Bottom Line: A top-heavy group in need of a shakeup September 4, 2013 IF YOU’RE going to leave, it’s a shame to do it just when things seem to be improving. Sadly, that is Terry Duddy’s predicament as he announces his decision to move on from Home Retail Group. Duddy was there for the gruelling years when the twin pressures of recession and technological disruption threatened to bring [...]
Summer sun boosts sales at Home Retail September 12, 2013 HOME Retail Group said yesterday that summer sunshine had delivered a big boost to sales at its DIY chain Homebase in the second quarter, and helped shift seasonal products at its biggest business, Argos. The company said like-for-like sales at Homebase rose by 11 per cent in the 13 weeks to 31 August, comfortably beating [...]
Argos replaces catalogues with tablets in stores October 23, 2013 ARGOS is to launch a “handful” of new “digital concept” stores next month that will see the retailer’s trademark printed catalogues replaced with tablets for the first time. Argos owner Home Retail Group has already opened a trial store in Camden where the familiar laminated catalogues have been scrapped in favour of iPads for browsing [...]
Ebay and Argos to trial click and collect service September 24, 2013 ONLINE auction giant Ebay announced yesterday that it has entered into a national trial with Argos to let customers pick up goods bought on Ebay in Argos stores. The collection service will initially be trialled at 150 Argos stores for six months and will include goods bought from 50 of Ebay’s sellers. Ebay did not [...]
Home Retail’s chief executive to step down September 4, 2013 HOME RETAIL Group’s chief executive Terry Duddy is to step down next year after more than 15 years with the household goods retailer. The Argos and Homebase owner said yesterday that Duddy, who has served seven years as chief executive, will leave by the next annual general meeting on 2 July next year. The 57 [...]
Home Retail ups profit guidance on strong Argos sales January 17, 2013 Household goods retailer Home Retail Group this morning raised its profit forecast, on the back of strong sales from Argos. The group, which also includes the Homebase brand, said it now expects pre-tax profit for the financial year to come in at £10m ahead of the current £73m forecast. In October, Home Retail unveiled a [...]
Argos owner lifts forecasts January 17, 2013 SHARES in Home Retail Group jumped 14 per cent yesterday after the group raised its full-year profit forecasts and announced third quarter sales showed signs that efforts to turn Argos into a digital-led retailer were paying off. Chief executive Terry Duddy said he now expects full-year group profit before tax to be about £10m ahead [...]
Analyst Views | What do you think of home retail’s results? January 17, 2013 KEITH BOWMAN HARGREAVES LANSDOWNE For now, management appears to have moved some way in convincing investors that the company can prosper in the internet age…In all, analyst opinion has thawed from a ‘sell’ to a weak ‘hold’, with the group becoming a surprise Christmas winner. PHILIP DORGAN PANMURE GORDON This is a much better than [...]
Home Retail is lifted by Argos despite a slump at Homebase June 19, 2012 HOME RETAIL GROUP shares soared 23 per cent yesterday after the company surprised the City with better-than-expected sales at its embattled catalogue chain Argos. Like-for-like sales at Argos fell 0.2 per cent to £819m in the quarter to 2 June, after improved sales of laptops, tablets and ebook readers offset declines in TVs, audio and [...]
FTSE 100 up as Chinese growth recovers January 18, 2013 The FTSE 100 was firmly up in early deals this morning, as it was lifted by headline natural resources shares on the back of a rebound in Chinese growth. The Chinese economy expanded by 7.9 per cent in the fourth quarter, coming in above expectations and marking an uptick from the 7.4 per cent recorded [...]