Research company, Forrester,  recently made a report about the sales and expected growth of M-commerce in the European market.
Last year, European M-commerce total spending was approximately €1.7 billion, and that amount is expected to grow by 1,100% by the year 2017. In five years time, Forrester believes that Europeans will be spending as much as €19.2 billion, which will make up for 6.2% of all online sales in Europe, against 1% today.

More information on Fashion Daily News n° 673-374 / 23-07-2012 / Page 23 & on

At the beginning of 2011, the volume of footwear exportations increased of 15,4%, and so did the value (+14,2%), in comparison with the same period in 2010.
The sales reached 1 billion of euros, for approximately 65 millions pairs of shoes.
The European market represent 80% of Spanish exportations : the most important clients are Italy (18,7%), United Kingdom (15,3%), France (11,7%), Germany (6,5%) and Portugal (5,8%).
We can note that the sales in the USA and Japan are increasing (respectively +15,3% and +43,46% of volume).
During the same period, the  importations from China, Vietnam and Brazil, have decreased in volume while increased in value.

Source : PINKER MODA N°335 (March 2012)

Despite certain signs of slowing down, the results for 2011 remain positive for the textile-clothing industry in Italy, with an increase of 4.8% in the turnover figures for the whole of the textile and fashion industries. The national market has been particularly morose, but Italy continues to shine in the foreign markets with exports increasing by 6.2%. The sector continues to remain optimistic for 2012.
In 2011, numerous changes took place in the Italian textile-clothing sector:  the acquisitions of some very well-known brands by large international companies in the luxury sector, for example Bulgari by the LVMH group, Brioni by the French company, PPR, Belstaff by the Austro-Germanic Labelux holding Group, but also in the distribution sector, for example, the sale of the Rinascente department stores to the Central Retail Corporation of Thailand.
Certain firms also became listed on the Stock Exchange:  in particular, the very successful operations of Prada and Salvatore Ferragamo. Then next spring, Brunello Cucinelli should also be taking the first steps…

>>Read the detailed article in the Journal du Textile n°2108, page 52.
www.journaldutextile.com

Thanks to the dynamism in the country, the professionals in the textile-clothing industry in Germany are preparing to end the year on a positive note. In Germany, the current economic figures encourage optimism: the rate of unemployment is the lowest since the reunification, and the GDP is growing (+3%). The German Retail Trade Federation (Hde) forecasts a nominal rise of 2% in retail trade. In terms of distribution, the concept of large stores is continuing to run out of steam in Germany, but, on the other hand, sales on Internet are constantly on the increase. As for the German suppliers, despite the rise in costs, most of them had a good year in 2011. The clothing industry, progressed a little less than textiles, particularly because of the slow growth in exports (+1%), but despite this, still showed an increase of 7%.
Among the companies that experienced a few difficulties, we can cite Esprit, but on the other hand, for Hugo Boss and Adidas, 2011 proved to be more positive than forecast
The Retail Textile Trade Federation (Bte) envisages 2012 ‘ with optimism’.

Read the detailed article on the 2011 results in Germany on page 52 of the “Journal du Textile” N°2108.
www.journaldutextile.com

In April the Spanish distribution group El Corte Ingles launched its own private sales club ‘Primeriti’, with, amongst other things, fashion items. The main brands sold in El Corte Ingles department stores have joined the project.

El Corte Ingles currently has turnover figures of 310 million euros on internet.

Since its first day, the website Primeriti has welcomed 150,000 visitors.
The brand Donna Karan was chosen to inaugurate the club, and gave reductions of up to 50%. Ralph Lauren and Armani Jeans followed on from this.

More information in the fashion magazine PINKER MODA N°333 www.pinkermoda.com or on : www.primeriti.es