Retail Diary - Deep Dive - Week of April 15th 2024 - WNBA, Tick Tock (watch) & so much retail news
Making slam dunks, winding watches, collabs and launches that have my mind spinning and major corporate moves. Nothing but net and slam dunks.
This Week's Topics:
WNBA - Fashion & Brand Opportunities
Watch This
New Collabs, Launches, Investments, Corporate Moves, Stores & News
What else I ❤️️
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WNBA - Fashion & Brand Opportunities
Court Couture
Before we get into fashion and brand opportunities from the draft, a moment for Caitlin Clark’s response when asked about her success. We need more of this:
“I earned it. That’s why I’m so proud of it.”
WNBA draft class of 2024 came to PLAY this week.
I always look forward to Robin Givhan’s writing covering cultural moments through a fashion lens. “Fashion, Basketball and the Long Game” (gift link to read behind paywall)
This was the first time Prada dressed a WNBA star and it was a big moment! Players like Clark and Reese showcase how fashion and athleticism intertwine, challenging stereotypes and empowering women beyond the court.
Fashion in the WNBA represents a rebellion against societal norms, allowing players to express themselves authentically and redefine femininity. (I loved the personality through the fashion the players expressed.)
Launchmetrics data from The Line Sheet: “in the 24 hours post-draft, conversations about Prada x Clark generated an estimated $419,000 in Media Impact Value (Launchmetrics’ measurement of success, based on everything from the number of posts and tags to likes comments). Prada’s own Instagram post generated $95,000 in M.I.V. alone.”
Bayou Barbie, Angel Reese’s instagram post with the reference to Rihanna. Brilliant.
After reading and taking in the moments from the WNBA Draft - from Glossier glamming up players, to the coverage the players received, the rejection from the general public over the inappropriately low salaries these players are offered (and they smile! because they are likely happy - they have worked hard and achieved a dream!) I have some additional thoughts:
thank you to the brands that stepped up to dress the players and give them glam. Allowing them to show up like this will hopefully set them up for more endorsement deals and marketing opportunities.
The Launchmetrics data above is the information that these player’s managers will hopefully use to help them get paid fairly for the value they can, and will, bring to brands.
showcasing the inequality in pay will also hopefully move the needle even more. I kept thinking of the grit and resilience of the US Women’s Soccer team vs the US Soccer Federation and their equal pay fight.
I understand the argument that the NBA brings in more money, but it is because they were given the chance and the foundation to build a brand and marketing vehicle behind the NBA. Let’s do the same now for the WNBA (people clearly want to watch - The final game, between South Carolina's Gamecocks and the University of Iowa's Hawkeyes, averaged about 18.7 million viewers and peaked at a whopping 24 million combined on ESPN and ABC, making it the first time in history that a women's final has drawn a larger TV audience than the men's, according to ESPN.1 )
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin noted that Caitlin Clark’s jersey was the highest selling on draft night of ANY athlete in ANY sport in the company’s history.
At the time of writing this (Wednesday April 17th) rumors swirling of an 8 figure Nike deal for Clark.
More articles to read: NYTimes by Vanessa Friedman, Bazaar from Joel Calfee here.
My message on Instagram Tuesday to brands:
“Brands - we are all loving the fashion on these sports ⭐️ (stars) and it is pretty apparent from the starting salary discrepancies vs the NBA that we NEED corporations to show these players the 💰(money) I’m waiting for one brand to really step up and show us by paying these stars more than NBA stars.”
A brand that I think could do this well, pay the WNBA players more than the NBA, Skims. Pay the NBA players 99% less than the WNBA to be a part of the campaign. And bring the NBA players up to the foul line to stand and support the WNBA players to earn more than they currently are.
Watch This
April 9th, Watches and Wonders Geneva, the world’s premier luxury watch show opened and the luxury market was paying close attention. If you are wondering why there is so much watch content at the moment.
“Low volume, High value” referring to focusing on the top of the top clients was one trend. Here is a link from the NYTimes on Watches and Wonders Geneva. (gift link to read behind paywall.)
It’s also really fun to see tiny, delicate watches trending. I think after wearing a large Apple Watch for so long (I don’t think I’ve skipped a day wearing since it came out - yes, I’m addicted) I’m very into the tiny watches. (NYTimes article, gift link to read behind paywall.) But also,
is who I attribute my Cartier Baignoire intrigue to.
New Collabs, Launches, Investments, Corporate Moves, Stores & News
Collabed
St. John x Edie Parker - should have known something cool was coming after seeing all my favorite fashion people with St. John bags and knit sweaters. Love that the campaign is fronted by Leighton Meester.
Uniqlo x J.W. Anderson collab - see the full collection here. Bummed we didn’t get a trench coat, because look at this high end original masterpiece. and for more Uniqlo insights you can read here or check out this reel.
Mango x Victoria Beckham collab. The collection launches April 23rd here. And preview the elegant pieces here - perfect pre summer wedding season. (Great timing as VB has a lot of great content and press this week around her 50th Birthday. HBD VB.)
Minnow Swim x J.Crew and read more here.
Target x Prince Pickleball collab - great landing page. Serve up style like Zendaya in this.
Pokémon x Bonpoint launches April 23rd
Let’s call this a collab - Supergoop! and Sabrina Carpenter. Supergoop! making this most of this moment with Coachella and Palm Springs Glowtel for influencers. Smart to bundle these moments together for an engaging takeover that builds a lot more brand awareness than a single moment.
Launched
The place to be, the pop-up at the Grove, was taken over by Taylor Swift/Spotify this week.
Puig brand Charlotte Tilburry is launching a collection of 6 mood-enhancing fragrances to “empower customers in the same way that she believes good makeup or skin care can.” The CT brand is the #1 prestige beauty brand in the U.K. and is working toward being a 1 Billion Euro brand. The new scents — dubbed Love Frequency, More Sex, Cosmic Power, Magic Energy, Calm Bliss and Joyphoria.
Bombas launched a summer slide, The Friday. This might be a controversial take, but especially in a month where brands focus on sustainability, did we really need another summer sandal that looks exactly like this or this (my favorite)? If you are going to launch a slide from a brand that is focused on innovating and doing good, do something a little different. And the idea of a “summer friday” is not original either.
Westman Atelier is launching a vitamin C serum, that is actually more like an oil. I like that a brand known for a skin first make-up look is also investing in their skin care assortment and all the pieces in the assortment look like they work together but have slight differentiation.
Josie Maran launches a clean hair care line. After recently relaunching her beauty packaging, this makes a lot of sense as it fits well with the line and the new packaging works really well across both categories.
I have a little spiral to do regarding Josie Maran. 1) The new packaging for body is already on Sephora shelves. Skin care is apparently coming in August. 2) Hair Care is launching at QVC on April 19th. I’m curious if either QVC was the better partner or if Sephora wasn’t interested in the hair care line. Additionally 3) Is phasing the launch from Body (February) Hair (April) and Skin (August) increasing revenue or is this costing more to market three unique launches without an upside?
Looking at the new packaging I’m reminded of past products I’ve loved, and without them being available while the brand pulled back and didn’t market or innovate, I’ve replaced with new favorites. Let’s see if I try and go back or mix Josie Maran back in. (Loved this but now I swear by this. And I previously used this and now I switch between this for day and this a few nights a week.)
Another cool activation - I love this Rhode Lip Tint photo booth. Comes full circle with the Rhode Viral Lip Case.
- has launched a jean - and she knows denim!! I’m a fan of Substack.
APL has launched a lifestyle sneaker the Nostalgia ‘87. It is well done and the landing page looks clean and easy to see the benefits and colors. You can shop here.
Lauren Sherman from The Line Sheet is launching a podcast! Fashion People.
Invested & Acquired
Trendalytics, which provides search and trend forecasting data to companies has been acquired by Verishop. The cash and equity deal closed in March.
The e-commerce business affiliated with Saks Fifth Avenue recently got a cash infusion from longtime financial partners Pathlight Capital and Bank of America. $60M will help with navigating the current business landscape, not necessarily to fuel growth.
Since Beauty investment and acquisitions have been a hot market, the rest of the wellness category, including Supplements, are enjoying tailwinds.
Corporate Moves
Major corporate moves to announce. What is worth noting, is once a new CEO or President is in place, there is often a trickle down shuffling. The new person wants to bring in their strategic hires, they see where there are holes in operations, etc.
Gucci names Stefano Cantino as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. WWD notes “It marks the ascension of yet another communications executive to the corner office, a trend that has been gathering steam in recent years, underscoring the crucial role of fashion’s storytellers, brand builders and image architects in a consumer-centric age.” Something to keep an eye on in the communications career space.
Levi’s is continuing to invest in their FUEL Strategy. Hired from Burberry, Gianluca Flore joins as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. Flore will be responsible for the commercial operations of the Levi’s brand across all global channels, including stores, e-commerce and wholesale. (You can read more about Levi’s strategy here or for a quick take check out my reel here.)
After spending 11 years at Burberry, Thibaut Perrin-Faivre has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of Ulla Johnson.
Balmain has announced Matteo Sgarbossa as the new Chief Executive Officer. He was most recently at Givenchy.
L’Oréal’s Silvia Galfo was promoted from the luxury division’s Chief Growth Officer has been named the Luxury Division’s President reporting to David Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer of L’Oréal USA and the president of the company’s North America zone.
Julia Goddard, current EMEA president at the Kering-owned Alexander McQueen, will be the next CEO at Harvey Nichols.
Stores & News
This article speaks with 3 U.K. brands (gift link to read behind paywall) about their recent expansion in the US. They are all really great brands. It is interesting, because Hunza G has had such a presence in the US I didn’t see it as being as newsworthy - it has been easy to orders online and discover since it has had a big influencer push already. Rixo clothing has a cool vintage feel but in a new way. and Me + Em has been making more of an impact in the US in the last year.
Tabi pop-up experience in South Coast Plaza.
What else I ❤️️
The RealReal has been nailing their Instagram strategy - and calling out Substack as the fashion substackers have been getting great press from media like Glossy.
“LVMH’s Multibillion Dollar Baby Comes to Brooklyn” (gift link to read behind paywall) Rory Satran wrote about the Dior show at the Brooklyn Museum. It also includes information about the partnership Dior has with the Brooklyn Museum. They are sponsoring the annual Brooklyn Artists Ball.
Anyone else always looking for their keys in their handbag? Faran Krentcil for the WSJ wrote about ludicrously capacious bags and how to make the search easier. I visited Cuyana recently and was so impressed with their bag systems - I like the belt bag (which reminds me of this bag which you can find on The RealReal or here from Rebag.) Also, check out the East-West trend here.
Often overlooked, but Gen X and Baby Boomers have money to spend. How brands could and should appeal to this demographic from Business of Fashion.
Read more about the history of the iconic Fendi Baguette here. I found some fantastic vintage baguettes on Vestiaire Collective in their Vintage Archive collection here, pink glitter here, NWT here, pony-hair animal print here, silk print mamma baguette here, pink leather here and remember the baby croissant? mini sequin here. (My full recap of Vestiaire Collective Vintage Archive here.)
What's Next?
More store visits! Friday I’ll be stopping by Marin Country Mart specifically to visit Hero Shop’s Attersee Trunk Show with Isabel Wilkinson. I also spend time at La Ligne, The RealReal and can’t wait for Harwell Godfrey to open. Excited to catch up with a friend too. Big question is - am I enjoying Souvla, Farmshop or Rustic Bakery for lunch?
Thanks for reading Deep Dive Edition 161
Sarah Shapiro
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Data from NPR April 10, 2024
excited for your store visits to the Mart! and that’s a tough choice for lunch…all are fab
LAUREN HARWELL GODFREY!! Beyond excited for her. Let us know what you think of the space etc. And by "us" I mean me ;)