Against the Grain: Myths and reality of Valentine’s Day: It’s more than just a marketing ploy February 4, 2014 VALENTINE’S Day is almost upon us. Many readers may recall a time when its main purpose was for love-struck teenagers to communicate, anonymously or otherwise, with the objects of their desire. Now it is big business. It is hardly possible to enter a pub or restaurant without being exhorted to publicly display fidelity and love [...]
High street under pressure after Barratts and Blockbuster collapse November 12, 2013 BRITAIN’S embattled high street has been dealt a fresh blow ahead of Christmas after shoe retailer Barratts and film rental chain Blockbuster fell into administration yesterday. Advisory firm Duff & Phelps said it has been hired as administrator to Barratts after it collapsed for the third time in four years, placing more than 1,000 jobs [...]
Superdry owner outperforms rival retailers December 12, 2013 SUPERGROUP chief executive Julian Dunkerton said the success of its fashion brand this year had “left rivals behind” as the company reported a 21 per cent jump in sales in the first half to £192m. Dunkerton, who founded the business almost 30 years ago, said the company had reached a “turning point” where it had [...]
Get Fit Diary: Balancing newfound fitness with Christmas indulgence December 17, 2013 @AlexDymoke WHEN I tell people I’m doing a 12-week Get Fit challenge, everyone always asks the same thing, “What about when it finishes? Are you going to carry it on?” Short term at least, the answer is simple: no. Christmas is around the corner, and if you think I’m going to spend the party season [...]
French Connection pins hopes on new collection as sales recover November 21, 2013 FRENCH Connection yesterday said its new autumn collection had been well-received by shoppers ahead of the key Christmas trading period as the fashion retailer posted a marked improvement in sales. Like-for-like sales for the third quarter to 20 November rose 2.1 per cent compared with a 4.5 per cent drop seen in the first six [...]
Co-op slashes Labour donation and dividend November 11, 2013 THE TROUBLED Co-operative Group has cuts its donations to the Labour Party as part of wider plans to cut costs in the wake of its banking arm’s capital problems. Its members voted for a cap of £1m on donations this year, down from £1.2m previously. And bosses could choose not to give anything to the [...]
Some games to get you through Christmas December 18, 2013 Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag The Assassin’s Creed franchise has been rumbling on for years but the latest iteration promises something a bit different – this time you take the role of a swashbuckling pirate pillaging his way through the lush Caribbean. The graphics alone make this worth a look. Knack This on-rails adventure isn’t [...]
Monte dei Paschi sends bailout plan to European Commission November 11, 2013 THE EUROPEAN Commission yesterday received a restructuring plan from troubled Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which needs the EU’s green light for a €4.1bn bailout, a press officer for EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said. It was not immediately clear how long it would take for the EU Commission to approve the plan, [...]
Tesco sees UK sales drop 1.5 per cent in third quarter December 4, 2013 Tesco has announced a 1.5 per cent fall in like-for-like sales in the three months to 23 November, which it says is down to a weaker UK grocery market. Underlying sales fell in every country in which it operates. The sobering news is in line with predictions from Citi analysts. It doesn't bode well for [...]
London Report: Financials hold FTSE down yet Sky gives a lift January 14, 2014 BRITAIN’S top share index steadied near two-month highs yesterday, with a sell-off in financials offset by a crop of solid updates in the healthcare and retail sectors, while BSkyB shares jumped following a note from UBS. The broadcasting giant closed up 3.75 per cent after UBS analysts suggested various potential merger activities and said the [...]