Morning Brew - ☕ Man among menswear

Macy’s menswear strategy.
September 13, 2024

Retail Brew

 National Retail Federation

Hello, it’s Friday, and Chipotle’s smoked brisket is back on the menu just in time for fall. The audience favorite dish is available for a $0 delivery fee in the US and Canada this month via the Chipotle app or website. You might say it’s not Chipotle’s first barbecue.

In today’s edition:

— Jeena Sharma, Erin Cabrey

STORES

Man about town

Josh Hart in Mode of One campaign Macy's/Mode of One

It’s no secret that menswear has been having a moment or two over the past few years. The menswear industry was valued at $575.1 billion in 2023, according to Market Research Future and is projected to continue to grow.

Naturally, many retailers, including Macy's, want a bigger piece of that action. The mega retailer that already has multiple mens’ private brands in its portfolio, such as Sun + Stone and Club Room, is now introducing Mode of One, a modern streetwear brand for men.

With a variety of styles, the products launched this week are priced between $24.50 and $159.5 and available for purchase starting in October. The goal of the brand is but one: to “modernize” its assortment and meet the consumer’s desire for “stylish, affordable” clothing.

“We have a very strong position in our men’s fragrance business, and when you start to look into our apparel business, we weren’t really servicing our customer the way he wanted to be serviced,” Macy’s general business manager of apparel, Sam Archibald, told Retail Brew.

But Mode of One, although central to Macy’s strategy to strengthen its menswear business, is certainly not the only part.

Keep reading here.—JS

   

PRESENTED BY NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION

Gathering all the game changers

 National Retail Federation

Retail is undergoing a lotta changes, including AI advancements, the rise of social platforms over search engines, the return of circularity, and Gen Alpha’s emergence as a key consumer force—just to name a few.

It takes a game changer to keep up. And from January 12–14, 2025, you’ll find all the game changers of retail in one place: NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC. At NRF 2025, you’ll get to:

  • Connect with industry leaders.
  • Explore cutting-edge innovations.
  • Gain insights that empower you to drive change in your businesses and the industry.

Retailers, register today for your free Expo Pass, or get an All-Access Pass by October 4 to save $300.

Be a game changer.

RETAIL

Price cut

Long receipt angling down Francis Scialabba

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in August, the same bump as July, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this week. The annual increase was 2.5%, the lowest rate since February 2021, down from July’s 2.9% rate.

Core CPI—which excludes food and energy prices—was higher than expected month-over-month, rising 0.2% monthly, but in line with forecasts at its 3.2% annual rise.

National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard said in a statement that August’s CPI indicates “we are turning the page on inflation,” nearing pre-pandemic levels.

Food away from home rose 0.3%, while food at home was flat. Among the major grocery indexes, inflation was down for cereals and bakery products (0.1%); fruits and vegetables (0.2%), and nonalcoholic beverages (0.7%). Meanwhile, inflation rose for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs (0.8%); and dairy and related products (0.5%). Other food at home, encompassing items like sugar and sweets, fats and oils, condiments and spices, soups, and snacks, dropped 0.3%.

Keep reading here.—EC

   

OPERATIONS

RB fashion dispatch

Gucci store on Rodeo Drive Anjelika Gretskaia/Getty Images

This week in fashion news: One major luxury conglomerate continues to report disappointing numbers, and another retailer votes against a workers’ rights proposal.

Zara continues to soar

Zara owner Inditex SA has once again reported high sales numbers at the beginning of Q3. Sales grew 11%, surpassing growth in the previous quarter thanks to consistent demand.

Why this matters: While other retailers like H&M have reported poorer sales numbers, Zara has somehow continued to maintain strong figures and a steady demand since the beginning of the year. In March, Inditex notched an 11% rise in sales and a 5.9% increase in share prices, reaching a record high at the time.

Keep reading here.—JS

   

SWAPPING SKUS

Today’s top retail reads.

Pay up: Amazon will invest another $2.1 billion into contract workers who handle delivery in the US and Canada in 2025. (Bloomberg)

Lu-sing steam: Lululemon’s women’s business is starting to slow down. (the Wall Street Journal)

More than soup: Campbell Soup Company is dropping soup from its name—because more than half of its revenue comes from snacks. (the Wall Street Journal)

Change the game: Join all the retail game changers at NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show to explore cutting-edge innovations. Retailers, register today for your free Expo Pass, or get an All-Access Pass by October 4 to save $300.*

*A message from our sponsor.

SHARE THE BREW

Share Retail Brew with your coworkers, acquire free Brew swag, and then make new friends as a result of your fresh Brew swag.

We’re saying we’ll give you free stuff and more friends if you share a link. One link.

Your referral count: 2

Click to Share

Or copy & paste your referral link to others:
retailbrew.com/r/?kid=303a04a9

         
ADVERTISE // CAREERS // SHOP // FAQ

Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here.
View our privacy policy here.

Copyright © 2024 Morning Brew. All rights reserved.
22 W 19th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011

Older messages

☕ Giving back

Friday, September 13, 2024

How EVs could aid the grid. September 13, 2024 Tech Brew PRESENTED BY HOKA It's Friday. Today, we have the second installment in our series on how tech can help and/or hinder the electric grid.

☕️ A giant leap for billionaires

Friday, September 13, 2024

The first private spacewalk was a success... September 13, 2024 View Online | Sign Up | Shop Morning Brew PRESENTED BY Sky Quarry Good morning. It's Friday the 13th, the first of two Friday the

☕ Industrious, innit

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Why European soccer clubs are pushing into New York retail. September 12, 2024 Marketing Brew PRESENTED BY Canva It's Thursday. Old Navy announced it's bringing back some of its “golden era”

☕ A bounce of discretion

Thursday, September 12, 2024

The gradual return of discretionary spending. September 12, 2024 Retail Brew PRESENTED BY Listrak Hello, it's Thursday, and today we come to you with a controversial question: Are Crocs ugly or

☕️ No soup for you

Thursday, September 12, 2024

Huawei's new trifold phone... September 12, 2024 View Online | Sign Up | Shop Morning Brew PRESENTED BY AT&T In-car Wi-Fi Good morning, Hey, this is pretty cool: A new record was just set for

You Might Also Like

GeekWire's Most-Read Stories of the Week

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Catch up on the top tech stories from this past week. Here are the headlines that people have been reading on GeekWire. ADVERTISEMENT GeekWire SPONSOR MESSAGE: Improve focus and memory with Thinkie:

Speckled Curiosa

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Today, enjoy our audio and video picks. Speckled Curiosa By Caroline Crampton • 22 Dec 2024 View in browser View in browser The full Browser recommends five articles, a video and a podcast. Today,

10 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From Gap’s CashSoft to Airplane Footrests

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Plus: A design-y divider to make room for guests in small spaces. The Strategist Logo Every product is independently selected by editors. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an

LEVER WEEKLY: Nurses And Other Superheroes

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Financial technology startups could ruin Christmas and more from The Lever this week. Nurses And Other Superheroes By The Lever • 22 Dec 2024 View in browser View in browser This is Lever Weekly, a

The Sunday — December 22

Sunday, December 22, 2024

This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading. Our Sunday newsletter is typically a feature for

What I give my 5 (!) siblings every year

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Plus: Our favorite board games View in browser Ad The Recommendation December 22, 2024 Ad I gave my big family the present of a new tradition. Maybe you can, too. A sheet pan of holiday shaped sugar

☕ Clipped wings

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Is the F-35 worth the money? Morning Brew Presented By Timeline December 22, 2024 | View Online | Sign Up | Shop Skating at the Grand Palais in Paris. Stephane De Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images BROWSING

Numlock Sunday: Great stuff from 2024

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Hello! The Numlock Sunday edition is a weekly interview that goes out to paid subscribers. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

College Football Winners, the Holiday Jackpot, and a Controversial Castle

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Home teams dominated the first round of the College Football Playoff this weekend. ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏ ‌ ͏

AI, tech talent, and regional innovation, with retiring WTIA CEO Michael Schutzler

Saturday, December 21, 2024

Nick Hanauer calls wealth tax proposal 'impractical' ADVERTISEMENT GeekWire SPONSOR MESSAGE: Improve focus and memory with Thinkie: For a limited time, save $50 on Thinkie plus get your first