HOLLAND RETAIL NEWS: June 2019
Here are some of the key retail, wholesale and brand stories that made headlines in the Netherlands during the month of June…
CBS REPORTS APRIL RETAIL SALES INCREASED IN NL
Earlier this month, the Dutch national statistics bureau CBS released retail data for April 2019 showing sales in the non-food sector increased by nearly 2% compared to the previous year on an adjusted basis, taking into account the Easter date change. On a non-adjusted basis, sales increased by 4.7%. The categories showing the biggest increases were Furniture and Household Articles (+7%), Consumer Electronics (+4.6%) and DIY, Kitchens and Flooring (+3.4%). The worst performing categories were Footwear (-4.8%), Clothing (-2.2%) and Recreational Goods (-0.4%).
DUTCH BRANDS WITH HIGHEST GOODWILL
Havas’ Meaningful Brands Study was recently published and shows which retailers Dutch consumers feel most strongly about (and would miss if they were to vanish from the Dutch High Street) and those held in lower esteem. The highest ranking brands include Albert Heijn and BOL.com while the lowest include BCC, Blokker and Media Markt.
INDITEX TO HAVE 4 FLAGSHIPS IN MOTN
Inditex has committed to opening 4 flagship stores in the Westfield Mall of the Netherlands (Leidschendam, South Holland) which is currently under construction and due to open next year. These will include a 3,656-m2 Zara store, a 1,024-m2 Bershka store, an 874-m2 Pull&Bear store and an 887-m2 Stradivarius store.
KEYMUSIC GOES BANKRUPT
The Keymusic retail chain in the Netherlands was declared bankrupt on 17th June with the trustee yet to announce whether a restart is possible. The chain sells a wide range of professional-grade instruments, amplifiers and recording equipment at stores in Apeldoorn, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague (Rock Palace).
ADIDAS LOSES EU TRADEMARK LAWSUIT
Adidas lost its 3-stripe trademark defense case in European court earlier this month. The ‘3 equal width stripes’ trademark had been registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in 2014 but was challenged by a Belgian company (Shoe Branding Europe) soon thereafter as too broad and not unique. Adidas lost that case in 2016 but appealed the decision, to which this is the outcome of the second trial. Adidas could choose to appeal this decision as well, which would then take it to the highest court in the European Union and its last chance to keep this specific trademark.
HUDSON’S BAY LOSES COURT CASE WITH CBRE
Hudson’s Bay lost a court case to property manager CBRE regarding the department store’s previous commitment guaranteeing rental payments for its 10 year leases on stores in Zwolle, The Hague, Maastricht and Den Bosch which are owned by CBRE. The deal was agreed to in 2017 prior to the first stores opening and Hudson’s Bay was to draw up the legal documents and submit copies to CBRE which they never did. Hudson’s Bay is now saying it is not possible to commit to such a long term, but the judge sided with CBRE, giving Hudson’s Bay until 7th July to produce the said document.
H&M CLOSED 5 DUTCH STORES IN 2ND QUARTER
H&M closed 5 stores in the Netherlands during the second quarter bringing its total Dutch store count to 137. On the positive side, later this year the company will bring its new Afound retail concept (the stores sell secondhand clothing from its own and other brands) to the Netherlands. Holland will be the first market for Afound outside of H&M’s home country of Sweden where the concept was introduced last year.
Related information…