The Commerce Brief: Thurs 5th Sept

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

🗓️ This week’s industry updates

👖 Primark has launched its first fully integrated UK brand campaign, featuring its debut UK TV advert focused on denim. (source)

✅ eBay has expanded its authenticity programme in the UK to cover apparel, shoes, and accessories, offering a “head-to-toe” authentication service for pre-loved fashion. Items are verified at eBay’s UK centre before shipping and come with QR-enabled cards. (source)

💻 Inditex has launched Inditex Tech on Medium to share insights from its global platform IOP (Inditex Open Platform), which supports building and scaling digital products across its brands like Zara and Massimo Dutti. (source)

📈 Majid Al Futtaim reported $4.7bn in H1 2025 revenue with profits up 23%, driven by digital growth, real estate demand, and new investments. (source)

👟 New Balance plans to open 10–12 Middle East stores in the next five years, aiming to position itself as the region’s leading performance lifestyle brand through cultural immersion and community-first strategies. (source)

🍪 Shein has been fined $176m in France for placing cookies on users’ devices even after they opted out. The fast-fashion giant is contesting the fine and preparing for a new Oxford Street pop-up in London later this month. (source)

🪑 IKEA will open its first-ever store in New Zealand this December in Auckland, alongside 29 new pick-up points nationwide. (source)

🏬 Urban Revivo has opened a 2,700 sqm mega-store in London, its second this year, and plans to open 200 stores outside China within five years as it continues rapid international expansion. (source)

💻 Ssense, the Canadian luxury e-tailer, is facing pressure from lenders to approve a fast sale of the business, with bids expected by October. (source)

🥾 Arc’teryx has launched in-store and online at JD Sports, marking a new partnership to bring the technical brand to broader audiences. (source)

🧵 Mytheresa may cut up to 700 jobs at Yoox-Net-A-Porter as it integrates the company under its parent group, LuxExperience. (source)

📦 Amazon will end its Prime Invitee Program, which allowed members to share free shipping with people outside their household, on October 1. The change comes as Reuters reported weaker Prime Day signups this year versus 2023. (source)

👕 Castore has acquired British premium apparel brand Belstaff, expanding its portfolio in luxury performance fashion. (source)

🇩🇪 FatFace has entered Germany via Zalando, selling both menswear and womenswear, including its premium Copper & Black collection. (source)

🛍️ Topshop and Topman are set to return to the UK high street in 2026 through a partnership with John Lewis, with ranges stocked in 32 and six stores respectively, as well as online. (source)

🎮 Currys reported a strong start to its financial year, with UK & Ireland like-for-like revenue up 3% in the 17 weeks to 30 August, driven by gaming, AI computing, large appliances, and coffee machines, though TV, tablet, and air fryer sales fell. (source)

💄 Holland & Barrett is transforming its beauty category with a new “inside-out” approach focused on science, wellness, and innovation across all channels. (source)

The Commerce Brief