Boohoo upgrades forecast for the second time this year September 27, 2016 Online fashion retailer Boohoo upgraded its forecasts again today after announcing bumper sales growth and profits for the six months to the end of August. Boohoo upgraded its full-year sales guidance for the second time in two months. At the beginning of August, the online retailer upped its expected sales growth to between 28 per cent [...]
Love it or hate it, you can’t halt the momentum of Silicon Valley October 26, 2017 Opposition and doubt always accompany any great change. The rise of computer technology over the last 30 years is no different than the invention of the car or the light bulb in this respect. The innovations that Silicon Valley has produced have shaken just about everything we thought we knew, and made us question the [...]
A brave new banking world: How computer science shaped this company November 8, 2017 When I spot Anne Boden across the coffee shop, she beams at me. Even before she’s said a word, I immediately warm to her – here’s a woman who has spent 30 years working for the big banks, and yet she seems far removed from the stereotypical personalities you associate with the cutthroat finance [...]
What to do in Amsterdam when it’s very, very wet outside August 4, 2017 Two things you should always pack for a quick city break: good shoes and a waterproof. Most cities are best viewed on foot. What interesting little side streets can a double decker bus tour ever take you down? There’s nothing better than being able to duck unplanned into a cheese shop, or a bar (or [...]
University challenge: The £50,000 question October 11, 2017 The new university term is now in full swing, and you might be relieved that your child is on their way to becoming a fully-fledged adult. But for many young people and their parents, university doesn’t quite bring the independence they expect. Tuition fees have gone through the roof, with most British students now forking [...]
Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL review: Simply the best Android phones ever made October 18, 2017 Google’s new phones are rather good. The Pixel 2 and its bigger brother the Pixel 2 XL (identical in every way but shape, size, price and battery) are straightforwardly excellent. They are simply the best Android phones ever made. Life-changing, envelope-pushing, they can shift a paradigm from fifty paces. They do your laundry, improve your [...]
Finance: How it made civilization possible September 22, 2017 What is finance, where does it come from, and why does it matter? William N. Goetzmann, of the Yale School of Management, addressed these questions in his presentation at the 62nd Annual Financial Analysts Seminar. He led participants on a tour through financial history, illuminating distinctive artefacts that demonstrate the critical role finance has [...]
Swedish design creatives in Malmo and the surrounding Skane region are challenging Stockholm for the crown October 2, 2017 For ancient history buffs, it’s Rome or Stonehenge; for foodies, it’s Le Marais or Tuscany; for design nerds, home is Sweden. There’s something about its laidback charm, its rustic, uncluttered décor that’s universally appealing. But there’s a feeling that its capital, Stockholm, has lost a little of its moxie. Sky-high property prices and an ultra [...]
Could the secret to a long and healthy life be hidden in a remote part of Costa Rica? We set out to meet the tribespeople who live beyond 100 years old September 5, 2017 The town hall in Nicoya, western Costa Rica, is one of the few colonial buildings left in the country. Given that the town was about to host a “congress of international centenarians”, it seemed like a good place to start my investigations into longevity. Unfortunately, no-one in the building seemed to know anything about it. [...]
This self-built house by design consultant Ian Silverstein is the coolest thing we’ve ever seen, and it’s yours for £1.75m April 27, 2017 As international design consultant Ian Silverstein works on his laptop in the library, he’s having to block out the sound of furniture being hastily rearranged downstairs. For him, the odd photoshoot request is part of the privilege of owning a uniquely attractive house in a historic part of the British countryside. It’s also a confirmation [...]