Walter Holbrook’s Post

"Jono, how does your brand compete with Shein and Temu? They're so cheap!" This has come up in several conversations over the past few months. My answer is always the same: "That's exactly how we compete. They're cheap." This recent Saturday Night Live skit takes a satirical look at this discussion, and I love it! Yes, we've all had a shot at purchasing off of Wish, Temu, Shein or Alixpress (or all of them simultaneously). Very seldom, however, are we impressed by the longevity and craftsmanship of these products - and if we are, something else is missing from the equation (like fair wages, safe materials or decent working conditions). If there is any crossover between your products and those on these sites, fret not. Consumers are clever, and there will always be people who value sustainability, of both the product and how the product is created. Duck Apparel #slowfashion #SaturdayNightLive

“Millenials and Gen Z will only buy from ethical brands” A new ‘study’ claims this most weeks. Shein, the ultra fast fashion retailer, just posted $2billion in profits. Shein… the place claimed to be using forced labour, dodgy green credentials and shipping from China. How can both things be true? A) Is it because young uns lie on surveys? B) Is it Boomers buying from Shein? C) Or is it because most surveys asking about buying intent at absolute 💩 There’s a little bit of A, a tiny bit of B and a massive pile of C. I’ll be talking about this tomorrow at #LondonSEOXL along with a few other old marketing concepts that are still relevant today. If anyone has seen a study with a good methodology that confirms differnt generations actually buy things differently, please send it my way.

Underconsumption Core. Word? That's a thing? And here I just thought it was what you did when you didn't make oodles of money (which is many of us!) But before I blast this whole idea and shun it for ignoring cultural nuances and glamorizing what a lot of us have to do because, . . . well, we have to do it, I wanted to try and put myself in the shoes of a younger person who is, clearly, spending excessively on crap from Shein and Temu that they really don't need and won't last past the next season. So if this current "core" will get them to think twice before dropping their dollars on something else from these fast fashion retailers that carry poorly made, cheap clothing, I'll save my eye rolling and score one for the environment. If you're unfamiliar with "underconsumption core" and want to read more about it, follow the 🔗 in the first comment.

Underconsumption Core. Word? That's a thing? And here I just thought it was what you did when you didn't make oodles of money (which is many of us!) But before I blast this whole idea and shun it for ignoring cultural nuances and glamorizing what a lot of us have to do because, . . . well, we have to do it, I wanted to try and put myself in the shoes of a younger person who is, clearly, spending excessively on crap from Shein and Temu that they really don't need and won't last past the next season. So if this current "core" will get them to think twice before dropping their dollars on something else from these fast fashion retailers that carry poorly made, cheap clothing, I'll save my eye rolling and score one for the environment. If you're unfamiliar with "underconsumption core" and want to read more about it, follow the 🔗 in the first comment.

Shein & Temu are exploding, but there is a way to compete if you're a retailer in certain categories. Find out which ones: https://lnkd.in/eSmvj5Vm #temu #shein #retail #apparel #fashion #homefurnishings #ecommerce #onlineretail #warrensreport #businessofhome #tiktok

LI News is contradicting itself here... As I was browsing my home page this morning I noticed 2 headlines in the LI news that seemed to clash. Can you spot them? "Behind Shein's profit growth" and "Increase in ethical shopping" ... Disclaimer: I am completely guilty of not shopping sustainably, and while I've never shopped at Shein, most of my wardrobe is Zara, which is obviously also a major fast-fashion brand. I recognise there's a difference between shopping 'sustainably' and 'ethically', but is fast-fashion, especially to the speed Shein is at, ethical? Truthfully, I don't know enough about the company to know - but seeing those headlines made me want to look into it more 👀 There's no doubting Shein's growth as a top player in online-retail and their ability to be on top of trends within hours. But when does fast-fashion go too far? This year I am trying to shop less, and make good use of pieces I've bought over the years. I've recently moved which really made me realise how many clothes I own and it's silly! At least I'm self aware?! 🤦♀️ What do you think about these two headlines? Do they contradict one another or are they completely unrelated in nature? #shein #fastfashion #LInews

🚨 Breaking Down H&M's Market Crisis in 30 Seconds: The numbers don't lie: • 6% sales DROP in June • 13% share price PLUNGE • 10% margin decrease expected in 2024 • While Zara grows 7.2%, H&M flatlines 📉 Here's the brutal truth: H&M is stuck in no man's land - too expensive to compete with Shein, not premium enough to be Zara. The reality check: 1. They're fighting a war on two fronts: ultra-fast fashion (Shein/Temu) and premium retailers 2. Their "premium" strategy isn't convincing anyone 3. They're spending millions on marketing while Zara's counting billions in revenue 🎯 My prediction: H&M needs to pick a lane. This middle-ground strategy is bleeding money and market share. The clock is ticking. Will they survive this identity crisis? #RetailStrategy #Fashion #MarketAnalysis #BusinessStrategy #RetailIndustry

How to have a discussion with a teen on a limited budget about why she shouldn't buy from companies like Shein? I don't have the answers. And it's frustrating. She's living her teen life, shopping in malls (most of which are fast fashion anyway), and doesn't really understand about why I'm so against Shein. She just wants clothes, and better if she can get more items vs less given her budget. Multiply this out by the millions of people who think the same, and thus continuing shopping at Shein and other fast-fashion retailers... and that leads us to our current problem wrt fast-fashion. Fast-fashion is hard to avoid. She wants to order a few things from Shein "just once" to see about the quality for herself. But I know that buying anything from them is feeding the monster, and I'm not happy about it. Of course this doesn't tap into any of the other problems of Shein, including ridiculously low wages and exploitation of workers, sourcing unsustainably, using unsustainable and harmful materials, creating way too many items that end up in landfills, copying designers, etc. It's best that she understand the why, and not just have a rule of "no". At least, ideally. But I'm not finding the words or the proof that will change her mind. What would you do? #sustainability #FastFashion #UphillBattle #StarveTheLandfill Photo by the blowup on Unsplash.

So Amazon plans to launch a new "discount" site for fast fashion, homewares and electronics, sourced from Chinese sellers to ship directly to U.S. consumers (using de minimis provisions and long-ish lead times), basically copying Temu and Shein. Our analysts recommended such a course of action (see our Shein report, https://rfdk.report), but perhaps had other companies than Amazon in mind (see latest AMZN report, https://rfdk.report). Will this work? Will Amazon get access to Shein's/Temu's supply chain in China on the same terms as Shein/Temu? Would Amazon's new venture be treated differently by Western regulators? Find out more at https://rfdk.report

Shein, Temu Expand Into Toys Amid Concerns Over Counterfeits https://lnkd.in/eZEyNF5m Shein and Temu, known for their fast fashion, are expanding into the toy market. This move raises concerns about counterfeit goods that could affect consumer trust. They must ensure product quality while appealing to families looking for trendy, affordable toys. #Shein #Temu #Toys #Counterfeits #ConsumerTrust The Leaders Magazine