Author: Dave Antrobus

Superdry’s restructuring plans receive robust shareholder support, indicating confidence in the company’s turnaround strategy.Shareholders have approved a £10 million equity raise, underwritten by founder Julian Dunkerton, aimed at enhancing liquidity.Creditors have given the green light to rent reductions on 38 of Superdry’s 94 UK stores, strengthening the restructuring plan.Upcoming High Court hearing is scheduled to sanction Superdry’s restructuring strategy, marking a significant milestone.Leadership at Superdry expresses gratitude, anticipating a positive trajectory for the brand post-restructuring.In a decisive vote on 14 June, Superdry shareholders have endorsed the company’s plan for a £10 million equity raise. This financial manoeuvre is underwritten by…

Graduate Fashion Week concluded with its prestigious awards ceremony, highlighting top design talent.Alice Daggett from Winchester School of Art claimed the top Gold Catwalk Award.Patrik Platko from Coventry University secured the Silver Catwalk Award.Elizaveta Lykova from Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts received the Bronze Catwalk Award.These awards underscore the enduring support from industry leaders like Debenhams.com, Next, and Zalando.Graduate Fashion Week (GFW), hosted at The Truman Brewery in east London from 10-13 June, culminated in a ceremony yesterday where top honours were awarded to standout designs. Organised by the Graduate Fashion Foundation, this event serves as a launchpad…

The upcoming 2024 general election in the UK sees the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties presenting their distinct retail policies.The Liberal Democrats propose abolishing business rates in favour of a ‘commercial landowner levy.’Conservative plans focus on providing a £4.3bn support package for small businesses to alleviate high street burdens.Labour suggests overhauling business rates to ensure fairness between high street and online enterprises, though details remain undisclosed.Each party has differing approaches to international trade, apprenticeship levies, and retail crime.In the lead-up to the 2024 general election, the UK’s major political parties have outlined their retail policies. The Liberal Democrats are…

The Labour party has introduced its election manifesto, proposing major changes affecting the fashion retail industry.A new system replacing business rates aims to create a fair balance between high street and online retailers.The manifesto plans to combat retail crime by introducing a specific offence for assaults on shopworkers.It seeks to ensure access to training, apprenticeships, and work experience for young people aged 18 to 21.Labour will pursue a free trade agreement with India and the GCC while seeking an EU-UK mutual recognition agreement.The much-anticipated Labour manifesto outlines significant reforms intended to reshape the landscape of the fashion retail industry. It…

Lea Cranfield, chief buying officer at End Clothing, is set to leave the business in August.Terry Betts has been appointed as the interim head of buying and merchandising.Lea Cranfield’s impact at End Clothing includes strengthening the team’s functions and capabilities.Betts brings extensive experience from roles at The Elder Statesman and Thread.End Clothing has made strategic promotions and hires to reinforce their team.Lea Cranfield, who has significantly contributed to End Clothing since joining in May 2023 from Yoox Net-a-Porter, will be leaving her position as chief buying and merchandising officer in August. Her exit marks a notable change in the company’s…

Quiz, a well-known womenswear retailer, unveiled a flagship store in Manchester’s Trafford Centre.The new 2,500 sq ft store replaces the previous city centre location with a focus on premium aesthetics.Features include porcelain flooring, gold highlights, and LED technology for a modern shopping experience.The store presents a range of occasionwear, casualwear, footwear, and accessories, including the ‘summer luxe’ collection.This opening increases Quiz’s standalone UK stores to 68, solidifying its presence in Manchester.Quiz, a leading name in womenswear, has expanded its retail footprint by opening a flagship store at Manchester’s Trafford Centre. The new 2,500 sq ft store is designed to offer…

Marks & Spencer has appointed Alex Scott, a former England footballer and sports presenter, as its first activewear ambassador.This strategic appointment precedes the UEFA Euro tournament and the Paris Olympics, significant events on the sporting calendar.Scott expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration through social media, highlighting the iconic status of the brand.Marks & Spencer has made significant investments in expanding its sportswear range, identifying it as a major growth area.The retailer has partnered with prominent sports brands via The Sports Edit platform to enhance its sportswear offerings.Marks & Spencer has enlisted Alex Scott, a respected voice in sports presenting and…

A High Court ruling requires former BHS directors to pay fines for wrongful trading and misfeasance.Dominic Chandler and Lennart Henningson have been ordered to pay a combined £18 million.The court found directors breached duties, preventing timely insolvency proceedings.Retail Acquisitions’ purchase of BHS in 2015 is under scrutiny eight years after its collapse.Additional legal actions against other directors, including Dominic Chappell, are ongoing.The High Court has mandated that former BHS directors, Dominic Chandler and Lennart Henningson, pay a significant fine of at least £18 million following a ruling on their liability for wrongful trading and misfeasance. Each director is required to…

In an impactful restructure, IngreGrsy now holds a significant 38.46% of Dr Martens, reshaping ownership under Permira’s fund.Dr Martens’ ownership dynamics shift as IngreGrsy replaces IngreLux as majority shareholder in Permira V.Despite ownership changes, Permira continues to manage Dr Martens’ influence over its operations and strategic direction.Dr Martens faces challenges with a substantial share price drop and multiple profit warnings, stressing financial restructuring.The leadership transition at Dr Martens sees Kenny Wilson step down, with Ije Nwokorie taking over amid strategic refocusing.In a significant development in the corporate structure of Dr Martens, Guernsey-based IngreGrsy has acquired a substantial 38.46% stake, representing…

In April, the UK’s economic growth showed no change, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).The stagnation was expected by analysts, with contributing factors including weak retail sales due to inclement weather.While services output saw a slight increase, retail made the largest negative impact on this sector.The Conservative party claims economic recovery, but criticism follows stagnant GDP figures.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves express differing views on the economic outlook.In April, the UK’s economy experienced stagnation, with a real gross domestic product (GDP) showing no month-on-month growth. This data, released by the…