NEWS


Tamaris opens its first flagship store at the Paris Opera House T


amaris has opened its first flagship store in the immediate vicinity of the Paris Opera – one of the cultural heartbeats of the city. An important strategic step, the brand said, to further establish itself as the leading commercial fashion brand in France, but also globally.


Tamaris has deliberately chosen one of the most exposed locations that Paris has to offer, near the


Opera metro station, to make a strong statement to the global audience that frequents the French metropolis.


There is a large LED wall above the entrance with moving images that will attract passers-by. Upon entering the store, the multi- faceted product portfolio opens up, which includes the Tamaris licence range as well as shoes.


“This Paris showroom offers our customers a unique experience,”


said Gwenael Le Gouallec, Country Manager for Tamaris in France. “Together with system partner Stephane Mordowicz (Groupe SMC), who will operate the store, we intend to continue the strategic expansion in France, one of our most important export markets.” The specially-developed look and feel of the store is characterised by lots of white space, warm colours and a minimalist design – for a modern feel-good atmosphere


that invites customers to linger. At the same time, the store concept is based on a familiar brand experience that clearly focuses on the product, as is usual with Tamaris.


“The Paris flagship store sets a new course for the Tamaris in- store shopping experience and thus represents an important strategic investment in the future of the brand,” added Cathleen Burghardt, Head of Marketing at Tamaris.


120,000 retail jobs lost in 2023 due to store closures O


ver 10,000 retail stores closed last year and almost 120,000 jobs were lost,


according to figures shared by the. Compared with 2022, the number of store closures was down by almost 39 per cent and the number of job losses was also down by 21 per cent. 2022 was retail’s worst year for closures since the financial crisis of 2008, said Professor Joshua Bamfield, Director at the Centre for Retail Research.


He explained that “this ‘improvement’ is probably best viewed as a trend that is ‘less bad’ rather than ‘good’ and doesn’t reflect any real strength in the sector.”


During the 2023 calendar year, a total pf 119,405 jobs were lost, while 2022 saw jobs losses totalling 151,641.


“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their


belts, reducing retail spend,” added Prof Bamfield.


“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages


Fashion manufacturers are ready to storm ahead in 2024, report finds


C


lothing, footwear and accessories manufacturers are set to go from strength to strength in 2024, according to a new report.


Small and medium-sized firms in the sector achieved a score of 78 out of 100 in the latest Manufacturers’ Health Index, compiled quarterly by inventory software brand, Unleashed. The index is calculated from a number of key performance metrics including sales, purchasing, and internal efficiencies that impact


stocking levels and lead times across 16 manufacturing categories. A score of 50 points or more indicates that a sector is performing well against these metrics. Of the 16 manufacturing categories analysed, clothing,


footwear and accessories ranked six – above the national average of 77. It has also managed to keep its overstock levels low at £52,475, down from £77,400 in 2021. Jarrod Adam, Head of Product at Unleashed, said: “Manufacturers in every industry category were hit by challenges from all directions in 2023 – including high inflation and rising borrowing costs. “The UK fashion industry contributes £62 billion to the UK economy and supports 1.3 million jobs. While the cost-of-living crisis


and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”


The research centre highlighted that many of these closures could be explained by businesses restructuring and putting more resources in their online markets. Since 2010, more than 420,000 retail jobs have been lost and between 2022 and 2023, insolvencies jumped up by 52 per cent.


has got some people tightening their purse strings, fashion manufacturers could have fared remarkably well. High street clothing is a relatively affordable luxury compared to bigger ticket items, and demand can be bolstered by social media influencers, personalised communications and discount codes.”


Looking ahead to the coming year, Mr Adam added: “Whether manufacturers are a supplier to a household name, or trade as independent fashion brands, our analysis suggests that they are in a strong position to meet this demand because they have finely-tuned their inventory management processes. Of course, any improvements they make would put them on an even stronger footing in this highly-competitive and fast-moving sector.”


6 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • FEBRUARY 2024


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