Omnichannel rules! Expect hybrid shopping “to define Christmas spending this year” as 87% of UK consumers plan to shop both online and in-store for gifts this year.
Image: CACI
That’s according to data specialists CACI, who flip the data to show that just 7% intend to shop exclusively in-store, and only 6% plan to do all their shopping online.
Generational and gender differences, of course, come into play, revealing further nuances with 19% of male Gen Zers saying they intend to shop entirely online, compared with just 1% of females in the same age group.
At the other end of the spectrum, 13% of male and 7% of female Baby Boomers expect to purchase all their gifts in-store, “showing that physical retail remains more prominent among older shoppers”, although not in the numbers we might expect.
The report highlights that last year’s retail performance “further supports the advantage of having a strong multichannel presence” as brands that enabled both physical and digital buying behaviour, with seamless integration, personalisation, and strong app and online experiences, “had some of the biggest gains”.
CACI took Korean beauty retailer PureSeoul as an example: “Known for combining digital reach with selective in-person experiences, the… brand more than doubled its sales in December 2024 compared with the same month the year before (up 118%)”.
Meanwhile clothing/lifestyle giant Uniqlo reported a 22% year-on-year omnichannel increase in December 2024 sales.
Alex McCulloch, Director at CACI, said: “If we look at the data from last Christmas, and what we’re hearing from consumers now, it’s clear that the brands set to win this season are the ones that recognise the need for a true multichannel approach.
“Not just because it’s practical, but because physical stores help build loyalty that carries over to online. That loyalty is being reinforced even earlier, as more retailers turn their stores into experiential spaces – some operating almost like ‘clubhouses’ that create connection and community long before a purchase is made.”
The ever-growing premium fashion brand Me+Em has opened its first boutique in Yorkshire, choosing Harrogate’s town centre Prospect Crescent for the new 1,300 sq ft space housed in a Grade II–listed former bank.
Me+Em
In keeping with the “global Me+Em design”, the Harrogate store features traditional English furniture mixed with modern design elements such as neutral-toned soft furnishings in fabrics by London-based designer Rose Uniacke.
The colour scheme for the “immersive space” is based on a rich forest green, a nod to the nearby Yorkshire Dales.
Large-scale haberdashery fixtures are used to showcase accessories and wardrobe staples, while bespoke bronze rails display curated product edits from the seasonal monthly collections.
Founded in 2009 by Clare Hornby, Me+Em’s ethos is that women “shouldn’t have to choose between quality and cost” while based on ‘intelligent style’ with a focus on “ensuring pieces are both flattering and functional, with a wear-forever appeal”.
The move into Yorkshire marks the latest chapter in Me+Em’s expansion, with the Harrogate store joining seven boutiques in London, including Marylebone High Street, King’s Road, Chelsea, Brook Street, Mayfair, Elizabeth Street Belgravia and at Battersea Power Station, plus stores in Manchester, Edinburgh. It’s the first UK store not in a major city. Internationally, the brand has two New York stores, plus Dallas Greenwich, Connecticut, and a soon-to-be-added Beverly Hills, California debut.
Lastest results filed last January showed the business to be progressing strongly. Group revenue increased by 24% to £147.9 million, driven by the success of its international business where revenues increased 50%. Gross profit was up 24% to £82.3 million with an improvement in margin to 56% from 55%.
Copenhagen-based fashion house Ganni has announced the appointment of three executives to key roles: Marcelo Noschese as president, Americas; Marie Valot as director of communications and public relations; and Guillaume Dacquet as director of marketing and image. All three will report directly to Ganni’s chief executive, Laura du Rusquec, and will work closely with the Executive Committee.
Marie Valot, Director of Communications and Public Relations, and Guillaume Dacquet, Director of Marketing and Image. – DR
Based in New York, Marcelo Noschese will be responsible for Ganni’s retail, wholesale, and e-commerce operations across the Americas. He has held senior leadership roles at houses including Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Ferragamo. Prior to joining Ganni, he was CEO of Prada Americas, overseeing operations in the US, Canada, and Latin America.
Marie Valot joins Ganni as director of communications and public relations. She has more than 15 years’ experience in brand communications, VIP and influencer strategies, and international partnerships. She previously led international communications for Balmain, Nina Ricci, and KCD Paris, where she spearheaded global campaigns, media strategies, and cross-functional projects.
Guillaume Dacquet has been appointed director of marketing and image. He joins Ganni from Estée Lauder Companies, where he worked on international rebranding initiatives and long-term communications platforms. He has also held roles within LVMH Beauty, notably for the Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy, Fresh, and Stella McCartney brands, in positions spanning strategic planning, consumer research, and innovation.
These three appointments form part of efforts to strengthen Ganni’s global organisation. According to Laura du Rusquec, the company’s chief executive, these hires are intended to support the implementation of the company’s long-term global vision.
Founded in Copenhagen in 2000, Ganni is a contemporary fashion house stocked by numerous international retailers and operating boutiques in Europe, the US, and Asia. A certified B Corp, the company publishes an annual responsibility report and develops initiatives focused on innovation, notably through its ‘Fabrics of the Future’ programme and projects related to the circular economy. L Catterton acquired a majority stake in the company in 2017.
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United Colors of Benetton has partnered with the fifth and final season of television series Stranger Things to launch a collaborative collection for men, women, and children in the Indian market.
United Colors of Benetton’s collaboration with Stranger Things – United Colors of Benetton
The casual wear collection was developed in close collaboration with Stranger Things’ costume designer Amy Parris and was inspired by Benetton’s own style archive, the brand announced in a press release. Some of the looks in the collection are reinterpreted 1980s archive pieces from Benetton, which have already featured the new series of Stranger Things, while others have been created in continuity with the original outfits.
“The connection between Benetton and Stranger Things came about almost by chance, at a vintage market in Los Angeles where I was looking for authentic ’80s pieces for the fourth season and where I repeatedly came across original United Colors of Benetton garments from that period,” said Parris in a press release. “Among them was a sweatshirt with the logo and the classic horizontal stripes, which was chosen for one of the characters and marked the first true encounter between the brand and Stranger Things. That intuition later led us to involve Benetton in creating the outfits of some of the fifth season’s protagonists, giving rise to a collaboration that unites the historical heritage of the brand with the aesthetics of the series.”
The ‘Stranger Colors of Benetton’ collection is accompanied by a campaign which mixes an ode to Benetton’s 1980s adverts with the world of Stranger Things. The selection of short- and long-sleeved T-shirts, sweatshirts, and knitwear has launched at Benetton’s stores and online in India with a second drop planned for February 2026.