Business

Briefs

Victorian retailers stocking plus size labels will shortly be exposed to a new audience following the launch of a unique business targeted exclusively at the needs of females sized 16 and over.

The Diary

The team at lingerie retailer Bras N Things takes Ragtrader behind the scenes at the exclusive shoot for the launch of 'Annalise' – the collection’.

Danish footwear brand Duckfeet will be imported into Australia by a distributor who believes the economic crisis could work to his advantage.

It is my belief that ignorance is not always a terrible thing.

Trent Nathan’s popular nephew, Shane Barr, dropped out of the upmarket fashion business three years ago when the company, along with its labels, was sold to Gazal.

The future of collapsed footwear retailer Steve Madden could be decided in as little as seven days.

Private e-tailers are recording a boom in membership numbers as designers move to sell stock at up to 80 per cent off retail prices.

Listed retail group Gazal has flown under the radar for the launch of the newest brand in its stable, DV.

He refused to give audiences an example of the perfect runway strut, but designer Alex Perry was more than happy to judge that of Cassie Van Den Dungen and Tahnee Atkinson.

Global Vibes

Shares in listed UK retail group JJB Sports jumped more than 15 per cent after multi-millionaire Bill Gates purchased a stake in the company.

Corporatewear retailer Herringbone is back in business.

State of flex

It’s an intimidating thought that China’s economy is considered to be in the doldrums – just like everyone else – and yet it still recorded over six per cent growth in GDP for the first quarter of this financial year.

Merchandise planning tools don’t sound too sexy, but with contemporary automation, the art and science of planning come together.

The major trend for fashion technology over the next few years will concentrate on helping to consolidate stock automatically and how to integrate back office systems with the point of sale.

Gone are the days when visual merchandisers got out their paper and pencils to sketch a shop floorplan – the computer-generated planogram is now standard.

Launch a new label in this economic climate? Madness or marketing genius?