The Indicator | January 10th, 2025

By Sonal Gandhi
Chief Content Officer at The Lead

Flurry of M&A activity continues into the second week of Jan with True Religion and Jonathan Adler changing ownership and JCPenney combining with SPARC Group. As the Supreme Court decides the fate of TikTok in America just as we go to press, its live shopping rival Whatnot raised $265M.

In case you missed it, The Lead released its seventh annual Foremost 50 list earlier this week, featuring breakout challenger brands. The list also features 10 Ones to Watch brands, including Tom Holland’s BERO that just announced a distribution partnership with Target.

'INNOVATION MOVES'

● New Balance has been steadily taking share from rivals and has a goal to increase revenue to $10 billion in the next few years. The brand’s aim in the year ahead is to stay on course and focus on what’s been working. That includes managing distribution to ensure it isn’t oversaturating the marketplace with any one style, maintaining close relationships with wholesale partners and retaining the company’s laser-focused approach to picking the right brand partners. (Business of Fashion)

● Coach announced a line of Coach Classic products produced using Gen Phoenix’s new to the market recycled leather-derived material at CES. The products will be comparable in price to Coach’s upcycled Coachtopia products. With the debut of the Coach Classic line at CES, Coach is demonstrating a continued commitment to sustainability as many fashion brands pull back on related efforts. (Glossy)

● Hard times at home are driving British brands like Burberry, Mulberry, and Me+Em to seek their fortune in the fashion-hungry U.S. market, despite the threat of tariffs. (WWD)

● Personal care brands are looking for new ways to attract customers through fragrance that smells like food. Procter & Gamble’s Native recently debuted a Dunkin Donut collab, exclusively at Walmart, and a fruity partnership with Jarritos, the Mexican soft drink brand, only sold in Target. Unilever is selling the Dove X Crumbl collection, also at Walmart. Vanilla is a significant component of new fragrance launches last year from Dolce & Gabbana, Lancôme, and Bottega Veneta — to the low, with Axe’s Fine Black Vanilla. (MediaPost)

● Brands like Babyletto and Emilia George are hoping to fill the BuyBuy Baby void. Emilia George opened its second location in Atlanta in October 2024. Babylist, the registry service, opened its Beverly Hills showroom in 2023 while furniture company Babyletto opened up its first showroom on the trendy shopping stretch of Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. (Modern Retail)

● Actor Tom Holland’s non-alcoholic beer brand, BERO (on The Lead Ones to Watch list for 2025), is making a significant retail debut at Target, with placement in 1,400 stores across the US. (CNN)

'Financial Moves'

TikTok Shop rival Whatnot raises $265M at $5 Billion valuation.
Online sales for the entire 2024 holiday season (Nov 1 – Dec 31) reached a record-setting $1.2T globally and $282B in the U.S., reports Salesforce.
True Religion (denim) was acquired by ACON Investments, L.L.C. and SB360 Capital Partners.
Bonpoint (luxury children’s brand backed by EPI) was acquired by Youngor Group Co., Ltd.
Jonathan Adler (home brand) was acquired by Consortium Brand Partners and American Exchange Group.
Lake and Skye (clean fragrance brand) was acquired by Tru Fragrance & Beauty.
Trip (vitamin beverages) sold a minority stake to THE EQUITY STUDIO.
JCPenney and SPARC Group LLC combined to form Catalyst Brands, which will house Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brands, and Nautica, among others.
PrettyDamnQuick snaps up $25M to speed up online checkout.

Financial Moves Powered by MMG Advisors

'Career Moves'

Demand Planner – New York, NY | Hybrid
Sr. Distribution Consultant – New York, NY | Remote
Retail Sales Manager for Ulta & Target – New York, NY | Remote

Career Moves Powered by JBC

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