Daily LInks
1. Former Everlane employees have banded together to speak out about the company’s culture: The claims from past corporate and retail employees are especially significant given Everlane’s longstanding value-driven marketing. The direct-to-consumer brand found success selling its basics to the masses while touting transparent material sourcing and ethically-run factories. – Read More on Modern Retail
2. Retailers Face a Data Deficit in the Wake of the Pandemic: The flow of sales information to retailers’ data repositories has dried up. That’s a significant problem, because a healthy flow of that information is the lifeblood of customer loyalty programs, AI-driven product recommendations, and a wide array of critical business decisions. – Read More on HBR
3. Italy’s artisans anxious as brands haggle to bridge luxury gap: Italy accounts for around 40% of global luxury goods manufacturing and has been hit hard by a dramatic drop in demand triggered by the coronavirus crisis, with several artisans saying they have no new orders beyond the summer. – Read More on Reuters
4. Hermès Handbags Pass an Early COVID Test: Hermès is the only company whose handbags are more expensive to buy used than new. Supply of its two most popular bags, the Birkin and Kelly, is tightly restricted in boutiques. That forces shoppers into a thriving resale market where they can expect to pay 50% to 100% premiums over store prices for rare colors. – Read More on WSJ
5. RETRO READ: Are Birkin Bags Really a Better Investment than Stocks and Gold? One Company is Actively Testing That Theory. “In the event of an economic downturn, fine watches may turn out to represent a safe-haven asset, like metals or gems, for investors looking to diversify their portfolios.” The same goes for Hermès bags. – Read More on TFL
6. A lot of brands taking a more narrow focus amid pandemic, retail analyst says: Nike plans to emerge from COVID with a smaller footprint in terms of brick-and-mortar stores. – See More on CNBC
