M&S sales lose their shine after poor Christmas January 6, 2014 MARKS & Spencer is set to report poor festive trading this week as heavy discounting activity in the run-up to Christmas failed to spark a late surge in spending. Analysts predict the retailer will report a drop in third quarter general merchandise sales of as much as 1.5 per cent, despite a highly publicised revamp [...]
Is the Christmas shopping boost to retail sales really that positive? December 18, 2013 Retail sales picked up significant pace in the first half of December, as shoppers took a pre-Christmas breather in October and November before the festive rush. The Confederation of British Industry's Distributive Trades Survey came in at 34, rocketing past November's figure of one, the consensus forecast of 10, and matching September's 15-month high. Orders [...]
Home Retail names Argos boss Walden as next chief executive January 16, 2014 HOME RETAIL GROUP yesterday announced that it has appointed the head of its Argos business to take over from outgoing chief executive Terry Duddy. John Walden, a former Best Buy executive who joined Argos last April, was a clear favourite to take over the post from Duddy, who will step down in March. The news [...]
Slump for Asos despite stellar Christmas sales January 14, 2014 ASOS shares slid yesterday despite the online fashion retailer posting another set of glowing results, boosted by sales in Europe and a surge in UK customers clicking online in the run-up to Christmas. The retailer’s shares fell as much as seven per cent before closing down three per cent yesterday, with analysts pointing to an [...]
Next raises annual profit forecasts on bumper festive sales January 3, 2014 Strong Christmas sales have seen retailer Next up its full year profit forecast range, along with announcing a special dividend. The festive period saw sales "significantly ahead of expectations", said the UK fashion chain. Sales from 1 November to 24 December increased 11.9 per cent, and five per cent from a year earlier. Next Retail [...]
Next raises annual profit forecasts on bumper festive sales January 3, 2014 Strong Christmas sales have seen retailer Next up its full year profit forecast range, along with announcing a special dividend. The festive period saw sales "significantly ahead of expectations", said the UK fashion chain. Sales from 1 November to 24 December increased 11.9 per cent, and five per cent from a year earlier. Next Retail [...]
John Lewis cooks up sales growth thanks to homeware goods December 15, 2013 JOHN LEWIS said a rush for roasting tins and carving trays helped drive sales last week up 1.4 per cent on last year to £149.9m. But this growth has slowed from a whopping 11 per cent year-on-year rise in 2012, which one analyst said could be a symptom of a patchy performance on the high [...]
Domino’s takes away bumper sales growth in 2013 January 8, 2014 Domino's Pizza has seen like-for-like sales jump by an impressive 10.9 per cent in its 670 UK mature stores in the 13 weeks to 29 December. The takeaway food company said the rise in sales was partly driven by increased digital marketing activity, as well as a more favourable timing of the Christmas break compared [...]
Shop prices still dropping with fastest fall on record reported February 4, 2014 JANUARY was the ninth straight month of shop price deflation in the UK, with prices falling at the fastest rate ever recorded by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen. Shop prices dipped by one per cent in the year to January, driven by a 2.7 per cent fall in non-food prices. The drop in [...]
Investors back BSkyB despite drop in profits January 30, 2014 INVESTORS remained confident in BSkyB yesterday, despite a 18 per cent drop in half year profits, as Britain’s biggest pay-TV broadcaster added over 100,000 new customers during its second quarter. Shares in Sky closed up 4.4 per cent on the results, which included news of a new deal with HBO to secure exclusive access to [...]