{"id":15479,"date":"2025-06-22T06:28:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-22T06:28:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/the-weekly-closeout-authentic-hires-an-amazon-vet-doen-secures-funding\/"},"modified":"2025-06-22T06:28:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T06:28:13","slug":"the-weekly-closeout-authentic-hires-an-amazon-vet-doen-secures-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/the-weekly-closeout-authentic-hires-an-amazon-vet-doen-secures-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"The Weekly Closeout: Authentic hires an Amazon vet, D\u00f4en secures funding"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Retail<\/a><\/p>
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It\u2019s been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have missed during the week and what we\u2019re still thinking about.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

From DutyFreeZone.com expanding beyond the airport to Shakira\u2019s hair care brand raising $12 million in capital, here\u2019s our closeout for the week.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What you may have missed\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Get duty free without the hassle of going to the airport <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The duty-free airport experience is now online. DutyFreeZone.com <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>launched its online marketplace<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> this week to offer tax-free pricing on products from a number of categories including alcoholic beverages, fragrances, beauty, cosmetics and electronics.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The company, which was founded in 1998, operates from \u201cstrategic duty-free zones\u201d across North America and Latin America.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“We’re transforming the way duty-free works,” founder Reynald Vito Grattagliano said in a statement. “For decades, access to duty-free products was limited to airports and cruise terminals. Now, with our marketplace, anyone \u2014 from Dubai to Paris to Los Angeles \u2014 can shop duty-free, or become a global seller.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Authentic goes to the market <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In other marketplace news, Authentic Brands Group recently appointed Tim Derner to the role of global head of marketplaces. Derner comes to Authentic from Amazon, where he most recently was the director of Amazon fashion and luxury stores.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Tim Derner<\/p>\n

Image courtesy of Authentic Brands Group<\/p>\n

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In the position, Derner will oversee the expansion of Authentic\u2019s global distribution strategy with a focus on strengthening partnerships and accelerating brand reach, among other tasks.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMarketplaces are a critical engine for long-term brand growth,\u201d President Matt Maddox said in a statement. \u201cTim\u2019s track record of building high-performing teams and scaling digital marketplaces worldwide makes him the ideal leader to deepen our capabilities in this space. His appointment marks a significant step in making this channel a cornerstone of our global distribution strategy.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

D\u00f4en raises Series A funding round<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

California-based lifestyle brand D\u00f4en this week <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>closed on a Series A funding round<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> led by growth equity firm Silas Capital, per a company press release. The almost 10-year-old brand did not disclose how much it raised, but said prior to this it had only brought in about $1 million in outside capital.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The funding is aimed at helping D\u00f4en expand its physical footprint in key markets, build out its infrastructure and invest in marketing. The company, which launched as a digitally native fashion brand, has expanded its offerings over the years to include outerwear, denim, dresses, loungewear and a home assortment, among other products.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“This has been a long time in the making, as our top priority was finding a partner who aligns with our values and long-term vision for growing D\u00f4en,” Margaret Kleveland, co-founder and CEO of D\u00f4en, said in a statement. “Silas Capital has a strong track record of supporting authentic, organic community building and helping their portfolio companies scale in thoughtful, sustainable ways.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

D\u00f4en operates seven of its own stores and sells through wholesale partners including Net-a-Porter, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Harrods and over 150 specialty stores globally. The retailer has built a $100 million revenue business and said retail sales at its stores have grown 80% year over year, in aggregate. E-commerce is up 40% year over year and wholesale bookings have grown 110% year to date, per the company.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Retail therapy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Your popsicle mouth can now last longer<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Image courtesy of Popsicle<\/p>\n

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The Popsicle brand is <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>entering lip care with a line of Popsicle Pouts lip oils.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> Available in orange, cherry and grape, the shades are inspired by Popsicle ice pops original flavors.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The lip oils are limited edition and sell for $5.64 at PopsiclePouts.com, about the same price as a box of Popsicle ice pops. A limited number of lip oils drop daily. Each purchase comes with a coupon for a free box of ice pops.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Squishmallows eyes the sleep category<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Squishmallows is releasing its first SquishPillow <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>exclusively at Target starting on Sunday<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The standard SquishPillow sells for $29.99 and the king size retails for $39.99. Products have two firmness levels, with firm available at launch and medium releasing in the fall.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Image courtesy of Squishmallows<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re always listening to our fans, and when we learned so many were already using their Squishmallows as pillows, we knew we had to dream up and disrupt the home goods category by developing a branded pillow unlike any other,\u201d Laura Zebersky, president and chief commercial officer at parent company Jazwares, said in a statement.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Squishmallows is also selling six themed pillowcases starting at $9.99. The brand will launch additional styles later in the year.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What we\u2019re still thinking about<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

$12M<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

About a week after <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Shakira launched her hair care brand Isima,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> the company announced it <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>secured over $12 million in capital investments<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> from Stelac Capital Partners, Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio Capital, venture capital firm Northstar.vc and talent agency WME.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“We chose to support Isima because it brings together scientific innovation and a deep respect for individual identity,” Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, president of LMDV Capital, said in a statement. “In an industry long dominated by one-size-fits-all solutions, Isima offers something different \u2014 products designed to embrace diversity and meet the unique needs of each person.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The brand will launch exclusively at Ulta Beauty with a range of eight products, including shampoos, conditioners and a hair mask.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2.6%<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s how much <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Perfect Moment\u2019s fourth-quarter revenue is expected to grow by<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, reaching $5 million, according to preliminary financial results released Tuesday.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For the full year, revenue is expected to fall 12%, but excluding a Hugo Boss collaboration that ended in fiscal 2024, the company said full-year revenue increased 1%. The company attributed lower revenue to Matches Fashion, its largest wholesale partner, filing for bankruptcy. Perfect Moment expects to report a net loss of $16 million for the year.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Perfect Moment Chairman Max Gottschalk called the year \u201cone of consolidation and transformation,\u201d noting that in addition to addressing inefficiencies in its operations, the company hired executives from Canada Goose, LVMH and Timberland.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What we\u2019re watching<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

Fluctuating U.S. immigration policy stokes uncertainty for garment workers, apparel factories <\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents step up workplace raids and deportation efforts, the modest U.S. apparel manufacturing sector, always dependent on immigrants, is <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>under pressure<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>. Detentions of garment workers and others in Los Angeles, home to most of the country\u2019s textile factories, have sparked protests for weeks.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Over the weekend, the New York Times reported that, following lobbying by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, President Trump decided to <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>ease up on immigrants working in food production<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> and hospitality. More recent reporting from the newspaper indicates that <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Trump has changed his mind again<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, alarming some businesses. Neither the White House nor ICE has responded to Retail Dive\u2019s request for comment on where the policies stand and how they might affect garment workers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Retail<\/a><\/p>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been another week with far more retail news than there is time in the day. Below, we break down some things you may have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15480,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15479"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15479\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dmsretail.com\/RetailNews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}