Selfridges’ new chief faces an uphill battle August 13, 2024 Selfridges’ new CEO, André Maeder, has his work cut out for him. The company has managed to survive the gruelling pandemic years – largely by cutting jobs and moving online – a tough cost-of-living crisis and an acquisition in 2022. But seasoned retailer Maeder, who was officially announced two weeks ago and starts in November, [...]
Frasers Group: Mike Ashley’s firm issues profit warning amid ‘significant disruption’ caused by coronavirus March 20, 2020 Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group has issued a profit warning this morning citing the “significant disruption” to business. Formerly Sports Direct, the retailer will no longer give guidance in relation to the current financial year. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the firm has seen reduced customer footfall to its brands’ stores, which includes House of Fraser, [...]
BGF invests record £165m into London and South East firms January 17, 2022 BGF pumped a record £165m into London and the South East in last year, new figures from the firm have revealed.
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group to close six Jack Wills stores January 16, 2020 High street fashion brand Jack Wills has announced it will shut six stores, blaming “unhelpful” landlords for the closures. Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group, which bought the fashion retailer out of administration for £12.8m last year, today said shops in Bournemouth, Camberley, Cheltenham, Soho, Turo and Witney will close within the next month. Ashley’s retail empire, [...]
Coronavirus close-up: Long Covid changes some patients’ lungs forever January 29, 2022 Many long Covid patients who have breathlessness experience abnormalities in the lungs of long which cannot be detected with routine tests. In fact, there is significantly impaired gas transfer from the lungs to the bloodstream in the long Covid patients despite other tests – including CT scans – coming back as normal, according to a [...]
Where will I buy my knickers now? How closure of M&S Fenchurch Street will be lamented by City shoppers of all ages March 30, 2023 The Marks and Spencer store on Fenchurch Street, on the corner of Gracechurch Street, is set to close on Friday 31 March. The store, which has been one of the City’s remaining department stores since the closure of the nearby House of Fraser on the corner of King William Street in 2018. Marks and Spencer [...]
House of Fraser accused of reversing fur ban November 20, 2019 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley is facing accusations that he has overturned a ban on real fur at House of Fraser. Customers posted images on social media that appeared to show fur-lined coats found in store, despite the company’s previous no-fur stance. Read more: Sports Direct hit by ‘terminal’ House of Fraser problems Some shoppers pledged [...]
Zegna boss: The suit is not dead – but the tie is May 19, 2022 “Let me be clear – the suit is not dead. But the tie is!” That’s the view of Ermenegildo Zegna, CEO and chairman of the Italian luxury fashion house Zegna. Speaking at the Financial Times’ business of luxury conference on Thursday, Zegna said knitwear was the “new tie” and demand for luxury leisurewear continues to [...]
Slow fashion: Zara introduces return fee as customers ‘count every penny’ May 12, 2022 Zara has started charging customers who return items bought online as fast fashion giants face increasing pressure to reduce unsustainable behaviour. The retailer, owned by the world’s largest fashion company Inditex, has introduced a £1.95 fee for the return of products at third party drop off points. However, customers can still return online orders at [...]
Police seize over 17,500 illegal goods from Oxford Street November 20, 2021 Police have confiscated a haul of fake designer and illegal items from four shops on Oxford Street, according to widespread reports. The raids saw an “astonishing” 17,500 items removed from four souvenir and sweet shops on Thursday night, and 4,000 items taken from an unregistered food business. Trading standards officers captured unsafe toys, counterfeit clothing [...]