London Boutiques Launches This Month

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London-Boutiques.com, a new e-commerce platform which aims to be a virtual high street for the capital’s most prestigious boutiques, is all set to launch later this month. The site will bring together a number of acclaimed independent fashion boutiques including luxury stores Austique, Älva, Trilogy and Iris onto one e-commerce site which will allow customers one central checkout. Other boutiques that will feature on the site include Miriam, Teacup, Pippa, Powder, Katie and Jo, Boundary 11, Question-air, Gathering Goddess, Heidi and Hudson.

The network will provide customers with unique edits from each boutique and will offer womenswear brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Hervé Léger, Acne, Stella McCartney and Temperley London, as well as up-and-coming designers including Greta, Skultuna and Misst.

Alongside the luxury offering of clothing, footwear and accessories, London Boutiques will also showcase editorial content, with weekly newsfeeds and boutique updates. Also it has been announced that the platform will be partnering with fashion bloggers, industry experts and some of London’s hottest talent to offer customers unique collaborations.

Wolverine Worldwide, Blum Capital and Golden Gate acquire collective brands

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Wolverine Worldwide, Blum Capital and Golden Gate have formed an acquirement company that is taking over Kansas-based Collective Brands. Wolverine Worldwide, Blum Capital Partners and Golden Gate Capital have entered into a definitive agreement under which Collective Brands will be acquired for $21.75 per share in cash, including the assumption of debt. The purchase price represents a 104% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average trading price prior to the August 24, 2011, announcement that Collective Brands’ board of directors, together with the management, would conduct a review of strategic and financial alternatives.

Wolverine Worldwide will acquire Collective Brands’ Performance + Lifestyle Group (PLG), which includes the wholesale and retail operations of the Sperry Top-Sider, Saucony, Stride Rite and Keds brands, and will continue to operate out of Lexington, Massachusetts. PLG had revenue of more than $1 billion in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2012. Investment firms Blum Capital and Golden Gate will jointly acquire the operations of Payless ShoeSource and Collective Licensing International (CLI), which together will operate as a standalone entity.

Madame aims for 100 stores

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Madame, a leading brand in women’s wear category from the house of Jain Amar Clothing is now vying to reach the magical figure of 100 stores. CMD of Jain Amar Clothing, Bipan Jain informed that Madame can undoubtedly be positioned as the largest single brand women’s western wear retailer in the country with a presence in more than 200 cities. Currently, the brand is active through multiple retail verticals such as sales, MBOs, large format stores, shop-in-shops and company operated chain stores. It has a strong presence in almost 600 MBOs, and 90 EBOs and has established its presence internationally with the launch of three stores in Saudi Arabia. With a steady 35 per cent year-on-year growth, reaching the magical figure of 100 stores is the first target for now. Also with the government allowing 100 per cent FDI is single brand retail, Madame is in discussions with various international players and a JV would soon be a reality.