Oasis Improving Online and Physical Shopping Channels

Oasis, which is owned by Aurora fashions along with brands Warehouse and Karen Millen, is investing heavily in linking their shopping channels and improving the shopping experience for their customers.

The high street brand will open a new store on London's Tottenham Court Road next month, before revamping the website and launching 'Click and Collect' at the beginning of next year. The fashion brand will open the 3,200 sq ft flaship store just in time for the key Christmas trading period. The new concept store will be home to a cafe and bar, as well as a hair and nail bar; Oasis are keen to give their shoppers a full customer experience.

Oasis CEO Liz Evans said the 24 year-old business is heavily investing in improving in-store environments, investing £1.3m on overhauling five stores this year: Argyll Street in London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. "All refitted shops have experienced double digit like-for-like sales increases," said Evans.

“We are able to tailor each store to the market it is in to add a personal touch. On the high street there are only a few brands investing in their store portfolio. We are doing that and have completed 18 refits of stores over the last two years that have a blend of digital technology and more traditional in-store theatre.”

The Dublin store is to be refurbed in the first quarter of 2016 and it is currently being decided which stores will be refitted over the next three years.Oasis has also recognised a distribution channel through travel hubs. This season, the brand will launch its first airport shop at London's Stansted airport. The compnay are taking a "test and learn" strategy and even considering opening stores in train stations.

As mentioned, the plan is for the fashion brand to update their online presence. “Replatforming the website will give us a boost both online and in store as it provides a better experience for our shoppers,” Evans added. “We’re investing in both channels and not focusing on one or the other, as we can’t leave one behind. Continuously improving and updating online presence should be vital in any retailer's strategy. As technology is forever advancing so are customers; brands need to keep up!

Have you thought about the weather?

Are retailers considering weather conditions? As customers become increasingly clever with their disposable income, retailers are faced with the most challenging conditions in 30 years.

Over recent years, financial trading data highlights weather as a variable that affects revenue. However research undertaken by the Met Office reveals a third of retailers still do not use any weather data in their supply chains and less than a quarter rely purely on free weather services.

Almost half of retailers and suppliers do however acknowledge weather as one of the main three external factors which drives consumer demand. The Met Office looked at those who are currently using paid-for commercial weather services, and found that 62% reported they are able to offer better customer service, 57% highlighted better sales forecast accuracy, 51% offered better on-shelf availability and 43% had reduced waste. These are all key priorities for supply chains.

More and more retailers are finding that forecasting shopping behaviour has become harder, although there is a clear desire from supply chains to use weather forecasts more broadly within their businesses, particularly to drive commercial benefits – for example through forecasting footfall and online traffic, and planning marketing campaigns.

 “What stood out for us was how few organisations currently use weather data in their planning,” said Barbara Napiorkowska-Dickson, Met Office Retail Business Manager. “Incorporating weather forecasts in their operations is a significant opportunity for them to improve demand planning across the whole supply chain and better understand customer purchasing behaviour. While many may believe that their product portfolio is not weather sensitive, operationally the weather will always have an impact on their logistics and commercial activities.”

The influence of weather events on shopper behaviour should not be underestimated. Here are real opportunities for retailers and suppliers to help predict product demand accurately, which is the most important function to get right in the supply chain in order to deliver the primary goals of product availability, low inventory and low costs.

Honey, I'm home...

Welcome back!

After not blogging for well over a year, I've decided its time to let the internet once again hear everything I have to say. Since my last post I have graduated from university with a 2:1 in Fashion Buying with Marketing and now on the hunt for a job!

I am looking for a role in the fashion/retail industry within marketing, PR or visual merchandising. It is proving rather difficult to find something in the Leicestershire area however I am not giving up; sending CV after CV, attending interview after interview.

Since my degree and last year thesis research into the future of fashion visual merchandsing, I'm now changing the direction of my blog to focus more on the business news of retail and fashion, as well as future trends for in-store environments and online technology for retailers.

In this day and age it is important to be up to date with what is happening in the industry you work in. Employers are keen to hear you have interest in staying in the know. If, like me, you're a graduate or young proffessional looking to do just that, feel free to subscribe to my blog as a way to keep up to date with news from the retail industry. You can also follow me on Twitter @elly_lou for updates!

Fashion Student Troubles...

Its always hard to get back into the swing of things after the festive season, especially after only a couple of deadlines in the first term. Then 2014 comes along with all of its assignments in tow and has hits me straight in the face!

My days consist of walking on to campus in the windy and wet weather, writing numerous 'To Do' lists that obviously never get done and applying for placements. Oh yes, and a small amount of uni work. Although I adore my fashion buying course, a 3,000 word report on the textile functions of rugby and football balls is slowly killing me inside. When everything else is so exciting, I can certainly admit I'm dragging my heels when it comes to this one. 

So, I've decided to bring my blog back to life but as well as my fashion posts, also write about my life as a student, my latest job in the retail industry and even about different ways I'm trying to get fit and hopefully lose a few pounds (yes, I'm on that 'new year, new me' band wagon!)

She's been in pretty much every campaign this AW...

Clarence House, London, July 2013

Yes, you guessed it!  

How could you not recognise those brows?

The lovely miss Delevingne has taken the fashion world by storm ever since she debuted on the catwalks walking for Clements Ribeiro during Spring 2012 London Fashion Week. Shortly after, she took part in the pre-fall Burberry show in New York. This collaboration was a turning point for Cara and soon after, she was officially announced as the face of the legendary fashion house.

Delevingne is building her way to the top of the modelling world step-by-step. During the Spring 2012 season, she walked almost exclusively for Burberry and Burberry Prorsum. The next season, she walked for great designers, such as Kenzo, Chanel, Stella McCartney, Cacharel, Sonia Rykiel, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana and more. 

However Cara doesn't want to stop at being the super model of the moment, she has dreams to be an actress and dip her toe in music industry, maybe one day even having her own music label! And to celebrate this wonderful woman, I've pulled together her greatest fashion moments so far. 

September 2011

Burberry Prorsum, May 2012

Custom Burberry dress, NYC, May 2013

Emilio Pucci dress , October 2012

Can't wait to see what this beautiful browed lady gets up to in the next 12 months! 

#watchthisspace AQUAZZURA

Edgardo Osorio of Aquazzura,

Hottest new shoe designer, Edgardo Osorio of Aquazzura, has taken the fashion world by storm being splashed all over the red carpet and now stocked in Matches, Harvey Nichols and Browns, Osorio, is definitely one to watch! Well, I definitely need a pair in my life!

Osorio has created his whole brand from single concept of creating a single shoe line which he wanted to be sophisticated, fresh and sexy, and at the same time being extremely well made. He has said himself 'For me it’s not about creating sculptures or architecture, it’s about making women beautiful.' Osorio believes its about the small luxury details which makes something great which I have to agree with. His Italian influence allows his designs to be simple yet bold, not over designed. 

Osorio is strongly influenced by women due to his upbringing. He grew up surrounded by women, and now wants anyone woman who wears his shoes to feel and look amazing. Which no doubt they do. Kate Moss is one of the women; Osorio feels represents the right sort of sensuality and elegance he wants to create. 

The Aquazzura girl, is a modern woman with a hectic lifestyle. This is where the idea of comfort comes from so this woman can wear the shoes throughout the day and still feel great. The Aquazzura girl is elegant and sophisticated, like the shoes! She is also travelled.

In the next few years we can expect Aquazzura's own e-commerce and stores in London and New York which is more than exciting; It might mean more of us can get our hands on a pair of the SELL OUT 'Sexy Thing' booties! 

 

The Great Gatsby Impressive Prada Costumes

The Great Gatsby...

 ...starring the lovely Leonardo DiCaprio is jam packed with madness, obsession and tragedy. To be released this Thursday, and it was Catherine Martin and Miuccia Prada together who created the lavish 20s inspired costumes for the film which has already recieved hundreds of great reviews.

Although Catherine was never a huge fan of the novel, the director, Baz Luhrmann, worked his persuasive charm. When talking to VOGUE, Catherine said "I remembered Gatsby from being a teenager and not quite connecting with the story, but Baz was very persuasive, so I read the novel and - you know how one can rewrite history - I then became the greatest proponent of Gatsby ever. Much to Baz's irritation, because it was really his discovery and his insistence that made me read the book.

Catherine and Prada worked alongside the Brooks Brothers to create the costumes that the cast wear through out the film. The designer has long been fascinated by the book's time period, due to the history which took place around that time including the social revolution that materialised after the First World War. 

Although maintaining the genuineness of original Twenties clothing styles was important to both Martin and Luhrmann, the idea of trying something new and fresh to reconnect audiences with the story was also a main focus.

"Baz was describing to me about the modern music in this version of Gatsby and he said, 'We've got to get the audience to feel how it must have felt to hear jazz for the first time at a party,'" Catherine said. "You need to feel how scintillating, extraordinary, new and dynamic these things were; there needs to be a frisson of the new for people to actually understand what it was really like to be there in the Twenties."

This film is what definitely one not to be missed, even if it is just to look at the gorgeous costumes which so much hard work and thought have gone in to!