Alive and kicking: JD Sports thrives in struggling high street environment September 11, 2018 JD Sports sprinted ahead of its high street rivals as it boosted both profit and revenue margins in its interim results today. The figures The shoe and sportswear retailer posted a 35 per cent year-on-year hike in revenue to £1.85bn for the six months to the end of August while profits before tax stepped up [...]
M&S cuts ties with Big Six as it partners with Octopus for new energy brand July 18, 2018 Marks & Spencer has today cut its ties with the Big Six energy providers as it announced a new partnership with challenger Octopus Energy. Octopus has been selected to supply energy and services under the M&S brand from September, in a move which the retailer is touting as part of its transformation plan. The company [...]
Marks & Spencer’s share price falls as FTSE100 demotion looms May 29, 2018 Pressure is piling on troubled retailer Marks & Spencer, which faces being demoted from the FTSE100 after the index closes today, as its share price tumbled this morning. Officials will reshuffle indices based on close of business market values today, ahead of an announcement tomorrow. As things stand, Mediclinic and G4S both look to be [...]
Marks & Spencer (MKS) share price rises as retailer promises to ramp up store closures as profits slump May 23, 2018 The City was braced for a slump in profits at Marks & Spencer, and a slump was duly delivered this morning as the retailer said it was “facing facts” amid “the continued migration of clothing and home online”. The company said it had to modernise the business to make sure it stays competitive, with “accelerated [...]
John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, or M&S? Whose Christmas ad was best this year November 20, 2018 So this is Christmas. And what have you done? Another year over, and the festive ads just begun. Yes, ’tis the season for brands to splash the cash on fancy holiday-themed adverts in hope of attracting that sweet Christmas shopping revenue. Retailer John Lewis has been the reigning champion of the season for the past [...]
Editor’s Notes: Without the UK, the EU can resume its march to ever closer union, Nex’s Michael Spencer backs British bubbly and Lady Wilson remembered June 15, 2018 Earlier this week I chaired a discussion at TheCityUK’s annual conference, where several people, including the lobby group’s chairman, John McFarlane, stressed the point that “there’s life beyond Brexit”. It can’t be said often enough, given how much of our national attention and energy has been sucked into the black hole of Brexit: the uncertainty, [...]
Editor’s notes: A Cornish hero on 9/11, vegans up the creek with no Padella, and policy is for the many, not the pew September 14, 2018 Everyone remembers where they were when they heard about the 9/11 attacks. For many City workers, the event remains a trauma. Michael Spencer, who had hundreds of staff in the World Trade Center, still turns pale when recalling how he sat in London, watching the news footage, trying to get through on the phones. Remarkably, [...]
Editor’s notes: A Cornish hero on 9/11, vegans up the creek with no Padella, and policy is for the many, not the pew September 14, 2018 Everyone remembers where they were when they heard about the 9/11 attacks. For many City workers, the event remains a trauma. Michael Spencer, who had hundreds of staff in the World Trade Center, still turns pale when recalling how he sat in London, watching the news footage, trying to get through on the phones. Remarkably, [...]
Marks & Spencer in talks with top Dixons Carphone exec to bolster retail expertise May 19, 2018 Marks & Spencer is reportedly in talks with a top Dixons Carphone exec as the troubled retailer seeks to shake-up its board. Katie Bickerstaffe, who recently stepped down as chief executive of Dixons Carphone UK and Ireland, has held discussions about joining M&S as a non-exec director. M&S is facing the risk of a landmark [...]
Marks & Spencer has started laser printing avocado labels to reduce waste | City A.M. June 19, 2017 In a push towards sustainability, Marks & Spencer (M&S) has started laser labelling avocados. Moving from sticker labels to lasering will save the retailer 10 tonnes of labels and backing paper and five tonnes of adhesive every year on avocados alone. Lasering also uses less energy. So, how does it work? M&S said the innovative [...]