Trouble Ahead for Department Stores as Luxury Brands Move Direct-to-Consumer

Ralph Lauren, for its part, reported Thursday (Feb. 8) that it saw global direct-to-consumer (D2C) comparable store sales rise 9% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, gaining 1.7 million new D2C customers.

“[D2C] now represents about two-thirds of the company,” President and CEO Patrice Louvet told analysts on an earnings call. “So, a majority of the business is [D2C] for Ralph Lauren. And the [D2C] channels are really where the world of Ralph Lauren comes to life most powerfully, where we engage most directly with the consumer and have the most ability to impact the consumer experience.” Read more at Pymnts.