Sunday trading hours: Government defeated over plans to relax rules surrounding Sunday trading hours March 9, 2016 MPs dealt a major blow to Prime Minister David Cameron and chancellor George Osborne tonight by defeating government proposals to relax rules surrounding Sunday trading hours in England and Wales. In a rare House of Commons defeat for Cameron, MPs voted 317-286 to reject the government's plans. At least 20 Conservative MPs are understood to have rebelled. [...]
PRO Rugby: As America’s first professional rugby league kicks-off, chief executive Doug Schoninger discusses the game’s prospects in the USA April 15, 2016 After over 150 years since rucks and mauls first formed on its shores, a professional rugby league is finally coming to America this weekend. Before even the American Civil War was waged primitive forms of the game were being contested in Ivy League universities. Amateur rugby clubs existed before the First World War and the USA still [...]
Sky Q: Is the latest viewing innovation a TV game-changer? November 19, 2015 Sky has unveiled a new premium TV service, Sky Q, to add to its current Sky+ and NowTV line-up of TV products. Due to launch across the UK and Ireland in early 2016, Sky is adapting to how people want to consume content, allowing “customers to experience TV on their terms”. Sky Q will put live, on-demand, and recorded TV together. [...]
Forget Janet and Mario: 2016 is the year of GARY – CNBC Comment December 15, 2015 Investors have spent the last few years betting with the Fed and the ECB, as monetary policy dominated fundamentals. But many are now stumped over what to do next, as central bankers today seem to carry more risk and less reward. The ECB’s Mario Draghi let investors down this month with a flawed communications strategy. [...]
Retailers sound alarm bells after one of toughest Christmas periods on record January 13, 2016 UK retailers have suffered one of their worst Christmas trading periods on record, according to new research showing a surge in the number of companies struggling to make ends meet. Turnaround specialist Begbies Traynor said 26,013 UK retailers entered the year in significant financial distress – nearly double the amount recorded in the fourth quarter [...]
Black Friday 2015 UK: Currys PC World reveals deals on Nespresso, Dyson, LG, Samsung, Sony and Bosch goods November 24, 2015 Currys PC World has launched its Black Friday 2015 bargains today, promising 40 per cent more stock will be available and 30 per cent more deals on offer than last year. In total, Currys PC World is promising more than 3,000 deals on top brands including Nespresso, Dyson, LG, Samsung, Sony and Bosch across a 10-day event starting [...]
Black Friday 2015 UK: John Lewis staff banned from using discounts on sales items November 27, 2015 John Lewis has banned employees from using their staff discounts on its Black Friday promotions online. Although staff are allowed to make use of their partner discount – 12 per cent off electricals and 25 per cent on other goods – in store, they have been blocked from using it online. The department store told This [...]
There’s no business like e-business: Amazon Local takes on Ticketmaster with West End ticket offers March 23, 2015 Amazon has moved into ticketing after launching offers to West End shows on its daily deals website today, putting it head-to-head with established players such as Ticketmaster and See Tickets. As part of its latest Amazon Local expansion, the internet retailer will now also offer tickets to all 48 shows in the West End including [...]
Citymapper, Lovefilm and Betfair backer Balderton Capital invests $3m as The Tab takes on America December 10, 2015 Student tabloid The Tab has got America in its sights with a $3m (£1.98m) investment from one of Europe's largest venture capital firms Balderton Capital. Balderton has invested previously invested in fashion site Yoox, which it floated in 2009 and recently merged with Net-a-porter, LoveFilm, which it sold to Amazon in 2011, Betfair and Citymapper. The Tab said it would use [...]
Government sells off its final stake in Royal Mail – but only institutional investors need apply October 12, 2015 The government has announced plans to sell off its final stake in Royal Mail, two years after it began privatising the company – but true to form, only institutional investors will get a chance to buy the shares. In a statement today, it said had begun the process of selling off its remaining shareholding, which [...]