Modern MBA

Data

Abercrombie & Fitch

American clothing retailer that defined 2000s mall fashion, and staged one of the decade’s most unlikely turnarounds.

8 figures on Abercrombie & Fitch, drawn from 3 Modern MBA case studies.

The figures

US dollars1

Against its own chart
Net sales by fashion brand in 2023, in billions$4B10th of 10 · top $38BWhy UNIQLO makes more money than Gucci

Percentages5

Against its own chart
Cost of product as a share of revenue, 2022, against the gross margin it leaves behind · Gross margin57%3rd of 7 · top 76%How a $1,000 jacket became a luxury brand
Selling, general and administrative costs as a share of revenue, 202247%4th of 8 · top 59%How a $1,000 jacket became a luxury brand
Cost of product as a share of revenue, 2022, against the gross margin it leaves behind · Cost of product43%5th of 7 · top 66%How a $1,000 jacket became a luxury brand
Canada Goose's wholesale operating margin — its least profitable channel — against the overall margins of the mass market16%2nd of 8 · top 32%How a $1,000 jacket became a luxury brand
Overall operating margin, 202216%4th of 9 · top 41%How a $1,000 jacket became a luxury brand

Counts2

Against its own chart
US store count in 2006 against the leading brick-and-mortar brands of the period9303rd of 5 · top 7,102Why GameStop failed
Annual inventory turnover by brand, 20233.14th of 9 · top 5.1Why UNIQLO makes more money than Gucci

Case studies covering Abercrombie & Fitch

Case study — Retail & brandsWhy UNIQLO makes more money than GucciSame playbook, three outcomes. The only variable was whether the boss knew what stage he was in.16 min readCase study — Retail & brandsHow a $1,000 jacket became a luxury brandCanada Goose built a real luxury brand in ten years. The margins prove it. The share price says it may not matter.14 min readCase study — Retail & brandsWhy GameStop failedThe pre-owned disc was a perpetuity at 47% margins. Then the publishers worked out how to make it non-transferable.14 min read