4 per cent growth in operating profit. South Africa-based Woolworths has reported a 2014-15 interim pre-tax profit of R9.2bn ($A320m), an increase of 29.8 per cent

CORPORATES
DAVID JONES LIMITED, COUNTRY ROAD LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

The Iconic offers last-minute delivery

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 5-Nov-14

The Iconic has responded to consumer demand by delivering goods to customers on Saturdays. The online clothing retailer also hopes to increase sales by offering same-day delivery on weekdays until Christmas Eve. MD Adam Jacobs notes that the online retail sector is enjoying growth of 14-15 per cent, and he expects this growth to continue. He also expects The Iconic to become profitable much more quickly than most e-commerce businesses

CORPORATES
THEICONIC.COM.AU, INTERNET SERVICES AUSTRALIA 1 PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA POST, STAR TRACK EXPRESS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION

Iconic rides $3b wave in e-retail

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Original article by Paul Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 & 25 : 14-Oct-14

The Iconic’s website boasts about three million visitors each month, according to MD Adam Jacobs. He says there are no plans for the online clothing retailer to list on the Australian sharemarket at present, and the priority is to expand the company and make it the leading player in its sector. The Iconic raised $A25m from venture capital firms in January 2014, and it raised an additional $A28m in July

CORPORATES
THEICONIC.COM.AU, INTERNET SERVICES AUSTRALIA 1 PTY LTD, ROCKET INTERNET GMBH, ZALANDO LIMITED, FRANKFURT STOCK EXCHANGE, AUSTRALIA POST, NIKE INCORPORATED, ADIDAS-SALOMON AG, RIVER ISLAND CLOTHING COMPANY LIMITED, DOROTHY PERKINS, HUGO BOSS, CALVIN KLEIN INCORPORATED, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, DAVID JONES LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED

Big offer for Lew’s Country Road stake

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 22-Jul-14

Country Road executives have advised shareholders to accept Woolworths Holdings’ offer of $A17 per share. Businessman Solomon Lew has an 11.8 per cent stake in the retailer, and his support for the offer is crucial if Woolworths is to gain full ownership. An independent expert’s report by Lonergan Edwards & Associates has valued Country Road shares at between $A14.92 and $A16.22

CORPORATES
COUNTRY ROAD LIMITED – ASX CTY, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, LONERGAN EDWARDS AND ASSOCIATES LIMITED, DAVID JONES LIMITED – ASX DJS, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, WITCHERY FASHIONS PTY LTD, MIMCO PTY LTD