Could Amazon scoop up Net-A-Porter? Reportedly, the massive e-comm site is trying to purchase the latter, luxe U.K.-based e-tailer, according to WWD. Net-A-Porter was valued at roughly $521 million in 2010 when Richemont, an early investor in the company, bought the remaining shares. Currently, the haute e-tailer’s business is valued in the ballpark of $2.2 billion.
Back in 2006, Amazon acquired Shopbop, and the site has carried clothing for the past seven years. Last month, Amazon Fashion hired Caroline Palmer away from Vogue to become director of editorial and social at the e-comm giant. This summer, Amazon’s making another play for the fashion crowd: its style-centric sites, Amazon Fashion, East Dane, and MyHabit, are the presenting sponsors at New York Fashion Week: Men’s.
Two years ago, another luxe-centric e-tailer, Yoox, was reportedly in talks to buy (or merge with) Net-A-Porter, but the latter’s parent company, Richemont, adamantly denied the claims. “Richemont wishes to make it clear that The Net-A-Porter Group is not for sale,” the company said in a statement back in October 2013. Could the company be feeling quite differently a year and a half later? Stay tuned…
