H&M to Close Digital Outlet Afound

The H&M clothing store is seen in Times Square in Manhattan, New York, US, November 15, 2019. (Reuters)
The H&M clothing store is seen in Times Square in Manhattan, New York, US, November 15, 2019. (Reuters)
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H&M to Close Digital Outlet Afound

The H&M clothing store is seen in Times Square in Manhattan, New York, US, November 15, 2019. (Reuters)
The H&M clothing store is seen in Times Square in Manhattan, New York, US, November 15, 2019. (Reuters)

H&M will close down digital fashion outlet Afound later this year due to weak demand, the Swedish group said in a statement on Wednesday.
"When evaluating Afound's current position, we don't see enough demand, partly because brands increasingly choose to use their own channels for sales, to further strengthen their customer relationships," H&M said.
Launched in 2018 as an outlet business with physical stores to sell marked-down clothes from many external brands, Afound later tweaked its strategy to expand online.
Afound sold clothes in seven European countries including Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands, according to its website.



Pandora Raises Full-Year Growth Outlook as Q2 Profit in Line

Jewels are seen in a Pandora jewellery shop in downtown Rome, Italy, August 7, 2018. (Reuters)
Jewels are seen in a Pandora jewellery shop in downtown Rome, Italy, August 7, 2018. (Reuters)
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Pandora Raises Full-Year Growth Outlook as Q2 Profit in Line

Jewels are seen in a Pandora jewellery shop in downtown Rome, Italy, August 7, 2018. (Reuters)
Jewels are seen in a Pandora jewellery shop in downtown Rome, Italy, August 7, 2018. (Reuters)

Pandora, the world's biggest jewellery maker, reported second-quarter operating profit broadly in line with expectations on Monday and increased its growth outlook for the year.

Operating profit rose to 1.34 billion Danish crowns ($196.25 million) in the second quarter from 1.19 billion a year earlier compared with an average 1.3 billion forecast by 14 analysts in a poll compiled by the company.

Pandora increased its full-year organic growth guidance to between 9% and 12% compared to its previous guidance of 8-10%. It kept its operating margin guidance at around 25%.

"We are again raising revenue guidance for 2024 and look to the second half of the year with optimism," CEO Alexander Lacik said in a statement.