As Christmas adverts battle it out, Google Android beats Disney, Budweiser, John Lewis, Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief to become the most shared advert of 2015 November 19, 2015 John Lewis and Sainsbury's might be battling it out over who will take the number one spot for this year's Christmas advert, but the two retailers are barely on the radar when it comes to the most popular advert of the year so far. That honour goes to Google Android's Friends Furever campaign, featuring some surprising animal friendships. [...]
Why is good behaviour in business such a radical idea? October 19, 2016 One of the most significant passages of Theresa May’s wide-ranging speech at the Conservative Party conference earlier this month criticised selfish bosses, rigged markets and dysfunctional businesses. Calling for a new spirit of citizenship, the Prime Minister highlighted a rogues’ gallery of those companies who refused to play by the rules, infuriated their customers and [...]
A tale of two retail sectors: Shares in fashion retailers fall as supermarkets jump September 15, 2016 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times in the retail sector today, as shares in retailers led both the risers and the fallers in the FTSE 100. Firmly in the spring of hope was the supermarket sector, where Morrisons led the risers, with shares jumping 7.13 per cent to 207.4p in [...]
John Lewis Christmas advert 2015: With Aurora’s cover of Half the World Away once again it has the right song, brand values and storytelling November 6, 2015 Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without retailers bombarding us with their festive fair. However, when you consider the serious amounts of time and money (£7m for last year’s Monty the Penguin) spent on first creating their Christmas campaigns and then on the media time to ensure we see them, many a retailer must be asking themselves, what [...]
Black Friday UK 2015: John Lewis prepares for biggest deals day yet as Andy Street bids to “win” Christmas for seventh year in a row November 11, 2015 John Lewis is pulling all the stops out for Black Friday 2015, which it expects to be bigger than last year, as the department store aims to "win" Christmas again. Last year, Black Friday pulled in the biggest sales in John Lewis' 150-year history. But managing director Andy Street said this year's Black Friday – which [...]
Black Friday 2015 UK: John Lewis & Marks and Spencer’s best deals on kitchenware, homeware and furniture including Sony TVs, Le Creuset pans and Dyson vacuum cleaners November 26, 2015 Like it or not, it appears Black Friday is here to stay, and us Britons can't get enough. It's estimated that we will spend as much as £1.9bn on 27 November, with Visa expecting £721m to be spent online. Peak shopping times will be between 6pm and 7pm, as commuters go shopping on their mobiles. Homeware will account [...]
City Moves for 6 October | Who’s switching jobs October 6, 2016 PayPal PayPal has named Mark Brant as managing director of PayPal UK. Mark has been promoted to this role following his tenure as general manager, merchant services UK. Mark joined PayPal UK in 2008 as director of large merchant sales before promotions to sales director and general manager of merchant services, UK in 2012. During his time leading [...]
Black Friday UK 2015: Amazon, Currys PC World, John Lewis and Asos to be winners – while AO World, Home Retail Group and Game Digital will be losers November 18, 2015 Black Friday is less than 10 days away (27 November for those who haven't marked it in their calendar/had it tattooed on their forehead) and UK retailers are falling over themselves to get the sales bonanza right. Some, like Asda and fashion brand Jigsaw, have walked away from the discount day. But others are planning to [...]
Next posts a fall in profits in “challenging and volatile” trading environment September 15, 2016 Announcing a fall in profits this morning, Next said that trading since its July sale had been "challenging and volatile". The figures Next's pre-tax profit fell 1.5 per cent to £342.1m, down from £347.1m a year earlier. It was weighed down by profit falls at Next Retail and Next Brand which dropped 16.8 per cent and [...]
From Sharm el-Sheikh and John Lewis’ Christmas advert to Remembrance Sunday and interest rate rises: Here’s what got us talking this week November 6, 2015 There was a march that turned violent. Middle age somehow got that bit longer. And in darkest Hounslow, people went nuts for bargain-basement housing. The Cenotaph service is open for anyone to attend (Source: Getty) 1) It's Remembrance Sunday this weekend How will you be commemorating the fallen? We have some ideas for you here. And [...]