Mothercare turnaround plan on track despite currency headwinds October 22, 2015 Mothercare's turnaround is on track after a solid second quarter performance, despite challenges from foreign currency headwinds. The childcare retailer, which is part-way through a significant overhaul implemented last year by chief executive Mark Newton-Jones, has grown UK like-for-likes 6.5 per cent, while total UK sales rose 1.8 per cent. Online sales under the former [...]
Majestic Wine share price tanks 17pc after pricing competition warning January 7, 2015 Shares in Britain’s largest specialist wine retailer Majestic plummeted 17 per cent in trading yesterday after it warned the increased pricing competition that saw it cut profit margins over Christmas would continue into 2015. The Watford-based company’s 1.1 per cent like-for-like sales growth over the 10-week Christmas period was a heavy decline on its 2.8 [...]
Ted Baker sales and profits driven up by strong performance in Europe and the US March 19, 2015 Ted Baker grew in its established markets last year, and expanded to new areas. The figures During the 53 weeks to 31 January, Ted Baker's retail sales rose 18.4 per cent to £306.9m, while pre-tax profits jumped to £49.5m – 20.4 per cent higher than in 2013. This exceeded the British fashion brand's expected profit [...]
Christmas sugar rush boosts Thorntons’ high street sales January 19, 2015 HIGH street sales at chocolate retailer Thorntons surged over the Christmas period as consumers tucked into its advent calendars and Snowman-themed treats. The company said like-for-like retail sales rose by five per cent in the 14 weeks to 10 January and by 7.8 per cent in December – a turnaround from the 3.7 per cent [...]
Amazon steals entertainment spend from UK supermarkets January 26, 2015 ONLINE retail giant Amazon took a larger slice of the UK entertainment market over the Christmas period, largely at the expense of the major supermarkets, according to research published today. Kantar Worldpanel figures show that Amazon took one in every four pounds (25.6 per cent) spent on physical music, games and video in the 12 [...]
Naked Wines to pour £70m into its independent winemakers January 19, 2015 Naked Wines said it will pour £70m of funding into its independent winemakers this year after enjoying a bumper Christmas and growing its community of angel investors. The boutique online retailer, whose customers, or angels, invest over £2m each month towards future orders, said group sales were up nearly 40 per cent over the Christmas [...]
Halfords glides through Christmas season with high cycling sales January 21, 2015 Sales were up for Halfords over the Christmas period, with total revenue rising 6.5 per cent during the third quarter. During the 15 weeks to 9 January, the UK automotive and leisure product retailer performed particularly well in its car maintenance and cycling divisions, where like-for-like revenue went up by 11 per cent and [...]
London Barometer: What’s happening to the capital’s house prices? February 26, 2015 There is clearly now much more activity in emerging prime areas than prime central London, with ongoing political uncertainties and the recent Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) changes alluded to in our last Barometer now having a marked effect. More sellers coming to the market would seem to imply that high SDLT has been a [...]
French Connection share price falls seven per cent after company reports “tough trading period” September 21, 2015 French Connection has reported a “tough trading period” for the first six months of the year, with pre-tax losses widening on the back of a poor performance of the spring 15 collection. Shares in the company fell by seven per cent in early morning trading on the news. The figures The retailer reported loss before [...]
Waitrose plans expansion and 2,000 new jobs January 27, 2015 Waitrose announced plans yesterday to create 2,000 new jobs as the upmarket supermarket continues to expand its presence and grab a greater slice of the grocery market. The chain, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, will open 14 new stores from spring this year including seven Little Waitrose convenience stores and seven supermarkets, including one [...]