Apple Pay in the UK: Like not laughing at a Michael Mcintyre gag, resistance is futile July 16, 2015 When Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook revealed its physical wallet-replacement service last September, I recall a tut and an eye roll at yet another Apple product announcement. A form of contactless payment, re-marketed as a physical wallet-replacement service, would be with us this summer. Where's the innovation in that? In many ways Apple [...]
Bonmarche share price soars as dividend increases on back of soaring profits June 12, 2015 Bonmarche's share price jumped more than five per cent as the value retailer revealed soaring pre-tax profits and solid revenue growth. The figures: The recently-listed retailer, which is aimed at older women, grew revenues 8.7 per cent to £178.6m, with like-for-likes up four per cent. Including online sales, which were up 36 per cent, like-for-likes [...]
The Marks & Spencer AGM: Shareholders vent frustration as promises fail to deliver July 8, 2014 “We'll be home by Christmas!” That tragically optimistic prediction made by soldiers marching off to war in 1914 jumped to mind yesterday when Marks & Spencer boss Marc Bolland stood up in front of shareholders at a hall within Wembley Stadium and pledged to have the website returning to growth in time to enjoy [...]
Marks & Spencer reshuffles the pack to bring together website and buildings June 30, 2014 British retailer Marks & Spencer yesterday announced that it would increase the responsibilities of the five key executives under chief executive Marc Bolland as part of a restructuring of its management team aimed at driving greater accountability. As part of the reshuffle, M&S announced that its international director Jan Heere had quit and that [...]
Marks & Spencer reports 1.5pc fall in underlying sales July 8, 2014 High street retailer Marks & Spencer has released its quarterly figures, revealing a 1.5 per cent fall in underlying sales. The results, which are for the 13 weeks to 28 June, also show that like-for-like sales of clothing fell by 0.6 per cent, marking three straight years of quarterly falls for the division. [...]
Apple Pay in the UK: These are the retailers and restaurants signed up for the July launch June 9, 2015 Some of the UK's biggest retailers are lining up to start accepting Apple Pay when it launches in the UK next month. As well as being able to use your iPhone or Apple Watch to seamlessly glide through ticket barriers on the Tube, the Silicon Valley giant has its finger hovering over the button [...]
Dettori delight as he brings up Royal Ascot 50 June 17, 2015 THREE-TIME Champion Jockey Frankie Dettori thanked Qatari racing supremo Sheikh Joaan Al Thani after becoming only the fourth man to ride 50 winners at Royal Ascot. Dettori piloted Richard Hannon-trained 13-2 shot Osaila to victory by a nose in the Sandringham Handicap to join a select group that includes Lester Piggot, Pat Eddery and Willie [...]
July Budget 2015: Living wage bill hurts retailers and small firms July 8, 2015 Retail and hospitality industry insiders warned yesterday that their sectors face a huge rise in labour costs after a Tory pledge to introduce a minimum wage of £9 for over-25s by 2020. From April next year, businesses will be required to pay £7.20 per hour to workers over the age of 25, rising to [...]
How could Marks & Spencer improve its website? The web developer’s view July 8, 2014 Marks & Spencer announced today that the new M&S website has failed to perform, with a fall in online sales of 8.1 per cent, and with the development project going over budget by 50 per cent. Since the new site launched in February, customers have taken to the company's Facebook page, Twitter and web forums [...]
Stan Chart and Sainsbury’s lead FTSE 100 risers – London Report June 10, 2015 BRITAIN’S main equity index rallied from three-month lows yesterday, led by advances in banking group Standard Chartered and supermarket chain Sainsbury. Standard Chartered rose 5.8 per cent, with traders citing the possibility that British finance minister George Osborne might announce changes in a tax on the British banking industry when he spoke last night. Any [...]