UK retail sales bounced back in September after miserable weather hurt August spending – BRC October 13, 2015 UK retail sales bounced back in September after the miserable weather in August brought summer to an abrupt end. Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG this morning show that like-for-like UK retail sales were up 2.6 per cent in September compared with the same month last year, when they had decreased 2.1 [...]
The UK is finally good at something, and it’s tweeting in the office October 21, 2015 Never mind that our Rugby World Cup hopes have been dashed, that shares in the UK’s FTSE 100 companies have been outperformed by those on the continent, that Britain doesn’t have as many female bosses as its European rivals. We have finally mastered something: tweeting at work. According to new research by social [...]
Will Greenwood: Joe Marler “gypsy boy” affair should have been dealt with in a weekend by World Rugby and Six Nations March 31, 2016 World Cup winner Will Greenwood has called for rugby’s governing bodies to reassess their disciplinary procedures to avoid a repeat of England prop Joe Marler’s “gypsy boy” saga. Former England centre Greenwood believes World Rugby and Six Nations organisers should have delivered a coherent message over Marler’s contentious comment towards Wales prop Samson Lee earlier [...]
Tapping into a priceless showcase for sport: MasterCard’s Mark Barnett wants the World Cup to pay off for rugby and his brand May 25, 2015 For those of a certain age, the day that Erica Roe streaked at Twickenham during an England-Australia rugby international is a sporting image to rival anything that the greats of that generation, from Duckham to Underwood, Beaumont to Carling, achieved on the field of play. For Mark Barnett, president in the UK and Ireland for [...]
Leicester Tigers bid for the play-offs, James DeGale defends his title and other big scores to be settled in sport this weekend April 28, 2016 Premiership Rugby The play-off picture in Premiership Rugby could be completed this weekend should Leicester recover from their European Champions Cup semi-final disappointment to beat Worcester at home on Saturday. It would mark a 12th straight year of play-off qualification for the Tigers, who have beaten Worcester in their last 11 meetings. However, even if [...]
Chime believes there’s a sporting chance of a good second half August 19, 2015 COMMUNICATIONS and sports marketing company Chime yesterday reported a fall in first-half pre-tax profit, as major sporting events that boosted its performance in 2014 were not repeated. However, Chime said its performance so far this year has been good and it expects this to continue into the second half. Chime – founded by Lord Bell [...]
Harlequins launch £7.5m bond to fund global growth ambitions April 18, 2016 Harlequins are today launching their first bond in an attempt to raise £7.5m to fund their ambition of becoming the best rugby team in Europe. Ahead of their 150th anniversary next season, the West London club is offering investors a 5.5 per cent annual return, paid semi-annually, over an initial five-year fixed term. The bond, which could be raised to [...]
Burgess tipped to shine should he start against Wales September 20, 2015 ENGLAND skills coach Mike Catt has backed rugby league convert Sam Burgess to make a seamless transition into the starting XV should he be selected to face Wales on Saturday. Burgess impressed from the bench after replacing centre Brad Barritt shortly after the hour mark as England opened their Rugby World Cup campaign with a [...]
England prop Marler handed two-game ban and £20,000 fine for “Gypsy boy” slur, while Saracens lock George Kruis escapes punishment April 5, 2016 The long-running saga of England prop Joe Marler’s “Gypsy boy” slur reached a conclusion last night after the Harlequins forward was banned for two matches and fined £20,000 by global governing body World Rugby. Marler’s punishment was handed out after a near seven-hour disciplinary hearing in London at which the 25-year-old admitted a misconduct charge. [...]
Rescuing brands from oblivion September 13, 2015 Havas Media’s Paul Frampton talks whisky and consumer apathy IN THE battle for customer loyalty, brands are realising that, to market a product, they must do more than thrust it in front of potential consumers. According to Paul Frampton, chief executive of Havas Media UK, curating interesting, even educational content, and delivering it in ways [...]