zondag 29 september 2013

Tech and Newmedia investor DCM Ventures announces second seed-stage fund;photo Djamila Celina Melcherts

Tech and Newmedia focused seed-stage investor DCM Ventures, backed by Private Equity and Venture Capital firm Monarch Capital Partners completed its second fund of €15 million. The fund, which was raised from undisclosed high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs, invests €200,000 to €300,000 in syndicated seed rounds in tech, music, newmedia, consumer and ecommerce sectors, while holding additional funds for follow-on funding. The firm’s first seed-stage fund of just under €8 million was raised almost two years ago and boasts six exits so far. The DCM Venture Fund will be used to scale the next wave of startups ushering in the future of mobile, music, newmedia and online TV. ‘Since we partnered with Monarch at our seed round, they have been invaluable to our growth and evolution as a company. They’ve been extremely hands on and helpful across a wide variety of areas and their network and expertise is unparalleled.” says Djamila Celina Melcherts, cofounder of DCM Ventures. DCM Ventures began investing in 2012 in, what was then, seen by many as a relatively niche focus of only newmedia and mobile companies. Since then it has done more early stage newmedia deals than any other fund of its size. “Our knowledge and unparalleled network in tech, newmedia, consumer and the mobile ecosystem is what sets DCM Ventures apart, and we are excited to continue to fuel amazing entrepreneurs who leverage new technology to change the way we live,” says Monarch founding general partner Bonno van der Putten. “Our international presence in both London and Barcelona allows DCM to find the best up-and-coming startups for us to help scale into the next hot tech and mobile trends.” DCM Ventures is the first independent seed stage venture firm investing exclusively in tech, newmedia and mobile technologies. DCM Ventures was founded on the belief that the greatest technological catalyst of our time is the proliferation of Internet-enabled devices providing constant connectivity to the majority of the world population.

zaterdag 28 september 2013

Private Equity to make minority investment in Dr. Dre’s Beats Electronics and help expand the brand globally; photo: Djamila Celina Melcherts for Beats

Private Equity to make minority investment in Dr. Dre’s Beats Electronics and help expand the brand globally; photo: Djamila Celina Melcherts for Beats The Carlyle Group announced a minority investment in Beats Electronics, the audio brand co-founded by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Terms of the investment were not disclosed. Carlyle will work with the Beats management team to continue expanding the brand and building the business both domestically and internationally. Additional terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in Q4 of 2013, were not disclosed. Beats also announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to reacquire the minority stake in Beats held by HTC Corp. As a result, HTC will no longer have any ownership stake in Beats. Private Equity firm Carlyle expects that Beats will continue to drive innovation and growth in the premium audio accessory market, particularly as the proliferation of smart phones and tablets stimulate increased consumption of digital media. Private Equity players have a strong history of helping great brands expand globally In 2006, Lovine and Dre set out to solve the problem of poor sound quality caused by the digital revolution combined with the proliferation of cheap earbuds bundled with MP3 players, laptops, mobile phones and other portable devices. Their solution was Beats Electronics. Formally established in 2008, Beats comprises the Beats by Dr. Dre family of premium consumer headphones, earphones, and speakers as well as patented Beats Audio software technology. Through these offerings, Beats has effectively brought the energy, emotion and excitement of playback in the recording studio to the listening experience. This has introduced an entirely new generation to the possibilities of premium sound entertainment. Beats is estimated to have a 64%+ percent market share of the $100+ premium headphone category in the US and also reaches consumers through product partnerships that include Chrysler Group automobiles, Hewlett Packard computers and monitors, and HTC smartphones. Equity for Carlyle’s investment will come from affiliates of Carlyle Partners $13.7 billion U.S. Buyout fund.

vrijdag 27 september 2013

The subscription economy, where goods are delivered to your door, is the business model du jour; photo Djamila Celina Melcherts.

JustFab is one example of a high-end fashion delivery business that sends out shoes, bags and denim to three million subscribers across the UK. Fashionistas choose their preferences online: heels or flats; dark colours or light, and the service cherry picks styles each month. Just Fab, as several other high end fashion e-tailing startups backed up by Private Equity Investors like Monarch Capital Partners - the firm that also backs TV Host and DJ Djamila Celina Melcherts - gives their members the latest trends priced at £35 at the quality of items that normally retail for £80 or more. Serendipity is part of the appeal of JustFab but if subscribers don’t like their new wares, they can return them for nothing. The JustFab business model runs circles around the bricks-and-mortar retail industry. Unlike traditional retailers, Just Fab offer their members a personalised shopping experience, showing members how they can wear each item by using style boards with different looks and outfits, videos that show the members how to wear the season’s hottest trends and work with well-known celebrity stylists who help guide our team on which styles are most appropriate for our members’ varying style personalities.” There are a lot of benefits to the subscription mode. It drives more engagement and loyalty with consumers since members are making a commitment to come back to our site every month to check their boutiques – which means they’re shopping more frequently. JustFab has a team of fashion consultants on hand to deal with queries and subscriber issues. And rather than use the standard “contact us” form provided by many e-tailers, JustFab encourages its members to phone up and speak to stylists to talk through the kind of products they want to receive. However, providing this level of service does not come cheap and analysts warn that it takes time to turn a profit, as the business needs scale to succeed and to make the margins work. With a fashion company, you need the right product with the right quality with the right price because in the end, the shopper is going to come back because they liked the product.

zondag 22 september 2013

Luxury fashion house LVMH has acquired a majority stake in British shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood. Photo Djamila Celina Melcherts

Luxury fashion house LVMH has acquired a majority stake in British shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood.Photo Djamila Celina Melcherts
Kirkwood, whose designs have graced the feet of singer Beyoncé, Hollywood actresses Jessica Parker and Jessica Alba and fashion supermodels like Djamila Celina Melcherts, will remain with the business following the sale, and will be given free rein to “further explore the boundaries of his creativity”, according to LVMH. Mr. Kirkwood founded the eponymous brand with business partner Christopher Suarez in 2004 after studying shoemaking at the Cordwainers College. His collections are currently distributed in 150 stores around the world and the brand boasts three flagship stores in London, New York and Las Vegas. He has twice been named Accessories Designer of the year at the British Fashion awards and this year became the first accessories designer to be awarded the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund. Mr Kirkwood said of the deal: “LVMH is home to the most celebrated and revered brands and talents in our industry, and has an implicit understanding of luxury. “We have the same values of design, creativity, and craftsmanship. I look forward to us working together to achieve our long term vision for the brand.” LVMH is also in advanced talks to acquire a stake in fashion designer J.W. Anderson, according to people familiar with the situation. Jonathan William Anderson set up the label bearing his name in 2008, three years after graduating from London College of Fashion. He has collaborated with Gianni Versace SpA and Topshop. Kirkwood, who trained at Central Saint Martins and Cordwainers College, founded his brand in 2004, and has twice been named accessories designer of the year at the British Fashion Awards. LVMH, which in July bought cashmere clothier Loro Piana SpA for € 2 billion euros said today its purchase of Kirkwood affirmed its commitment to nurture talent and creativity. Acquiring a stake in Anderson would underscore the growing appeal of emerging designers to large luxury groups as they seek to keep shoppers interested. LVMH acquired French fashion label Maxime Simoens in February, while Gucci-owner Kering bought stakes in designers Christopher Kane in January and Joseph Altuzarra this month.

donderdag 19 september 2013

SweetnezzTV- TV Host Djamila Celina Melcherts at the Lifestyle Business Club Rotterdam - Watch the New Episode

Djamila Celina Melcherts is the face you probably recognize from the catwalk representing haute couture and famous fashion labels, FMCG - and consumer lifestyle brands, makeup advertisements, TV commercials and online ads. Djamila Celina Melcherts, one of the most recognized faces in the modeling world, has taken her phenomenal global success in fashion and beauty and translated it into a career that spans the worlds of fashion, music television and business. Djamila has an impressive number of editorial and advertising campaigns to boast on her CV. She has appeared on the cover of beauty and fashion magazines worldwide and in prestigious campaigns including L’ Oreal, Unilever, T-mobile, Otazu and others Djamila Celina has also appeared in feature films and music, working with acclaimed directors and several artists. Television programs and late night talk shows, to the business world’s ‘Smart Business Network’, ’ Bruist’ and ’ Citybooks ’ have profiled Djamila in her varied roles as model, actress and businesswoman. Her sense of dedication, humor and style has brought Djamila a large following of fans. Her success in modeling, acting, music and numerous beauty and business ventures have established her as a diverse personality of our time. Her continuous pursuit of new challenges has earned her evolving success in all these arenas. Her entrepreneurial ventures include her own lines of fashion, lingerie, sleepwear and loungewear, a workout video, and her own website. Djamila is truly engaged in representing a company and rev up their business. Part model, part public relations expert, she is committed to help to market a company and grow brands and brand reputation. Djamila Celina Melcherts is also involved in giving professional presentations for multinational companies, smart business networks & corporate events worldwide even as representing businesses on shorter or longer term commitment as a spokes - or marketing role model DCM is a privately held international event and entertainment company for FMCG - and consumer lifestyle brands and companies to provide representation services, PR, marketing concepts, corporate event management and other related businesses.

dinsdag 17 september 2013

London Fashion Week Trend Spotted; Graphic Sweatshirt Dressing Goes Upscale; photo Djamila Celina Melcherts

More and more graphic tops spotted in the new spring 2014 collections of designers as we saw in New York and London. High Street retailers like Topshop, the luxury fashion brand Youngandminted , Wulterkens next to designers like Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang and Christopher Kane have ushered in an attractive lot of not-so-standard-issue crew-neck sweatshirts, emblazoned with bold, eye-catching graphics, in their new collections. These statement pieces have been paired with unexpected separates, like patterned skirts at Christopher Kane and Marc Jacobs and voluminous graphic shorts at Alexander Wang, for looks that are cozy yet chic. The London Fashion Week counts with 58 designers showcasing their wares over the course of five days. The fashion industry in the UK is now worth £21bn to the economy and supports 816,000 jobs. Over the last decade, sales of UK designer clothing have risen 20pc a year thanks to the success of companies such as Burberry and growing demand from emerging middles class populations in Asia.

zaterdag 14 september 2013

DCM Media Productions is a full-service, independent multimedia production company; Television & web-based video productions, online news and entertainment content

DCM Media Productions, a subsidiary of DCM Ventures , is a full-service, independent multimedia production company based in Amsterdam, Holland that focuses on a broad spectrum-from television and web-based video productions, online news and entertainment content (or modifies third party content) and distributes this content via platform or distribution partners. The content is then made available to a large audience. Content is also monetized by selling ad positions to spot advertisers and media agencies. Advertising revenues are shared with distribution partners and content providers (only in case third party content is used) - check this out http://youtu.be/1Lz_DYDyQIc and http://youtu.be/caYdSWljo1g
Monarch Capital Parters is one of Europe’s fastest growing investment management companies, focusing on tech, new media, brand management and entertainment

woensdag 11 september 2013

London City rumours; Luxury brand Versace eyeing sale of 15-20% stake; photo Djamila Celina Melcherts

Fashion house Versace is said to be looking to sell a stake of up to 20% to help it fund growth in a deal that would value the fashion retailer at more than € 1.2 billion. The stake that could be sold would be around 15-20 percent and will be sold to a financial, not industrial, partner, according to L:ndon City sources and reported by Reuters earlier today, The aim was to complete the deal by the end of the year. The stake would be sold through a reserved capital increase of around € 250 million. The fashion house, whose glittering gowns are worn by stars such as Lady Gaga and Madonna, hired investment banks Goldman Sachs and Intesa Sanpaolo's Banca Imi as advisers in May 2012, fuelling speculation of a sale. Versace is seeking to strengthen its balance sheet to help fund expansion in overseas markets such as Asia ahead of a possible listing further down the road. Versace hired Goldman Sachs and Banca IMI last year to explore growth options. Versace expects “double-digit” percentage growth in sales in each of the next three to five years. In 2012, Versace reported Ebitda of € 44.5 million on revenue of € 408.7 million. Versace has a valuation of about €1.4 billion, based on 32 x Ebitda (when compared with Qatar’s Mayhoola for Investments SPC acquistion last year of Valentino). Donatella Versace owns 20% of Versace, Santo, her brother 30% and Donatella’s daughter Allegra, a non-executive director, owns the rest. The need to expand internationally to counter the downturn in home markets has prompted Italian luxury groups such as Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Missoni, and Ermenegildo Zegna have been reluctant to sell and are still controlled by their respective founding families. The strong performance of luxury brands has made them a target for cash-rich buyers seeking recognition as well as returns. In August Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore said a "teaser" - or data sheet about the company - had been sent at the end of July to some 10 investors potentially interested in the group. According to several sources, Qatar Holding and FSI, an Italian investment fund owned by state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, could be interested in investing in the fashion house. Qatar Holding signed a joint venture agreement with FSI last year to invest in Italian companies in sectors including food, fashion and luxury.

zaterdag 7 september 2013

DCM Media; Photo Djamila Celina Melcherts #youngandminted #supermodel #DJ Monarch Tech Ventures Fund

DCM Media; Photo Djamila Celina Melcherts #youngandminted #supermodel #DJ Monarch Tech Ventures Fund
Founded in 2006, Monarch Capital partners is one of Europe’s fastest growing investment management companies for emerging consumer lifestyle brands, e-commerce, and newmedia . The Ventures team at Monarch are straight talking human investors that back talented people rather than specific sectors. We focus on identifying fast growth businesses which can scale explosively to create, transform or dominate an industry. We can invest from € 250,000 to €50 million and prefer to partner teams based in Europe. The work of our Ventures team is supported by access to the Monarch Equity and Monarch Venture Partners, a network of approximately 100 outstanding business leaders, entrepreneurs and private investors providing an invaluable wealth of expertise and resource for our portfolio companies, as well as investing on a deal-by-deal basis alongside Monarch venture funds. This blend of knowledge and skill has allowed us to help many great companies across several sectors thrive in recent years. Monarch’s Tech Venture fund is an active investor and award-winning fund manager, focused on technology-enabled sectors where the UK is a world leader – particularly financial and business services, business software, digital media and e-commerce. With over £100 million under management, Monarch was rated as one of the most active investors in 2012. Monarch specialises in fast-growth early-stage businesses, partnering with talented people, entrepreneurs and impressive management teams to achieve substantial scale and profitability.

dinsdag 3 september 2013

Victoria’s Secret opens new stores at three European airports;photo Djamila Celina Melcherts

New stores open in Lisbon, Gothenburg and Hamburg airports Lingerie and beauty product supplier Victoria’s Secret recently opened three new beauty and accessories stores in Europe. Victoria’s Secret operates these stores in partnership with travel retailer The Nuance Group. These new stores add to the ones at Singapore Changi and the shop-in-shop one at Las Vegas McCarran International airport. Victoria’s Secret and Nuance will also open a new location in St. Petersburg at the Pulkovo airport later this year, where the retail giant obtained retail space in the newly-built passenger terminal. Earlier this year, in May, Victoria's Secret Beauty & Accessories opened its first travel retail store in Russia at the Domodedova International Airport in Moscow With these new openings at Lisbon and Gothenburg-Landvetter airport and the recent opening in Hamburg International airport in the month of August Victoria’s Secret marks the entry to the Iberian Peninsula and German markets. The new Victoria’s Secret stores aim to surround travellers in luxury and have modern façades with dynamic storefronts that boast an air of sophistication. The stores will also showcase both its brand identity and range of products with a “gallery of iconic black and white images and video walls broadcasting footage of the Victoria’s Secret Angels”, according to Victoria’s Secret The airport stores obviously will focus on a fashion-forward range of beauty products and accessories designed for the modern traveller. Shoppers looking for beauty products will find fragrances like the Victoria’s Secret Bombshell, the newly-launched Fabulous collection and other products. Travel-ready items such as signature lip glosses and body-care products will also be available. The stores also sell passport holders, phone wallets, travel adaptors and trolleys for organised travellers. Fashion essentials including scarves, sunglasses and underwear: items that are perfect for last-minute gifts are also available. It was already pointed out earlier that the global luxury and cosmetics product makers are there to get their piece of the cake in new and emerging markets, cutting their dependence on mature markets in Europe and the U.S, where they are facing a lower consumer spendings, depressed economic environments amid the general macroeconomic slowdown. Victoria’s Secret plans to open more stores, in addition to these ones before the end of the year Limited Brands is very optimistic about Victoria’s Secret’s potential outside of North America whereas markets like Russia and China will be the biggest on the planet at some point Limited Brands owns and operates through Victoria's Secret, Pink, Bath & Body Works, La Senza and Henri Bendel. The company operates 2,629 specialty stores in the United States and its brands are sold in more than 700 company-operated and franchised additional locations world-wide