27-28-29 Retail Roundup_muk.qxp_NEW LSB 2008 GRID 22/09/2020 14:20 Page 28
Inset: THG’s founder, ceo and chairman, Matthew Moulding.
RETAIL ROUND-UP
The Hut Group floats
Freemans relaunches as digital department store Home shopping retailer Freemans has undergone a rebrand – repositioning itself as a ‘vibrant digital department store’. A new website and app launched on September 9, with a primetime TV advertising campaign, plus social media activity to follow. A number of new fashion brands have been added to its line-up – including Quiz, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins – while licensed and children’s brands on offer include Disney, PAW Patrol and Nintendo. An exclusive partnership with British designer Julien Macdonald will launch later in 2020 with a spring 2021 collection. Product categories currently covered by Freemans include fashion, beauty, home and garden furniture, Christmas decorations, toys and technology. “We think there’s never been a better time for launching a vibrant digital department store backed by new product offer and a refreshed credit proposition,” commented Richard Cristofoli, chief customer officer at Freemans.
Online retailer The Hut Group has confirmed its £4.5 billion stock market flotation. The group – which owns beauty brands such as ESPA, Illamasqua and Glossy Box, plus Myprotein among others – is planning to raise £920m through the sale. Shares began trading on September 16. The retailer will use the listing to help fund rapid growth of the business. “Our intention to float THG on the London Stock Exchange reflects the achievements of the past but also our strong belief in the significant potential for THG in the future,” commented Matthew Moulding, founder, ceo and chairman of THG. “THG has enjoyed strong growth since being founded in 2004, employing more than 7,000 people and establishing a track record of consistent delivery for our customers. “The brands we own today give us leading strategic positions in prestige beauty and nutrition, powered by Ingenuity, our differentiated proprietary direct-to-consumer e-commerce solution.”
H&M’s star collaboration H&M has revealed a new collection with streetwear brand, Kangol, with BRIT award winning artist Mabel featuring as a co-collaborator. The 31-piece collection is inspired by Mabel’s style and features both classic and new Kangol pieces, including two co-designed by the singer herself. Mabel – who won the award for Best British Female Solo Artist at this year’s BRITs – will feature with her crew in the campaign. Emily Björkeheim, head of design at H&M, said: “Kangol x H&M feat Mabel is a dream collaboration for us at H&M, uniting an iconic streetwear brand with one of the most authentic and genuine young music artists around. “It’s about that 90s streetwear attitude updated for today, a style that Mabel has made her own.” Above: The collaboration includes both classic and new Kangol pieces.
IKEA clicks with LEGO
Inset: The new storage solution is called BYGGLEK.
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LICENSING SOURCE BOOK EUROPE 2020
IKEA and The LEGO Group have taken the wraps off their eagerly awaited collaboration – with the two brands joining forces to create a playful storage solution called BYGGLEK. Consisting of a series of storage boxes with LEGO studs and a special LEGO brick set, the new BYGGLEK collection aims to encourage play and infuse more fun into storage around the home. The BYGGLEK collection will start to be available in existing IKEA retail channels throughout Europe (except Russia) and North America from October 1. A full global roll out is planned for 2020. There will be four different products in the range – one set of three small boxes, two sets of bigger boxes and one set of LEGO bricks to kick start the experience. BYGGLEK can also be used with any existing and future LEGO elements, as the studs used on the lid and front are part of the LEGO System in Play (which enables children to build and rebuild their own stories).