CAMPBELL, Calif. — November 27, 2018 — Macron — a sportswear company based in Bologna, Italy, that clothes top sports teams across the world — has successfully implemented Centric Software’s Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to fashion, retail, footwear, outdoor, luxury and consumer goods companies to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

Macron was established in 1971 and has risen to success over the past two decades as a maker of technical apparel for team sports. Sponsoring high profile football teams in top divisions across the globe — Lazio, Sporting Lisbon, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Real Sociedad, Bruges — Macron is ranked by UEFA as the third most popular football brand in Europe and Macron is also making strides in the rugby arena, recently sponsoring the Italian and Scottish national teams in the Six Nations tournament. Macron’s core business is the production of team wear for amateur sports teams, as well as official kits and merchandise for professional clubs. In addition, the company makes athleisure and running lines for individual consumers. Macron retails in over 140 own-brand stores and 800 multi-brand stores worldwide.

Macron has grown at a rapid pace. Taking just one aspect of their business, Macron sponsored one team in 2001 — their local Bologna FC — and now sponsors 70 professional sports clubs. As Paolo Guizzardi, COO at Macron explained, Macron’s rapid growth has brought challenges.

“We’re not a standard fashion or apparel company although our smaller lines run on a traditional seasonal basis,” he said. “In our core business, team sports, all styles are 4-5 years lifecycle carry-over items with a new annual collection of over 100 new styles. Each of the 70 clubs we sponsor has their own unique collection each year. We differentiate ourselves from other players in this market by offering full customized designs and getting to market twice as fast as our competitors. The biggest challenge is to maintain our competitive time to market in the face of increasing complexity and growth in our team sports business.”

Until now, Macron was using a system of Excel spreadsheets, emails and online chat communication to organize design, product development and merchandising across its Bologna headquarters, Italian distribution center and office in China. Macron outsources production to factories across the world so tracking raw material and supplier information was becoming difficult.

Guizzardi said: “Information was not shared correctly, completely or on time. Finding information was difficult enough in our Italian office, where people are next to each other – imagine how it was for our employees in China, 9,000 kilometers and six time zones away! We needed PLM to give us a single, unique database, updated in real time, that everyone could use. We also wanted to standardize our coding for materials and accessories, rather than relying on people to remember what we used last year. With 15,000 SKUs in our catalog for team sports alone, we needed to make it easier for people to quickly find exact, reliable information. The push for PLM very much came from the ground — from our users.”

Macron selected Centric PLM after considering several options, pinpointing Centric’s apparel experience as a deciding factor in their decision.

“We’re an unusual business, because unlike a fashion company, our core business is not seasonal,” explains Guizzardi. “However, Centric was born in apparel. Making clothing is in Centric’s DNA, and we’re a fast-growing sportswear company that needs a long-term partner to change and grow with us. Centric is a reliable company that we know will be around to support us for many years to come. When we saw the demo, we were very impressed by the fact that Centric requires no customization to suit our present needs. We’re more than happy with Centric’s offering as it is and it was possible to implement in just 5 months.”

“We are very pleased to welcome Macron as our latest partner,” says Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. “Macron’s meteoric rise in the world of team sportswear has seen them challenge large, established sports brands in Europe and around the world. We’re looking forward to working with Macron to support their continued growth with a strong digital platform.”

Posted November 27, 2018

Source: Centric Software

DRUNEN, The Netherlands — November 26, 2018 — MEXX will open a new store in Nieuwegein, the Netherlands on 28 November 2018. An innovative, minimalistic and contemporary lifestyle design has been developed for the interior that matches the brand’s DNA. It is the first store to be opened by MEXX following the acquisition by RNF Group last autumn.

The franchise store is located at Binnenstede 11 in the Cityplaza shopping center in Nieuwegein. With 300 m² of floor surface and a 14-metre store window, MEXX is the ideal location for showcasing the new MEXX and the new store concept. In addition to a contemporary collection for women, men and children, MEXX is presenting an extensive collection of shoes. The store design was realised by architectural firm Boffi Design. It has designed a minimalist, sleek concept featuring a simple and elegant look and feel. Lighting specialist Guzzini Design was engaged to develop optimum lighting for the store.

International expansion in spring 2019

The worldwide launch is scheduled to take place in the spring of 2019. MEXX will at that time open more stores and expand the distribution further into the European key markets in the Benelux, France, Greece and Germany. These are markets in which MEXX has a high level of name awareness and has had a presence for more than 25 years. Stores will be opened in Canada, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, the GOS countries and Russia in order to support the various brand market entries. Potential market introductions in Egypt and China are also being considered. The company expects a high level of growth in the so-called emerging markets.

Leo Cantagalli, CEO of MEXX, said: “MEXX has gone back to its roots. I’m proud that we are opening the first store in our home market of the Netherlands. This is where it all began more than thirty years ago. We’ve designed a stunning collection for urban professionals. In addition, we’ve developed a new interior concept in association with Boffi Design that optimally dovetails with MEXX’s DNA. Thanks to the new store concept and a contemporary multi-gender collection, we’re ready for the worldwide launch next spring.”

The company has worked diligently on the re-launch over the past year. MEXX presented a spring/summer collection that was available online on MEXX.com last spring. The focus is furthermore on strengthening the organization, entering into partnerships for a decentralised market approach and optimizing the e-commerce strategy and communications via social media.

Posted November 26, 2018

Source: MEXX

NEW YORK CITY — November 26, 2018 — RYU Apparel Inc., creators of urban athletic apparel, has officially opened the doors of its flagship store in Williamsburg, N.Y., as it continues its expansion into the United States.

RYU — which stands for Respect Your Universe — is an award-winning Vancouver-based urban athletics and accessories brand headed by industry visionary, Marcello Leone. It currently boasts five retail stores throughout Canada, with a sixth to follow before the end of the year. Williamsburg is the brand’s second US location with their first being a store  in Venice, Calif., launched in the summer.

On November 15, RYU hosted a pre-launch party that included NYC’s top media, artistic, athletic, and cultural thought leaders at it’s  New York store. Located in the heart of Williamsburg, a fashion epicenter, in the NYC borough of Brooklyn, the 2,800 ft2 store is in the newly renovated Lewis Steel heritage building. RYU’s modern urban aesthetic fits in perfectly with Williamsburg’s unique style and community. The highly sought-after shopping neighborhood is home to both international brands and beloved local businesses — the ideal environment for RYU to flourish as it expands into the US.

Custom built by renowned architect, Tony Robins, design details include uncovered cast-iron fixtures and steel beams, distressed timber and cold rolled steel,evoking the feeling of a vintage training facility. Preserving the original flooring and exposed brick, the space will retain its industrial roots while clean white walls, inspiring graphics and updated design touches reveal a modern balance.

“We are excited to announce this important next step in the growth of RYU as a global brand,” said Marcello Leone, CEO and president of RYU. “Expansion into the New York City area allows us to create connections and build community in one of the most influential athletic and fashion markets in the world.”

Dedicated to offering the athletic apparel market something truly unique, RYU creates technical apparel and accessories that are engineered for both the performance and the lifestyle of a multi-disciplined athlete. Anchored in Respect for one’s choices, individualism and journey, RYU designs innovative, on-trend training apparel that facilitates human performance.

The new Williamsburg location offers guests a step inside RYU’s world. Designed as a hub for the community to come together, RYU encourages an experience that extends beyond one of traditional shopping. Elements are centered around promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles, including weekly fitness classes taught by local instructors and an exclusive water bar from Trace Beverages, featuring the first-of-their-kind plant-based beverages infused with fulvic and humic minerals.

“It’s important that we connect with our community,” continues Leone. “We’re not taking your typical approach of opening up just any store. We believe today, to be successful with any iconic global brand, you must have an authentic, emotional connection to your consumer.”

The Williamsburg store is located at 76th North 4th Street, on the corner with Wythe Street.

Posted November 26, 2018

Source: RYU Apparel Inc.