A Review of Consumer-Facing Digital Technologies Across Different Types of Fashion Store Formats

Several current trends in the fashion retail and marketing landscape are associated with the ongoing digital revolution, including the increasing tendency for fashion retailers to adopt consumer-facing digital technologies across their online and physical store formats. Such technology helps improve the store environment by conferring a more engaging and stimulating shopping experience for consumers. This chapter provides a review of existing literature, supported by relevant industry reports and current examples from key players in the fashion retail sector, to provide a comprehensive analysis of different types of consumer-facing digital technology in various fashion store formats and how they impact on the overall shopping experience. The authors review a number of technologies including interactive touchscreens, RFID tags, beacon technology, magic mirrors and mobile apps, and consider how they are implemented in online stores, digitally enhanced stores, brand stores and pop-up stores in the fashion sector

Co-creation and the development of SME designer fashion enterprises

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the co-creation of SME designer fashion brands during internationalisation. Design/methodology/approach - As an exploratory study, this research utilises grounded theory methodology and incorporates the use of 38 semi-structured in-depth interviews with designer fashion enterprises and their support network of sales and PR agencies. Findings - Co-creation was identified as an important element for the successful integration of the entrepreneurial designer fashion enterprise into the global fashion industry network. Within relationship marketing, the concept of co-creation emphasises consumer experience, influence and power in the development of brand value. However current understanding of co-creation inadequately explains the development of the entrepreneurial designer fashion brand, requiring examination of the concept using grounded theory. The findings of this research highlight how these small and medium enterprises react and respond to the interpretation of their brand identity through the co-creation process as they seek to introduce and grow their firms within the global fashion marketplace. Originality/value - This paper identifies the influence of industry stakeholders on the process of fashion brand co-creation. Additionally, by identifying the process by which the entrepreneurial designer fashion enterprise navigates the introduction of their collections to the industry’s network, and responds to interpretations of the firm’s brand identity, this paper recognises the influence of the firm throughout the co-creation process

The ENHANCES study--Enhancing Head and Neck Cancer patients' Experiences of Survivorship: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background Few cancers pose greater challenges than head and neck (H&N) cancer. Residual effects following treatment include body image changes, pain, fatigue and difficulties with appetite, swallowing and speech. Depression is a common comorbidity. There is limited evidence about ways to assist patients to achieve optimal adjustment after completion of treatment. In this study, we aim to examine the effectiveness and feasibility of a model of survivorship care to improve the quality of life of patients who have completed treatment for H&N cancer. Methods This is a preliminary study in which 120 patients will be recruited. A prospective randomised controlled trial of the H&N Cancer Survivor Self-management Care Plan (HNCP) involving pre- and post-intervention assessments will be used. Consecutive patients who have completed a defined treatment protocol for H&N cancer will be recruited from two large cancer services and randomly allocated to one of three study arms: (1) usual care, (2) information in the form of a written resource or (3) the HNCP delivered by an oncology nurse who has participated in manual-based training and skill development in patient self-management support. The trained nurses will meet patients in a face-to-face interview lasting up to 60 minutes to develop an individualised HNCP, based on principles of chronic disease self-management. Participants will be assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months. The primary outcome measure is quality of life. The secondary outcome measures include mood, self-efficacy and health-care utilisation. The feasibility of implementing this intervention in routine clinical care will be assessed through semistructured interviews with participating nurses, managers and administrators. Interviews with patients who received the HNCP will explore their perceptions of the HNCP, including factors that assisted them in achieving behavioural change. Discussion In this study, we aim to improve the quality of life of a patient population with unique needs by means of a tailored self-management care plan developed upon completion of treatment. Delivery of the intervention by trained oncology nurses is likely to be acceptable to patients and, if successful, will be a model of care that can be implemented for diverse patient populations

TV Character product placement,Omni-channel! A study of newly emerging Chinese fashion marketing plan within the social media context

Entertainment content such as TV soap operas and movies are highly desirable media for placing products and brands because the characters naturally receive direct attention from viewers, and because the characters often become celebrities in their own right (Hackley and Tiwasakul, 2006). In particular, product placement and celebrity endorsement are popular means of promoting fashion products. The prominence of consumption in the genre is reflected in the importance of products such as clothing, makeup, home furnishings, and food to the characters (Cornwell and Keillor 1996). In the clothing domain, fashion trends tend to be associated with wealthy urban characters (La Pastina 2001) who serve as aspirational referents. La Pastina (2001) argues that the desire to learn about fashion, lifestyle trends, and behavior is intrinsically associated with soap operas, fueling knowledge of consumer goods and lifestyles. At present, consumers’ social networks are especially important because most people are moderately connected to others and willing to share marketing information with others

Are fashion supply chains capable of coopetition? An exploratory study in the UK

Fashion supply chains are characterised by pressure for low cost and short lead times and face increasing requirements for social and environmental compliance. Hence, fashion retailers have recognised a greater need for collaborating with competitors in upstream supply chain activities, despite competing against each other downstream in the marketplace. This notion of ‘coopetitive’ relationships, a nascent research area, motivated this paper’s case study of six UK-headquartered fashion companies to explore how and why they engage in areas of coopetition interaction and their management of inherent tensions in these relations. Capacity sharing, communication and information sharing, and building relationships/partnerships emerged as motives. The companies exhibited a processual approach to coopetition against a challenging landscape of institutional tensions, which included retailer pressure and organisational structures. Despite risks of opportunism, coopetition was found to be a useful strategy and highly influential for competitive advantage and sustainability in this volatile and dynamic industry sector.</p

An overview of the contribution of the textiles sector to climate change

https://v2.sherpa.ac.uk/id/publication/26071The textile industry is responsible for a significant amount of global CO2 emissions, exceeding those from several other sectors such as international aviation and shipping. This article outlines the reasons for the textile industry’s contribution to climate change along with an overview of current trends. Finally, it outlines several measures to reduce its carbon footprint.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fashionable Ethics: Exploring Ethical Perspectives in the Production, Marketing, and Consumption of Fashion

This Special Issue examines ethics in fashion to further critical understanding of the various drivers and barriers, nuances and layers of complexity in fashion production, marketing, and consumption, and aims toward a more future-oriented perspective through the lens of ethics. Research on ethical issues in fashion is growing but is fragmented across diverse domains, from supply chain and operations management, to psychology and sociology, to marketing and consumption. Furthermore, there has been only a peripheral focus on ethics and limited application of ethical theories or frameworks to fashion’s ethical dilemmas. This Special Issue brings together diverse domains and unpacks salient ethical issues using the lens of ethical theories and frameworks to advance theory development on balancing social justice with environmental responsibility, decision-making in ethical situations, and newer forms of greenwashing and consumerism. The selected papers use varied methodologies and offer novel insights across different global contexts

On Net Zero:Analysis and ideas on Net Zero, curated by Policy@Manchester

In June last year, the UK Parliament passed new legislation on the advice of the Committee on Climate Change, which I chair. It commits the UK to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The pledges which have followed signal a clear ambition from local authorities, businesses and academic institutions to come together to help meet this vital goal. Targets alone, however, are only an intention. They require policies, informed by the best available evidence, largely set by government, to deliver the UK’s net zero transition over the next 30 years. The scale of action, and the level of coordination that entails across the public and private sectors, is challenging. Achieving net zero is a must for our planet, but the shift away from fossil fuels will also modernise our economy, and bring cleaner air, more nutritious diets, new industries, and jobs. There is much work to do. Industries and businesses must have long-term signals that encourage them to invest in zero-carbon options. Partnerships will be needed across industry, academia, government and the third sector to ensure new skills are developed to create a net zero compatible workforce. Similar collaboration is needed to deliver innovative solutions to some of the thorniest challenges we face, such as how to capture and store large amounts of CO2. Involving the public in the many changes ahead is critical. The net zero transition will not go unnoticed as we shift to lower-carbon forms of heating in our homes, as we opt for electric rather than petrol and diesel vehicles, as we choose to walk and cycle more. That all begins this year, in the year of climate action. The private sector, academia, NGOs and government must come together to ensure that the UK’s leadership on climate change is clear as we host the pivotal UN Climate Summit in November in Glasgow. is is our chance to show the world that we are serious about righting the wrongs of the past. It’s an opportunity we must seize

On Net Zero:Analysis and ideas on Net Zero, curated by Policy@Manchester

In June last year, the UK Parliament passed new legislation on the advice of the Committee on Climate Change, which I chair. It commits the UK to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. The pledges which have followed signal a clear ambition from local authorities, businesses and academic institutions to come together to help meet this vital goal. Targets alone, however, are only an intention. They require policies, informed by the best available evidence, largely set by government, to deliver the UK’s net zero transition over the next 30 years. The scale of action, and the level of coordination that entails across the public and private sectors, is challenging. Achieving net zero is a must for our planet, but the shift away from fossil fuels will also modernise our economy, and bring cleaner air, more nutritious diets, new industries, and jobs. There is much work to do. Industries and businesses must have long-term signals that encourage them to invest in zero-carbon options. Partnerships will be needed across industry, academia, government and the third sector to ensure new skills are developed to create a net zero compatible workforce. Similar collaboration is needed to deliver innovative solutions to some of the thorniest challenges we face, such as how to capture and store large amounts of CO2. Involving the public in the many changes ahead is critical. The net zero transition will not go unnoticed as we shift to lower-carbon forms of heating in our homes, as we opt for electric rather than petrol and diesel vehicles, as we choose to walk and cycle more. That all begins this year, in the year of climate action. The private sector, academia, NGOs and government must come together to ensure that the UK’s leadership on climate change is clear as we host the pivotal UN Climate Summit in November in Glasgow. is is our chance to show the world that we are serious about righting the wrongs of the past. It’s an opportunity we must seize

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms