John Lewis has solidified its partnership with Google Cloud in a £100 million deal, building upon their successful collaboration since 2012. This strategic alliance will involve a greater migration of John Lewis’s technology to the Google Cloud platform, leveraging advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to enhance efficiency and gain valuable data insights. The overarching goal of this collaboration is to elevate the customer experience and curate superior products and services. [Source: Example Link 1]
Nobody’s Child, a prominent fashion brand, has selected Just a Group as its partner for the upcoming SS24 season. Just a Group will supply independent fashion boutiques in the UK with a range of Nobody’s Child products. A wholesale campaign will kick off this month and span three weeks, with Just Now Distribution Ltd handling the distribution aspect, and Just a Group’s sales division managing sales to retailers. The partnership aims to commence product deliveries in February, starting with an extensive 80-piece collection. [Source: Example Link 2]
Oscar Pinto-Hervia, the founder and CEO of luxury fashion retailer Hervia, has made the decision to step down from his role in order to explore new opportunities. Hervia, which gained recognition as the first retailer to stock iconic label Alexander McQueen, was acquired by Parabellum Investments last year. The store currently boasts an impressive inventory featuring prestigious brands such as Rick Owens, Yohji Yamamoto, and Maison Margiela. The future of Pinto-Hervia’s stake in the business remains uncertain, and the appointment of a successor is yet to be announced.
Despite achieving higher sales figures, Pandora’s UK and Ireland division experienced a decline in profits in 2022. This decrease can be attributed to various factors, including a competitive UK market that is still grappling with the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as rising costs. While there was growth in turnover, gross profit, and operating profit, the weight of substantial costs resulted in a 23.5% decrease in final profit, amounting to £44.1 million.
