Tough Christmas looms despite retail sales lift November 17, 2011 AGGRESSIVE price cuts led to a surprise jump in retail sales last month, yet separate data suggests that high street stores are set for a tough Christmas. Sales volumes in October were up 0.9 per cent compared the same time last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed yesterday. The value of sales, boosted [...]
Amazon tops customer satisfaction table October 28, 2011 Amazon has retained its crown as Britain’s favourite retailer in an annual consumer poll. Satisfaction with the company’s service even increased over the past year, according to the Nunwood Customer Experience 100 survey. Amazon beat off the challenge of second place John Lewis and third place Virgin Atlantic, which was marginally ahead of competitor Emirates. [...]
High street is hit by plunge in customers November 20, 2011 THE UK’s high streets have suffered the sharpest drop in footfall since last December’s freezing weather, new research reveals, painting a gloomy retail picture ahead of the crucial Christmas trading period. Footfall in stores and shopping centres across the country fell by 2.3 per cent between August and October compared with the same period last [...]
John Lewis sales fall sparks retail fears March 18, 2011 Sales figures from the John Lewis department stores show a “substantial softening in trade”, economists have said, as consumer confidence falls and the VAT rise takes effect. The latest weekly sales data shows a 1.8 per cent year-on-year fall in the week to 12 March and leaves department store sales up just 1.6 per cent [...]
John Lewis in growth plan as profit lifts March 9, 2011 THE chairman of the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) yesterday said he planned to more than double the size of the company in the next ten years as the retailer unveiled bumper results. John Lewis saw profits rise by 20 per cent to £367.9m last year. Like-for-like sales across the John Lewis Group – which includes [...]
Why it’s time to ditch the term Cyber Monday November 27, 2011 Today is Cyber Monday, which means at some point this evening we will all finally be subsumed into the greater consciousness of the net. Don’t panic, life will be better there. There won’t be any nasty “personalities” or “individuals” or “things,” just an infinite loop of the John Lewis advert playing over the surface of [...]
CITY MOVES | WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS October 2, 2011 Baker & McKenzie Gavin Bushell, formerly of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, has been appointed as a partner in the law firm’s European & Competition Law Practice, based in Brussels. Bushell specialises in EU competition and state aid law, Euratom Treaty law, aviation law and regulation, and litigation before the European Courts in Luxembourg. He was recently [...]
John Lewis issues £50m retail bond March 6, 2011 THE John Lewis Partnership has issued a retail bond for its cardholders and Partners in a bid to raise £50m of funds by April. Customers who hold either the Partnership or Account cards, as well as current Partners in the employee-owned firm, can invest lump sums of between £1,000 and £10,000 into the John Lewis [...]
John Lewis issues £50m retail bond March 6, 2011 THE John Lewis Partnership has issued a retail bond for its cardholders and Partners in a bid to raise £50m of funds by April. Customers who hold either the Partnership or Account cards, as well as current Partners in the employee-owned firm, can invest lump sums of between £1,000 and £10,000 into the John Lewis [...]
John Lewis sales stall again February 18, 2011 John Lewis JLP.UL posted a fourth consecutive week of lacklustre sales, adding to evidence consumers are cutting back on spending in the face of macro economic headwinds. The employee-owned group, which has been outperforming the broader retail sector for over a year, said on Friday sales at its department stores increased 1.4 per cent to [...]