Cole Haan Plans for Global Expansion
Cole Haan is kicking off its journey to become a global lifestyle brand. Now owned by Apax Partners, which acquired the brand from Nike Inc. in a $570 million deal last year, the American footwear, accessories and outerwear brand is launching a multifaceted strategy to accelerate growth, which goes into high gear this fall. The initiatives are wide in scope, ranging from projects around brand ambassador Dree Hemingway, for example, to innovative products and a fresh retail concept that sets the tone for Cole Haan worldwide.
In the short term, the plan is to open 100 global locations worldwide a year. With the retail rollout, there are no plans to change the distribution model, though the company made some instrumental changes to merchandise for fall, which the revamped colehaan.com Web site also reflects. For fall, 60 percent of product is new for men, and 70 percent for women’s, the latter representing “a complete reset of footwear, and handbags, and women’s accessories, with Dree Hemingway as the face of the campaign.
Philosophy Boosting Skin Care, Launching Charity
Philosophy is emphasizing its skin-care roots while creating a new charity devoted to well-being. No Reason to Hide, the brand’s newest skin-care offering, is a product duo intended to treat a variety of skin imperfections, including blotchiness, darkened and enlarged pores, rough texture, redness, dark spots and acne scars. No Reason to Hide Multi-Imperfection Transforming Serum, $68 for 1 oz., is a daily treatment designed to be applied under moisturizer or foundation. No Reason to Hide Skin-tone Perfecting Moisturizer, $45 for 1 oz., is an instant skin-tone perfecting moisturizer. She noted that the duo is designed to “prevent further imperfections from appearing.” The key ingredient in both products is brown algae. In general, brown algae contains superantioxidant powers and is excellent at combating free radical oxidation. The products will be available in August at philosophy.com and in September in the brand’s full distribution, about 1,800 department and specialty store doors in the U.S.
Next week, the brand will unveil its charity arm, the Hope & Grace Initiative. Philosophy will dedicate 1 percent of all sales to community-based organizations working to empower women through the promotion and treatment of mental health. The program will be launched next week on philosophy.com. Beginning in January, 1 percent of all sales will be devoted to the cause. Within five years, the Hope & Grace Initiative is projected to donate more than $10 million. The charity takes its name from Philosophy’s two best-selling products, Hope in a Jar moisturizer and Amazing Grace fragrance. Philosophy will annually give multiple grants of $25,000 to support hundreds of qualified organizations around the world.
More Sparkle for Versace’s Yellow Diamond
Versace and Euroitalia are introducing a new sparkler: Versace Yellow Diamond Intense, a highly concentrated eau de parfum that picks up where its 2011 eau de toilette predecessor, Versace Yellow Diamond, left off.
The scent will retain the advertising campaign of the original edt, shot by Mario Testino and featuring model Abbey Lee Kershaw, but will feature new external packaging, with a deep blue box covered in wild gold swirls. Perfumer Alberto Morillas of Firmenich opted for top notes of Diamante citron, pear sorbet, neroli and bergamot; a heart of freesia, orange blossom, jasmine and osmanthus, and a drydown of benzoin, amber wood, Palo Santo and musk. With distribution slated for 15,000 doors worldwide, Versace Yellow Diamond Intense will mirror the positioning and rollout plan of the original, kicking off in Italy this July before reaching the rest of Europe and the U.S. in September and the Far East by 2015.
– Selicia Walker
Source: WWD
