Victoria Beckham's Plans To Open UK Retail Store

The former Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham, has plans to expand her fashion empire further by opening up a retail store in London.

(Courtesy of Style.com)

Victoria Beckham entered into the intricately-webbed world of fashion in 2004 with American denim brand Rock and Republic. She was co-designing luxury brand jeans, skirts and knitwear before launching her very own fashion line in 2006. Victoria has also previously modelled in fashion campaigns for luxury brand designers Dolce and Gabanna and Marc Jacobs. In 2008 she introduced her Victoria Beckham collection of dresses, which was very well received by the fashion industry - she is now a regular fixture on the New York Fashion Week circuit! I really admire the impression she's made in fashion as the transition from pop star to fashion designer could not have been easy! Her designs have been worn by actresses such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Hathaway and even pop-singer Beyonce Knowles.

(Courtesy of Fashionawards.com)

Aside from the fashion business world Beckham also manages to balance being a mum. The 39 year-old mother of four, has admitted that balancing her family life with her career has been a constant juggle. "The children are my priority and always have been and always will be so it's a little bit of a juggling act," she recently told the Vogue Festival at London's Royal Festival Hall.

Fashion is a big part of the families lives with her son Romeo making an appearance in the latest Burberry campaign and her sports-star husband David Beckham fronting an underwear campaign for H&M, it would seem the Beckham Family are the most fashionable family in the world!  

(Courtesy of GraziaDaily.com)

(Courtesy of Style.com)

It appears for Victoria Beckham, the world of fashion business has partnered-up with the world of motherhood. But even under pressure from the weight of both complicated worlds on her shoulders, she conquers on wearing the weight fashionably well - AND continues on in her quest to open her first retail store!

I am very impressed with her new business developments and plans for her retail store in London! And I am eager and curious to find out how well the store and her brand does in retail sales and revenue growth (along with it's fashion marketing and advertising).

Watch her entire interview at the Vogue Festival by following this link:

http://www.vogue.co.uk/special-events/vogue-festival-2013/news/sunday/victoria-beckham-vogue-festival-talk-and-interview

PPR Re-branded And Given New Name

The luxury and sportswear group PPR, which owns Puma, Gucci, Saint Laurent and more, have recently announced that the company is changing its name to Kering and embarking on a major re-branding. Kering, a title meant to signify the company’s 'caring' approach in developing it’s brands as well as acknowledging the company’s roots in France’s Brittany region (‘Ker’ means home in Breton). The new name was also accompanied by an owl logo and tagline “Empowering Imagination”.

So why would  a well-known and globally successfully luxury goods group like PPR, after devoting years towards establishing brand equity, etc. would make such a corporate transformation? And PPR reported revenue of 9.7 billion euros, or $12.5 billion, for last year. What are the company’s new expectations/hopes when it comes to sales growth and business revenue growth?

Louise Beveridge, Kering’s senior vice-president of communications, when asked to explain the name change said, “We still have a few assets which we need to sell, which is happening right now, but otherwise the group has completely changed shape, form, vocation and philosophy,” she continued. “The question then became: do we need to change the name?” 

I speculate PPR is looking for a new ‘appearance’ for the group and a brand new identity within. Therefore a new brand name = new brand concept.

(Courtesy of: WWD.com)

It seems the idea is that while the existing corporate brand lacked a sense of ‘personality’ and ‘a clear point of view’, the new Kering is “a name which is closer to the reality of our business today, which reflects our way our doing business, which reflects a point of view, which becomes a point of differentiation and a point with which our employees can actually identify with,” Beveridge also has said.

PPR, a 50 year-old company previously known as Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, was once a holding company with a wide range of assets that was run similar to a private equity firm. Then in 2005, François-Henri Pinault started a complete transformation that would change PPR, from a financial company with no specific focus, into an ‘industrial group’ made up of accessories and apparel brands with two main focuses - luxury and sport.

“Luxury and sport is the same business. Fundamentally, it’s the same value chain. You create, you produce, you distribute; clothing and accessories. Different price points, different clients, but fundamentally the same business,” Louise Beveridge has stated.

(Courtesy of: under30ceo.com)

I believe this change of name (as with the reasoning behind it) will most likely improve business sales for the company. Established in the business of fashion,branding, business development, product development, marketing, sales, in various fields ranging from textile sales to skincare sales, we have seen the changes companies go through to improve their identities (especially luxury brands in fashion business).

The name Kering makes a far more manageable word than (a phrase like) Pinault-Printemps-Redoute. And while the name ‘PPR’ was concise, it didn't appear to have much character. PPR is far too reminiscent of abbreviations like the “USSR” which might be best suited for a bank or law firm’s initials, but it honestly doesn't inspire much joy.

A marketing campaign, said to be carried out mostly though print advertisements and social media, has been planned to help spread the word before the name change officially takes effect in June.

In addition, let’s not forget other recent fashion business development changes made in relation to PPR– soon to be Kering’s – luxury brand Gucci’s buying-out of luxurytableware brand Richard Ginori. 

(Courtesy of: ilgazzettino.it)

It seems that many fashion business developments are in the works this year.  Gucci found inspiration to re-equip the historical company. After all, when it comes to product development, product sales and business sales with the right amount of creative direction, the possibilities can be endless!

H&M Red Carpet Collection

Having been quietly making high-end waves since Michelle Williams stepped out on the red carpet at last year’s BAFTAs in a custom-made cream and black gown, the label is launching Conscious Exclusive: its eagerly-anticipated, Hollywood-inspired black tie collection.

The collection is made with sustainable materials for feel-good bonus points – something key to the collection’s integrity. Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s Head of Design: ‘For us at H&M, it’s natural to think about sustainability, and to have it at the heart of our work. I love how this collection has pure glamour and style, and is made from more sustainable materials.’

H&M is clearly upping its high fashion game, having shown its autumn/winter 2013 collection on the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week and dressed Helen Hunt for the Oscars. But, as the collection launches it proves that H&M  haven't lost sight of its consumer and know exactly what we want when it comes to fashion! 

H&M is so well known for its designer collaborations and the collection is a fantastic marketing opputunity to join Topshop into the brave leap onto the high fashion stage. Narrowing the chasm between high end and high street. 

This new transition from high street retailer to high end fashion  is incredibly interesting and something that would never been imaginable a few years ago. High street retailers are raising their profile and celebritites are choosing to buy H&M and Topshop over other high end designers.

I love how the collection is accessible for every women to feel hollywood glamour! The collection looks amazing and the sustantial material used throughout the collection adds even more bonus points! I can't wait for its launch  on 12th April this month!
 

(All photos Courtesy of Elle.co.uk)