Fabiola Torres

Eva Garzon Shares 5 Tips On How To Build A Powerful Brand

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#HotTake: Retail stores aren’t a shortcut to success. Retail offers bigger POs, visibility, and cash flow Yet, it doesn’t ensure brand sustainability Case in point: JLo Beauty Despite celeb status and prime placement at Sephora, She faced challenges resulting in a US exit Retail alone doesn’t secure loyalty or repeat sales Placement isn’t guaranteed forever For lasting success, think beyond the retail PO Some markers of a sustainable brand include: Authenticity, community, differentiated formulas, and true fans Building a lasting brand legacy requires more than a retail presence – 👋🏾 Hi, I’m Monique, a former retail buyer turned beauty industry advisor who helps emerging brands ready to scale at big retail. If you are ready to scale and invest, book a discovery call, and let’s see if we can work together.

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Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. are up more than 500% over the last year. How? And can they keep it? The secret(s) to success: A new product line, a more body-positive rebrand, and a new #footprint strategy. #Abercrombie #AbercrombieAndFitch #RetailTrends #FashionRetail #RetailNews #RetailInsights #RetailAnalysis #MarketWatch #RetailStat

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🏀 The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) Draft and Women's NCAA tournament showed the power that female athletes currently have with consumers. I hope brands and retailers are paying attention. Madeleine Schulz recently wrote for Vogue Business and I had the opportunity to speak with her about the opportunity for brands. Article is linked in comments. Here's a quick rundown of key highlights: 👟 Brand Partnerships: Female athletes are making waves in fashion, with Caitlin Clark collaborating with Prada Group, signaling a shift in the industry's perspective on sports partnerships. (This was the first time Prada dressed any athlete - man or woman - for the draft.) Glossier, Inc. also came to play and has been partnering with the WNBA and the players. 👗 Styling & Authenticity: Athletes like Clark and Angel Reese are becoming style icons, resonating with authenticity-seeking Gen Z consumers. 💼 Opportunity with Fashion & Beauty Brands: The WNBA draft has caught the attention of luxury brands, showcasing the potential for fashion and beauty partnerships to elevate athletes' profiles and drive revenue. 📈 Rising Brand Opportunity: The WNBA presents a growing brand opportunity, with increased ticket sales and online engagement following key announcements. 🛍️ Future Outlook: As the conversation around equal pay gains momentum, supporting female athletes is crucial for driving positive change in both fashion and sports industries. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting intersection between fashion, sports, and brand partnerships! #Fashion #Sports #BrandPartnerships #WNBA #FemaleAthletes

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As a student of history, I’m always interested in the philosophies of some of the most admired brands, especially during growth periods. In 1980, Phil Knight wrote his 10 core principles for Nike. Although it’s been over 40 years, a lot of these principles still remain prevalent for brands looking to grow. As an athlete, I love the competitiveness that jumps out! My favorite is always on offense. Which ones are most applicable in todays retail environment? This is Fridays reminder to be intentional to grow your brand. #retail #growth #leadership

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Monday, May 6: 👟 Outdoor retailer REI is betting big on running. After pulling back on its own branded footwear, which the retailer will no longer make, REI is now expanding its footwear offerings with new partnerships with brands like On Running. 👗 Luxury ecommerce platform Mytheresa says it will be one of the few winners following the implosion of competitors including Farfetch and Matchesfashion. The company’s share price has gained c30% so far this year. 💰 After years of price increases, food companies say more consumers are pulling back and big brands are losing out. Fast food chains and snack makers plan new deals and flavors to compensate. 👕 Ralph Lauren has launched his Fall/Holiday 2024 collection in a minimal and intimate fashion show. The collection features designs in soothing neutral tones, Western accents, and occasional cowboy hats. 🏃🏽‍♂️ Dan Sheridan, the CEO of Brooks Running, the running shoe maker owned by Berkshire Hathaway, has said he views China and Europe as strong growth areas for the business. 🤖 AI will manage all Sam's Club exit checks by end of 2024 in an effort to slash bottlenecks at the door. The new tech has been rolled out at 20% of Sam's Club stores so far. 🥫 There’s a new retailer getting into the private-label food business, and it isn’t your local Walmart or Target. It’s Ace Hardware Corporation. The chain has debuted a line of own-brand barbecue sauces and seasonings. 🛍️ Retailers are feeling jittery. Consumers aren’t shopping like they used to. In a game of chicken between stores and shoppers, it’s the stores that appear to be yielding first, by dropping prices on thousands of products. 🎒Beach bag brand ALOHA Collection is riding the retail store wave. The company, which sells splash-proof travel bags and pouches, opened its fifth retail location in the US on Saturday. ☕️ Former Starbucks boss Howard Schultz said the coffee giant needs to renew its focus and own its shortcomings, especially in the US, after the chain delivered disappointing earnings results last week. 💪🏼 More than 80% of business leaders believe the U.S. economy is strong compared to just 40% of American consumers, according to a report from the Milken Institute and Harris Poll. 🚬 The Wall Street Journal suggests that many US cannabis companies could become profitable if the Biden administration follows through on its place to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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This is good news. The ads and film have tapped into the most important needs of consumers: inspiration, optimism, vitality, and autonomy. But this sector needs more than just pretty storytelling in ads - it needs storydoing/living (on their part) and to impart story being (where consumers are participants not just audiences). That means live experiences and showing consumers what Adidas can/will be for them IRL. #brainmanagement

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Are you trying to promote diversity and inclusion in your workplace? Well, you better make sure you're focusing on these two things:

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Direct to Consumer vs. Close to Consumer I appreciate when people are direct with with me. Just come right out and say what’s on your mind, I won’t be offended. When brands want to be direct with me, I might question the decision. I’m looking at you Levis’Store, Canada Goose and Sketchers and others mentioned in the The Wall Street Journal last week. These are brands that want to ramp up their direct to consumer business. Although, they need to do the requisite supply chain gymnastics to make it work. The decision is about margins and profitability. Strategies like this, to double-down on direct, are not made in isolation and are part of broader change in the organization. It’s not a coincidence that Levi’s and Canada Goose have recently trimmed their workforce. However, the benefits of increased revenue and margin might be overstated. Our colleagues at BMO (notably, Simeon Siegel, CFA) have studied this carefully. In a report entitled “DTC’s Not All It’s Cracked Up to Be” the margin/revenue lift isn’t the goldmine you would expect. Rather, the benefit of having more control over the brand, 1st party data and pricing is the real win. Continue The Merchant Life read here —> https://lnkd.in/ea5qWDbg #retail #retailnews #dtc #consumer #stores #suppychain

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What is the purpose of a physical store in today's digital era? Brian Librach, former VP of Stores at Urban Outfitters, Pacific Sunwear and Old Navy, joins me on #RetailDisrupted to explore: 🔸 Findings from his new book: The Retail Leader’s Roadmap. Why retail leaders get stuck and how to rewrite your career outcome. 🔸 The evolution of bricks & mortar retail – what is the future of stores and how should we be measuring success? 🔸 Which brands does Brian admire and what are they getting right? 🔸 How can retailers ensure their staff are motivated and engaged? 🔸 Cultural shifts: digital transformation journeys and the importance of taking your people with you. 🔸 Upskilling and investing in digital competencies. 🔸 Squiggly careers: why the path to success isn’t always linear. 🔸 Natalie and Brian debate the key traits of winning retailers (25 min in). Full episode links: 🎧 Apple: https://lnkd.in/eCJQj-Mr 🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eyrWHYQV 🎧 YouTube (audio): https://lnkd.in/e73UqqTV #retail #retailleadership #consumer #retailinsights #bricksandmortar #storekpis #retailtech #squigglycareers #retailtechnology #digitaltransformation #retailpodcast

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Lululemon, a leading luxury athleisure brand, is navigating challenges in the market. Despite its decade-long dominance, the company now faces stiff competition from Athleta, Nike, Alo, and Vuori. Recently, Lululemon's stock declined, but a slight increase followed after surpassing analyst revenue expectations. The departure of Chief Product Officer, Sun Choe, has sparked concerns among analysts and investors. Struggling with product assortment and the emergence of dupe culture, where similar products are available at lower prices, Lululemon is also adapting to a younger customer base, facing issues in stocking sizes. Nonetheless, Lululemon eyes growth opportunities in its men's sector and international business, notably in mainland China. Analysts remain optimistic, citing the company's history of success in overcoming challenges. #Lululemon #Athleisure #MarketChallenges #BusinessGrowth https://lnkd.in/dE2qej2b

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Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Thursday, June 6: 🧘🏽‍♀️ lululemon beat Wall Street’s earnings and revenue estimates, but issued weak second-quarter guidance as it contends with a slowdown in the Americas, its largest market. 👕 Hanesbrands Inc. will sell Champion to Authentic Brands Group in a deal worth up to $1.5 billion with performance incentives. Authentic owns brands such as Reebok, Forever 21 and Quiksilver. 5️⃣ Five Below cut its outlook for the year, warning that its core low-income shoppers were facing an outsized impact from years of inflationary pressures. It posted an unexpected decline in same-store sales for the first quarter. 👙 Victoria’s Secret & Co. said it was encouraged by demand for its bras, sleepwear and other clothing in May, but the company said it was exercising restraint amid continued caution more broadly among the US consumer. 🏪 Foxtrot intends to reopen several locations in Chicago in the Gold Coast and Old Town neighborhoods. The news comes after Foxtrot and Dom's Kitchen & Market closed on April 23. 🌳 Dollar Tree Stores Tree said that it had started a formal review of strategic alternatives for Family Dollar, which it said could include among others, a potential sale, spin off or other disposition of the business. 💵 Walmart is now offering bonuses to its hourly employees in the US., the company announced Wednesday. The longer an associate has been with the company, the higher the associate's bonus potential, to a maximum of $1,000. 📚 In a blow to publishers and authors, Costco Wholesale plans to stop selling books regularly at stores around the United States, four publishing executives who had been informed of the warehouse retailer’s plans said Wednesday. 🚚 Albertsons and Uber have launched a new food rescue initiative that aims to address food insecurity and food waste in several major US cities. The program donates surplus food from the grocer’s stores to local nonprofits. 📸The TJX Companies, Inc., parent of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods, said it’s equipping some store employees with body cameras to thwart shoplifting and keep customers and employees safe. 🍔 McDonald's lost a European Union trademark dispute over the Big Mac name after a top European Union court sided Wednesday with Irish fast-food rival Supermac's in a long-running legal battle. ✂️ The Bank of Canada's decision on Wednesday to cut interest rates from 5% to 4.75% is expected to provide financial relief to Canadians and encourage consumer spending. 🧳 Shinola and Filson parent Bedrock Manufacturing Company has appointed Steve Katzman to the role of CEO and Kevin Wertz as chief marketing officer. 🇦🇺 ALDI Stores Australia is moving into the insurance sector, with the launch of a series of homes and contents, car, and landlord products. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

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I'm a sucker for brand metrics so when The Business of Fashion drops an AI powered brand study I'm all ears. I like the general methodology and it's intriguing to have an AI analyze brand alignment. I get why brand/audience alignment is a measure of brand strength but that little annoying contrarian in me says that the opposite could also be true. My sentiment has always been that a truly strong brand that stands the test of time is one which lets the audience interpret and make it their own (like a blank canvas). If that's the case, misalignment (in combination with high engagement and intent) may actually be an equally telling indicator of strong brand equity. Ok, that just did my head in. What do you think? #brand #ai #idontknow https://lnkd.in/gBrQSY2m

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Big news in athlete support! On's "360 Athlete Support" program sets a new industry standard.

This is a game-changer in sports marketing, emphasising personal investment over mere commercial returns.

Maybe it happened before elsewhere in other brands, but formalising it and publicising it like this is brilliant. The program covers six key areas: physical & mental preparation, health & recovery, financial planning, personal branding, career development, and fostering a community. I love this approach - not only because it maximises athletic performance but it will undoubtedly also attracts top talent wanting long-term relationships. it's about empowering athletes to thrive in every aspect of their lives, beyond just eyes on brands during competition. This is a defining move that highlights the true value of athlete partnerships. This is how you win together 👌🏻 #sport #marketing #brand #partnerships #brandmarketing #athletebranding #brandstrategy #brandidentity #brandpurpose #sponsorship #sportsmarketing #athlete #athletemarketing #smallbusinessmarketing #startups

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Had an insightful conversation with Shoshy Ciment of Footwear News on the topic of loyalty, resulting in a highly informative article by her. Grateful to have been a small part of this key discussion. Check out the article below to learn more about loyalty programs from Foot Locker, UA, Kith, Naturalizer and more. Link: https://lnkd.in/eXSNTr_K

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Footwear leading the way in female senior appointments, with females also leading the way in discretionary purchases across apparel and footwear, according to recent research #DE&I

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Here’s how #AI allows us to communicate online in a way that matches what happens in stores 👇    Imagine asking a retail associate for help finding a product. You wouldn’t say, “waterproof mascara black.” You might say something like this instead, “I’m looking for mascara that doesn’t smudge.” These are the types of conversations that retailers are looking to replicate online. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon shares an example of how this is already working for them. The brand’s most popular search in February was “help me buy a Valentine’s Day gift.” The result was a curated list of Valentine’s gifts like flowers, candy, and jewelry.  As we introduce more AI into the retail world, it’s more important than ever that each touch point is humanized. It must interact with customers how they expect it to – like communicating naturally with a search engine the way you would in a store. Walmart is at the forefront of generative AI for retail and I’m personally excited to see how this unfolds for them!  #generativeai #retailtrends #tech #retail 

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Under Armour, the once competitive sportswear brand, has recently been struggling in the market due to slow sales growth, stock decline, and management controversies. However, the company's founder, Kevin Plank, has returned as CEO to address these issues. Under Armour is restructuring its business by focusing on innovation, product development, and reducing discounts. The brand needs to identify consumer preferences and adapt to stay relevant, especially with competitors like Hoka and On running shoes gaining ground. Under Armour's challenge is to define its identity as either a lifestyle or performance-based brand. One aspect that has been effective for the brand is its celebrity partnerships with athletes like Stephen Curry and Dwayne Johnson. With these changes, Under Armour hopes to regain its position in the sportswear market. #underarmour #nike #hoka #on #sportswear

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Recent developments at Nike and Lululemon underscore significant shifts in the activewear industry. As reported by Barron's (https://lnkd.in/g2YnFdqH), Nike is poised to eliminate approximately 700 jobs, part of a broader strategy to reduce its workforce by about 1,600 positions, signaling a move towards optimizing operations amid fluctuating demand. Similarly, Lululemon plans to lay off 128 workers, reflecting changes in its fulfillment strategy and infrastructure. These changes occur as both brands, previously buoyed by pandemic-driven demand, now experience divergent stock performances - Nike faces a decline amid slow innovation and increasing competition, while Lululemon, despite a significant year-on-year drop, has managed gains. While acknowledging the real impact of layoffs on individuals, I am particularly intrigued by the underlying consumer behavior and brand strategy within the luxury activewear market. The market's evolving dynamics suggest a shift in consumer preferences, where customers seem to be gravitating towards brands that not only offer value but also continually innovate and resonate with their lifestyle aspirations. This observation aligns with a broader trend where consumers increasingly scrutinize the value of their purchases. An anecdotal example: my wife, a fitness enthusiast, recently switched her preference from lululemon to Sweaty Betty, finding that the latter offers greater real and perceived value. For brands like Nike and Lululemon, the challenge is to stay ahead of rapidly changing fashion trends and consumer expectations. Are consumers merely seeking cheaper alternatives, or is there a deeper desire for products that break the mold and offer something truly unique? The answers, as always, will be dictated by consumer preferences. As professionals in the industry, we must consider how these shifts affect our strategies and decision-making processes. How can brands better align with consumer values to maintain their relevance and market position? What does this mean for innovation in design and marketing? Are qualitative considerations feasible in the face of consumers' rising quantitative concerns? As an economist, I am confident we will understand these patterns in retrospect; however, hindsight offers little solace to clients. Being nimble and adaptable to rapidly evolving consumer preferences is crucial in the short term.

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