Scott Bartle

I’ve thought long and hard about posting this but decided it’s the right thing to do. I was recently informed about the day rate for Ecom stylists for a large London based studio. Between £120 and £150 per day. Let’s break that down. £120 per day - minus 19% tax , minus travel 1-3 travel card £9.60, and let’s say £10 for lunch, that’s an overall earning of £77.60. Let’s assume the hours are 9am - 6pm - 8 hours including lunch. £77.60 divided by 8 hours is £9.60 per hour. The London living wage per hour is £13.15. The sad truth about these figures is that depite the dramatic rise in the cost of living (food, rent, utilities, childcare are they highest they’ve ever been) the day rates in the creative industries remain the same or lower than TEN years ago. The industry is quite literally imploding itself, creatives simply cannot afford to survive. The incomings can never keep up with the outgoings, creating a constant deficit. If experienced creatives cannot survive what hope does the next wave have? Be great to open the lines of communication on this, from all professional’s, and have an honest conversation about that state of the industry as it stands, perhaps even creating some postive from this. #freelance #creatives #stylists #photographers #dayrates #costofliving

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Drapers asks top buyers what is on their order books from the spring/summer 25 catwalks: today, Sev Halit, buying manager at END. Read her top picks here. #fashion #fashionnews #retail #retailnews #End #catwalks

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John Lewis acquires new Fashion Director Rachel Morgans, pervious head buyer of ASOS. Is John Lewis & Partners opening its door to a new a consumer audience? John Lewis and ASOS are not brand names you would expect to see in the same sentence. Both brands seem to represent different ends of a fashion and consumer spectrum. Where John Lewis caters for the 'whole family', offering heritage that feels mature and defined, ASOS is a fashion zeitgeist that is trend led and faster paced being the go-to option shopping space for Gen Z and Millennials. We’ve seen a lot of brands do so well because they’ve tapped into a niche and built a community and culture that engages and retains a loyal customer base. It’s safe to bet that the department brand could be making a move to re-shift their fashion offerings or target audience and I am always a big fan of shaking things up and having some fun. I’m really interested to see if, and how, this new acquisition will affect the brands legacy, and the high street economy. Who knows, your next OOTD could be John Lewis from head-to-toe! #retailnews #audience #highstreet #heritage #brandlove

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The womenswear market is predicted to grow 14% to £38.4bn in 2028, up from £32.2bn in 2023. The fact is, that the female demographic has continued to mystify marketers and there’s really no reason for it. That's where we come in! Our latest New Future Value Report dives into: ➙ Valuable research from our partners at Mintel about the needs, concerns and interests of the female demographic ➙ Case studies on those in the women's athleisure wear market getting it right ➙ How you can optimise, accelerate and innovate your next womenswear campaign Download the full 'What Women Want' report here: https://lnkd.in/eAetN_wX #NewFutureValue #WhatWomenWant #MarketingAgency #DigitalMarketing

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UK takes another step towards end of recession "Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 0.1% in February, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), despite retail being impacted by record-breaking wet weather. The UK made the incremental step towards a recession-free economy in the face of early 2024 being the fourth wettest start to the year since records began. The 0.1% climb matched City economists’ forecasts after growth in January was revised up from 0.2% to 0.3%. The ONS said: "The largest negative contribution to services growth in February 2024 came from wholesale and retail trade." However, there was 0.2% growth across all consumer-facing services, including retail trade, in the three months to February this year compared with the three months to November 2023." by Katie Ross at TheIndustry.fashion & TheIndustry.beauty Office for National Statistics Liz McKeown #retailnews #gdp #recessionfree

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More coverage about our Period Positive Workplace Scheme by TOTM in @theindustryfashion. This is an incredible initiative we fully back and are so pleased to have implemented in our workplace. “As an organisation, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. By becoming a period positive workplace and having products readily available at our locations, we aim to address the challenges of period poverty. No one should have to worry about access to basic period essentials, whether they are an employee or someone using our services. Period poverty is not just a matter of physical discomfort—it impacts confidence, attendance, and productivity, while perpetuating stigma. By ensuring access to these products, we are taking a proactive step toward supporting health, equality, and dignity for everyone in our spaces. This initiative reflects our values and our commitment to creating an environment where all can thrive.” Arti Modhwadia – CEO - HFEH Mind https://lnkd.in/eEWYq4R2

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📢 As one of the most iconic British retail institutions, John Lewis & Partners has always been synonymous with quality, reliability, & trust. The revival of its much-loved ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ promise this week, comes as a powerful signal to its loyal customer base & the broader market. After all, the slogan represents more than just a commitment to match prices — it’s a declaration of trustworthiness that reassures customers they are getting the best value. 🤝 Under the leadership of Peter Ruis, this decision indicates John Lewis's desire to reconnect with its roots and re-establish its position as a premium yet empathetic retailer. It seems like a nod of understanding & respect to the middle class consumer, who has needed to be a little more savvy with their spending over the last few years. For customers, this refreshed promise brings a sense of familiarity and comfort, & a reminder of the retailer’s long-standing dedication to service. Even if most shoppers rarely invoke the price match promise, its very presence offers a psychological security net. It reassures shoppers, building trust, &, in many ways, adding to a seamless shopping experience where value is guaranteed without extra effort. 🛍 Much like a child's favorite teddy bear or a familiar song, ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ evokes a feeling that some things remain constant in a world that often feels increasingly unpredictable. It appeals to the deep sense of reliability, one that customers have come to associate with John Lewis for generations. The familiarity of the promise is an asset for marketing & advertising campaigns, allowing the retailer to lean on decades of built-up goodwill. The brand promise is to be underpinned by a new platform, created together with Saatchi & Saatchi, entitled ‘Live Knowingly’. The platform sets out to celebrate John Lewis and is built around the themes of knowing and wisdom. A new ad campaign will go live on the 19th of September, this being the first in a trilogy of films where the theme of ‘Knowingly’ will be explored in each of the ads that run over the seasonal peak. 📺 The retailer will spend the most it has ever done on marketing during this “golden quarter”. Using a more clear & authentic message in a time when brand loyalty can be hard to sustain will hopefully continue to boost sales and drive growth. The refresh of this historic promise signals a significant step in John Lewis's efforts to regain it's prominence on the high street. Customers will feel the comfort & trust of the price match pledge that has been a cornerstone of the retailer's ethos for years. It represents a return to familiar values that can strengthen its brand in the increasingly competitive retail space. Through this, John Lewis is poised to remind shoppers why it has always been a preferred choice and that it's here to stay! 🌟 https://lnkd.in/ep8Yx3tC #JOHNLEWIS #UKRETAIL #CONSUMER

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At conferences and in conversations with brands this year, returns challenges continue to be a key topic of conversation. I decided to write about what I've been hearing! Above all, brands are desperate to solve returns issues and are willing to take some pretty big risks to do so. They're trying new things, adding obstacles for the consumer return journey, and trying to shift the cost away from their business and onto the consumer. How's it working? Early to tell, but I think we'll continue to see brands creating multifaceted approaches and testing and building as this challenge doesn't seem to be dissipating anytime soon. Trove often works with brands to solve major returns challenges and we even turn non-new returns into new revenue channels. We love being a key partner to deal with this issue and turn the returns crisis into a growth opportunity. Check out my article to learn about some of the other emerging strategies in returns reduction, some of which are directly impacting the resale environment.

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At the Drapers Future of Fashion conference on 19 June, The Very Group's digital customer experience director Paul Hornby shared his advice on harnessing the power of AI and other new technologies dictating the future of fashion retail. Subscribe to read more below. #DFOF #DrapersFutureofFashion #technology #fashiontech #AI

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Have you ever wondered what the journey to becoming a Merchandise Manager at Next entails? Andy Mackay (Merchandise Manager for Womenswear) spoke on the Life at Next podcast previously about how he started at Next's Preston 304 store and how he was, in his words, "a little bit annoying." It clearly worked! 👏 A selection of insightful takeaways and questions to be asking that could be key to success whilst working in Product at Next: 🌟 "Can you make it better?" 🌟 "Deliver the trends." 🌟 "Are we being brave enough?" 🌟 "Always look at 3 seasons at a time." 🌟 "Make your mark, make an impact." 🌟 "Empowered to make decisions from a very early stage." 🌟 "We all need to be on the same hymn sheet." 🌟 "Fabric, is it as good as it possibly can be?" 🌟 "Healthy conflict is good. It is how better product is created." Take a listen or watch yourself here: https://lnkd.in/egYBVsKz ❓Do you have any other top tips on successfully working within Product❓ #lifeatnext

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Rich media isn't just the future; it's the present. In the last two decades, we've seen screen sizes shrink dramatically, and the mobile-first approach has become non-negotiable. Today, your retail business is judged on a 6 to 7-inch screen where every pixel counts. Remember, a well-crafted image or video speaks volumes—literally a thousand words. This translates directly to big sales because quite simply the picture(s)/videos sells. Poor pictures = poor sales. I've witnessed the transformative power of top-tier visual content first-hand. At Shuperb Footwear, we recognized early on the necessity of investing in high-quality photography equipment and setting up a dedicated studio. This foresight set us apart when many were (and still are) relying on basic supplier-provided images. With the improvement of internet speeds post-2010, we ventured into video production. Here's a glimpse at our very first video production, showcasing our growth despite initial challenges with sound quality: https://lnkd.in/gSM73C4H Today, the advancements in technology and internet capabilities mean that brands can present their products seamlessly, with no lag or long load times— a critical factor in keeping potential customers engaged. Introducing Elevate Agency & Studios — a culmination of over two decades of e-commerce expertise, now crystallized into a pioneering visual content creation studio. For my business, Shuperb, the team at Elevate Agency & Studios has crafted outstanding visual assets that have significantly boosted our online presence. Their skill in creating compelling, attention-grabbing content is unmatched. Whether you're launching a new venture or looking to enhance your established brand, a conversation with Katie Flintham or Arshad I. at Elevate could be the game-changer you need. Elevate specialises in producing dynamic assets for fashion, apparel, and footwear, ranging from crisp still shots to fully styled lifestyle photoshoots and innovative 365-degree product gifs. Don’t wait until it's too late to "elevate" your brand (sorry, had to get that one in!). Ready to make an impact? Contact them for a trial shoot.

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Fabulous, The Sun’s lifestyle brand for women, has launched the Fuller Bust Collection, its first fashion range that has been designed in collaboration with readers. Fabulous research found women with DD+ chests struggled to find clothes on the high-street or online that fit properly, and it was having a big impact on their confidence and the way they dress. Our exclusive survey found: -64% of readers have faced challenges buying clothes because of the size of their chest -Two-in-three Sun readers with size DD+ boobs struggle to find clothes that fit Four in five women told us that the clothes they usually buy are often too tight, gape, show their bra straps or have low necklines -And, 20% say their breast size has had a negative impact on their confidence and self-esteem The limited-edition, seven-piece summer capsule range features five dresses and two tops, all of which have been specially adapted to perfectly fit bigger busts. Readers have been part of the design process via Facebook, WhatsApp, email and our website. They’ve helped make key decisions on everything from the prints and colours, to the style and fit. Read more:

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Incoming: Top eCom news stories from this week… 👚 Matalan has added 17 new third-party brands across womenswear, menswear, kidswear, homeware and more. This includes brands like Mountain Warehouse, Regatta, ToeZone, and Brave Soul. 👞 Temu is under the spotlight this week after Dr. Martens plc launched a lawsuit accusing Temu of trademark infringement by targeting keywords like “Dr Martens” and “Airway” with their Google ads promoting their boots. 💰 It appears Shein is interested in bidding again to purchase TopShop from ASOS amid the financial struggles ASOS are facing. This continues Shein’s expansion following their acquisition of Missguided last year. 📹 Amazon has launched Amazon Live on Prime Video, a live shopping feature. 🚴‍♂️ Decathlon is shifting to become a fully eCommerce company in the USA as they close their last 2 US brick and mortar stores in California. 🏬 Going in the other direction, eCommerce business Wayfair is planning on opening their first brick and mortar store in Illinois next month with a goal of boosting their market presence. 👕 With the hope of cutting costs to aid the survival of the brand, Superdry are planning on delisting from the London Stock Exchange. ⚽ Finally, adidas exceeded their 2024 Q1 profit expectations with an 8% increase in sales, causing them to increase their full-year profit guidance. What are your thoughts on this week's news? Did I miss anything?

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Fast fashion has been in the news again this week, as Shein lists on the Stock Exchange. The Chinese company is the epitome of fast – every day a staggering 6,000 new items appear on the site, where well over half a million items are available to buy, with prices starting from just a few pounds. The company uses social media exhaustively, with sophisticated algorithms meaning consumers are targeted well, with ambassadors across the globe promoting its products. The cheap prices companies like Shein charge constantly undercut other brands. The whole fast fashion model relies on the exploitation of human labour, to create and deliver on-trend products, copied from other brands then promoted and sold to consumers at an unprecedented rate. And it’s not just fashion, as all sorts of products are copied and sold cheaply. It’s even happened to us. eBAy has been flooded with cheap imitation CRIMPiTs made in China. They are created from cheaper plastic, in unregulated conditions and they are not foodsafe, so potentially dangerous to health. There’s a reason our CRIMPiT products cost a little more – we took the time and spent the money in ensuring they are safe to use, made with food grade plastic here in the UK and distributed reliably. We're a registered member of Made in Britain. Our Injection moulder and box supplier are with 30 miles of our HQ in the North West. Our CRIMPiTs are made from the highest quality food grade plastic, so free from BPA and other nasties. We are spending a lot of time responding to these fakes and thankfully our community of CRIMPiT lovers the Crimpiteers are quick to call them out. It's an easy mistake for people to make – most of the eBay sellers have even stolen images from our website and copied our Made in the UK claims. So we’ve got advice here on our website, we’ve set up a bespoke email address to advise people how to get a refund from eBay. That way, CRIMPiT is enjoyed properly. And we’ve gone a small way to combating fast, fake fashion. But there’s a long way to go. Don’t buy cheap, people! Not only are you potentially buying dangerous products you are also damaging small UK businesses in the process!

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Peter Hawkings departure from TOM FORD is surprising news but given the recent luxury reports, sadly a sign of the times. The pressure is on for Creative Directors as luxury sales slide in most luxury fashion brands. We could be ready to see revolving doors and a confused offering as Creative Directors move from brand to brand. Insights from The Business of Fashion #PeterHawkings #TomFord #FashionIndustry #LuxuryFashion #CreativeDirectors #FashionNews #BusinessOfFashion #FashionInsights #IndustryTrends #LuxurySales #FashionLeadership

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Radar, an app to find and track #fashion choices and purchases, has launched in the #UK. Emily Gaunt #Retail #fashion #Apparel #Radar #UK #DailyNews #ApparelResources #ApparelIndustry #RetailTech #FashionBrand #NewLaunch

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