Lisa Dengler
Crystii Lin
Nhi Py
Robbie W
Mikko Puttonen
Quiet Logistics, the only multi-tenant robotic Fulfillment to Consumer (F2C) outsource provider, announced that The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens has gone live with Quiet Logistics as its fulfillment partner to help manage its rapid growth. Featured on the Today Show, NPR and most recently The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens offers unique patent-pending Dual Button Down Technology to eliminate blouse gape.
The "O effect" has been sudden and spectacular, appreciably increasing sales and placing considerable expectations on the organization. "We chose Quiet Logistics because of its proven track record of being able to handle growth with continued quality," said Rochelle Behrens. "We can focus on growing our business and have a reliable partner in fulfillment and logistics."
Quiet Logistics leverages industry leading warehouse automation technologies and robotics to deliver the highest levels of service including order and inventory accuracy at competitive price points over an infrastructure that can scale with even the steepest of growth curves.
Fed up with impractical and poorly fitting button down shirts to wear to work, Rochelle Behrens invented The Shirt. "Any woman who has ever worn a button-down shirt knows exactly what I mean. It is that see-straight-through-to-the-bra phenomenon that occurs between the buttons on so many women's shirts," Ms. Behrens said. "The Dual Button Down Technology is hidden and feels natural to the shirt – no metal objects or sticky tape allowed. The buttons are strategically placed so you can button up, or down to suit your needs. The fabric is stretch, comfortable, wearable and versatile. And the tailoring is slimming, because if it fits properly across the bust, you can wear your real size, making 'the gape' history."
"We love a high-speed growth story because we are one ourselves," said Bruce Welty, CEO of Quiet Logistics. "Quiet Logistics understands what it takes to properly manage growth while delivering on customers' expectations. We are thrilled to have The Shirt as our new customer and look forward to providing quality fulfillment services to help facilitate its phenomenal growth."
The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens eliminates blouse gape, that see-straight-through-to-the-bra phenomenon that occurs on women's button down shirts through its patent-pending Dual Button Technology.
Luxury apparel designer, Donni Charm, launched a 24-hour sale of their most popular products using a Facebook pop-up shop. Announced to a national television audience, the Denver, Colorado-based company hosted the sale using a shop on the Donni Charm Facebook page.
The shop, hosted by Infused Commerce, allowed visitors to browse an exclusive selection of Donni Charm scarves and purchase securely without leaving Facebook.
"Offering our products right from our Facebook page gave us a chance to connect directly with our customers, which meant not only revenue but also more Facebook fans who we hope will buy from us in the future," said Joey Mosko, CEO of Donni Charm.
In addition to a fully functional social commerce store, Infused Commerce provided custom features to the Donni Charm Facebook shop including coupon code functionality and inventory management. Total set up time took under 4 days to complete.
"Even with customizations, Infused Commerce set us up with a Facebook shop quickly and affordably," Mr. Mosko added.
Facebook, the world's largest social network with over 600 million users, is becoming a direct commerce channel as brands seek to maximize their social media investment and deepen relationships with customers. With full e-commerce functionality, Facebook shops give brands the opportunity to host special offers for their fans.
Fans, in turn, are beginning to find exclusive deals from brands that aren't offered anywhere else.
According to the independent research form, eConsultancy, special offers and shopping are the highest reasons why people follow brands on Facebook, along with activities such as following events and leaving feedback.
"Brands like Donni Charm are ahead of the curve when they host product sales on their Facebook page," said Arthur Tew, Director of Operations at Infused Industries, the social commerce solutions provider of Infused Commerce.
"Customer experiences on Facebook are not only engaging but also rewarding when fans share discoveries with their networks," added Mr. Tew.
"The benefits of participating in social commerce can be tremendous." Luxury apparel designer, Donni Charm, launched a 24-hour sale of their most popular products using a Facebook pop-up shop. Announced to a national television audience, the Denver, Colorado-based company hosted the sale using a shop on the Donni Charm Facebook page.
The shop, hosted by Infused Commerce, allowed visitors to browse an exclusive selection of Donni Charm scarves and purchase securely without leaving Facebook.
"Offering our products right from our Facebook page gave us a chance to connect directly with our customers, which meant not only revenue but also more Facebook fans who we hope will buy from us in the future," said Joey Mosko, CEO of Donni Charm.
In addition to a fully functional social commerce store, Infused Commerce provided custom features to the Donni Charm Facebook shop including coupon code functionality and inventory management. Total set up time took under 4 days to complete.
"Even with customizations, Infused Commerce set us up with a Facebook shop quickly and affordably," Mr. Mosko added.
Facebook, the world's largest social network with over 600 million users, is becoming a direct commerce channel as brands seek to maximize their social media investment and deepen relationships with customers. With full e-commerce functionality, Facebook shops give brands the opportunity to host special offers for their fans.
Fans, in turn, are beginning to find exclusive deals from brands that aren't offered anywhere else.
According to the independent research form, eConsultancy, special offers and shopping are the highest reasons why people follow brands on Facebook, along with activities such as following events and leaving feedback.
"Brands like Donni Charm are ahead of the curve when they host product sales on their Facebook page," said Arthur Tew, Director of Operations at Infused Industries, the social commerce solutions provider of Infused Commerce.
"Customer experiences on Facebook are not only engaging but also rewarding when fans share discoveries with their networks," added Mr. Tew.
"The benefits of participating in social commerce can be tremendous."
In Korea, adidas opens the first women's specific retail store whose new concept and image aims to be a trendsetter for adidas retail worldwide. This new and exciting sport and style destination designed especially for women, stands for a personalized service of advice whilst the purchase of the functional and attractive designed adidas Women collections, making it a trend-setter of a new way of shopping.
"The new store concept designed especially for our female client shows Korean consumers how much the brand cares and the importance of follow the market tendencies. The women's business is growing day by day and adidas Korea is excited to open the first adidas women's store with a totally new concept that will definitely be a trendsetter" states Zion Armstrong, Managing Director of adidas Korea.
The store environment has been created specifically with women's needs in mind with a visit turning into a personal and enjoyable experience, accomplished through an in-store design featuring clean lines, a soft colour palette and an uncompromising focus on detail.
This unique women's retail concept features an improving way of servicing the consumer. The in-stores staff features training and fitness experts, able to direct consumers in their fitness goal and give advice about the most appropriate footwear and apparel to wear for different sports disciplines as well as help with styling so consumers can take their own personal daily style to the gym.
Another first for this women's concept store is the creation of a training and fitness community with regular training workshops organised as well as frequent styling sessions, seasonal special offers and also exclusive product previews. Information on local workout classes and gym partners is also provided to consumers providing a holistic women's fitness package.
The in-store highlights are adidas women and adidas by Stella McCartney collections. The spring/summer 2011 Women's collection introduces exciting concepts that come together with leading adidas technologies and the latest design innovations that cater to every workout need of the female athlete. Highlights for this season are the Women's TechFit compression garments and the very feminine adilibria range.
In the adidas by Stella McCartney collection, the pinnacle fusion of performance and style enters the spring/summer 2011 season with the introduction of Weekender, a new outdoor category for Korean consumers to look out for alongside other collection highlights such as Cycling, Running and the new seamless underwear line. This season's collection also features new styles in Golf, Gym Yoga and Gym Studio and Tennis.
MANGO participates at Novo Mania, possibly one of the most important dates for international fashion brands present in the Chinese market. The fair takes place at the emblematic Shanghai Exhibition Centre from 9 to 11 March and gathers more than 150 Chinese and international brands as well as professionals working in the Chinese fashion retail sector.
The Chinese market is currently growing fast and in a few years has become a point of reference on the world economy stage. Unlike most international fashion brands, MANGO first appeared in China in 2002 and by 2007 had more than 60 stores and was well-established in cities like Shanghai and Beijing, given the speedy growth MANGO is currently experiencing in the Chinese market.
MANGO currently has 134 points of sale in the 34 most important cities on a commercial level, and is planning to consolidate its presence in each of them in 2011. Last year MANGO opened a corporate office to put together a local team based in Shanghai with representatives of the most important departments.
"The brand's main short- and mid-term objective is to make the Chinese market one of its most important," - stated David Sancho, vice-president for Expansion in China -"building a made-to-measure structure for China which takes into account the size of the country and the diversity of cultures within it."
In 2010 MANGO opened a total of 77 new points of sale in China and is planning to open over 60 points of sale this year. For now the plan is to open two flagship stores in venues of 800 – 1,000 m2 in main cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou or Shenzhen. MANGO is also present in other smaller Chinese cities like Changchun and Xian, which have registered very good sales.
During the 2010 financial year the sales in China represented 2.7% of the total turnover of the MANGO CHAIN (retail price excluding VAT). For 2011 the Chinese market is expected to reach 4% of the total turnover forecast for the MANGO Chain (retail price excluding VAT).
NOVO MANIA is an international fashion fair that allows contemporary urban fashion brands to introduce their business and product into the Chinese market. The last edition of the fair, Novo Mania 2010, congregated more than 50 exhibitors and over 100 international brands. More than 5,000 professionals from the sector, including media, potential franchise-holders and buyers, shopping centres and department stores throughout China, visited the fair.
MANGO is the second largest exporter of women's fashion in Spain. Its concept is based on uniting an affordable price with a quality product which follows the latest fashions. The brand image is strengthened by its company-owned stores, which are the company's best publicity and create a dynamic atmosphere that fits the personality of its customers.
VF Corporation, a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel, is announcing new 5-year financial targets at its investor meeting in New York City. Eric Wiseman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and other members of VF's management team will be discussing the company's plans to reach its 2015 goals of adding $5 billion in revenues and $5 in earnings per share growth from 2010 levels.
"VF's momentum continues to build," said Wiseman. "We're approaching the next five years with confidence, and with the belief that the full potential of our brands is just beginning to unfold. We have a strategic plan in place to drive revenues at a 10 percent annual rate and earnings at a 12 percent annual rate, with operating margins rising to 15 percent over the next five years. Our goal is to reach $12.7 billion in revenues by 2015. Growth will come domestically and internationally, across all coalitions, and in both our wholesale and direct-to-consumer businesses."
Key components of the $5 billion in expected revenue growth include:
• $3 billion from Outdoor & Action Sports, where revenues have grown on average by 17 percent over the past five years. Building on well-established and highly profitable domestic, international and direct-to-consumer platforms, The North Face and Vans brands, which account for 75 percent of total coalition revenues, are targeting annual growth of 16 percent and 13 percent, respectively. By 2015, Outdoor & Action Sports should account for at least half of VF's total revenues.
• $1 billion from growth in Jeanswear through the Wrangler and Lee brands, led by expansion in international markets such as Asia, Europe and Latin America.
• $1 billion from higher revenues across Sportswear, Imagewear and Contemporary Brands, combined, over the next five years.
• The meeting is also focusing on international and direct-to-consumer growth plans and targets, including:
• 15 percent annual growth in international revenues. Asia will be VF's fastest growing market, with revenues by 2015 of $1.3 billion, representing an annual growth rate of 28 percent. VF's largest international market, Europe, and the Americas region are both targeted to grow 11% annually.
• 15 percent annual growth in direct-to-consumer revenues. More than 700 new stores across a variety of VF brands will be opened during the next five years, bringing the total number of stores to about 1,500 by 2015. E-commerce revenues are expected to triple during this period, reaching nearly $400 million.
Expanding Margins and Strong Cash Generation
The profitability of VF's Outdoor & Action Sports, international and direct-to-consumer businesses are substantially above the corporate average. Higher growth in these highly profitable businesses will fuel expansion in both gross margins and operating margins over the next five years. By 2015 operating margins are expected to rise to 15 percent from 13.3 percent in 2010.
Cash flow from operations reached $1 billion in 2010; continued strong cash flow generation is anticipated over the next five years, reaching a cumulative total of $6 billion over the period.
"We are confident we have the brands and infrastructure in place to support these growth plans," continued Wiseman. "We have well-established platforms not only in the United States, but also in Europe, Asia and Latin America that will be leveraged to grow our existing portfolio of powerful brands. We also have the financial strength and cash flow to build significant shareholder value. Our priority for cash flow continues to be acquisitions, primarily in the outdoor and action sports category."
Also to be presented at the meeting will be an update to VF's Growth Drivers, which include a new focus on innovation.
"Innovation is our newest Growth Driver, and will play a significant part in our plans to drive organic growth and higher gross margins," said Wiseman. "We will foster a global culture of innovation across brands and functions, supported by new processes, new skills and talent, and new collaborative networks to accelerate the pace of breakthrough product introductions."
VF's other Growth Drivers include:
Build Lifestyle Brands: Emphasizing activity-based lifestyle brands that speak authentically to consumers' needs and aspirations.
Go Global: Growing in both established and emerging markets, with efforts concentrated in Europe, China, India, Brazil and Mexico, with a goal of 40% of total VF revenues from international markets by 2015.
Serve Consumers Directly: Growing direct-to-consumer revenues to 22% of total revenues by adding branded retail stores and building stronger consumer relationships through brand websites and social media.
Enable VF's Future. Investing in people through tools, training and development opportunities, and in supply chain capabilities that reduce cost and provide speed, flexibility and value.
Win with Winning Customers. Leveraging consumer knowledge and global brand expertise to grow market shares and bring exclusive brands to key retail customers.
VF Corporation is a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel with more than 30 brands, including Wrangler, The North Face, Lee, Vans, Nautica, 7 For All Mankind, Eagle Creek, Eastpak, Ella Moss, JanSport, John Varvatos, Kipling, lucy, Majestic, Napapijri, Red Kap, Reef, Riders and Splendid.
Niche Retail LLC, an industry leader in providing world-class eCommerce solutions, announces its new partnership with baby clothing designer and retailer, Estella. The luxury baby boutique, based in New York City, offers designer brands, as well as its own line of eco-friendly baby clothing, made in the United States.
Estella selected Niche Retail as its eCommerce partner based on experience and expertise in the online retail industry. Niche Retail will help Estella achieve its goals of growing online sales, increasing brand recognition, and boosting conversion rates.
“We’re very excited about our partnership with Niche Retail. This alliance allows Estella to focus on product development and growing the brand, while leaving our eCommerce efforts to the experts,” said Estella Founder Chike Chukwulozie. “There is a large market of parents out there - beyond celebrities, stylists and royalty - that are looking for high-end, luxury clothing for their kids. Niche Retail will help us expand our reach and tap into that much larger web-based market.”
As an innovator in the eCommerce industry, Niche Retail designs, builds and operates Direct-to-Consumer and Business-to-Business online sales channels for premium brands. Adding additional value to brand partners, Niche Retail also offers a range of services including: Internet Strategy, Direct-to-Consumer & Retail Solutions, Marketing and Merchandising, Channel Support, Customer Care and Customer Relationship Management, Warehousing and Logistics, and Business Intelligence.
As a Magento Enterprise Partner, Niche Retail will utilize Magento's open source eCommerce platform to optimize the current estella-nyc.com, engage customers and enhance the customer experience, and design effective marketing campaigns.
The online luxury boutique features designer baby clothes from Jellycat, Kit + Lili, Appaman, and Album di Famiglia. Estella has its own brand of baby clothes, including onesies, rompers, tee shirts, leggings and baby layettes made of bamboo cotton. All Estella brand products are made from sustainable materials and manufactured in the United States.
"We see huge growth potential for Estella, and we believe our experiences in online retail and management of direct-to-consumer websites, in addition to our expertise with Magento, will deliver optimal results of estella-nyc.com. We expect the Estella brand to excel," said Niche Retail President Jeff Grice.
Sinomax USA, a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of memory foam bedding launches their Comfort Equation line of memory foam products during Spring Market in New York this week. The Comfort Equation line combines the best in world class memory foam comfort with the performance and durability of TENCEL, a sustainably sourced fiber made from eucalyptus trees.
To make the new Comfort Equation line the most comfortable, Sinomax USA is covering several quality grades of memory foam, including its proprietary PureFoam™ products, with Lenzing's sustainable TENCEL fabric. Sinomax USA, producers of CertiPUR-US certified memory foam, have engineered this line of products to regulate temperature and help with more restful sleep.
"Our research indicates that uncomfortable sleeping is related to moisture and temperature. That's because moisture amplifies temperature-based discomfort. So, night sweats during winter will leave you feeling colder, and during summer months, perspiration on covers will make hot feel like boiling," explains Steven J. Romero, Sinomax USA Vice President of Marketing.
This line is designed to perform year round, in both warm and cold climates. Romero adds, "First, there's the pressure-point relieving comfort of our precision support memory foam products, like our PureFoam. Next, with TENCEL, the silky soft cover performs in multiple ways to enhance your bedding experience. With moisture management, sleep is cozy and dry all night long."
Nina Nadash from Lenzing Merchandising Home Textiles, Americas, says, "It is exciting to have Sinomax's Comfort Equation line with TENCEL available in the market. Its inclusion gives retailers the opportunity to offer consumers another complimentary level of bedding products, offering consumers the unique ability to furnish their entire bedding suite in products that offer the most comfort in a sustainable manner. "
Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China opens for business next Friday at the China Import and Export Fair Complex. Running for four days from 18 – 21 March 2011, this international trade platform features 189 exhibitors from China, Italy, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong and Turkey.
China’s fast-growing economy has created a rich business environment for domestic suppliers of home textile products. As a result, the fair welcomes regional pavilions from Haining, Jiaxing, Ningbo, Shaoxing and Yuhang. These manufacturing clusters are renowned for producing an expansive range of quality home textiles.
Held on 20,000 sqm of exhibition space, visitors attending the fair have the chance to see and source an amazing selection of bedding, wall and window textiles, floor coverings, sofa, leather and upholstery fabrics.
This popular whole home trade fair is held together with the China International Ceramics Exhibition, the China International Furniture Fair, the China International Outdoor and Leisure Fair and Homedecor & Housewares China. The synergy of co-locating of these exhibitions under one roof benefits suppliers and buyers alike.
With the winning entries of the China International Home Textiles Product Design Competition being showcased across the flyover linking the China International Furniture Fair in Zone A and B and Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China in Zone C, fair participants can also keep abreast of the latest industry trends.
To forward the development of the home textile industry, product presentations led by exhibitors will be held together on-site:
- The Latest Development of Oeko-Tex Standard, led by Ms May Zhang, Office Manager, TESTEX Swiss Textile Testing Ltd.
- Oeko-Tex100 Certification and Functional Textile Certification Labels, presented by Ms Rachel Huang, General Manager, Hohenstein Textile Consulting (Shanghai) Co Ltd.
Intertextile Guangzhou Hometextile China is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT, the China Home Textile Association (CHTA) and the China Foreign Trade Guangzhou Exhibition Corp.
Ultra tough slash and cut resistant sleeves, offering the highest possible BS EN 388:2003 blade cut resistance level 5 will reduce workplace violence related injuries, according to UK based PPSS Group.
Their recently developed cut resistant fabric Cut-Tex PRO is taking the world by storm and it is now being used to line slash cut resistant sleeves, designed to protect police, prison and immigration officers as well as private security and mental health care professionals.
Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group states: "We have recently received a number of enquiries for knife and cut resistant sleeves from SWAT teams in the USA, from some of the largest private security firms in the world and from numerous high security hospitals and prison facilities."
According to Robert Kaiser, there are also a noticeable increase of enquiries coming from the steel industry, glass manufacturing and even the construction industry.
Cut-Tex PRO lined cut resistant sleeves provide exceptional protection from vicious slashes, accidental cuts, and also from bites (important for mental health), whilst maintaining a high degree of dexterity to the wearer.
"Our most successful cut resistant arm guard model is named VERSION 1 and features an inner layer of ultra high cut resistant Cut-Tex PRO and an outer layer of extremely durable CORDURA."
We have to accept the fact that many professionals face a higher level of risk when dealing with potentially hostile or intoxicated members of the public; this is why this type of product certainly seems to make sense.
Robert Kaiser also explains: "Based on statistics and our own research we can clearly state that cuts on open hands and forearms are most common injuries within police services and the private security sector."
"These wounds are classed as 'defensive wounds' and are usually received after a police or security officer has instinctively raised his hands in order to protect his face."
All slash and cut resistant arm guards can be manufactured using different outer materials and can be used in conjunction with Cut-Tex PRO lined cut resistant tactical gloves, some of which even provide puncture resistance from hypodermic needles."
Johns Manville (JM) Nonwovens Europe is running extensive programs to boost the use of raw materials from renewable resources and from recycling streams for its products.
"We are clear about our responsibility and recently launched intensive R&D and capital expenditure programs in this area," said Martin Kleinebrecht, head of Product Management and Technology for JM's European Nonwovens business.
One important project is focused on the use of recycled PET (RPET) from the drinking bottle market, giving a PET bottle a long-term second life in a durable application such as in a DuraSpun carrier for roofing membranes. "Our RPET usage increases substantially month-by-month in core product lines, while for some other products, like the SpunFil range used for filtration media, we will currently continue to source from 100 percent virgin material," said Kleinebrecht. "We understand that a switch to RPET for some applications and special high-end processing conditions will likely not happen in the near future; however, we intend to put significant effort in this area to achieve a medium-term breakthrough."
Another project involves the development of binder systems based on renewable resources. Following comprehensive tests on pilot equipment JM has decided to invest in a new dedicated binder preparation line at its Spunbond site in Bobingen, Germany, that will become fully operational in January 2012. One of Johns Manville's nonwoven plants located in Qingpu, China, has already fully converted to the new technology as of the end of 2010.
"Using more and more feedstock from organic ingredients in our products is a cornerstone of our long-term strategy and we will continue to place a high priority on these developments," added Kleinebrecht. JM's world-class research and development center in Littleton, Colorado (USA) provides strong technical support while JM's European Nonwovens business also has the advantage of the experienced personnel in its technical competence centers located in Bobingen and Wertheim, Germany.
In addition to these projects, JM Nonwovens Europe is working on formaldehyde-free binder systems to meet the increasing demands of customers and end-users in various applications.
"It goes without saying that we must neither compromise on product specifications nor on processing conditions on our customers' lines nor on the product performance in end-use applications," confirmed Kleinebrecht. "Intelligent engineering must be able to combine sustainable product solutions with the high performance and the reliability our customers are used to from our products. We are well equipped to proceed on that path. It is definitely an exciting journey."
Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality products for building insulation, mechanical insulation, commercial roofing, and roof insulation, as well as fibers and nonwovens for commercial, industrial, and residential applications. JM serves markets that include aerospace, automotive and transportation, air handling, appliance, HVAC, pipe and equipment, filtration, waterproofing, building, flooring, interiors, and wind energy.
