The information below was gathered over a three month period through published sales figures and media reports.

Online shopping is the fastest growing retail apparel sales channel. Seven percent of all consumer purchases are now made online. However, far from being a threat to the future of retail stores, online and in-store channels complement each other producing more revenue for both.

A new study from Forrester Research shows that consumers who shop both online and in-store for the brand they prefer spend 2 to 3 times more than those who only use one channel.

Many apparel brands have moved aggressively into online selling. Some own the whole channel; many more choose to compete with their retail channel partners. Other mass apparel brands that have placed high value on retail relationships have linked their sites by the best available means to enable high-volume retailers to fill orders.

The designer/luxury market – characterized by strong brands, loyal customers, and independent boutiques who take individualized care of each client – have been least able to leverage retailer relationships to sell online…until now.