Gabrielle Union’s Post

Wanna know why my collaboration with UNIQLO was so meaningful? Earlier this year, I made it my goal to branch out from JUST comedy content to comedy and lifestyle content. After taking a risk and dipping into the world of fashion and skincare, my content was not only super well-received by my amazing followers but also earned me a collaboration with one of my favourite clothing brands: UNIQLO! This partnership was so much more than a collaboration; it represented the risks I took as I challenged my perception of who I am, and who I could be. #socialmedia #socialmediamarketing #influencermarketing

This is such an important observation about the current landscape of department store leadership. It’s encouraging to see women leading major fashion divisions at Amazon and Walmart, but it’s clear there’s still a significant gap in representation at the top levels of traditional department stores. Diversity in leadership not only reflects the customer base but also drives innovation and inclusivity within the industry. We have a tremendous opportunity to push for more representative leadership across all sectors. Let's continue the conversation and advocate for change. #DiversityInLeadership #RetailIndustry #WomenInBusiness

The perils of being an advertising man. There are 2 common business models derived upon the insights on 2 types of customers. Efficiency + Volume = Revenue or Quality + Scarcity = Profit. Zara and Ralph Lauren are both compatible and antagonistic within fashion. But not a single person who works at Zara is delusional enough to think they work at Ralph Lauren. And vice versa. The problem with most advertising agencies is that they keep trying to build an internal Ralph Lauren culture at the same time they sell Zara. The sooner you let your people and your clients know what you stand for, the sooner your business will run smoothly. #growth #mindset #business #founders #culture #vision

SEPHORA TALES FROM THE CRYPT. EP 9. PARTNERSHIP IS A 2 WAY STREET. Principles. Are you prepared to stand up for them? Even if there is short-term pain. Partnership. In order to work it has to be a win-win. Otherwise it feels like going the wrong way down a 1- way street. In the early days SEPHORA desperately needed ‘dept store’ brands (read L'Oréal, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.) to attract, well, dept store (read Macy's, Nordstrom) customers. To say the brands were reluctant is an understatement. More like they were highly resistant to our overtures. We succeeded in getting an important one to ‘try us’ (name withheld to protect the guilty). Roughly a dozen stores. After a few months we had a honcho meeting- their execs and ours. Felt like the OK corral. Good news- results were off the charts. Make that great news. They came in prepared to add more stores. Even better news. Looking at the list of their store adds there was only one problem- there were zero mall stores. Only street locations. They were tip-toeing around the dept stores. No malls-no conflict. This was a major problem for me and my concept of partnership. I said “I will give you a list of mall stores. Pick one. Any one. ONE! And we have a deal.” Cupla weeks later they came back and said…No. No mall stores. At which point we asked them to leave. Sephora. Altogether. As painful as that was we simply could not live with 100-0 partnership. 95/5 we’d tolerate. 100-0 no. They didn’t really believe it, but within 2-3 months they were gone. It cost us $. But the lesson for our teams was priceless. We are not helpless. We believe in winning together. And we practice it. These kinds of decisions ultimately define who you are as a leader. Being true to hugely important principles in the face of adversity is perhaps the ultimate test. You are your principles. Or you are not. There is no inbetween. #partnershipistwo #youareyourprinciples 

What can be learned from the come-back kids? Marks and Spencer, Abercrombie & Fitch Co., and AllSaints are three strong turnaround stories that have demonstrated retail/fashion turnarounds are possible. These three span the UK's broad appeal middle market, a famous global player, and a super-focused directional fashion brand. While Ted Baker and Superdry are on the ropes, these success stories offer valuable insights, although we see no common silver bullet 🤔 Here are three thoughts from TRP: ✅ M&S maximised and widened the appeal of Food while bringing third-party label credentials to help the perceptual change of own-label clothing (as own-label was developed too) )—all with operational efficiencies, digital development, and a re-energised team culture. ✅ Abercrombie was bold and brave, a significant change from the original model, in which customer feedback now plays a leading role in product development. The new CEO has created a highly customer focussed culture, rather than A&F knows best ;) They've also moved to attract an older customer than teens. ✅ All Saints strengthened its distinct brand DNA, found its tribes in global locations, and developed its DTC channels, avoiding an over-reliance on wholesale and marketplaces. It would be good to hear what others believe has contributed to these turnarounds... #Retail #Fashion #Brands Alexandra Legro RM Philip Mountford Jon Bennett Micha Medendorp Benjamin Philip Sarah L. Morris Helen Beebe Laura Supple Eva Pascoe Henrik Madsen Will Murray-Phillips Alex Pickering Kees Verkade

Sheesh. You leave a company for a few years at 4 billion then boomerang back in time for a record setting 8 billion to close out 2023. Achieving consistent stability and growth while other retail giants are downsizing is an interesting observation in this decade. Top of mind: imagine discovering the new gems I bring aboard to join our retail front lines. That’s impactful work to add a catalyst of growth not only for Skechers, but also the lives of driven talent that can build long-term careers with us. Merge that with our already high-performing teams across the globe, I’m excited to see how quickly we get to double digit billions (in no time). I barely came back just over six months ago and here’s what’s happening in my world: - Staffing 3 new retail store activations in SoCal in one quarter?! - Tapping into new terrains as I’m searching for our future GM for The Food Spot, our exciting first entry into the food/hospitality industry! - Snoop. We have Snoop Dogg creating a footwear line with us. Nuff said. - I visited my motherland during a family reunion, in Thailand back in December, I remember when there were only a few stores, they now have over 50+ locations on the store locator map! - Look up Skechers and type up the words Basketball, Baseball, Pickleball (you get it). Here’s to seeing the human-focused impact I get to contribute to in 2024. Pictured: Shout out to our Assistant Managers, Floor Leaders and Product Specialists that also get the glory. They got to participate in cool photoshoots to support collaborations across the org. And yes we’re all wearing Skechers sunnies - we do accessories too if you didn’t know? Link to our Q4 Earnings Call Results: https://lnkd.in/eaHny3iY

Retail store associates have tremendous skills that can be invaluable in the corporate office. Connecting products to customers while having a front row seat into how the customer is evolving is a huge asset. Retailers should invest in their frontline by training them on the numbers. Sales associates have a great foundation and could make make great buyers. Visual merchants have the skills to execute the merchandising strategy but may need more exposure to selling and the ROI of a product assortment. Corporate must also spend time with customers selling and styling. It helps merchants make better assortment decisions by getting real-time feedback on buys. I started on the shop floor and it’s the best training I had! As a merchant, I spent hours selling and helping customers. It goes both ways. Sheena Butler-Young it’s always great to chat with you and thank you for including my comments. #retail #retailnews #merchandising #sales #stores

Ever wondered what happened to the retail legends who once ruled the headlines? Let's take a stroll down memory lane and catch up with five retail game-changers who once dominated headlines. Here's where they are now: ✅ Jenna Lyons - From J. Crew to Beauty and Beyond: Lyons, a Parsons grad, climbed the ranks at J. Crew, becoming its president and leaving a lasting style imprint. Post-J. Crew, she ventured into TV and beauty, launching LoveSeen, a false eyelash brand now featured at Target. Recently, she's taken a creative leap, joining FundamentalCo as an executive creative director. ✅ Ye (Kanye West) - A Trailblazer in Fashion and Music: Ye's collaborations with Adidas and Gap brought fresh vibes to retail, especially with his Yeezy brand. Despite a successful run, Adidas ended their partnership in 2022 amid controversy. Ye continues to innovate in fashion and music, recently named Billboard’s Top Gospel Artist of 2023. ✅ Andy Dunn - The Bonobos Success Story: Dunn co-founded Bonobos, a pioneer in the direct-to-consumer world, later scooped up by Walmart for a cool $310 million. Now, he's a mental health advocate and has returned to Bonobos in an advisory role, blending business acumen with personal passion. ✅ Rachel Shechtman - Reinventing Retail with Story: Shechtman's Story, a unique NYC retail concept, caught Macy’s eye, leading to an acquisition. Post-Macy, she's back to consulting and now spices up the visitor experience as The Brooklyn Museum’s first Entrepreneur in Residence. ✅ Mickey Drexler, The Man Behind Gap and J. Crew: Drexler transformed Gap and founded Old Navy, leaving a significant mark in retail. After a stint at J. Crew, he's now guiding his son's business, Alex Mill, infusing it with his legendary retail wisdom. These trailblazers not only shaped their companies but also influenced how we shop and dress. Their current paths show that innovation and adaptability are always in style in the retail world. Discover the changing landscape of e-commerce with Irina Poddubnaia and TrackMage. #advertisingandmarketing #ecommerce #sustainability #analytics #businessanalytics #dtc #retail #dropshipping

Even if you suffer huge losses, you can always bounce back - just look at Abercrombie & Fitch Co. I came across this article from the BBC on Abercrombie’s comeback. Its second year of double-digit sales growth, an accomplishment it last enjoyed more than a decade ago, did not come easily. Yesterday’s A&F branding was all about dimly-lit stores, young men showing their muscles and six packs, blaring music, and perfume you could smell a mile away. Today’s A&F is a completely different story. The locations are bright, the music is not overbearing, and the stores no longer announce themselves by scent alone. While the brand heritage is still alive, significant changes have been done - internally, in its marketing strategy, and presentation - to get it where it is now. A&F is proof that you can revive a brand - if you put in the work. When you need to bounce back from huge damages (whether caused by leaders / failure to hit demand or recognise trend changes), you really need to go to the extreme. By overturning every stone in the organisation, you’re aligned to effectively execute your new vision. #AbercrombieandFitch #Fashion #Apparel #Strategy Source: https://lnkd.in/gyvtq3JC

Stories of female entrepreneurs like Aimee Smale serve as my inspiration to transform my ideas into reality. They remind me that taking action is key because if you don't try, you can't succeed. ✨ Even if your journey doesn't lead to monumental success like theirs, the mere act of trying is a triumph in itself. So, if you've been contemplating that business idea, take the leap and pursue it — I promise you, you won't regret it. 💡 ✨ #femalebusinessowner #businessowner #entrepreneurdiaries #WomenInBusiness