Kering Aims to Double Profitability, Reignite Gucci with New Strategy
Kering announced a mid‑term goal to lift its operating margin above 22% and achieve a return on capital employed over 20%, effectively more than doubling current profitability. The plan hinges on a group‑wide efficiency drive, stable capital spending at 5‑6% of sales, and brand‑specific strategies that put desirability at the forefront, especially for Gucci, which contributes roughly 40% of revenue and 60% of operating profit. Kering also signaled the end of its “reset” phase by 2026 and a shift to sustainable growth by 2028, while postponing the Valentino acquisition until at least the end of 2028.
Authentic Brands Group Is Bringing Barneys Back
Authentic Brands Group, the owner of Juicy Couture, Brooks Brothers and Forever 21, plans to revive Barneys New York at its former Madison Avenue flagship. The move follows the 2019 $271 million purchase of Barneys’ intellectual property and a failed licensing partnership with...
Nike’s Reality Check | The Debrief
Nike’s new CEO Elliot Hill, back in October 2024, is still fighting a deep earnings slump. The latest quarterly results missed expectations and the company warned of another down quarter, eroding investor patience. While Nike remains the largest sports‑wear brand,...
Tory Burch Seeks Loan to Buy Back General Atlantic’s Stake
Tory Burch LLC is arranging a $700 million leveraged loan to fund the repurchase of General Atlantic’s stake, allocating $346 million for the buy‑out. The loan, priced at 98.5 cents on the dollar, carries a 3.75‑4 percentage‑point spread over the benchmark and is accompanied...
Ralph Lauren’s Grip Loosens on Tennis
The Australian Open swaps its long‑standing title sponsor Ralph Lauren for Hugo Boss, marking a strategic shift toward luxury‑sport branding. Tory Burch seeks a $346 million loan to repurchase General Atlantic’s stake, reflecting a broader trend of luxury retailers using debt to regain control....
Givaudan Can Manage the Effects of War in the Middle East Short Term, CEO Says
Givaudan’s new CEO says the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict has not materially disrupted the Swiss fragrance and flavour maker’s operations so far. The company is absorbing inflationary pressure on freight and logistics by planning coordinated price hikes with customers. The Middle East...
How the Middle East Crisis Has Reshaped Global Fashion
The ongoing Israel‑Iran conflict is forcing Middle Eastern fashion and beauty firms to confront soaring plastic, aluminium and freight costs, while volatile oil markets add further supply‑chain strain. Brands across the region are activating crisis‑management plans as consumer confidence wavers...
Report: Luxury Sales Dropped 30-50% in March at Mall of the Emirates
Luxury sales at Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates plunged between 30% and 50% in March, the steepest decline since the mall opened. The drop aligns with heightened regional conflict, reduced tourist arrivals, and softer consumer confidence across the Gulf. Analysts...
BoF Professional Masterclass | The Fashion Marketer’s Guide to AI
The Business of Fashion will host a Professional Masterclass on April 15, focusing on how AI has become a core component of fashion marketing and offering practical frameworks for its implementation. The event features case‑study author Haley Crawford, BoF editor Marc Bain,...
Hugo Boss Bets on Tennis With Australian Open Partnership
Hugo Boss has signed a multi‑year partnership to become the official apparel sponsor of the Australian Open, starting with the 2024 tournament. The deal brings the German label's branding to courtside signage, player wardrobes and a line of co‑created merchandise sold...
Case Study | The Fashion Marketer’s Guide to AI
Fashion and beauty brands are integrating artificial intelligence across the entire marketing funnel. Luxury houses such as Prada and Valentino have launched AI‑driven campaigns that cut through clutter, while beauty label Beekman 1802 is positioning its products to dominate AI‑powered search...
Ask Imran Anything: On Boring Fashion, the Meaning of Luxury and Building Outside the System | The BoF Podcast
In a candid AMA, Business of Fashion founder Imran Amed reflects on fashion’s current creative revival, the evolving meaning of luxury, and the collapse of traditional gatekeeper models. He highlights a wave of high‑profile creative‑director hires at houses like Chanel...
As De Beers Bid Deadline Looms, Botswana Pushes for Control
Botswana, which currently owns 15% of diamond giant De Beers, is moving to increase its stake to a controlling majority as the company’s bid deadline approaches. The government aims to acquire more than 50% of the firm, a deal that would...
Luxury’s Q1: A Turnaround Test
The luxury sector opened Q1 with a mix of leadership shake‑ups and strong sales. Dolce & Gabbana co‑founder Stefano Gabbana resigned as chair, putting his 40% stake under creditor scrutiny, while Brunello Cucinelli posted a 14% revenue rise driven by...
K18 Appoints Chief Marketing Officer
K18, the biotechnology hair‑care brand, announced the appointment of Kleo Mack as its chief marketing officer, effective April 8. Mack succeeds Audrey Dorfman and arrives from Shark Beauty, where she served as senior vice president and CMO, after senior roles at...
