Nordstrom closing both of its San Francisco stores

(c) Rick Wilking/Reuters

Nordstrom is planning to close both of its Downtown San Francisco stores, choosing not to renew its lease obligations at its location in the Westfield Mall. It will also close a second nearby Downtown Nordstrom Rack.

The retailer confirmed the closures on Tuesday. In an email to employees, the company's chief stores officer wrote that "the dynamics of the downtown San Francisco market have changed dramatically over the past several years, impacting customer foot traffic to our stores and our ability to operate successfully."

The two planned closures represent about 357,500 square feet of retail space, according to the San Francisco Business Times, which first reported Nordstrom's plans. The Westfield mall Nordstrom and the Nordstrom Rack will close at the end of August and on July 1, respectively.

Source: The SF Standard

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Louis Vuitton Crafts Luxurious Design Dreams in Bel Air

Copyright: © Brad Dickson 2023

An expansive, airy private home in the tony Bel Air, Calif., neighborhood set the tone for Louis Vuitton’s latest savoir-faire experience in Los Angeles on April 13. Named Crafting Dreams, the exhibition occupied three floors of the 18,250-square-foot space with rooms arranged to showcase pieces from the luxury brand’s different categories including its heritage trunks, fine jewelry and high fashion worn by some of Hollywood’s most notable faces.

Shimmering Louis Vuitton gowns, flirty cocktail dresses, accessories and footwear were arranged in the Red Carpet room, a space created in one of the home’s luxurious open-air bedroom suites and adjoining walk-in closet. The garments have been worn by entertainers including Ana de Armas, Gemma Chan, Jennifer Connelly, Cynthia Erivo, Phoebe Dynevor and Sophie Turner. Additional fashion pieces in classic silhouettes such as the Vichy Check Preppy Blazer and Pants, Oversized Braided Button Dress, Anchor Button Lapel Coat, Nautical Knots Pajama Shirt and Chunky Stripes Pullover were featured in other areas of the home.

Source: Apparel News

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Anthropologie Becomes Latest Retail Chain Store to Leave SF’s Union Square

(C) Yelp

The women’s clothing store Anthropologie announced on Tuesday that it would be closing its Union Square location in San Francisco next month, becoming the latest major retailer to vacate the city this year.

Since the beginning of the decade, a mix of crime, high rents, fewer shoppers visiting San Francisco locations, and the lack of security in many areas have led to countless stores either leaving or closing in many prominent areas of the city, including Union Square. Stores such as the Gap’s flagship store left Union Square all the way back in August 2020, with others such as the H&M West Coast flagship store, Uniqlo, Nordstrom, and DSW leaving the next year. Not helping matters were huge crime waves in and around Union Square targeting luxury retailers in late 2021 and late 2022. As a result, even more bolted. And that’s not even getting into what was happening citywide with major chains such as Walgreens leaving en masse and vacancy rates now climbing above 30%.

Source : CA Globe

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Pent-up demand is helping The RealReal grow

The RealReal

Although many shops had to pivot to online sales during the pandemic, one online company is riding the wave of pent-up demand and investing in more brick-and-mortar stores as its business returns to normal faster than it expected.

“Our business started picking up again in December, and it’s just increased,” said Julie Wainwright, founder and CEO of The RealReal. “So I’m feeling very optimistic.”

The RealReal is a consignment website where people list their unwanted luxury goods — most items are used, but others still have tags on them — so that others can purchase them.

Cred: Kai Ryssdal and Daisy Palacios / Marketwatch / Continue Reading

ThredUp will appeal to middle-income consumers who will be spending money on clothing post-COVID

ThredUp has gone public at a time when more shoppers are buying secondhand goods.. THREDUP

ThredUp Inc. is getting thumbs up from analysts who say the company is poised for growth in the white-hot resale market.

Analysts and investors have turned their attention to spending behavior as the vaccine rollout continues. Clothing sales are expected to be one of the areas that will get a boost from the end of the pandemic.With prices about 40% less than retail, the ThredUp marketplace provides middle-income shoppers with a chance to buy more at better prices.

Cred: Tonya Garcia/Marketwatch / Read More

NIGO and JINS Official Launch JINS & SUN Eyewear Collection

Announced back in February, Japanese street fashion titan, NIGO, partnered with JINS, an innovative Japanese eyewear brand, to announce an “Everyday Eyewear” concept called JINS & SUN.

We now get a full look at the inaugural launch — a large selection made of 41 shapes with 129 styles created into six categories: JINS & SUN NIGO Launch, New Standard, Essential, Pop, Modern, and Sport & Active. This wide selection of sunnies covers all bases and was designed with timeless shapes in mind with a touch of sartorial flair. Catering to different occasions, you can go from a daily wear-intended silhouette to another made for sports. In addition to the sunglasses, each pair come with an original case and a high-density non-woven fabric Tyvek®︎ Celite cloth from DUPON.

Cred: Hypebeat/ Read more

B8ta temporarily closes SF store because of increase in area crime

Vibhu Norby was used to the occasional break-in at his retail stores, especially the one in Hayes Valley he opened five years ago. The products b8ta sells, mainly electronics and high-end home goods, likely resell well on the black market, he said.

But the break-ins have been getting worse, and he’s starting to fear for the safety of his employees. Just this year, the Hayes Valley store already saw multiple robberies and an overnight break-in. On the same block as the store in Union Square, there have been three muggings this year. He has decided to close that store indefinitely, even though he’ll have to continue to pay the rent. “It doesn’t matter how expensive it is,” Norby, CEO and founder of b8ta, said. “We can’t send our employees into a store where there’s even a 2% chance they get mugged.”

Cred: Tessa McLean, SFGATE / Continue Reading…

B8ta acquires retail-as-a-service startup Re:store

B8ta announced that it had acquired Re:store, a retail-as-a-service startup that provides its tech to online fashion brands at Maiden Lane shopping center in San Francisco.

Re:store, founded in August 2019 by Selene Cruz, has worked with retailers and brands like H&M's & Other Stories, Nasty Gal, M.M.La Fleur and Thinx. The startup created its retail-as-a-service technology to let stores and brands manage their merchandising, buying and logistics from one dashboard, according to the announcement.

The acquisition price was not disclosed, but the deal was made with a mixture of cash, equity and contingent consideration, B8ta said. As part of the deal, Re:store will keep the licensing rights, but B8ta will manage the business side.

Cred: Tatiana Walk-Morris / Retail Dive / Continue Reading

Wonderland SF closes its doors

Announced with a heartfelt Facebook Post, Irene Hernandez Feiks and her husband will be closing the doors on Wonderland SF this Summer. Irene has long been a true champion for San Francisco artists. You may have seen her around town at other art openings as her light, bright personality and warm heart shines at every event she attends. The closing of her own shop is bittersweet. Although it was her choice to leave the shop (a rarity in SF these days), the changes that she’s seen in The Mission have her worried about how San Francisco will keep it’s heart and soul. In my interview with her, she recalls some of her favorite happy memories in her space, the sadness she feels with the changes happening in The Mission, and her exciting personal endeavors ahead.

Cred: Broke-Ass Stuart / Continue Reading

Image Cred : Jean King