Fashion
eBay UK seller fee removal sends revenue down but profits rise
Published
October 20, 2025
eBay (UK) Limited has filed its accounts for 2024 and they show a return to profitability, helped by stronger cost management and operational efficiencies.
These supported a positive operating margin and the company continues to expect to report ongoing profits based on the same careful cost and operational controls, as well as via ongoing investment in customer experience.
That said, the company’s revenue for the latest year actually fell 10%, mainly due to the Free To Sell campaign in the UK, which removed selling fees.
Was this the right approach? We have to assume it was as the company seems committed to it. But while profit increased, the company said this was due to falling administrative expenses on the back of an impairment of investment in 2023.
Looking at the headline numbers, total revenue fell to £1.16 billion from £1.28 billion in 2023. Operating profit jumped to £27.8 million from a loss of £6.1 million the year before, pre-tax profit was £36.5 million after just £2.7 million in the previous period, and net profit for the year was £24.68 million after a £7.7 million loss the year before.
There was no clue as to how 2025 has been going. But eBay has been very busy in the UK this year, from launching celebrity charity auctions to expanding its authentication guarantee, linking with M&S and Nobody’s Child on resale, and continuing to link with Love Island. While not all of these initiatives are designed to boost profits, they all raise awareness of eBay and promote the idea of secondhand fashion as the way forward.
But eBay admitted that the segment in which it operates is “intensively competitive” with a wide variety of options open to both its sellers and buyers.
Copyright © 2025 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.
Fashion
BasicNet acquires American brand Sundek
Published
December 4, 2025
BasicNet has made its second acquisition in the space of a month. After acquiring Woolrich, the Piedmont-based group, which also owns Sebago and K-Way, has brought another iconic American brand, Sundek, into its fold. In addition to the beachwear brand, the deal also involves 100% of Kickoff, the current holder and operator of Sundek, which is controlled by Winnie S.r.l.
The enterprise value of the Kickoff group — which also includes Kickoff USA Inc., Kickoff SL and Kickoff France SAS — has been set at €33.5 million. After deducting the financial position — including bank debt, tax liabilities and amounts owed to the shareholder — the initial consideration for the transaction comes to approximately €10 million.
Completion of the transaction, which is not subject to conditions precedent, is expected by the end of December; this amount may nevertheless be subject to standard adjustments based on the final calculation of the net financial position.
“The group’s expansion trajectory continues, and acquisitions are a strategic focus; we will now concentrate on integrating these two companies and relaunching these two extraordinary brands. We welcome another historic American brand, with seventy years of history, deeply rooted in the culture and customs (in every sense of the term) of the Italian market and beyond. It’s a brand that we’ve always appreciated, that we have personally used and that, like others in our group, is recognisable from afar,” say BasicNet co-CEOs Lorenzo Boglione and Alessandro Boglione.
The initial consideration will be paid in full through the transfer of treasury shares already in the portfolio, valued at the average market price over the last six months (i.e., around 1386 million shares, valued at €7.22 each).
The treasury shares delivered by BasicNet to the counterparty, as part of the initial consideration, will be subject to a 36-month lock-up period from the date of completion of the acquisition, with partial releases from the second year onwards.
In addition to the initial consideration, one or two earn-outs — each amounting to €5 million, up to a total of €10 million — may also be payable by BasicNet if revenue thresholds for the Sundek brand are exceeded in any of the financial years after 2025 and up to the year ending 31 December 2030.
BasicNet has not taken on any new debt to finance the acquisition, but confirms that it plans to refinance the Kickoff group’s existing medium- and long-term facilities.
The Kickoff group, which closed the 2024 financial year with sales of €27.6 million and EBITDA of €6.8 million, has 27 single-brand stores in Italy, including eight outlets, as well as seven single-brand stores in Spain, France and the United States.
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Fashion
ICE cotton weakens on farmers’ selling, but decline capped
The more active March 2026 cotton futures settled at 64.46 cents per pound, down 0.11 cents, reflecting continued price stagnation. Other contracts closed with declines between 4 and 11 points. The 64-cent low attracted some fundamental buying interest, but farmer selling and algorithmic trades capped any move toward 65 cents.
ICE cotton futures remained weak as farmer selling and algorithmic activity limited any upward move despite support from a softer US dollar and firmer crude oil.
March 2026 settled at 64.46 cents amid low trading volumes and stagnant prices.
Weak US economic data boosted expectations of rate cuts.
JP Morgan sees prices potentially rising to 75 cents by late next year.
The US Dollar Index fell 0.45 per cent to 98.85, touching an intraday low of 98.82, its lowest level since October 29. The weaker dollar made US cotton cheaper for global buyers and supported overall demand.
Rising crude oil prices increased polyester costs, indirectly supporting cotton prices as polyester became less competitive.
Total trading volume was 26,902 contracts, one of the lowest levels in more than two months.
Overall commodities were weaker, while US equity markets moved towards all-time highs. Market sentiment was driven by expectations of a possible December interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. US ADP data showed private-sector employment fell by 32,000 in November compared to expectations of a 10,000-job increase. Weaker-than-expected economic data strengthened expectations of further monetary easing.
CFTC data showed speculators reduced net short positions by 2,480 contracts, taking their total net short position to 84,607 contracts for the week ending October 21.
JP Morgan projected that ICE cotton futures could rise toward 75 cents per pound by the fourth quarter of next year, while ICE-certified stock remained stable at 19,894 bales as of December 2.
This morning (Indian Standard Time), ICE cotton for March 2026 traded at 64.44 cents per pound (down 0.02 cent), cash cotton at 62.46 cents (down 0.11 cent), the December 2025 contract at 62.66 cents (down 0.11 cent), the May 2026 contract at 65.57 cents (down 0.03 cent), the July 2026 contract at 66.54 cents (down 0.06 cent), and the October 2026 contract at 67.40 cents (down 0.08 cent). A few contracts were unchanged from the previous close, with no trading recorded so far today.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Fashion
Puma opens largest European flagship store on Oxford Street in London
The new flagship store, located just seconds from Selfridges and Bond Street Tube Station, spans 24,000 square-feet and features PUMA’s industry-leading innovations, such as running technology NITRO, its football boots FUTURE, ULTRA and KING, as well as its current range of lifestyle products.
Puma has opened its largest European flagship on London’s Oxford Street, a 24,000-sq-ft space showcasing NITRO running tech, key football franchises and lifestyle ranges.
The store features customisation zones, digital experiences, archive displays and a London-exclusive collection, with major events planned through 2025–26 as Puma boosts its direct-to-consumer focus.
“The opening of our Oxford Street flagship is an exciting moment for PUMA,” said Arthur Hoeld, CEO at PUMA. “It’s our first Flagship store in Europe, which gives us the chance to connect with more people than ever before — right in the heart of one of the world’s most iconic shopping destinations. It is a powerful platform to engage directly with consumers, showcase our latest performance innovations, and strengthen our brand presence in one of the world’s most influential retail destinations. This space not only highlights our product excellence, but also celebrates our heritage and long-standing connection with elite athletes.”
Consumers can take advantage of multiple customisation areas to create unique products, immerse themselves into PUMA’s performance technology NITRO through a digital running video-wall that reacts to every touch, or learn more about the brand’s rich history in the archive area that features iconic pieces from the past 77 years of the brand.
“London is one of the most competitive retail markets in the world, and Oxford Street is its main stage,” Lucynda Davies, Managing Director UK & Ireland at PUMA, added. “This flagship shows our confidence in the UK and reflects our commitment to delivering fresh, creative experiences that feel authentic to PUMA.”
To mark the opening, PUMA introduced a London Exclusive collection designed by Heiko Desens, PUMA’s Vice President Creative Direction & Innovation. Inspired by the city’s community spirit and creative energy, the collection reimagines British icons such as the Union Flag and Harris Tweed through PUMA’s modern lens. The limited-edition pieces are available exclusively at the London Flagship.
Now open to the public, the London Flagship will have a dynamic program of events and activations for the rest of 2025 and into 2026, hosting exclusive collaborations and athlete appearances to evolving in-store experiences, ensuring the flagship remains a vibrant destination long after launch.
As part of the store’s activation plans, PUMA will hold a dedicated launch event on December 4, celebrating its official debut. In the months ahead, the London Flagship will also serve as the stage for major brand moments, including a pre-race HYROX experience for HYROX London athletes on the December 3, and a special motorsport event on December 11, which will highlight PUMA’s racing heritage and the PUMA x Aston Martin F1 Team partnership and a Select Capsule Collection.
In October, PUMA outlined its new strategic priorities aimed at resetting the company and establishing it as a Top 3 sports brand globally. While both its Wholesale and its direct-to-consumer business will continue to play an important role in PUMA’s distribution strategy, the company aims to evolve its channel mix and aim for higher growth in our direct-to-consumer channels to bring it closer to industry averages.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
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