Hailo taxi app unveils new features and teams up with futurologists October 23, 2014 Taxi app Hailo has teamed up with futurologists to give an insight into the future of cities as well as launching two new features. The new features are intended to help Hailo adapt to an increasingly competitive taxi market and avoid another inglorious exit from a major market. Pay Hailo lets the user connect to [...]
Hic and click: Brits blow £142 during drunken online shopping sprees August 15, 2014 What connects a lobster pot, some diving equipment and a washing machine? According to a new study, these are just some of the items Brits have bought online while under the influence. “Hic-and-click” has apparently become a widespread phenomenon with nearly a quarter of people surveyed by comparison site Confused.com admitting they have spent [...]
Lucky Voice karaoke bar sold by British Land for £26m August 20, 2014 British Land has sold the site of Martha Lane Fox’s Lucky Voice karaoke bar in London for £26m. The UK’s second largest property company said yesterday it had sold the freehold of 52 Poland Street to Amazon Property – a company unrelated to the online retail giant – in order to focus on other projects [...]
Apple Pay is only the start: Mobile wallets are about to take off October 21, 2014 It’s here folks. Well, in the US at least. Yesterday, a string of American retailers (including Bloomingdale’s, Foot Locker and Toys R Us) started accepting Apple Pay transactions, allowing consumers to make payments through credit card information stored on the new iPhone. Exciting stuff, but haven’t people been predicting the end of cash for some [...]
Asos share price surges on reports of US buyout August 27, 2014 Shares in online fashion retailer Asos soared yesterday on unconfirmed reports that a US company is eyeing a stake in the business. Asos shares, which have fallen by almost two-thirds this year after two profit warnings and a fire at its main warehouse, jumped 17 per cent to 2,751p, pushing up other online players, including [...]
Amazon contemplates Tube ticket offices as collection points November 22, 2013 Transport for London is said to be in talks with online retail giant Amazon to convert Tube ticket offices into "drop off" points for parcels. An Amazon Locker is already being trialled at Hammersmith station. The self-service collection points are popping up at pick-up locations across the UK, and are expected to be piloted in other Tube stations [...]
Serious strategy: What chess can teach businesses August 25, 2014 Stay on the lookout for “strong squares”, and be ready to sacrifice. There's a rich history of corporate strategists turning to board and card games to hone their skills. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are keen bridge players, and Business Insider drew up a list of 28 US executives who are strong chess players. [...]
Alibaba share price means it will to smash tech float record September 18, 2014 Chinese e-commerce titan Alibaba last night priced its initial public offering at the top end of expectations, lining it up to raise a colossal $21.8bn (£13.3bn) in what will be the biggest tech float in history today. Alibaba will price its shares at $68 on the New York Stock Exchange, giving the firm a historic [...]
Staying silent about the real price of Scottish independence is a cop out – City Matters September 14, 2014 This week will see the most crucial poll in the United Kingdom for centuries – a poll on whether the UK will stay as it is or Scotland will choose to leave the Union. The business world has led with the view that “this is a matter for the Scottish people”. But this is also [...]
HMV bounds back and finds its voice on the high street – Brand Index August 26, 2014 Are we witnessing a comeback from traditional high street retailer HMV? Recent figures suggest so, with announcements highlighting stronger sales and consumer perception. There was much public hand-wringing when HMV were placed into administration, leading to the closure of a number of stores following competition from online retailers such as Amazon. Since then, the brand [...]