A clash of visions at Sports Direct July 28, 2019 Mike Ashley once admitted that there was in fact another person who has really been running Sports Direct. She is a media-shy 51-year-old woman called Karen Byers. For almost three decades, Byers has been quietly working under Ashley as one of his core lieutenants, pulling 18 hour days and keeping a ruthless focus on the [...]
On the block: Goals goes up for sale in wake of £12m fraud accusations August 29, 2019 Embattled five-a-side football operator Goals has put itself up for sale this morning, following a torrid six months that has been clouded by accusations of tax fraud. Goals Soccer Centres, which is part owned by retail magnate Mike Ashley, has said today that it is inviting offers for both the business and the assets belonging [...]
Retailers are hoping for a Christmas miracle November 11, 2019 The crucial Christmas trading season was once relished by high street bosses hoping to fatten their profits before the New Year. But so troubled is the sector that the once ‘Golden Quarter’ of retail has lost much of its shine, being viewed today by many executives as a way of raking in just enough cash [...]
Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct closes in on Jack Wills deal August 4, 2019 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct has emerged as the favourite to buy struggling fashion brand Jack Wills Sports Direct is the preferred bidder for the retailer and a deal could be struck as soon as tomorrow, Sky News reported. Read more: Mike Ashley and Philip Day in battle to buy Jack Wills Sources told [...]
Topshop bottom up as it flounders in rough retail space September 12, 2019 Topshop and Topman sprung a leak in Philip Green’s pocket last year, as its parent company said it had faced a year of stiff competition. Loss before tax at the clothes retailer grew to £505m in the financial year ending 1 September last year. It was a strong rise from 2017’s much less damaging £3.8m [...]
Mike Ashley and Philip Day in battle to buy Jack Wills August 3, 2019 High street giants Mike Ashley and Philip Day are embroiled in a battle to takeover Jack Wills, which is on the brink of administration. The billionaires’ companies, Sports Direct and Edinburgh Woollen Mill, are the two remaining bidders for the fashion chain, according to Sky News. Read more: Majestic Wine sells brand and stores for [...]
Not in the pink anymore: Jack Wills collapse leaves creditors out of pocket September 8, 2019 Jack Wills owed over £100m to creditors including HSBC and several councils when it collapsed into administration last month. The preppy clothing brand was bought by Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct for £12.8m in August, faces leaving a slew of companies out of pocket. Read more: Jack Wills stores at risk as Sports Direct kicks off [...]
Number of large department stores in England falls 25 per cent in less than a decade May 29, 2018 In a further sign of the ailing UK retail sector, new research has found that the number of large UK department stores in England has fallen by 25 per cent in less than a decade. According to peer-to-peer property lending platform Lendy, the number of large department stores, which it defines as multi-level stores that [...]
House of Fraser confirms plans to close more than half of its stores June 7, 2018 House of Fraser is to close 31 of its 59 stores in a plan to dramatically restructure the chain, in a move its chief executive described as "grim". If approved by creditors, the move will result in the loss of 6,000 jobs: 2,000 House of Fraser employees and 4,000 brand concession staff. The full list of [...]
Home affairs: All five British Isles teams can still reach Euro 2020 and lend tournament a distinctly British flavour September 5, 2019 For a tournament that is supposed to be pan-continental there is already a distinctly British flavour to next summer’s European Championship. Of 51 matches, 10 will be staged in London or Glasgow, with Wembley hosting both semi-finals and the final. But the Britishness could yet go up several notches, with all five British Isles teams [...]