The Indicator: October 18, 2024

Big retailers revealed their holiday plans this week - Target is offering exclusive releases with Taylor Swift on Black Friday, while Neiman Marcus is partnering with “Emily in Paris” stylist for its fantasy gifts list.?Meanwhile, in the long-haul marketing campaign news - Rent the Runway is focusing on getting Gen Z to dress nice for college games and socials and L’Oréal wants to change the perception of beauty.

Innovation Moves

• Target?is partnering with one of the biggest celebrities in the world this holiday. The company will offer two exclusive Taylor Swift releases available starting Black Friday. The official "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book" provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making and performance of the tour and a first-time CD/vinyl edition of “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology”. (Chain Store Age)
• Neiman Marcus has unveiled its widely anticipated offering of fantasy gifts which this year were inspired by fairy tales written in the early years of the 20th century. Fantasy gifts in this holiday season’s assortment include an 18th-century royal carriage that belonged to King Charles III of Spain, personalized styling around Paris, accompanied by Marylin Fitoussi, the costume designer from the series “Emily in Paris.” and a one-of-a-kind Messika necklace paired with a trip to a luxury eco-lodge on a private nature reserve in Namibia. (WWD)
• Rent the Runway has a Gen Z in its sight. The company is embarking on a university tour across the U.S. to position itself as an option for student formals, sports games and other gatherings. It's also relaunching its college ambassador program to have a greater focus on content creation and introducing a subscription tier that it hopes will resonate with the younger consumer. (Modern Retail)?
• Foot Locker is doubling down on its NBA strategy with a multi-year partnership with the Chicago Bulls. Throughout the NBA season, which begins on October 22 and ends on April 13, Bulls fans, consumers and Chicago residents can expect to see various elements of the collaboration, including in-person events, virtual on-court signage and pop-ups. (Glossy)?
• L’Oréal Group is on a mission to change consumer perception of beauty through a content partnership and advertising campaign with New York Times Advertising. The project includes three distinct parts: a new podcast narrated by Italian-American actress and model Isabella Rossellini titled “This Is Not a Beauty Podcast,” a new journalism series and digital vertical called “Face Value,” and an advertising campaign supporting both. (Glossy)
• Google is revamping Google Shopping into an AI-powered personalized experience featuring AI-created briefs that offer a combination of product recommendations and advice from sources across the internet based on search queries. Shoppers can also use dynamic filters to narrow the search based on specific attributes like size or availability near a physical location. The updated experience incorporates Google’s virtual try-on feature. (Retail Dive)

Financial Moves

• Holiday season consumer spending is expected to grow between 2.5% - 3.5% vs last year, predicts the National Retail Federation, with growth primarily driven by increases in online shopping.?
• Nails.INC (British nail care brand) was acquired by Pacific World Corporation.
• RéVive Skincare (skincare brand) was acquired by S’Young Group from Tengram Capital Partners.
• Burrow (interior design platform) was acquired by Havenly Brands.
• Eyemart Express (eyewear retailer) was acquired by VSP Vision from FFL Partners and Leonard Green & Partners (LGP).
• ALTUZARRA (luxury brand) sold a minority stake to P180 Investments.
• The Container Store (storage retailer) raised $40M from Beyond, Inc.
• Ghost (B2B inventory marketplace) raised a $40M Series C from L Catterton, among others.

Financial Moves Powered by MMG Advisors

Career Moves

• Technical Designer - Ladies/Missy - New York, NY?|?Onsite
• Digital Marketing Manager, Beauty -?City of Industry, CA
• Graphic Designer / Sr Graphic Designer - South Plainfield, NJ?|?Hybrid
• Sr Manager / Director Regulatory - New York, NY?|?Hybrid?
• Account Manager - Los Angeles, CA?
• Freelance DevOps Manager - New York, NY?|?Remote
• Temporary Brand Marketing Associate - New York, NY | Hybrid?
• Tech Pack Designer | Children’s Wear - New York, NY | Hybrid?
• Temp Merchandiser | Fashion Retailer - New York, NY | Hybrid?
• Freelance Designer | Dresses - Los Angeles, CA??
• Temp Technical Design Assistant?- Los Angeles, CA | Hybrid

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