Innovation Diary: Literary crowdfunding: How to create value in a demanding industry October 27, 2013 DEMOCRATIC publishing has arrived. Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing allows authors to upload e-books, earn royalties from sales, while bypassing traditional publishing industry gatekeepers. Createspace does the same for physical books. Gumroad, meanwhile, lets designers, game developers, and musicians join writers in uploading digital files for sale. But it’s hard to make money. Taleist found in [...]
Mitie makes positive start to the year with a growing order book August 12, 2013 OUTSOURCING firm Mitie yesterday said that it has “made a positive start to the year” and expects to achieve “good levels of organic growth” in the coming twelve months. The FTSE 250-listed company, which offers facilities, people and energy management services to businesses, has won a number of new contracts in the private and [...]
Sunshine boosts restaurant sales July 17, 2013 Restaurants and pubs saw an increase in sales in June this year thanks to the warm weather, which encouraged people to spend their money. Total sales, including the impact of new openings, rose by 4.8 per cent, while like-for-like sales were up by 1.9 per cent, according to the Coffer Peach business tracker. The London [...]
Best of the Brokers for 2 August 2013 August 1, 2013 ENTERPRISE INNS Deutsche Bank has raised the pub company’s target price by 40 per cent to 190p as it reaffirmed its “buy” rating. The bank’s analysts said that the recent good weather should see a return to profit in the chain’s third quarter results, due next week. KINGFISHER A recent meeting with Kingfisher’s management failed [...]
Luxurious living locked-up at The Courthouse, Westminster September 26, 2013 Central London homes sit on historical site DEVELOPERS hope they have done justice to the site of a grand old courthouse with its new luxury development at the heart of London. The Courthouse, the latest premium scheme by Barratt London, is located in popular Westminster on the site of the City of Westminster Magistrates Court [...]
Best of the Brokers for 31 July 2013 July 30, 2013 JD WETHERSPOON Deutsche Bank has maintained its “hold” rating on the value pub chain but raised its target price from 520p to 660p after better than expected final-quarter figures. The analyst notes improved sales with cautious optimism, although performance has been volatile, with 14 forecast changes in three years. GEM DIAMONDS Charles Stanley has reiterated [...]
Leaving presents fit for Lord King August 14, 2013 OFFICE leaving parties are a strange phenomenon. Awkward speeches, inappropriate presents, then down to the pub where, after having a few drinks too many, you finally tell your ex-colleagues what you really think of Sam from accounts. Yet Bank of England governor Mervyn King – now Lord King – seems to have enjoyed a somewhat [...]
Wetherspoons expects better outcome for the year as sales rise in second quarter July 24, 2013 Pub chain Wetherspoons has seen total sales rise by 6.2 per cent in the 11 weeks to 14 July, with like-for-like sales up 3.5 per cent (release). The firm has opened 29 firms since the start of the financial year, and sold three, with plans to open around 30 in the next financial year. The [...]
Bitcoin transfers stopped by money laundering regulations August 8, 2013 MONEY transfer websites have been forced to withdraw support for the fast-growing virtual currency Bitcoin amid uncertainty over money laundering regulations. Leading transfer services, often used to wire traditional currencies to Bitcoin exchanges, told City A.M. they could not continue to operate without revised regulation. “There’s no clear guidance,” said Brett Meyers, managing director of [...]
Cowes Preview: Celebrating the old and new at the world’s most famous regatta August 1, 2013 AS WE weigh anchor to begin another Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, we are looking forward to a fabulous week of competitive sailing. And as we move into the third year of our sponsorship, we are delighted by just how much the event continues to grow. For 2013 we have introduced an activity for spectators [...]