From banking to barista: Meet Notes director Edward Halfon February 8, 2015 Mass-produced coffee is out: new, hip speciality cafes are in. Former financier Edward Halfon tells Annabel Denham how the founders of food and wine “destination” Notes plan to indulge our ever-evolving taste buds. Recent research from the small business website Startups.co.uk found that “cult cafes” will become the hottest business opportunity over the next 12 [...]
Barratt boss warns of labour shortage September 10, 2014 The boss of Britain’s largest housebuilder Barratt Developments warned yesterday that a shortage of skilled workers could prevent the country from delivering the homes needed to tackle housing crisis as the company reported a doubling of full-year profits. Mark Clare said the lack of skilled workers – from bricklayers to architects and plasterers – is [...]
Paperchase sent greetings from potential buyers October 12, 2014 HIGH street stationery chain Paperchase has brought in advisers to help with a potential £150m sale of the business after receiving approaches from several suitors. Paperchase is owned by private equity firm Primary Capital, which acquired the business four years ago in a management buyout from the now defunct US book chain Borders. The retailer [...]
Castles, islands and converted churches: 7 insane properties you could buy for less than the price of a one-bed flat in London November 14, 2014 According to home.co.uk, the price of the average one-bed flat in London is now £482,000. But for the price of a cramped, damp basement in London, you could get something altogether more exciting elsewhere in the country. Time to leave the capital? Here's what you could get… 1. St Michael's Church, Scotland, £375,000 (Source: Zoopla) [...]
Online House of Fraser lift September 24, 2014 HOUSE of Fraser, the department store chain recently sold for £48m, yesterday announced adjusted earnings of £8.6m for the first half, boosted by a 29 per cent rise in online sales. Like-for-like sales rose 4.2 per cent to £542m for the six months to 26 July and the earnings figure was well up on the [...]
Dow and S&P eke out rises on a slow day – New York Report November 11, 2014 THE DOW and S&P 500 yesterday eked out a fifth session of record-closing highs, barely extending the market’s recent rally in light volume as consumer discretionary shares gained. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 1.16 points, or 0.01 per cent, to 17,614.9, a record high close. The S&P 500 gained 1.42 points, or 0.07 per [...]
Anglian aims for £150m relisting September 28, 2014 SPECIALIST double glazing and house improvement company Anglian Home Improvements may be looking to return to the London Stock Exchange, over a decade after it was taken private. Anglian Home Improvements, which was founded in 1966 by George Williams as Anglian Windows, was listed for nearly 10 years, until it was taken private when private [...]
Luxury extras for new London homes: From rooftop yoga in Hammersmith to virtual golf on the Thames January 15, 2015 New homes now come with luxury extras as standard to lure in Londoners with busy schedules. Developers are continually trying to outdo their competitors by incorporating extra leisure facilities into the service charge. And, in time-honoured property fashion, the need to keep up with the Jones’ has led to ever more outlandish services, from virtual [...]
Estee Lauder has a beautiful year in Britain August 27, 2014 Fashion house Estée Lauder UK retail sales were up 10 per cent for the fiscal year ending 30 June. Britain is the second largest market for the company, which outperformed the Prestige Beauty sector market, where retail sales were up 5.4 per cent.
Most of London’s mansion tax properties are flats October 2, 2014 Three quarters of London properties which would fall into the so-called “mansion tax” bracket are flats or terraced houses, according to Knight Frank figures. The property consultants analysed sales data to see what type of “mansions” would fall into the £2m plus category Labour leader Ed Miliband would target if his party came to power. [...]