Could a focus on customer experience have saved BHS? June 3, 2016 Retailers have learnt harsh lessons about failing to stay relevant; the collapse of BHS is just the latest casualty. Like Woolworths and GAME before it, when BHS went into administration, the most common reaction was shock. However, the downfall of BHS cannot be considered a surprise. The company failed to keep up with the internet revolution and being outmanoeuvred [...]
Visual vanguard: JCDecaux’s Spencer Berwin talks hawks, scaling and London’s digital landscape April 25, 2016 London's landscape is in flux. Almost 120 skyscrapers are in the pipeline, and the proliferation of bright digital billboards in train stations, roundabouts and bus shelters are transforming the capital’s aspect into something altogether more dynamic and enthralling. Outdoor specialist JCDecaux is behind this massive digital roll-out. After winning TfL’s £300m bus shelter contract last [...]
Hybrid engine firm Vantage Power is setting itself apart with clever software September 15, 2016 Not many startups hunt for premises with the requirement that they can fit a double-decker bus in them. But for Vantage Power, that was a necessity. Founded by Imperial College graduates Alex Schey and Toby Schulz, the firm makes hybrid – part-diesel, part-electric – engines. Vantage Power can turn four buses currently in use hybrid for the [...]
Cyclists on Blackfriars Bridge up 55 per cent since introduction of cycle superhighway December 1, 2016 Since the construction of the North-South cycle superhighway, the number of cyclists on Blackfriars Bridge has increased by 55 per cent during peak periods. They now account for up to 70 per cent of all the traffic on the bridge at the busiest times, according to figures from Transport for London. And on the East-West superhighway, [...]
Focus On Paddington: With Crossrail, a £775m glass cube and new homes, W2 is about to become one of London’s next property hotspots February 24, 2017 Believe it or not, Paddington, synonymous for so long with its eponymous cartoon bear and its fantastic transport links, is one of the most undervalued places in Prime Central London. Within walking distance to Hyde Park, Oxford Circus and smart neighbourhoods like Mayfair and Knightsbridge, it’s nevertheless not traditionally seen as a great residential location. [...]
John Lewis bonus falls to 10 per cent – but still gets a big cheer March 10, 2016 John Lewis Partnership staff gave a huge cheer this morning as the retailer revealed this year's bonus stood at 10 per cent – down on last year's 11 per cent boost. More than 91,000 JLP partners – who work for both the eponymous department store and Waitrose – applauded as the figure was revealed from a giant [...]
London taxi drivers protest on Oxford Street: Everything you need to know April 21, 2015 Black cab drivers today staged a highly visible protest that caused significant inconvenience in central London. Here's everything you need to know about the action by London cabbies. Where and when did the protest take place? The drivers started the "go-slow" protest on Oxford Street in the heart of London at 2:00pm, bringing Oxford Street [...]
In pictures: Blackout on Black Friday – huge power cut hits central London November 25, 2016 A huge blackout has hit central London, including Soho and parts of Piccadilly Circus. The blackout left PIccadilly Circus' iconic advertising boards blank, while diners were forced to eat by candle light. Lights were out in shops and restaurants, while commuters reported overcrowding in Tube stations as shoppers and revellers went to other parts of the [...]
Blame game kicks off following BHS failure April 27, 2016 The heat was turned up on the two most recent owners of BHS yesterday, as insiders and politicians sought to place the blame for the retailer's collapse. Dominic Chappell, a former racing driver, bought BHS from previous owner Sir Philip Green last year for just £1. On Monday, the 88-year-old retailer was placed in administration, [...]
Sadiq Khan ditches initial Westway cycle superhighway plans November 15, 2016 Plans to create a cycle superhighway by removing a lane from the A40 Westway flyover have been ditched. Sadiq Khan axed the idea and is recommending changes to the scheme. More details will be announced in the coming weeks. While the idea of removing one of three lanes drew 71 per cent support from a Transport for [...]