Mark Kleinman: Handbags (and more) at dawn for activist Ashley Business Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and is the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City AM column. This week he tackles Mike Ashley’s newfound penchant for activist investing, Homebase’s turnaround and and Burberry’s flip-flopping Handbags (and more) at dawn for activist Ashley Paul Singer, Bill Ackman…and Mike Ashley? On the list [...]
Analysts say Frasers ‘was right’ about Mulberry as it faces long road to recovery Retail Analysts have painted a grim picture for the future of British luxury fashion brand Mulberry, which announced its half-year results this morning. It implied job cuts with talk of “streamlining” the business, and told markets that retail sales and revenue dropped 17 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively. Its share price fell 10 per [...]
Are job cuts on the horizon at struggling luxury giant Mulberry? Retail Struggling luxury brand Mulberry has announced it will streamline and rebuild the business as its profit continues to fall, signalling possible job cuts. Mulberry told markets this morning that UK retail sales fell by 14 per cent in the six months to September 28. Sales in Asia fell 31 per cent, while group sales overall [...]
Mike Ashley’s empire tightens grip on Boohoo as crunch vote nears November 15, 2024 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has continued to up its stake in Boohoo as a war of words over the future of the fast-fashion giant rumbles on. The owner of the likes of Sports Direct and House of Fraser now has a 28 per cent stake in the Manchester-headquartered group, which itself features brands such as [...]
Boohoo urges shareholders to reject Mike Ashley’s demands November 14, 2024 Boohoo has urged its shareholders to reject Mike Ashley’s demand to be placed in charge of the struggling fast fashion group, saying that that Ashley is “not suitable” and subject to conflicts of interest due to his role at Frasers. Boohoo and Frasers have been engaged in a public disagreement over how to take the [...]
Festive advertising set to reach record high this Christmas November 7, 2024 Corporate spending on advertising is set to reach a record high this Christmas as brands look to cash in on consumers’ appetite for festive storytelling. Companies are set to spend a record £10.5bn in the UK on advertising over the Christmas season, according to industry trade body the Advertising Association and data provider WARC. Many [...]
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group warns Boohoo over break-up plans November 6, 2024 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has handed Boohoo a list of demands after its campaign to install the retail tycoon as the new CEO of the fast-fashion giant failed last week. The owner of Sports Direct and House of Fraser had sought to get Mike Ashley installed as the new chief executive of Manchester-headquartered Boohoo, in [...]
Mike Ashley defeated: What’s next for Boohoo and will Frasers billionaire seek revenge? November 1, 2024 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley has experienced a rare taste of defeat after fast-fashion giant Boohoo resisted his attempt to become its new chief executive by tapping the boss of Debenhams. Dan Finley is to step into the role which is being vacated by John Lyttle whose departure was announced last month. Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group [...]
Boohoo calls in Debenhams chief in snub to Mike Ashley November 1, 2024 Boohoo has appointed a former JD Sports executive as its new boss today in what will be seen as a snub to Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley. In a statement to the market, the troubled fast-fashion firm said Dan Finley, who currently runs its Debenhams division and previously spent a decade at JD Sports, would [...]
Next predicts £1bn profit after cold weather boosts sales October 30, 2024 Next has upgraded its profit forecast for the year to over £1bn after better-than-expected sales in its third quarter. The FTSE 100 retail giant, which is headquartered in Leicester, has upgraded its guidance from £995m to £1.005bn. In an update to the London Stock Exchange, Next said full price sales in the three months to 30 October [...]