FIRST: StockX has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of Damien Hooper-Campbell as the company’s first chief impact officer.
Hooper-Campbell has held similar positions at companies such as Google, Uber, Goldman Sachs and, most recently, eBay and Zoom, where he was the first Chief Diversity Officer, and has more than 20 years of experience in culture, leadership development, DE&I, social impact and community involvement with StockX.
In his new role, he will oversee diversity, equality and inclusion, environmental, social and community engagement initiatives worldwide, and will be responsible for improving the company’s DE&I strategy from a workforce, workplace perspective and market. He will also manage community relations and partnerships and environmental, social and governance reporting, among others.
“StockX wants to empower everyone to connect with culture through their passions and I look forward to using that ethos – one rooted in access and inclusiveness – in my work in this new and ever-important role,” said Hooper-Campbell in a statement. “Not only do I have experience that I believe will build on an already strong foundation in core areas such as social impact and DEI, but as a longtime sneaker collector and avid user of the platform, I know first-hand the customer perspective and am also plans to apply that lens to create impact for the company and for the wider StockX community.”
Hooper-Campbell is StockX chief executive officer Scott Cutler’s seventh C-suite hire since joining the company in 2019. He said of Hooper-Campbell in a statement: “Damien’s knowledge and passion for developing high-growth corporate cultures will enable us to take our DEI and social impact to the next level, while also positioning the platform for the future. He brings a wealth of experience, but just as importantly, has a proven history of turning passion into advocacy and action and I look forward to seeing that come to life at StockX.”
This appointment comes months after StockX acquired inventory management company Scout for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was the company’s first major purchase. — OBI ANYANWU
GUCCI’S CASE STUDY: Polimoda strengthens its partnership with Gucci that began in 2018 and is collaborating with luxury brand Kering on a new master’s course that will debut in the fall and will focus on fashion retail and omnichannel management.
Polimoda students. Thanks to Polimoda
The Florence-based fashion school said the course reflects the evolution of shopping habits and the increased importance of omnichannel strategies to integrate brick-and-mortar retail with online activities.
“Fashion brands now face new challenges to win over consumers. An elegant store, an online shop window full of products and an influencer post are no longer enough. Everyone wants what they can’t find, something exclusive. Luxury shoppers long for unique and unforgettable experiences, both online and offline,” said Massimiliano Giornetti, director of Polimoda.
“Thanks to the partnership with Gucci, this master’s degree will prepare a new generation of professionals in omnichannel retail, able to guide brands in creating content and innovative experiences for consumers,” he said.
Gucci has stepped up its efforts in this area with initiatives such as Gucci 9 Global Customer Service, the Gucci Osteria franchise seen as instrumental in attracting consumers to the store while offering digital activations such as the Gucci Vault platform and a recent venture into metaverse territory, as reported.
“Omnichannel is playing an increasingly central role in the strategies of fashion and luxury brands. At Gucci, we’ve been working for years to provide our customers with an immersive and seamless experience, integrating the physical and digital worlds as much as possible. We are therefore delighted to continue our partnership with Polimoda and contribute to the training of a new generation of talents who, more than ever, will call on, anticipate and interpret the changes in the world of luxury retail. said Oscar Mariani, Gucci’s senior vice president of omnichannel operations and performance.
Divided into four learning modules, the nine-month academic course covers topics ranging from the state of the luxury fashion business to retail management in an omnichannel environment, as well as retail concepts. At the end of the course, students will be eligible for internships and job opportunities with the luxury brand Kering.
The course will be officially presented to prospective students and the public at a webinar hosted by Polimoda on May 23, featuring speakers such as Mariani and Francesco Falai, Gucci’s SVP, global people and retail business functions, as well as former Polimoda students now working in fashion. House. — MARTINO CARRERA
SUIT UP: Kappa, the Italian sportswear and accessories brand, has unveiled a multi-year sponsorship deal with the US ski, freeski and snowboard teams. Kappa will be the official partner, which is an important step as it marks the first time that a brand of outerwear and racing suits will appear on the uniforms of all three US national ski and snowboard teams.
Kappa is the official partner of US Ski & Snowboard. Courtesy Image
Indeed, this year Volcom became the official outfitter of the US snowboard team for the 2022 edition of the Beijing Winter Games, while Spyder dressed the US ski team at the 2019 World Cup circuit.
Lorenzo Boglione, vice president of BasicNet, the company that owns Kappa, said: “It is an honor for us to have a long-term partnership with the US Ski & Snowboard team, for Kappa this is an important opportunity and a fantastic return to sponsorship of a US National Federation, as was the case with US Athletics from 1982 to 1988. We are really proud to dress these incredible athletes It will be great to be together at the Winter Olympics of Milan-Cortina 2026.”
The partnership will start from the 2022-2023 season and Kappa will also be the official outfitter of the US ski and snowboard teams in 2026 for the Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, and for the Winter Games in 2030. The Italian sportswear brand will supply technical suits to the US national team in all national competitions and during the FIS World Cup events.
“The ability to have one outerwear supplier for all our teams allows us to optimize every aspect of this partnership and maximize its potential. In addition, the Kappa Research & Development center will provide significant technical benefits to our athletes as they focus on the next season, the 2026 Winter Olympics and beyond,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Ski Resort. and snowboard federation. .
Kappa was founded in Turin in 1967 and is known for its Kombat jersey and the distinctive logo of the “Omini di Kappa”, which today appears on the uniforms of the best players of football clubs and Formula 1 drivers and by athletes around the world is worn. the world. — ALICE MONORCHIO
SHOES FOR SHOES: Taking into account the demand from Millennials and Gen Zers for circularity, luxury shoe brand Sergio Rossi is launching a new circular payment method on its e-commerce site.
The brand has teamed up with Twig, a London-based fintech and banking services app, and it will implement Twig Pay among its payment options, allowing customers to trade and exchange their purchases for future pre-owned fashion shopping sessions on the Twig. resale platform.
An editorial image of the Sergio Rossi Spring 2022 Collection. Courtesy of Sergio Rossi
Essentially, in line with circularity, every purchase on Sergio Rossi’s e-commerce site generates a credit that can be spent on second-hand goods. In the second phase of the partnership rollout, NFTs and cryptocurrencies will also be allowed in the transactions.
“I strongly believe in this partnership and in the services Twig provides to customers, especially for Gen Z and Millennials, always evolving their approach to sourcing and resale – especially for the goods of iconic brands with so much heritage to express – always in an innovative way,” said Sergio Rossi’s chief executive officer Riccardo Sciutto.
“Twig is a futuristic way of shopping, able to support the circular economy with the ability to generate value for all shareholders involved in the transaction. For a high-end brand like Sergio Rossi, this partnership allows customers to evaluate what they buy, not only in terms of brand equity, but also as a container of values, such as timelessness, quality and authenticity,” he added.
As reported, Twig raised $35 million in a Series A funding round last January, led by fintech specialist Fasanara Capital and backed by a group of “undisclosed strategic investors,” including current and former LVMH executives Moët Hennessy Louis, according to the company. Vuitton, Valentino, Balmain, Tod’s, Swarovski, L’Oreal, Barclays, Goldman Sachs and Scalapay.
Since its launch in July 2021, Twig has distinguished itself by following a ‘personal finance model’ rather than a traditional resale model, giving users the ability to receive instant payments when they list a much-loved item from their wardrobe. The app also offers mobile banking benefits, including a Visa card that can facilitate both domestic and international transactions.
“Sergio Rossi is the epitome of innovation in the luxury fashion world and we are proud to work together to deliver next-generation payment services based on circularity and conscious shopping. We hope to surprise our large Gen Z following with this exciting proposition,” said Geri Cupi, CEO and founder of Twig. — MC