Articles by Rachel Douglass
Rachel has been with FashionUnited since mid-2021. Descending from the UK, she moved to the Netherlands in 2014 to attend Amsterdam Fashion Institute, where she studied a BA in International Fashion and Branding with a specialisation in Journalism.
At FashionUnited, Rachel covers daily news, from store openings to acquisitions, alongside which she focuses on research-based stories, interviews and on-the-ground event reporting. Her topics of interest include digital fashion, independent retail and current trends.
Jewellery brand Fabergé sold for 50 million dollars to US investor
The parent company of Fabergé Limited, best known for its luxury egg designs, has sold the brand to SMG Capital for a sum of 50 million dollars. With this, Gemfields, now the former owner of the jewellery label, brings to an end its strategic review, which has been ongoing since December 2024. Of the total sale price, 45 million dollars will be...
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Marks & Spencer relaunches click and collect
Months after encountering a major cyberattack, British department store Marks & Spencer has relaunched its click and collect service. The retailer made the announcement on its social media platforms, where it stated that customers were now once again able to make orders online for collection in stores across the UK, as well as return online...
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US investor Carlyle reportedly set to take control over Very Group
US investment firm Carlyle is said to be on the cusp of taking over Very Group, potentially bringing to an end the Barclay family’s long reign over the British e-tail group. According to sources for Sky News, Carlyle, which currently serves as Very’s biggest lender to its parent company, could assume ownership of the retailer as early as...
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From thrift to thought leadership: How Beyond Retro is shaping the future of vintage retail
Vintage shopping continues to be a favoured means of sustainable consumption. A pioneer in this field is Beyond Retro; once a small-scale London boutique, now a renowned European retailer and global purveyor of vintage fashion through its parent company, Bank & Vogue. Beyond Retro was co-founded by Canadian entrepreneur Steven Bethell back in...
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River Island rescue plan gets court approval, what now?
River Island has secured the much-needed green light from the High Court for its rescue plan, allowing it to move forward with proposed store closures and begin the search for fresh funding. With the court’s backing, the retailer now has the go-ahead to close 33 UK stores and cut rents across an additional 71. From landlords, it will also...
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Specsavers to make five million pound investment in supply chain
Eyewear specialist Specsavers is set to expand and upgrade its UK supply chain through an investment that intends to usher in a new chapter for its manufacturing facility in Kidderminster, Worcestershire. According to a report by the Retail Times, the retailer has planned to invest five million pounds over a two year period in the site, which...
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John Lewis makes ‘multi-million’ pound investment in beauty with new dedicated halls
John Lewis has said it is ushering in a “new era for beauty” through a multi-million pound investment into the category. The British department store will use the investment to roll out six Beauty Halls within existing stores across the UK, starting with its site in Liverpool. Here, the dedicated Beauty Hall has now reopened and will serve as...
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British landlord appoints lawyers as Poundland and River Island plot store closures
British Land, a commercial property company, has reportedly appointed lawyers to look into the rescue deals of struggling high street chains Poundland and River Island. The firm is said to have been instructed by Hogan Lovells to seek further information on the restructuring plans for the two retailers, according to Sky News, to which British...
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Poundland to bring clothing range back in-house
Poundland has said that its "successful clothing business” is to return in-house by early 2026, following the budget retailer’s acquisition by Gordon Brothers last month. Poundland had previously tasked an in-house team with developing a clothing range prior to shifting its sourcing under former owner Pepco Group. A spokesperson for the company...
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From bounce-back to bankruptcy: Inside Claire’s renewed financial struggles
After weeks of speculation, Claire’s has finally filed for bankruptcy protection in the US. For the teen accessories retailer, this marks the second descent into bankruptcy in seven years, with this latest filing heightening fears over what is to come for its international network of stores. How did Claire’s come to such a predicament? Let’s...
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