The Commerce Brief: Fri 10th April

Welcome to another exciting week in the world of eCommerce and retail 🛍️

🇺🇸 Marks & Spencer is entering US physical retail via a wholesale partnership with Nordstrom, bringing a curated womenswear range to 30 stores and online as it scales international growth. (source)

📱 Primark has launched its first UK customer app with click and collect integration, while continuing US expansion and seeing strong demand at its Dubai store debut with 80,000 units sold on opening day and even an unannounced visit from Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. (source 1, source 2)

🤖 Tesco is trialling an AI-powered assistant in its app to support meal planning and basket building, with 280,000 colleagues getting early access ahead of a wider rollout. (source)

📈 Vinted reported 38% revenue growth to £956m and a 47% rise in GMV, as the resale market continues to scale. Despite the positive uplift in revenue, net profit fell to £53.9m from £66.9m in 2024, with the resale platform saying earnings were hit by investment in Germany, new categories and launches in additional markets. (source)

🏬 Fabletics is opening its largest European retail space inside Berlin’s KaDeWe department store as it expands its physical footprint. (source)

💼 Allbirds is set to be acquired by American Exchange for $39m, marking a significant shift for the sustainable footwear player. (source)

🛍️ FatFace has launched in-store personal styling and a WhatsApp service, enhancing its omnichannel customer experience across physical and digital touchpoints. (source)

🎯 Boots is evolving its Advantage Card with more personalised offers, doubling down on loyalty and value-led engagement. (source)

🏗️ Lidl is investing £600m to open 50 new UK stores and even trialling its first pub concept as it targets further market share growth. (source, source 2)

💰 Dame, the sexual wellness company, is refunding customers who paid its “Trump Tariff Surcharge” last year, becoming one of the first brands to proactively return money tied to President Donald Trump’s now-invalidated tariffs. (source)

👖 Levi Strauss & Co. posted strong double-digit growth, driven by its continued shift towards a direct-to-consumer model. (source)

🧠 AllSaints has announced plans to roll out AI across buying and merchandising to become a more data-driven organisation. (source)

📊 Fast Retailing, parent company of Uniqlo, has raised full-year forecasts after 14.5% revenue growth, with strong demand across the US, Europe and Japan. (source)

🏬 Selfridges is launching a new members club experience in London, blending private shopping, hospitality and loyalty into a premium retail proposition. (source)

🤝 Vuori has signed a multi-year partnership with Tom Holland, who joins as a creative, strategic and financial partner. (source)

⚖️ Nike is facing a proposed class action lawsuit in the US following a cybersecurity incident that allegedly exposed customer data. (source)