The high street can be saved if physical shops and online retailers collaborate and use data March 5, 2019 In January, affiliate marketing company Awin released research showing that 39 per cent of Britons wouldn’t really mind if we lost all high street stores altogether, with over a third of respondents saying that they “almost never” shopped there anyway. News stories about high street stalwarts being in the doldrums have become a recurring theme, from [...]
Property of the Week: The Old Vicarage in Fulham features a baptismal font as a sink in the downstairs bathroom September 28, 2018 If you’re looking for a sacred space to return to after a hard day at work, this quiet – yet large – family home in Fulham is a rare find. The gothic-style detached mansion was built in 1864 as a vicarage, but now it’s a one-of-a-kind home. Old St James Vicarage, Fulham, £10,500 a week [...]
SCS to stop selling through House of Fraser after orders slump October 25, 2018 Furniture company ScS will close all of its concessions at embattled department store House of Fraser by the end of January after it was taken over by Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley. The company said its orders through House of Fraser had more than halved in the twelve weeks ending 20 October. Ashley bought the [...]
Evans Cycles set for closures in spite of ‘profit’ November 18, 2018 Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley is set to close a swathe of Evans Cycles stores in spite of recent suggestions that most of its outlets turn a profit. The retail magnate has warned that he might only be able to keep half of Evans Cycles stores open in the future “in order to save the [...]
Unexplained wealth orders: The UK’s newest weapon in the war against dirty money October 29, 2018 It’s not easy to spend £1.6m a year in Harrods. Head to the website of the iconic department store – a shopping staple for London’s extremely well-to-do – filter the gift selection by the aspirational “Over £2,000” category, then sort them from highest to lowest price, and the most expensive thing you will find is an [...]
House of Fraser owed millions to major brands before collapse August 18, 2018 House of Fraser racked up debts of almost £500m in the run-up to its collapse, owing major designer brands such as Gucci, Armani and Mulberry. Administrators Ernst & Young (EY) have reported that the chain’s creditors are owed sums totalling hundreds of millions of pounds, with more than 1,000 suppliers set to be out of [...]
Tandem Bank takes in £15m from Convoy in Hong Kong expansion November 20, 2018 Fintech challenger bank Tandem has today closed a strategic partnership with Convoy Global Holdings, a Hong Kong-based financial services group which will make the London startup one of the first digital banks to launch in the city. Convoy is investing an initial £15m into Tandem Bank as part of the deal, which will provide Tandem with [...]
Mystery banker’s wife loses anti-corruption order appeal in victory for National Crime Agency October 3, 2018 The high-rolling wife of an anonymous banker has been defeated in her push to overturn efforts by the National Crime Agency (NCA) to make her reveal how she was able to afford properties in Britain worth £22m. A High Court judge overturned an attempt by the woman, identified as Mrs A, to block the NCA’s [...]
Mike Ashley proclaims House of Fraser strategy will be a ‘game changer’ ahead of Sports Direct annual meeting September 12, 2018 Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley today said his strategy for newly acquired House of Fraser would be a "game-changer" ahead of his company's annual meeting today. "Our strategy to transform House of Fraser into the 'Harrods of the High Street' will be a game changer," he said. In a statement to the market ahead of [...]
Mike Ashley will be absent from this year’s Sports Direct AGM August 31, 2018 Mike Ashley will not face investors at this year’s Sports Direct AGM, due to “overriding demands on his time”. Chairman Keith Hellawell will chair the meeting on 12 September as planned, but the company’s founder and chief executive will be absent, Sports Direct said in an announcement this afternoon. Mike Ashley’s acquisition of House of Fraser at the [...]