Make a stylish statement with this season’s winter coats November 12, 2009 JOHN Lewis today announced some shocking news – sales of winter coats have shot up as a result of the current cold snap. Once you’ve recovered from this mind-bending news, you may realise that you are, in fact, one of the (shivering) women that are still without a proper coat for winter. If you’re holding [...]
Character & colour November 10, 2009 CHOOSING an overcoat is a serious business. Likely to be the most substantial item in your wardrobe, your outer shell in winter needs to speak of your character and integrity as much as your fashion sense. It should be sober, ineffably elegant and well-made – a first-class overcoat should give decades of use rather than [...]
Champion Haye eyes dream showdown with Klitschko November 8, 2009 NEW WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye has his sights set on a “mega showdown” with WBC king Vitali Klitschko next year. The 29-year-old won a majority decision over 7ft 2in Russian giant Nikolai Valuev in Nuremberg on Saturday night to become only Britain’s first heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis retired in 2003. Haye now [...]
Postal union in legal fight over temps November 2, 2009 THE Communication Workers Union (CWU) will on?Friday ask the High Court to issue an injunction against Royal Mail to stop it from taking on 30,000 agency workers. The CWU believes that Royal Mail is breaking the law because it is illegal to take on staff to cover workers involved in a lawful industrial dispute, according [...]
Land Secs calls an end to cut-price rents October 26, 2009 LAND Securities, Britain’s biggest property developer, said yesterday it would stop offering cut-price commercial rental deals amid signs that the market is picking up. Land Securities chief executive Francis Salway said: “There are instances of retailers still asking for concessions, and it can be in our interests to show flexibility. However, we do not believe [...]
Land Secs calls an end to cut-price rents October 26, 2009 LAND Securities, Britain’s biggest property developer, said yesterday it would stop offering cut-price commercial rental deals amid signs that the market is picking up. Land Securities chief executive Francis Salway said: “There are instances of retailers still asking for concessions, and it can be in our interests to show flexibility. However, we do not believe [...]
John Lewis online sales surge October 25, 2009 Online clothing sales at John Lewis, the employee-owned department store, have surged since it revamped its website last month, and introduced a range of new fashion brands. Managing director of John Lewis Direct, Robin Terrell, said the group had targeted £8.5m of extra sales from the relaunched fashion website in the first half of the [...]
HOW DID THE MARKET REACT TO DEBENHAMS’ RESULTS? October 22, 2009 KATHARINE WYNNE INVESTECWe believe the combination of positive margin trends, evidence of improving full price sales despite a highly promotional stance, and Debenhams’ brand mix – which allows customers to trade up and trade down within the range – should support a higher valuation. KEITH BOWMAN HARGREAVES LANSDOWNDebenhams has climbed a very steep hill, with [...]
TORIES TO PRIVATISE THE POSTAL SERVICE October 22, 2009 SHADOW business secretary Ken Clarke yesterday said that a Tory government would privatise the Royal Mail if it wins the next election, as the Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced a second three-day walk out next week. Clarke said that only private capital and management could give Royal Mail a new lease of life and end [...]
Post strikes will do most damage to Royal Mail October 18, 2009 IF THIS week’s postal strike goes ahead from Thursday, as expected, the Square Mile will not come to a grinding halt. The rise of the internet, email and electronic trading platforms mean that the Royal Mail’s integral role of facilitating business between City firms are long gone. I suspect that more damage will be caused [...]