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Levi’s and Aritzia test full-price strategy as affluent shoppers stay loyal

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Reuters

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September 5, 2025

A handful of apparel retailers, including Levi’s and Aritzia, are introducing more full-priced products—testing how much wealthier shoppers are willing to pay, despite the impact of tariffs.

A Levi’s logo is displayed on a shirt inside a Levi Strauss & Co. store in New York City, United States, on March 19, 2019. – Reuters

So far, they haven’t been disappointed.

Levi Strauss, for example, raised prices on some products in July but saw no slowdown in demand, according to chief financial officer Harmit Singh, who spoke at the Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference in New York on Wednesday.

“We are making a full-court press in selling higher full-price than we have done in the past,” he said. “The Levi’s consumer largely earns $100,000 or more. And that consumer we are seeing is generally resilient.”

Aritzia’s finance chief echoed this view, noting that there had been minimal impact on U.S. customer spending since the high-end clothing company raised prices earlier this year.

The brand—worn by celebrities including Beyoncé, Bella Hadid and Pamela Anderson—does not plan to chase promotions or deep discounts this holiday season. Instead, it will run only one week of sales during Black Friday, followed by full-price offerings after Cyber Monday.

“With every passing week, we become more confident that consumer resilience is going to hold,” said Canadian retailer Aritzia’s CFO, Todd Ingledew, at the same conference.

While lower-income households continue hunting for bargains—especially as companies raise prices in response to former President Donald Trump’s trade war—wealthier consumers are still spending steadily, mostly unaffected by the softening labor market.

Strong stock market gains and relatively low credit card debt have helped cushion the finances of the affluent. According to Moody’s Analytics, the top 10% of American earners—those making at least $250,000 per year—now account for half of all consumer spending.

Loyal shoppers

Retailers such as Ralph Lauren, Under Armour, and Abercrombie & Fitch are also adopting the full-price model, according to their recent earnings calls.

“We’ve been shifting our business towards a more elevated full-price consumer base, and this has served us well as our core consumer around the world remains resilient,” Ralph Lauren CEO Patrice Louvet said in early August.

Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank also highlighted the importance of pricing flexibility for loyal shoppers.

“We’re seeing success testing new key items at full price, including our $45 Self-form hat and our heat gear collection—both strong examples,” he said in August. He added that the company is evaluating raising prices for “the embedded consumer with whom we have pricing power.”

Improved consumer-tracking technology now enables retailers to adjust quickly, offering targeted discounts only when necessary, which helps maintain profit margins.

“In the old school way of doing things, you would get a circular saying everything is 25% off,” said Kate McShane, managing director at Goldman Sachs. “Now, if they’re selling North Face fleece jackets and it’s 60 degrees in New York, they can offer it on sale only for a couple of days in New York,” while keeping prices unchanged in other regions.

According to analysts, many companies have already absorbed significant tariff-related costs and plan to minimize discounts during the holiday season. In contrast to past years, they are now less likely to slash prices just to move leftover inventory.

“If you look at Summerween and back-to-school this year, the strategy was to put the seasonal items on the shelves at full price to start,” said Alison Furman, retail consultant at PwC, referencing Halloween-themed shopping earlier in the year.

“You’re kind of testing the waters around what a consumer will pay full price for. And then when it doesn’t move, you very quickly go into your promotion strategy.”

© Thomson Reuters 2025 All rights reserved.



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Cosmetics giant Unilever finalises business demerger

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AFP

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December 5, 2025

The demerger of Unilever‘s ice cream division, to be named ‘The Magnum Ice Cream Company,’ which had been delayed in recent months by the US government shutdown, will finally go ahead on Saturday, the British group announced.

Reuters

Unilever said in a statement on Friday that the admission of the new entity’s shares to listing and trading in Amsterdam, London, and New York, as well as the commencement of trading… is expected to take place on Monday, December 8.

The longest federal government shutdown in US history, from October 1 to November 12, fully or partially affected many parts of the federal government, including the securities regulator, after weeks without an agreement between Donald Trump‘s Republicans and the Democratic opposition.

Unilever, which had previously aimed to complete the demerger by mid-November, warned in October that the US securities regulator (SEC) was “not in a position to declare effective” the registration of the new company’s shares. However, the group said it was “determined to implement in 2025” the separation of a division that also includes the Ben & Jerry’s and Cornetto brands, and which will have its primary listing in Amsterdam.

“The registration statement” for the shares in the US “became effective on Thursday, December 4,” Unilever said in its statement. Known for Dove soaps, Axe deodorants and Knorr soups, the group reported a slight decline in third-quarter sales at the end of October, but beat market expectations.

Under pressure from investors, including the activist fund Trian of US billionaire Nelson Peltz, to improve performance, the group last year unveiled a strategic plan to focus on 30 power brands. It then announced the demerger of its ice cream division and, to boost margins, launched a cost-saving plan involving 7,500 job cuts, nearly 6% of the workforce. Unilever’s shares on the London Stock Exchange were steady on Friday shortly after the market opened, at 4,429 pence.
 

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Burberry elevates two SVPs to supply chain and customer exec roles

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December 5, 2025

Burberry has named a new chief operating and supply chain officer as well as a new chief customer officer. They’re both key roles at the recovering luxury giant and both are being promoted from within.

Burberry – Spring-Summer2026 – Womenswear – Royaume-Uni – Londres – ©Launchmetrics/spotlight

Matteo Calonaci becomes chief operating and supply chain officer, moving from his role as senior vice-president of strategy and transformation at the firm. 

In his new role, he’ll be oversee supply chain and planning, strategy and transformation, and data and analytics. He succeeds Klaus Bierbrauer, who’s currently Burberry supply chain and industrial officer. Bierbrauer will be leaving the company following its winter show and a transition period.

Matteo Calonaci - Burberry
Matteo Calonaci – Burberry

Meanwhile, Johnattan Leon steps up as chief customer officer. He’s currently currently Burberry’s senior vice-president of commercial and chief of staff. In his new role he’ll be leading Burberry’s customer, client engagement, customer service and retail excellence teams, while also overseeing its digital, outlet and commercial operations.

Both Calonaci and Leon will join the executive committee, reporting to Company CEO Joshua Schulman.

JohnattanLeon - Burberry
JohnattanLeon – Burberry

Schulman said of the two execs that the appointments “reflect the exceptional talent and leadership we have at Burberry. Both Matteo and Johnattan have been instrumental in strengthening our focus on executional excellence and elevating our customer experience. Their deep understanding of our business, our people, and our customers gives me full confidence that their leadership will help drive [our strategy] Burberry Forward”.

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Puneet Gupta steps into fine jewellery

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December 5, 2025

Traditional and occasion wear designer Puneet Gupta has stepped into the world of fine jewellery with the launch of ‘Deco Luméaura,’ a collection designed to blend heritage and contemporary aesthetics while taking inspiration from the dramatic landscapes of Ladakh.

Hints of Ladakh’s heritage can be seen in this sculptural evening bag – Puneet Gupta

 
“For me, Deco Luméaura is an exploration of transformation- of material, of story, of self,” said Puneet Gupta in a press release. “True luxury isn’t perfect; it is intentional. Every piece is crafted to be lived with and passed on.”

The jewellery collection features cocktail rings, bangles, chokers, necklaces, and statement evening bags made in recycled brass and finished with 24 carat gold. The stones used have been kept natural to highlight their imperfect and unique forms and each piece in the collection has been hammered, polished, and engraved by hand.

An eclectic mix of jewels from the collection
An eclectic mix of jewels from the collection – Puneet Gupta

 
Designed to function as wearable art pieces, the colourful jewellery echoes the geometry of Art Deco while incorporating distinctly South Asian imagery such as camels, butterflies, and tassels. Gupta divides his time between his stores in Hyderabad and Delhi and aims to bring Indian artistry to a global audience while crafting a dialogue between designer and artisan.

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