SAMPLE CIRCUIT:

Sales From Under Armour, Brioni, Rachel Zoe, Sandro & Try Your Luck Getting Into A Private Lanvin Sale

IMMEDIATE ACTION:

Surprise! The One Day Manolo Blahnik Sample Sale Is Happening Now

FLASH FIZZLE:

Vente-Privee Calls It Quits In The U.S.

VentePrivee
In another sign that the flash sale craze has cooled, the e-tailer who pioneered the concept in Europe has decided to pull the plug on its U.S. business. Vente-Privee practically invented the flash-sale model in Europe in 2001 and has grown to be one of the continent's biggest online retailers, but it only arrived stateside in 2011, long after Gilt, RueLaLa, Ideeli (now Ideel) Haute Look had firmly established themselves as flash sale leaders. In a partnership with American Express designed to pinpoint an affluent customer base, the U.S. site has only offered two or three new sales per day. Though Vente-Privee offered impressive luxury labels in its three-day sales, it often included obscure brands that may have had appeal overseas, but are little known to American consumers. The site has never managed to offer the selection of its competitors, and was reduced to the unlikely role of Johnny-come-lately despite having originated the selling format. Ultimately, the time and expense needed to build up its business here proved to be too much for both companies to invest in. The site will continue to operate through the end of the year, after which it will be up to the remaining players to fight it out for flash-sale dominance.

Vente-Privee to Shut U.S. Venture (WWD)

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