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Sustainable, savvy, and stylish could best describe the business moves made by certain retailers now winding down the year in stellar fashion.
Here, in no particular order, are Style, Inc.’s best of 2011 picks.The parent company of the fast fashion chain Zara is the largest global retailer, boasting a presence in 78 countries with 5,221 stores. Net sales for the company climbed 12%, boosted by 177 new stores (including Zara’s first in Australia) during the first half of 2011.
A bigger smash may have been the launch of Zara’s US e-commerce site followed by one for Japan. With speedy free shipping (and free returns) on a plethora of posh, yet pared-down, threads, Inditex only stands to gain more market share. No wonder the World Retail Congress recognized the company asInternational Retailer of the Year.
Amazon
Angling to run with the chic commerce crowd, Amazon made some swift moves to up its style quotient this year including hiring Julie Gilhart, former fashion director at Barney’s, launching a designer flash sale site dubbed MYHABIT, and adding a slew of affordable designer offerings from the likes of French Connection and BCBG to its marketplace.
But a stealth move came with the introduction of Kindle Fire. The 7-inch Android tablet may have entered a market littered with similar devices, except that Kindle Fire has distinct advantages. Attractive retail price of $199 aside,Kindle Fire enhances the shopping experience both within the Amazon ecosystem and without (think catalogs from J.Crew and Anthropology maximized on the touch screen). Global e-commerce software provider ChannelAdvisor reports that Amazon same-store sales increased 50 percent over last holiday season.
J.Crew
This was a make-or-break year for the preppy peddler, its head merchant prince Mickey Drexler and president and creative director (and universal girl crush) Jenna Lyons. The company was sold for $3 billion to a private equityfirm earlier this year but stepping away from the stock market has allowed J. Crew to take some fashion risks.
In an unprecedented showing at Fashion Week, J. Crew trotted its signature looks on the runway at Lincoln Center. Beyonce and her sister Solange made guest appearances as fans of the brand which only added fuel to J. Crew’s expansion fire. The company expanded into Canada and launched its e-commerce site in Europe this fall.
Burberry
The 155-year old British brand is not only staying one step ahead of its luxury competition, but it’s working hard to make itself a household name. During Fashion Week in London, Burberry’s partnership with Twitter allowed the masses to peek at tweeted backstage photos of each and every look in the collection before the livestream of its runway show on Facebook. It also made select items (coats and handbags only) available for purchase immediately after.
Though most working stiffs can’t afford a Burberry trench or $3,000 woven clutch, the brand smartly launched an aspirational entry point with its latest fragrance. Burberry Body’s advertising campaign was directed by Christopher Bailey, featuring British actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and shot by acclaimed fashion photographer Mario Testino. And it’s all on YouTube.
Topshop
The UK’s largest privately owned clothing retailer with more than 2,500 outlets gets points for aggressive expansion. Topshop opened in Toronto, put a Chicago flagship on Michigan Avenue, another outpost in New York City and a new location in Miami. Topshop/Topman stores hit Brazil and Australia and a new flagship in the UK will cozy up to the 2012 London Olympic Park.
But the one outlet to watch is in Las Vegas. Slated to open this coming March, Topshop’s $10 million investment in Sin City may push the brand further off the high street and closer to luxury as that store will be flogging posh frocks to high rollers.
source: forbes.com
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