How Next Built One of Retail’s Most Profitable Models
Disciplined inventory control, a capital-light platform and margin-first retailing are helping Next outperform rivals in a difficult apparel market.
MARKET ANALYSIS
/ Regional demand gaps, rising competition, and value-led behavior are reshaping the global market for premium activewear
After years of being a top performing category, analysts are questioning whether highly premium athletic brands like lululemon can sustain performance against weaker U.S. traffic, a market that has accounted for up to 40% of sales for some brands.
The consensus forecasts are pointing to earnings declines in Q4 2025 and in 2026. This has implications for pricing power and promotional intensity across the active sector.
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