EDITED: Inside Retail

On today's episode, our host, Grace Hill, is joined by Federica Levato, Senior Partner and the EMEA Leader of Fashion and Luxury at Bain & Company, and Carlo Moltrasio, Associate Partner within Bain's Luxury and Fashion Goods vertical. We discussed Bain's industry insight 'Three Reasons Luxury Should Remain Resilient', powered by EDITED data. During our conversation, Federica & Carlo outlined three priority areas for brands to focus their attention on, including the need for high-low mastery in pricing, shrewd discounting management, and an agile assortment to navigate these uncertain times in the decade ahead. If you're interested in downloading the infographic and research behind this episode please head to: bain.com/insights

Resale is grabbing headlines with mass market leaders, SHEIN and Zara, making big bets in the pre-loved fashion market. We also see resale impact the luxury space, too, with The RealReal hoping to change size inclusivity challenges through a new partnership with luxury plus size fashion retailer, 11 Honoré, who we've previously had on Inside Retail.Lizzy de Bruin, Lead of Strategic Inventory at Depop joins Grace Hill, EDITED's Director of Retail Strategy in the latest episode of Inside Retail. The conversation covers the commercial growth of the business and the future of the resale market. Download it now from where you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe! 

According to reports published by Bloomberg, the athleisure market is estimated to be $662 billion by 2030. This growth, coupled with a more casual return-to-work dress code post-pandemic, has sportswear top of mind for retailers and consumers.PUMA's mission of “Forever Faster” is the global sports brand's promise to provide their customers with the right product in the right place in terms of design, pricing, and distribution. But what's the fastest way to achieve those goals in an industry that has so many moving pieces, in so many places all at once?Technology.Tune in for the first episode of 2023 to hear Colette give her opinions on the most important metrics for her team and which data tools have helped them go from strength to strength. 

Fashion subcultures have become the latest trend influence to have you on your radar, whether it's Gorpcore, Cottagecore or even Pamcore, it's hard to keep up! We'll delve into what they actually mean to the consumer and the key subcultures to look out for in 2023. It's critical in these uncertain times to know exactly what your customers are willing to spend their disposable income on to ensure a customer-centric approach to assortment planning. With that in mind, today on the podcast we're joined by Robyn Smith.  Robyn is a Fashion & Retail Analyst at EDITED and she tells us why every retailer needs to pay attention to subcultures. As an added bonus, if you want to know the difference between Blokecore and Mermaidcore don't miss this episode! Find out more about some of the key insights mentioned in this episode. https://blog.edited.com/blog/global-gen-z-trends

Last week saw EDITED relaunch EDITIONS, a live evening of panel discussions on subjects surrounding the Art & Science of Retail.One of our guests discussing Navigating Retail During Economic Uncertainty was Ed Healy, now the Chief of Commercial at VIEVE and formerly Commercial Director at L'Oréal.We decided it was the perfect time to revisit his podcast with EDITED recorded during the height of the pandemic.80s icons such as Boy George and Prince normalized the use of men's beauty products and opened the doors to what we're seeing today. Now the  likes of Harry Styles and Jaden Smith are also seen frequently wearing makeup and supporting the use of beauty products. However, education in this area is still lacking in order to obtain wider adoption.In our latest episode, Ed Healy, Commercial Director at L'Oreal, discusses the shift in attitudes as he sees a new digital and gender-neutral future for beauty. With over 10 years of experience in sales and marketing, Ed has worked with a range of companies, including luxury brands within L'Oreal UK, startups and iconic beauty giants.

Handbags and small leather goods occupy a special place in the retail market. A recent report by the Business of Fashion, which Edited was thrilled to provide data insight on has underlined this.According to their recent company reports, 50% of Prada sales and as high as 72% of Bottega Veneta sales are attributed to handbag and small leather goods purchases.To talk about this today on the podcast we're joined by Diana Lee, the Director of Research and Analysis at Business of Fashion, who is instrumental in delivering the new era of designer bags report from BOF Insights.We discussed how the report came about and what the key takeaways are for retailers and brands, who currently occupy the luxury space, as well as the challenger brands that aspire to get there.If you want to find out more about the report and all the amazing changes in the handbag market click on this link.  https://www.businessoffashion.com/reports/luxury/reportsluxurythe-new-era-of-designer-bags-redefining-leather-goods-report-bof-insights-handbags-resale/

On today's episode of Inside Retail we're joined by Chief Marketing Officer of Edited, Juliana Prather. She built her career in global retail and brand strategy, starting in worldwide sales for iconic accessory brands, such as Givenchy and Nine West Group; gaining expert knowledge of the global retail landscape through traveling extensively to Asia and Latin America, as the leader of Liz Claiborne's portfolio brands.In a wide-ranging discussion Juliana uses her three-decade long experience in the retail industry to shine a light on a variety of topics. Find out why embracing data can make your business more creative and how the retail industry can cope with an oncoming recession. We also discuss the crucial difference between the 2008 economic crisis and our current economic downturn and the one thing that could help brands stay competitive. If you're interested in the topic, check out this article that offers a playbook for dealing with a recession. 

So far in this mini-series, we've looked at how AI and data are driving major change in the world of commerce and how that change is impacting customers' buying behavior. But what can business leaders do to use that data? In this episode of Tech Talks, EDITED's Chief Retail Scientist, Michael Ross, and John Squire, Founder of Dynamic Action, offer recommendations for retailers looking to enhance customer experience by developing ways to reward their most loyal buyers but also properly manage their customer delivery on promise, so vital to winning and losing a sale.They explain how the wrong data can lead you to misdiagnose a business problem, the role of marketplaces in this data-driven world and why technology can be an amazing facilitator but also be an obstacle in a retail environment. If you're interested in marketplaces and how they impact the world of retail, check out our conversation with Rebecca Lacerda, the head of digital marketplaces at Crocs. 

On today's episode we are diving into the topic of digital marketplaces, these range from Amazon and Zalando in the west to JD and Alibaba in the Asia-Pacific. They make up 60 percent of all e-commerce sales across the globe according to Huge's consumer research.To discuss the topic of how brands can approach and maximize this channel, Grace Hill spoke to Rebecca Lacerda, Head of Digital Marketplaces at Crocs. She uses her experience at the iconic shoe brand to explain how brands can engage with marketplaces, what the pitfalls are that brands can avoid and where she sees the future of digital marketplaces going. For more info on digital marketplaces  check out our interview with Helen Riley from 2020, back when she was the fashion acquisition manager for eBay. https://blog.edited.com/blog/resources/podcast-unedited-inside-retail-etailers-and-online-marketplace

As technology continues to eliminate many of the tasks humans used to do manually, the question remains what can be fully automated and what is still best guided by a human hand.  For some, it's all or nothing, man or machine. But what of a much more complex situation? To say go from a self driving car to one that no longer requires a steering wheel?For retail executives the choice of what automation to use  - and how much - is an especially intriguing question in an industry that has put best practices into place which have worked successfully for decades. In this episode of Tech Talks, EDITED's Senior Vice President of Retail Science, Michael Ross, and John Squire, Founder of Dynamic Action discuss the human versus automation equation. What is the difference between humans making decisions and those where humans are in the loop, being assisted by a machine? From human in the loop with exceptions to human on the loop and finally to a world of full automation.Data Scientist or Retail Strategist - this is the show for you!

For a brand whose customers prefer to keep Boston Proper to themselves in order to be the best dressed at any occasion, the company prides itself on knowing everything about their ideal consumer profile, who they call "Lucy."In this episode of Inside Retail, Grace sits down with President & CEO Sheryl Clark to discuss how important Lucy is to the brand's decision making process and how it's helped propel the  company to $100M in revenue.

 Merchandisers used to be responsible for a few hundred decisions every week. But with technology now allowing consumers unparalleled power at the click of their smartphone, from scanning products for personalized promotions, seeking out similar styles at other retailers or simply comparing prices, the game has changed.What does it mean for a brand to go from setting business strategy from numbers on spreadsheets to allowing machine learning to help them make sense of millions of data points to drive sales and customer engagement?In this episode of Tech Talks, EDITED's Senior Vice President of Retail Science, Michael Ross, and John Squire, Founder of Dynamic Action join host Grace Hill to discuss retail's new reality when it comes to decision making and how AI and analytics have once again asked retailers to pivot from their comfort zones into a world where customers have more information than ever to make their own decisions. 

They weren't the first in retail fashion to start a meme account dedicated to their overworked and underappeciated lives, but the creative force behind ThisMerchLife is now the one everyone aspires to.One of the first things you need to know about this special episode is that the identity of ThisMerchLife's founder had to be kept in the strictest secrecy for them to agree to appear on the show. Their voice has been altered and the location of the recording was kept under wraps. Seems that turning a mirror on an entire industry, even in a fun way, doesn't appeal to everyone.Since it's inception, while the lighthearted nature of the retail grind continues to make this a daily must visit account by industry insiders, it's also become a way for those in merchandising to network, give each other new ideas and yes, also vent to a sympathetic and knowing audience. In short, it's done what social media was meant to do all along - be a welcoming space for like minded peopleSo, whether you're a merchandiser, a buyer or some other important cog in the wheel of retail, sit back, relax and enjoy - just don't do it at your desk! :)

In today's global and digital marketplace, many retailers have gone from analyzing weekly data from their brick and mortar stores to monitoring real-time metrics from their websites - and the difference between a quick churn and a customer for life often rests on a brand's ability to have what that consumer wants, in stock, when they want it.In this episode of Tech Talks, EDITED's Senior Vice President of Retail Science, Michael Ross, and President/Chief Strategy Officer, John Squire, join host Grace Hill to discuss retail's new reality when it comes to retention and how AI and analytics have shifted the goal of savvy retailers from thinking of product as their most important asset to that of their customers themselves.

Has there ever been a bigger cultural disrupter than Rihanna? When she burst into the public eye 15 years ago with her hit "Pon De Replay" the charts were dominated by Top 40 mainstays like Mariah Carey and Kelly Clarkson. Since then she's had 14 number one songs, won 9 Grammy's and is the wealthiest female artist in the world.Her biggest influence as a global superstar though may be her lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty, still only four years old but already synonymous with being inclusive to everyone regardless of size, gender or ethnicity.On this episode, Grace Hill talks to Natalie Guzman, Co-President & CMO of the brand about Rihanna's hands on approach and the ways the company continues to set the trends that so many others in retail are chasing.

EDITED is excited to introduce our new miniseries, EDITED: Tech Talks - which focuses on AI and the changing face of technology in the retail industry.  We'll be unpacking the key questions businesses need to know to compete in a rapidly-changing retail landscape with the power of this groundbreaking technology. Season 1 kicks off with the help of EDITED's Senior Vice President of Retail Science, Michael Ross, and President John Squire, joining host Grace Hill for this five part, in-depth series. Episode 1 Asks: AI in Retail & ECommerce: How Can it Drive Your Business? In this introduction, Michael & John start with the basics. What is AI and how can businesses better define this increasingly ubiquitous concept into a successful and meaningful strategy. While everyday uses of AI are found in tasks previously performed by humans (think Google or Alexa) it's applications for brands and retailers offer a new way to use this technology to solve complex problems through machine learning. 

Founded less than two years ago, streetwear brand BOBBLEHAUS is already leading the conversation when it comes to the future of fashion. One that is genderless, sustainable and inclusive. In this conversation, Founders, Abi Lierheimer and Ophelia Chen chat with Grace Hill about what makes their forward thinking brand tick and why challenging the status quo is the only way to go.

London may be the home base for The Own Studio, but their brides are walking down aisles all over the world. Whether doing fittings locally or offering consultations virtually, their styles are contemporary, impeccably tailored, sophisticated and sustainable - designed to be worn again, not wrapped in plastic and put into storage unhappily ever after. Now, with the Coronavirus first shutting down, then slowly re-opening and recently threatening to affect everyday life again, how can a betrothed manage the most important detail of her big day beyond saying "I do"?On this episode, Grace Hill talks with best friends and founders of The Own Studio, Jess Kaye and Rosie Williams, about all things bridal in a pre and post-Covid universe.

Reducing the environmental footprint from one of the of the world's most recognized shoe brands may seem like an obvious pun, but it truly describes the mission of Clarks. Since their inception in 1825, they have designed more than 22,000 styles, like the iconic Desert Boot, and are now trying to preserve not only Cyrus and James Clarks legacy, but the planet itself.On this episode, Grace Hill talks with Lisa Ly, Sustainability Manager at Clarks, whose big shoes are  leading the way towards a more sustainable future at the company.

It's no secret how wasteful and polluting the fashion industry is. As a true child of the Sixties, and early-adopter vegetarian parents, Stella McCartney was being introduced to sustainability long before it took root in our collective consciousness. So, when she hired the first ever Worldwide Sustainability and Innovation Director at her eponymous brand, she looked to Claire Bergkamp. Now the Chief Operating Officer at Textile Exchange, a global nonprofit that creates leaders in the preferred fiber and materials industry, Claire joins us to discuss the very important work being done to educate retailers on the ways they can help avert the ongoing climate crisis.

With the return of in-person runway shows, many brands approached this fashion season much differently than we've ever seen before. From Balenciaga's Simpson collab to some digital shows, is this the future of runway? To get an editorial perspective on the major runway trends seen across all the cities, we invited Editor in Chief of WhoWhatWear UK, Hannah Almassi, onto the podcast. As the publication's first EIC, Hannah launched the WhoWhatWear UK site and continues to build out its team, content strategy and editorial calendar. WhoWhatWear UK serves a core audience of fashion and beauty readers across the UK and Europe. Each season, our expert team of in-house analysts cover the shows extensively with specific reports catered to each city. Read our round up of the top commercial trends in our analyst approved Spring 2022 trends, with the addition of EDITED data alongside it.Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

As reported by Juniper Research, global retail spending on AI is expected to reach $7.3 billion annually by 2022. However, a survey by Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group found fewer than 40% of companies who have invested in AI had seen business gains from it in the previous three years. So how can retailers make the most of their AI investment?With the acceleration of digitalization and adoption towards digitization, retailers are learning quickly that their future depends on how they can leverage technology. But for an industry that's been slower to adopt, retailers have entered uncharted territories on exactly how to get the most out of its retail AI. Based on his co-authored article in the Harvard Business Review called “Why you aren't getting more from your marketing AI”, Michael Ross, EDITED's SVP of Retail Sciences, joins the podcast to share his knowledge of how companies need to use AI to see true value. With an extensive background in retail and technology, Michael is a leader in the industry as the former Co-Founder of both figleaves.com and DynamicAction, a leading retail analytics and AI company recently acquired by EDITED, as well as a non-executive Director of Sainsbury's Bank and N.Brown. With today's uncertainty in the retail landscape, Michael shares insight into the business opportunities retailers can get from their AI by simply asking the right questions. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

Ever wonder why dressing in certain colors boosts your mood? Or why do we seem to step into a time warp every year with trends from past decades on the runways? Well fashion brands are actually applying psychological theories and principles to encourage consumer spending. Despite the pandemic's impact on retailers last year, the global fashion industry is projected to hit $2.25 trillion by 2025, according to Statista. With demand for apparel only getting stronger, understanding the psychology of fashion can ensure brands remain relevant to their consumer base. To understand the connection between clothing and perception, we're joined by Fashion Psychologist Shakaila Forbes-Bell, who shares her expertise on the psychology behind our fashion choices and how it can inform future trends especially as retailers and brands navigate the post-pandemic era. Besides founding Fashion is Psychology, a platform dedicated to making academic research into fashion psychology more accessible, Shakaila has also worked with global retail brands including Next, Sainsbury's and AfterPay.  Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

More fashion retailers are diving head first into the virtual fashion world by getting hot and heavy with digital experiments from virtual fashion shows to live stream shopping. With no end in sight for the trend towards more digital interactions, virtual fashion is emerging as a huge opportunity for brands - both as a revenue stream and a channel for product discovery. An expert in this field, Founder of The Diigitals, Cameron-James Wilson, is best known for his creation of the World's First Digital Supermodel, Shudu, who has amassed 217k followers on Instagram and has also worked with high-fashion names including Balmain and Louboutin. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Cameron started out as a fashion photographer and visual artist. Now, he runs an all digital modeling agency to demonstrate the potential of 3D fashion modeling and showcases its application for innovative brands. In this episode, Cameron takes us on his journey through the world of digital fashion, the opportunities for retailers and whether NFTs are on their decline. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

K-beauty may be the most popular beauty regimen to come out of Asia, but South Asian beauty is also breaking into the Western world. The secret to healthy hair doesn't just start and end with shampoo and conditioner - it requires a holistic wellness approach. Fable & Mane, a South Asian owned hair wellness brand, was founded on this core principle so we are excited to be joined by its founders, Akash and Nikita Mehta. After establishing careers in luxury retail, the sibling duo decided to shift gears and create Fable & Mane, which was inspired by ancient Indian secrets based on a holistic wellness approach to achieving healthy and strong hair. They educate our listeners on how they successfully launched their business during the pandemic (where Fable & Mane products were featured in Kourtney Kardashian's Poosh bundle), as well as educate our audience on the Indian history and traditions behind the brand. So are you ready to adopt this new wave of beauty and haircare?Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

From silhouette to fit and fabric, the complexity of designing lingerie products is an understated art. So what are the exciting technologies, innovations, and trends to know about when it comes to lingerie? Like many other apparel categories, the lingerie industry is making strides to be more inclusive and mindful of today's consumer pain points. M&S is one retailer leading the charge and offering an array of lingerie products to ensure the everyday woman have the right undergarment products for their body. As 1 in 3 British women wears an M&S bra, they are no doubt a leader in this market. With this type of reputation, we're excited to be joined by Soozie Jenkinson, Head of Lingerie Design at M&S, who is responsible for setting design direction and overseeing product development through the end-to-end process. With over 27 years of experience at M&S under her belt, Soozie walks us through the critical lingerie design elements and processes to consider when it comes to serving this $250 billion market.Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

Two seemingly drastic retail markets with one similarity. An analysis into the untapped potential of these regions and why major retailers are looking to make headway there. With globalization at full throttle, retailing in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres are more alike than different with consumers hungry for the next trend even during a worldwide pandemic. Thanks to the internet and social media, the cycle of trends can come from the streets or runway, where even an entire region can influence your latest assortment drop. While reopening strategies and vaccination rollouts look different in every region, we explore one of the few unrestricted markets that has emerged as a go-to leader and another with a promising future to become one. Today, Kayla Marci, EDITED's Market Analyst, shares insights into the opportunities and challenges in the Australian and Polish markets. As a dual citizen and having lived in both regions, she shares data-backed analysis and the cultural nuances retailers should know. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

Is sexy back? Will suiting make a return? And what should we see across summer lines?We've learned a lot from the pandemic. Comfort dictated consumer spending, retailers used this time to course correct, plus there is now a stronger focus on DTC and omnichannel approaches. So instead of reminiscing on the past year any longer, we're putting COVID behind us for this episode and looking forward to what's to come out of it. Today, we're joined by our very own Retail Analysts, Avery Faigen and Venetia Fryzer, to talk about what to expect for the future of the industry. As our womenswear and mid & mature market experts, they discuss the important strategies retailers need to consider, runway trends we should anticipate to trickle into the mass market as well as  new categories, like happy dressing. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

2020 marked the first major dip in luxury market growth, with Kering Group seeing sales drop 16.5%. But, there is hope. In Bain & Company's 2020 Worldwide Luxury Market Monitor, the firm estimates that the market will recover to near pre-COVID-19 levels sometime between 2022 and 2023.  Traditionally reliant on in-store sales to drive growth, the pandemic has accelerated the importance of ecommerce with more luxury brands embracing digital as the go-to channel.Joining us in our latest unEDITED: Inside Retail episode, Carlo Moltrasio, Senior Manager at Bain & Co., explains  the findings in Bain's research. An expert in luxury fashion with over seven years of experience supporting several notable luxury brands, Carlo provides  data-backed insights into the market's performance over the past year, as well as an overview of  where it's heading next. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

Loungewear was the category that shaped pandemic dressing, where EDITED data tracked an 855% increase in searches for loungewear.  When looking for a crossover between that and sleepwear, the Nap Dress hits this sweet spot. Coupled with lockdown measures and remote work, the popularity of the house dress has skyrocketed during the pandemic as a timeless and comfortable home wardrobe staple. With nods to Cottagecore, Hill House Home's Nap Dress has become a viral sensation, where the brand sold $1 mm worth of its dresses in just 12 minutes.Joining us in our latest unEDITED: Inside Retail episode, Nell Diamond, Founder and CEO of Hill House Home, takes us through the success and versatility of the Nap Dress, as well as where she sees the future of loungewear post-pandemic. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

Modest fashion has become an important avenue for women to respect their cultures, while expressing themselves through their clothes. With untapped potential, former founder of The Modist dives into the opportunities in this underserved market. Modest dressing is a lifestyle for the greater half of the world. In order for brands to succeed in this space, they need to understand the different types of consumer types within this market. On International Women's Day 2017, Ghizlan Guenez started The Modist - the first global luxury ecommerce platform where leading fashion brands were curated for women who dress modestly. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the e-tailer ceased operations last year. While Ghizlan's chapter with The Modist is over, she's got plenty of takeaways from her career, including what she's doing now.In our latest unEDITED: Inside Retail episode, Ghizlan delves into her entrepreneurial journey, including unique insights into the growing and versatile modest fashion market.Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

Buying Black is a movement, not a moment. The resurgence of Black Lives Matter has shed light into the lack of availability there is to shop Black-owned brands. While retailers were quick to react and place these products in stores, there's an educational and relational element that shouldn't be ignored to ensure these voices are continuously heard.Despite the demand for more diverse products, Black brands have historically been left out of the wider beauty conversation. The clear lack of shelf space is now being challenged by Aurora James' 15% pledge. Sephora, Macy's and Vogue have all committed to the pledge, but this is only the beginning.One creator who's making headway in this space is Julian Addo. In October 2017, Julian saw a gap in the premium haircare market and introduced gender-neutral Adwoa Beauty to the world for all hair textures including kinky hair. Julian joins us on unEDITED: Inside Retail to delve into the beauty market and educate retailers on what needs to be done in order to elevate representation on shelves. Extra resources:How retailers are waking up to racial injustice and their responses - https://bit.ly/3aVqZHHIlluminating Black culture's influence on fashion - https://bit.ly/3bduNFe

In the US alone, it is estimated that dead inventory is costing retail $50 billion a year. To avoid this, people working in buying and merchandising shouldn't neglect the data-driven tools needed to compete in today's challenging retail environment.Retailers have traditionally done assortment planning manually and are stuck using old, time-consuming processes. In this new age of retail, trends are rolling out faster than ever so brands need to throw out their former processes and opt for a solution that's backed by data and AI. Market data has helped buyers and merchandisers like Carla Tuttlebee build a successful assortment in real-time. On unEDITED: Inside Retail's latest episode, Carla, Head of Retail Buying & Merchandising at Vero Moda, delivers best practices for assortment planning in this new age. With previously held positions at Burberry and Nike, Carla has been in the industry for 15 years.Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

Plus-size has always been a niche category in the overall fashion landscape, but it's set to be embraced even more as brands offer fresh size-inclusive ranges.2020 threw inclusivity into the spotlight, where we saw a more size diverse representation across the industry. Both the mass and luxury market are now expanding its ranges including Erdem's recent Pre-Spring 2021 collection, which unveiled a new size-inclusive direction for the luxury brand. One retailer leading the size-inclusive space in luxury for the past four years is 11 Honoré. In our latest episode of unEDITED: Inside Retail, we're joined by its VP of Client Services, Katie Murphy. Katie delivers tips for brands looking to foray into the market based on what she's seen working for the first multi-brand inclusive platform.Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

January might look different this year, but customers are still heavily investing in athleisure. According to Allied Market Research, the market is forecasted to be worth nearly $547 billion by 2024.Since the 2000s, activewear has trended in popularity as people prioritized their physical and mental health by seeking wellness and escapism. With the category front of mind for both retailers and consumers in the new year, we're joined by CPO of Sweaty Betty, Jemma Cassidy, to delve more into the booming market. Jemma gives us insight into Sweaty Betty's strategies, including how they've successfully encouraged their consumers to stay active during lockdown. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

While 2020 has thrown retailers a curveball, the industry has gained valuable insights to take with them in the new year and beyond.From a reliance on e-commerce to the emergence of new technology like autonomous deliveries, retailers overcame many of the adverse effects from the pandemic by adapting quickly to the new retail landscape. In our final podcast episode of the year, we're joined by two of EDITED's Retail Analysts, Aoife Byrne and Krista Corrigan, to talk through the top trends from this turbulent year. Join us as we discuss key themes to look for in 2021, spotlighting bright colors and a focus on versatility. This is it for 2020, so thanks to all our listeners who have joined unEDITED: Inside Retail's journey this year. We've had a blast curating these episodes based on issues our industry is going through today. Stay tuned for more to come!Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

Black Friday 2020 broke all records, while the following Cyber Monday became the biggest shopping day in US history. Staying at home, the American consumer spent $19.8 billion across Friday and Monday. In contrast, there was a 16.7% YoY drop in Black Friday payments in the UK. So, how did retailers revise their reductions amid the new normal?There's not only been an increase in the amount of stock discounted but also a cautious approach to how deep products are reduced. As highlighted in our Black Friday trends blog, it's more important than ever for retailers to navigate competitive offers to lure consumers online while protecting margins to stay profitable.Our third-ever employee, Emily Bezzant, VP of Research and Analysis, joins unEDITED: Inside Retail this week to dissect Cyber Month, in particular, Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020. Tune in to find out where the event originated and where it's heading in years to come.Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

At the height of the pandemic, interest in home decor has skyrocketed with consumers creating ideal home spaces to accommodate for both their personal and professional lives. With many already in lockdown 2.0, improving the quality of life in their home environments with the latest interior design trends will only continue to grow exponentially.From house plants to organic bedding, homeware products have experienced a surge in demand this year. Due to an increase in people working remotely and inspiration from  social media platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram, homeware sales have increased 39% YoY, according to the Confederation of British Industry.On unEDITED: Inside Retail this week, we are joined by Michael Truluck, CEO of La Redoute International. Michael previously held senior positions at Condé Nast Publications and Peter Blacks Footwear & Accessories. In his current role as CEO, Michael is responsible for growing and leading the company, which operates in more than 30 countries. Originally founded in 1837, La Redoute was one of the first apparel companies to diversify into homeware. As the homeware market continues to be the brand's primary focus, Michael walks us through this booming market, including top trends and opportunities their business is seeing during this time.Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

E-commerce has transformed over time to meet the ever-changing demands of the modern day consumer. From product customization to next-day delivery, shopping has never been more convenient.Consumer shopping behavior is much different now than it was a decade ago. Instead of heading to a local department store, your customers will now shop online. However, the cost of driving traffic to a retailer's site is considerably high. This is where online marketplaces come into play. Brands are turning to third party sites such as eBay and Amazon to broaden their audience reach while keeping costs down. But what are the challenges brands face when relying on e-commerce? Helen Riley, Fashion Acquisition Manager at eBay, was one of the first 100 employees at  ASOS and saw the retailer grow from a small e-commerce platform to a globally recognized marketplace. She joins us on unEDITED: Inside Retail to discuss the changes she experienced there and why supplier platforms are beneficial for both the consumer and brand. As a Fashion Acquisition Manager, Helen is responsible for the acquisition and growth of brands and retailers on eBay's online marketplace. Learn more about how the etailer has pivoted its strategy, from second-hand products to now offering 90% brand new products, in our latest podcast. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too. 

Despite the challenges retailers have faced, environmental efforts continued to be championed. One brand championing sustainable fashion and setting the bar high is The North Face.Consumer concerns about sustainable fashion have only increased during the pandemic. Recently, McKinsey & Co. reported that 60% of people are going out of their way to purchase eco-friendly products and services. Pursuing recycled content, wherever a retailer can, is emerging as an expectation by consumers. The Gen-Z cohort in particular really value innovation and transparency when it comes to sustainability. To discuss this critical topic, we are joined by Kelly Cortina, VP of Global Apparel at The North Face. Throughout her career, Kelly has held leadership positions at internationally renowned sporting goods and casual luxury brands including Under Armour and Abercrombie and Fitch. Currently representing a brand known for its plausible sustainability efforts, Kelly shares insights into how The North Face pushes transparency and encourages consumer accountability. Be inspired and learn how you or your business can also make a difference.Discover more insights into the state of sustainable fashion in our 2020 Sustainability EDIT report. Download it here.

As brands rethink traditional runway, the Spring 2021 catwalk featured reimagined digital shows. Many found savvy ways to show off their latest designs, deflecting the spotlight away from the absence of physical showsThe recent runway shows didn't create as much engagement as usual, with the all-digital LFW seeing 55% less buzz on social media than in January, according to Launchmetrics. On the upside, digital formats and the lack of travel across the industry proved to promote sustainable efforts and reduction of CO2 emissions. So is there a sweet spot between the two? Alex Badia, Style Director at WWD, joins us on the podcast to discuss the future of digital shows and tells us the top trends from the Spring 2021 runway shows that you should be taking note of. With experience from Condé Nast and now WWD, Alex is continually looking out for the latest trends in womenswear and menswear. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too. 

With theatres closed and lockdown restrictions in place, people have turned to streaming platforms for escapism and a sense of nostalgia in 2020.The way trends develop has transformed. The rise of Netflix, Disney+ and other streaming platforms has resulted in globally successful shows making a noticeable influence on social media and the runway. Instead of having dedicated costumes for each show, we're now seeing designer collections such as D.Bleu.Dazzled featured in Black Is King and Molly Goddard's tulle dress in Killing Eve.To help us break it all down, Heather Ibberson, Retail Analyst here at EDITED, joins us on the podcast as we dive into the most significant fashion moments from your favorite shows this year and highlight the  trends retailers can tap into. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too. 

You need a multi-pronged strategy to build a well-known brand. While there are many parts to it, a retailer can create a recognizable global brand when all these tools are taken advantage of.Understanding your audience is vital. Although it's common to have a huge disconnect between a brand's ideal target customer and their existing customer base. Consider what your business stands for, the direction driving it and the consumers who inspire you. Aliza Licht, Founder and President at Leave Your Mark LLC, joins the unEDITED podcast this week. Before Twitter was prominent, Aliza built a social personality for DKNY, gaining over 500,000 followers for the brand. As a brand storyteller, Licht helps retailers build their brand equity by crafting compelling multi-faceted narratives that engage and captivate the audience. Licht is also the author of the best-selling career advice book, Leave Your Mark.Watch our episodes on our YouTube channel! Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

Despite the notorious reputation of the jewelry market being hard to tap into, Astrid & Miyu has thrived - achieving 1000% growth in the last three years. So how do you build a successful challenger brand, especially during COVID? The majority of brands are struggling to hit revenue targets in 2020, so it's vital to know how the few have succeeded. Retailers have had to adapt different strategies and adjust their business models, both online and offline.Connie Nam, CEO and Founder at Astrid & Miyu, joins the unEDITED podcast this week. In 2012, Connie left a career in investment banking to set up an online jewelry brand from her kitchen table. In the last three years, Astrid & Miyu has achieved 1000% growth to achieve a £10m turnover. One of the secrets to the brand's success was the introduction of in-store tattooing and piercing, which boosted turnover by 350% in 2019. Listen to the episode to discover the other secrets to success and how brands are adjusting their business models to thrive post-COVID.Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too. 

The global menswear market is predicted to grow faster than womenswear by the end of 2020, according to Euromonitor. Today, we're seeing more retailers offer not only womenswear lines, but menswear products on par with the trends offered to women. Combined with the changing male consumer mindset towards shopping and cultural shifts, the menswear market has grown exponentially.In our latest unEDITED episode, we are joined by Randy Cousin, VP of Brand Merchandising at Tommy Hilfiger. As an expert in menswear, Randy gives insight into the growing category and explains the cultural shifts that have defined menswear into what it is today. With over 11 years of experience at Tommy Hilfiger and previously another seven at A&F, Randy has an industry reputation as a robust Global Buying & Merchandising Professional.

Rather than counting on old methods of working, retailers need to invest in technologies like market intelligence to flourish in the new world of retailing.Despite all the negative events that have occurred in 2020, retailers are combating these impacts by adopting new practices and technologies. According to Econsultancy and Marketing Week, 60% of large global organizations have identified new processes that they might use post-pandemic. Since events to this scale are unforeseeable, it's important to be equipped with the right tools to rise above the chaos and come out stronger than ever before. Joe Aleardi, CRO here at EDITED, joins the podcast to discuss the challenges retailers are facing and the opportunities that lie ahead. Joe has proven success in building both start-up sales teams, as well as running large established organizations of 150+ sales people. He has previously led teams at IBM and served as CRO at Swrve. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too. 

COVID-19 has hindered sales across luxury retail, but will it drive the necessary change for high-end brands to finally adapt to the digital revolution? Luxury brands don't have the community that contemporary brands boast as they are more aspirational, especially for first time buyers. In order to adapt to the changing times, brands need to balance authenticity while taking part in the digital age by embracing virtual fashion shows, social channels and e-comm. In our latest unEDITED episode, Zoe Gauntlett, Account Director at Threads Styling, delves into the luxury market and discusses social commerce's evolution. Zoe has experience working in brand partnerships across many fashion publications including HYPEBEAST, SheerLuxe and British Vogue. Now she manages media partnerships business at Threads Styling.Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

What are the opportunities that exist in the men's cosmetics market, including some popular men's beauty products, and how are Gen-Z attitudes changing towards it?80s icons such as Boy George and Prince normalized the use of men's beauty products and opened the doors to what we're seeing today.  Now the  likes of Harry Styles and Jaden Smith are also seen frequently wearing makeup and supporting the use of beauty products. However, education in this area is still lacking in order to obtain wider adoption.In our latest episode, Ed Healy, Commercial Director at L'Oreal, discusses the shift in attitudes as he sees  a new digital and gender-neutral future for beauty. With over 10 years of experience in sales and marketing, Ed has worked with a range of companies, including luxury brands within L'Oreal UK, startups and iconic beauty giants.All opinions discussed on the podcast belong to Ed and does not represent those of L'Oreal.Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

How can brands strike the balance between authenticity and support for social causes without seeming opportunistic?More brands are taking action in solidarity for worldwide movements from Pride to raising awareness for public health issues such as COVID-19. In our latest episode, Kati Chitrakorn, Retail and Marketing Editor at Vogue Business, discusses how fashion brands can make a difference and effectively communicate these messages. Kati began her career working at the International New York Times' fashion desk, and was most recently a reporter at The Business of Fashion and WWD. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too. 

How can retailers and brands brace themselves for economic recovery during and after the coronavirus?  As businesses are working harder than ever to stay afloat, the EDITED team unveiled the COVID-19 Retail Dashboard in order to aid retailers and brands during the pandemic. It is a public resource with global insights on how the industry is reacting to the current state of the market.In this bonus episode, experts across the EDITED Analyst and Product team walk us through the dashboard, tell us how it was built, alongside some top-level analysis from key regions including China, US, UK and Italy. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.

How has the coronavirus effectively changed the face of fashion weeks, sustainability initiatives and more? Headlines around the coronavirus are evolving on a weekly basis - making it difficult for people to keep up. In order to help you cut through all the noise, Kayla Marci, Market Analyst at EDITED, joins the podcast again to bring clarity on the most recent impacts of COVID-19 within the retail industry. Between digital fashion weeks and discounting strategies, this episode highlights all the latest news with data-backed analysis from the EDITED Retail Decision Platform. Sign up to our weekly Insider Briefing to get the latest industry news and exclusive market analysis here. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to unEDITED! Get in touch at unedited@edited.com if there's someone you think would be a great guest for our show too.