Online shopping spurs PayPoint January 24, 2013 Credit card processing company PayPoint yesterday said increasing internet transactions led it to a four per cent rise in revenues year-on-year for the three months to January. The firm, whose customers include Sainsburys Local, Asda and the Co-op, processed 193m transactions during the period, up five per cent on last year. The rise in internet [...]
Consumer firms to spark next flotation frenzy October 6, 2013 BRITISH department store House of Fraser is on the cusp of appointing advisers to explore plans for a float of the chain, amid a resurgence in consumer–focused brands looking to list in London. The chain is thought to have held a beauty parade of investment banks, laying plans for a £300m float after the Christmas [...]
WH Smith upbeat despite drop in sales January 23, 2013 WH Smith this morning posted a drop in sales over the Christmas period, although it said improved margins helped to underpin profits. The stationery and books retailer posted a five per cent drop in like for like sales over the 20 weeks to 20 January. In its high street stores, like for like sales fell [...]
Dixons posts strong Christmas trading January 17, 2013 Electronics retailer Dixons this morning reported robust trading over the Christmas period, boosted by tablet sales. Like for like sales in its key businesses were up by seven per cent over the 12 weeks to 5 January. Trading was lifted by “phenomenal” sales of tablets across its markets, while white goods were also strong, particularly [...]
Poor Christmas trade at French Connection UK January 16, 2013 SHARES in fashion retailer French Connection were hit yesterday after it warned of a larger-than-expected loss as Christmas sales were hurt by lower demand and a decision to delay discounting. French Connection said it expected an adjusted pre-tax loss of £7.5m to £8m for the year to 31 January, much larger than the £5.47m analysts [...]
British retail sales climb to a 15-month high September 25, 2013 THE BRITISH retail sector’s recovery strengthened at the start of this month, with a leading industry survey pointing to the fastest sales growth since June last year. Nearly half – 46 per cent – of shops surveyed by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said that sales were higher than at the same point last [...]
Tesco and Sainsbury’s maintain share after a festive dead-heat January 15, 2013 BRITAIN’S biggest retailer Tesco and third-place grocer Sainsbury’s tied in the battle for sales growth in the key Christmas period, according to data published yesterday. Market researcher Kantar Worldpanel said Tesco and Sainsbury’s both posted identical gross sales growth rates of 3.9 per cent in the six weeks ending 6 January, with market shares unchanged [...]
Apple’s slice of the tablet pie shrinks in the fourth quarter January 31, 2013 APPLE’S share of the tablet market fell over the Christmas period, even as it sold record numbers of iPads, according to research. Figures from market analysts IDC claim that the iPad and iPad mini accounted for 43.6 per cent of worldwide sales in the fourth quarter of 2012. This was down from 51.7 per cent [...]
Tesco enjoys Christmas sales boost January 10, 2013 Supermarket giant Tesco this morning posted its highest UK sales growth in three years over the Christmas period, as its turnaround plan is starting to kick in. Like for like UK sales grew by 1.8 per cent in the six weeks to 5 January, driven by a strong performance from its food division and from [...]
From January mocktails to a real Bloody Mary February 5, 2013 City A.M.’s cocktail expert Alcohol’s value goes beyond its simple price-tag. Over the Christmas period it was no doubt used by plenty to ease family tensions, as well as to smooth the passage from 2012 into 2013. Alcohol is so ingrained within our social experiences that human guinea pigs exhibit the effects of drunkenness, even [...]