Julien Bouzitat

Executive compensation continues to rise, with notable increases in both pay packages and benefits. Our very own Elaine Hughes, Managing Director of E.A. Hughes, shared her expert insights in @WWD’s latest feature, which explores the findings of their recent study surrounding the top companies within the fashion industry. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/etEi7kau #ExecutiveLeadership #ExecutiveCompensation #ExecutiveSearch #BusinessStrategy

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The footwear category is rapidly evolving, as consumers prioritize value and comfort in their purchase decisions. JOOR's new Footwear Market Analysis Report leverages our vast platform transaction data to provide exclusive insights into trends in the global footwear landscape. Here are a few key highlights: • 📉 The Price Shift: Demand for accessible footwear is accelerating. The average retail price has decreased 11% over the past five years, with shoes under $250 now making up 42% of global retailer purchases. • 👟 Sneaker Saturation: While still dominant, sneakers are past their peak. The category accounts for 52% of units sold (down from 57% in 2023) as other comfort-driven styles like sandals and flats gain market share. • 🌍 EMEA's Luxury Focus: The EMEA region strongly favors luxury footwear, with 41% of units sold over $500, compared to just 28% in APAC and 17% in North America. Thank you to WWD for featuring my perspective in this great article on our findings: https://lnkd.in/dpynxfmn ➡️ To read the full report, click the link in the comments below. #FootwearIndustry #FashionTrends #RetailInsights #MarketAnalysis #LuxuryFashion

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Leaked Labs might be the most interesting beauty launch of 2026, actively challenging innovation timelines, retail infrastructure, and the industry’s growing sameness. Alexis Androulakis and Dr. Christina Basias Androulakis — the Lipstick Lesbians — didn't build their 1.2M strong audience by selling product. They built it by pulling back the curtain on how beauty is actually made. Alexis brings the product development expertise; Christina the rigour of a PhD in education technology. Their community formed around knowledge, not aesthetics. Now they've launched Leaked Labs. The model: source cutting-edge formulations that bigger brands won't touch — too niche, too risky, too much consumer education required — and get them to market fast. Stock packaging. Minimal branding. Products released as "leaks" in beta, by design. Based on feedback they will either manufacture and relaunch them, or archive them and move on to the next 'beta'. In a market where the same pool of manufacturers supplies half the shelf and genuine innovation gets buried under 24 months of development and manufacturing, it's a compelling disruption play. But it's hard not to question whether this is innovation for the sake of innovation or actually a brand strategy? Novelty gets attention. It doesn't build loyalty. In beauty, the brands with longevity have a point of view that transcends any single product. Right now, Leaked Labs is a platform built around two founders — however brilliant. That's powerful until it isn't. True Beauty Ventures — the firm behind K18's Unilever exit — are backing this. Which tells me someone in the room is already thinking hard about what comes after the launch energy. TBV back brands, not just formulas, so there must be something structurally different here (beyond product) to sustain momentum. Alexis and Christina have built something genuinely differentiated. The question isn't whether the model is interesting — it clearly is. It's whether you can build a scalable, lasting brand on the promise of "what's next." And whether a monthly cadence of lab samples is a business model or a brilliant content strategy in product form. 💬 Can innovation-first be a long-term brand strategy in beauty — or does formulation always need brand to survive? https://lnkd.in/guHa8Jnx #BeautyIndustry #LeakedLabs #LipstickLesbians #BeautyMarketing #BrandStrategy #TrueBeautyVentures #BeautyBusiness

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