Christmas news and archive

US Mastercard report: Sales increase over festive season, apparel leads digital sales

This festive season appeared to be a valuable time of the year for US retailers according to preliminary insights from Mastercard SpendingPulse, which reported a year-over-year uptick in retail sales in the region, with a peak coming in the final five days before Christmas. According to the data, US retail sales (excluding automotive) rose 3.8...

Fashion

Happy Holidays from FashionUnited!

FashionUnited wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Retail

Urban Outfitters and Gymshark among retailers accused of hiring festive workers without basic rights

A new report has accused a number of UK retailers of hiring young “freelance” employees via hiring apps that leave them without basic employment rights. According to The Observer, Urban Outfitters, Gymshark and Uniqlo are understood to be among those carrying out such practices as they fill out staff in preparation for the festive season. Such...

Retail

Shopping malls see comeback in pre-holiday surge

U.S. shopping mall foot traffic delivered a robust performance in November, signalling a potential renaissance for brick-and-mortar retail that could extend into the December shopping season, according to the latest industry data. The revival is particularly noteworthy for indoor shopping centres, which registered a 6.4 percent year-over-year...

Fashion|In Pictures Featured

Christmas displays from around the world

With Christmas fast approaching, FashionUnited has rounded up the best of this year’s festive displays, from Sir Paul Smith’s takeover at Claridge’s in London to Selfridges maximalist take on the holiday season, Saks Fifth Avenue’s dazzling 100th-anniversary showcase in New York, Fenwick’s 12 Days of Christmas in Newcastle, Dior’s showstopping...

FashionFeatured

Why gift guides have lost their gloss

Holiday commerce has gotten more tedious with the onslaught of the gift guide, which has devolved into a ubiquitous marketing mechanism that has consumers rolling their eyes and scrolling past. What was once a curated selection of thoughtful recommendations has become a relentless affiliate marketing machine, driven more by commission potential...

Business

Spain: Fashion sales in fall for the first time in November since 2020

Madrid – A cold and unflattering Christmas for the Spanish retail fashion industry is what we are heading towards in 2024, based on the -2.8 percent drop in sales for the sector as a whole during this already surpassed month of November. A period in which, with the arrival of “Black Friday”, the unofficial start of this strategic holiday...

Retail

UK retailers feed off public affection for festive ads

They come with big budgets, are wrapped in sentimentality and boost company revenues -- Britain's latest instalment of eagerly awaited Christmas television advertisements has a nation tuned in. Known for talking about the weather 12 months a year, Britons will begin sharing thoughts on the latest festive commercials as soon as they hit screens,...

Fashion

Brits looking to shop more sustainably for gifts this year

New research from second-hand fashion marketplace Depop reveals that 65 percent of Brits plan to shop more sustainably this Christmas. The survey, conducted by Censuswide, states that 34 percent of Brits are looking to buy second-hand gifts instead of new, while 24 percent want to support local businesses, and 23 percent will purchase fewer,...

Retail

Cyber Monday: UK shoppers to spend a 3.33 billion pounds online

The annual Cyber Monday shopping event reveals a change in consumer behaviour in 2024, with total spending expected to reach 3.33 billion pounds, demonstrating remarkable economic resilience despite marginal year-on-year fluctuations. According to VoucherCodes.co.uk's comprehensive "Shopping for Christmas 2024" report, consumer expenditure...

Business|Report Featured

Shoppers to spend two billion pounds on secondhand gifts this Christmas

The secondhand market has already taken precedence over consumer priorities in recent years, and it seems that even into the festive season, the sector will continue to enjoy a favourable environment. In fact, according to new research by Vinted and Retail Economics, UK consumers are expected to spend over two billion pounds on secondhand gifts...

FashionFeatured

Watch: From hero gnomes to stylish goats, all the festive fashion films to know for 2024

It’s that time of the year, again. Brands and retailers across the globe have begun unveiling their always highly anticipated festive campaigns. This season, trends seem to revolve around flipping the script on the stress usually associated with the season; incorporating well-known (animated) figures into the storyline; and proposing new...