Gift Focus inc Attire Accessories - July/August 2020

YOUNG CONSUMERS LOOKING TO ‘REUSE, REDUCE, RECYCLE’ FASHION, SAYS SURVEY An increasing amount of young consumers are buying, selling, mending or swapping their clothes, according to a recent survey by Mintel. Indeed, Mintel research shows that in the last year alone over half (52%) of those aged 25-34 bought second-hand clothes, compared to an average of 43%. Young Brits are turning their old clothes into hard cash, with 50% of 25-34-year-olds selling unwanted clothes in the last year, compared to 35% of consumers as a whole. And in the spirit of ‘make do and mend’, half (50%) of 25-34-year-olds have repaired damaged or worn-out clothes. Chana Baram, Mintel Retail Analyst, said, “The idea of ‘reusing, reducing and recycling’ has the potential to be a big disruptor in the fashion industry. Young shoppers seem to be emulating their grandparents, who were forced to ‘make do and mend’ during World War II. As the climate crisis continues to gain headlines, consumers’ perspectives are shifting. It’s no longer enough for clothing to be priced well, or to reference the latest trends; fashion brands and retailers also have to think about working towards a goal of providing more sustainable options. “Many young people today are likely to be influenced by the ‘Attenborough’ or ‘Greta’ effects, and are becoming far more aware of the negative effects fast fashion can have on the environment. As a result, we have seen a real increase in the number of businesses and retailers offering repair services, second-hand items or rental options.” Sustainable fashion is indeed making waves, with younger consumers taking heed from celebrity environmentalists such as Emma Watson and Joaquin Phoenix, and are starting to shop more responsibly when it comes to fashion. According to the study, 68% of 16-24-year-olds say they are trying to make more ethical fashion purchases now than they did in the last 12 months; this compares to an average of 57% of British shoppers. Overall, 30% of consumers agree they would choose a retailer based on whether or not they sold sustainable fashion ranges. However, 79% find it difficult to know which fashion retailers are ethical. Price is not perceived as an indicator of sustainability, with just 22% agreeing that the more you pay for fashion, the more likely it is to be ethical. However, six in 10 (59%) Brits would be willing to pay more for sustainable fashion. Finally, while Brits are interested in sustainable fashion, transparency is essential, as over two thirds (67%) of people agree that fashion retailers should let customers know when items are not made sustainably. Are you prepared for the changes in retail when it comes to sustainability? Drop us an email and let us know your thoughts. PANDORA NAMES MARTINO PESSINA AS NEW CCO Pandora has announced Martino Pessina as its new Chief Commercial Officer, reporting to CEO Alexander Lacik and serving on Pandora’s Executive Leadership Team. Martino joins Pandora from a position as President North America at H&M. Martino has spent close to 20 years in different roles at H&M and been in charge of retail, sales, merchandising, operations and global expansion. The newly established CCO position is said to be a cornerstone in Pandora’s new operating model, announced 4 th March, 2020. Leading Pandora’s ten new clusters, Martino will be responsible for commercial operations across the company’s more than 100 markets, and will manage a retail centre of excellence to improve global merchandising, store development, planning and execution. He will also lead a new function called Network & Franchise Management, overseeing the retail estate and supporting franchise partners globally. Pandora CEO Alexander Lacik says, “As part of our turnaround programme, we are strengthening the organisation and moving Pandora closer to consumers. Martino has an impressive track record in international mass-market fashion retail and will play a very important role in this transformation. He is a natural leader with excellent analytical skills and a deep understanding of shoppers. I am very happy to welcome him to our leadership team.” ANTLER SOLD TO ATR HOLDINGS British luggage brand Antler has been sold by UK based private equity investor Endless LLP, to ATR Holdings Limited, an associated company of Strandbags, Australasia’s leading luggage and accessories retailer. ATR has acquired the entire share capital of Antler, bringing new investment to the business, which employs over 200 staff and is headquartered in London. Endless acquired Antler in 2017, following a period of heavy losses over many years under previous ownership. Under the stewardship of Endless the business was restructured, including the appointment of Mark Hall as Executive Chairman and Ken Pratt as CFO. Antler has seen an improvement in underlying earnings of almost £4 million, introduced new product ranges to widespread acclaim and enhanced its e-commerce capability following investment in new product development and digital marketing. Felicity McGahan, Managing Director of Strandbags said, “We welcome this association with Antler. We at Strandbags have admired the Antler brand for some time, and we look forward to working with the Antler team to help support their growth ambitions in the UK and international markets.” 104