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Innovation Drives Lingerie
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EBI Acquires Ballet Lingerie
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Scientists Study Fears Over
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Ask Kevin
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Ask Andy
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Non-slip Lingerie Tape
Page
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January Retailers' Sales Review
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4
Top Form to Increase Manufacturing Capacity
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Q4 Puts Macy's Back in Profit
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Page 4 .
First Class?
A beautiful young blonde woman boards a plane to
LA with a ticket for the coach section. She looks at the seats in coach
and then looks ahead to the first class seats. Seeing that the first class
seats appear to be much larger and more comfortable, she moves forward to
the last empty one. The flight attendant checks her ticket and tells the
woman that her seat is in coach. The blonde replies, "I'm young,
blonde and beautiful, and I'm going to sit here all the way to LA."
Flustered, the flight attendant goes to the cockpit and informs the
captain of the blonde problem. The captain goes back and tells the woman
that her assigned seat is in coach.
Again, the blonde replies, "I'm young, blonde and beautiful, and I'm
going to sit here all the way to LA."
The captain doesn't want to cause a commotion, and so returns to the
cockpit to discuss the blonde with the co-pilot. The co-pilot says that he
has a blonde girlfriend, and that he can take care of the problem. He then
goes back and briefly whispers something into the blonde's ear.
She immediately gets up, says, "Thank you so much," hugs the
co-pilot, and rushes back to her seat in the coach section. The pilot and
flight attendant, who were watching with rapt attention, together ask the
co-pilot what he had said to the woman.
He replies, "I just told her that the first class section isn't going
to LA."
10/15/05
Non-slip Lingerie Tape
Bluestar Silicones has launched a new line of Silbione
elastomers that use a platinum-based solution to give better wearer comfort in lingerie, support stockings and
medical textile applications.
The new products improve on the "anti-slip" silicone technology that has been used for more than 20 years to
help stockings and socks stay up and to keep bra cups in place.
Based on the firm's expertise in liquid silicone rubber technologies, Silbione TCS 7560 provides elasticity with
less compression for the wearer.
While Silbione TCS 7561 is said to be even more flexible, with very low compression, giving the wearer greater
comfort.
Created in 2007 with China National BlueStar Corporation's acquisition of Rhodia Silicones, Bluestar Silicones is a
global supplier of silicones with a turnover of EUR600m and manufacturing sites across the world.
050107
Hustler Lingerie Inks
Exclusive with Kevco
Industry leader Hustler Lingerie has signed an exclusive deal with Kevco, giving the distributor exclusive rights to market the top-selling sexy lingerie brand in the UK and Ireland.
Kevco, a UK based company with a diverse portfolio of brands including Pleaser shoes, has given Hustler Lingerie one of the largest guarantees ever in sexy lingerie history.
Hustler Lingerie President Elan Rofé says, "The fact that they're willing to guarantee such big numbers proves what we've known all along: Hustler Lingerie is a global leader in sexy fashion and lingerie. With the introduction of the new collection at new and more affordable price points, sales volume at the retail level will be huge. We're in good hands with Kevco, and everyone feels great about the deal."
For more info write info@electric-lingerie.com
11/24
Top Form to Increase Manufacturing Capacity
Top Form International Ltd., a Hong Kong bra maker that
supplies brands including Calvin Klein and Maidenform, plans to increase manufacturing capacity as retailers in
the U.S. and Europe restock and demand rebounds.
Top Form, which has almost tripled in market value over the past year, may build a fourth factory in China, Chairman
Willie Fung Wai Yiu said. The company may boost capacity by 20% within the next two years.
“The rising costs in China is a concern but China, especially for our trade, still comes ahead in that the
quality and skill levels are higher,” Fung said in an
interview in Hong Kong. “Right now, our priority is to rebuild our capacity because we see that demand is coming
back.”
The underwear and nightwear market in the U.S., Top Form’s biggest market, may grow 2.4% to $12.9 billion this year
after declining 8.6% in 2009, according to data from Euromonitor International. Top Form, which is 23% owned by
Belgian luxury lingerie maker Van de Velde NV, also supplies other brands sold by retailers including
Victoria’s Secret and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Fung said.
Top Form fell 3.1% to close at 62 Hong Kong cents, while the benchmark Hang Seng Index fell 0.75%. The stock has
climbed 188% in the past year.
China Retailing
The company shut its retail operation in China, where it previously sold the “MX Lingerie” brand, after losses in
its 2009 fiscal year widened to HK$25 million ($3 million) from HK$9.6 million. Top Form may yet return to retailing
in China should it find a local brand that it may acquire, Fung said.
While Chinese women are getting more interested in high-end lingerie, many of them “are scared that the foreign brands
are for bigger busted, bigger hips woman that won’t fit their bodies,” Shaun Rein, managing director at China
Market Research Group in Shanghai, said.
The Chinese underwear and nightwear market may grow 11.4% to 159.8 billion yuan ($23.4 billion) this year,
according to Euromonitor.
Net income for the bra maker in the six months to December was HK$33.8 million compared with a loss of HK$10.6 million
a year ago. Sales fell 12 percent to HK$633.2 million over the same period.
‘Still Difficult’
Top Form expects to make as many as 45 million bras in its 2010 fiscal year, which ends in June, Fung said. The
company sold 45.8 million bras in the previous 12-month period and 49.4 million in the 2008 fiscal year.
“Business is still difficult,” Fung said. “It’s going to be volatile and the good news is that it can’t be worse than
2009.”
The underwear and nightwear market in Europe, which is twice the size of the U.S., may decline 0.1 percent this
year to $30.7 billion compared with a decline of 2.8 percent in 2009, Euromonitor data showed. Top Form makes 69% of HK$1.37 billion annual sales in the U.S., with
Europe contributing 22%.
The company’s planned factory may be located in the southwestern province of Sichuan or in northeastern China.
Setting up a factory typically costs more than HK$10 million if the land is leased, Fung said. Top Form makes 60%
of its products in China, 33% in Thailand and the rest in the Philippines.
Lane Bryant to Launch Private-label Swimwear Range
Lane Bryant has rolled out a private-label swimwear range.
The collection will be available at over 200 stores and online.
The collection features underwire bra frames and a variety of mix and match separates. A tankini top style
incorporates bra sizes 38C-48DD, whilst bottom styles include: hipster, boyshort, slit skirt, contrast waistband
skirt and ruffle skirt. Bottom sizes range from 14 - 28.
"We are so excited to be serving our customer with the best fashion in all areas of swim. Not only does this collection
address an underserved market, it's the first of its kind to offer our most popular Cacique bra frames, providing
unmatched comfort and support," said Emily Ross, associate swimwear buyer.
Prices range from US$44.50 (separate bottoms) to $152 (Miraclesuit one piece).
January Retailers' Sales Review
Abercrombie & Fitch posted a double-digit sales hike, with total revenues up 16% to $222.8m for the four weeks to
January 30. This compared with sales of $191.5m a year earlier. Same-store sales for the month were up 8%.
A "record" January is how Aeropostale Inc describes its sales performance, posting a 15% rise in total sales to $111.2m from $96.5m last year. Same store sales increased 6% for the month. The company added that its gross margins for the month were higher than last year, and that its inventories remain well controlled and on plan.
American Eagle Outfitters Inc saw its total sales soar 18% to $163.5m, beating last year's $138.9m. Sales at stores open at least a year increased 10% for the month, compared with a drop of 22% a year ago.
Sales at The Bon-Ton Stores Inc increased 4.7% to $180.1m for the four weeks, compared with $172.0m a year ago. And sales at stores open a year or more rose 5.3%. Best performing businesses were moderate missy, petites and large-size sportswear, intimate apparel, children's and juniors, while men's was among the weakest.
The Buckle Inc reported a 4.4% rise in January net sales to $50.2m, from $48.0m last time. Comparable store sales, however, fell 1.2% on a year ago. The retailer operates 401 stores.
Winter storms hit January sales at The Cato Corporation, pushing revenues down 1% to $52.1m. Same-store sales at the value-priced women's wear retailer fell 4% from the prior year.
Destination Maternity posted a 1.1% fall in sales to $38.4m from $38.8m a year earlier. Comparable store sales in January were down 8.1%. The company described the results as "weaker than originally planned," but said they reflected the difficult retail environment, fewer markdowns and strong comparisons with last January.
Dillard Department Stores Inc said Thursday that its January sales fell 6% to $353.9m. Same-store sales for the month fell 5%, the firm said.
January net sales for Gap Inc rose 5% to $798m, while January sales at stores open at least one year rose 5%. Comparable store sales were up 2% at Gap North America, rose 4% at Banana Republic North America, and jumped 10% at Old Navy North America. Sales at its International unit grew 3%.
At Hot Topic Inc sales fell 11.2% to $39.8m from a year ago. Same-store sales fell 13.1%, with a 5.7% rise at its Torrid stores offset by a fall of 17.4% at the Hot Topic chain.
Kohl's Corporation posted a January sales hike, with total sales up 10.7% to $798m from $720m the year before. Same-store sales increased 6.5%. Footwear and womens reported the strongest comparable store sales increases, the retailer said.
Limited Brands, operator of Victoria’s Secret, Pink, La Senza and Henri Bendel,
reported net sales of $622.6m for the four weeks to January 30, up from $591.6m last year. Same-store sales increased of 6% during the period.
A new corporate structure and My Macy's localization drive fuelled growth at department store retailer
Macy's Inc, where total sales rose 3.4% to $1.255bn, up from $1.213bn last January. On a same-store basis, Macy's sales were also up 3.4%. Online sales at macys.com and bloomingdales.com combined were up 23.9%.
Nordstrom Inc saw its total retail sales rise 15.8% to $543m in January, up from $468m a year earlier. Same-store sales were up 14%.
Revenues increased 13% at Ross Stores Inc, rising to $411m in the four weeks to January
30, from $365m a year ago. Same store sales grew 8%.
Owned sales at retailer Saks Incorporated were $158.9m in January, 8% higher than last year's $147.1m. Comparable store sales increased 7.0% for the month. The strongest categories at Saks Fifth Avenue stores were women's designer and "gold range" apparel, women's shoes, handbags, fashion
jewelry, men's apparel, and men's shoes.
For the four weeks to January 30, Stage Stores Inc saw its total sales fall 10.2% to $67m from $75m. Comparable store sales dropped 11.3%. Andy Hall, president and CEO, said sales were hit by "lower clearance inventory and inclement weather."
Stein Mart Inc said its total sales declined 4.9% to $63.8m in January, while same-store sales fell 2.5%. Ladies' casual sportswear, ladies' boutique, and intimate apparel saw positive growth, while the most difficult business continued to be ladies' career fashion, the company said. It added that tight control of inventories meant there was less clearance merchandise this January.
At Target Corporation net January retail sales were $4,289m, a rise of 3.6% on last year's $4,138m. Same-store sales increased 0.5%, but were in line with our expectations after lower clearance sales held back year-on-year growth.
A focus on value helped off-price retailer The TJX Companies Inc to a 20% jump in sales for the four weeks to
January 30, rising to $1.3bn from $1.0bn a year ago. Same-store sales were up 12% versus a 4% drop last time. The company said: "Customer traffic continued to accelerate... and all of our divisions and growth vehicles are performing well."
The Wet Seal Inc said total revenue fell 2.5% to $30.9m in the four weeks to 30 January, with revenues at its Wet Seal stores down 3.9% and $5.1m at Arden B. Sales at stores open at least one year were down 3.7%.
January sales at Zumiez Inc rose 9.2% to $22.1m, up from $20.3m a year earlier.
The company reported same-store sales were up 1.8%, compared with a drop of 14.8% last time.
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