Spanish fashion empire Mango plots launch of 200 megastores October 8, 2013 SPANISH fashion retailer Mango unveiled plans yesterday to launch 200 megastores by the end of next year that will house all of its brands under one roof. The brand is aiming to increase the size of its shops to between 8,600 square feet and 32,000 sq ft. The average size of Mango units is currently [...]
Bottom Line: Revamp can’t happen fast enough October 24, 2013 CHANGE can be good – great even – but it always come with risks. For months now Debenhams’ flagship Oxford Street store has been covered in scaffolding, with shoppers pointed towards a temporary entrance before being directed into a store that looks more like a building site than a shopping haven. All signs point to the [...]
Debenhams boss backs call for rates reform October 24, 2013 DEBENHAMS chief executive Michael Sharp became the latest retail boss yesterday to call on the government to overhaul the way in which it determines business rates, describing the current system as “outdated”. “It is clear that the current calculation is archaic and does not fit for the modern consumer world of today,” Sharp said. However, [...]
Debenhams sees transactions and sales up ahead of full year results September 17, 2013 The high street retailer Debenhams has seen positive results as growth in gross transaction value and like-for-like sales are up over the last 10 weeks. (Release) Online sales were up 46.2 per cent and the company continues to gain market share in clothing and non-clothing, including womenswear and beauty. The new store on Oxford street [...]
HMV returning to its first shop August 5, 2013 HMV IS returning to its original shop on Oxford Street after 13 years away, the music retailer’s new owner Hilco Capital confirmed yesterday. In a boost for the company’s recovery efforts after going into administration in January, HMV will move back into 363 Oxford Street in early October. The store, which housed HMV from 1921 [...]
Michelin cheers star-studded City restaurants September 26, 2013 THE LATEST Michelin awards, held yesterday, have made the City a much more star-studded place to have lunch. Angler, a seafood specialist on the roof of the South Place Hotel in Moorgate, was among the nine restaurants in London to be given a prestigious star, just a year after opening. Another newcomer – Lima, just [...]
Marks & Spencer reveals plan to revamp its shops September 10, 2013 SHARES in Marks & Spencer rose two per cent yesterday as the latest phase of the retailer’s turnaround plan won the City’s approval. Chief executive Marc Bolland showcased a new layout for its womenswear range at the Oxford Street Pantheon store that it hopes to roll-out across the UK. The changes include a new shoe [...]
Great Portland wins consent at Rathbone Place October 16, 2013 GREAT PORTLAND Estates has won planning approval to go ahead with redevelopment of the Royal Mail’s old sorting office in what is expected to be one of the company’s largest and most profitable developments to date. Westminster Council approved plans on Tuesday night to redevelop the 2.3 acre site off Oxford Street and build 42,000 [...]
Where to drink October 17, 2013 From the top floor of Centre Point to Japanese-Peruvian fusion mixology AS NOVEMBER approaches, exciting new bars and clubs continue to open in London alongside established venues giving themselves facelifts. Zinc, perched atop the Centre Point building on its 31st floor just below Paramount, looks poised to become the highest destination lounge bar in the [...]
Inmarsat: The London firm leading the race into outer space July 21, 2014 Inmarsat boss Rupert Pearce explains the firm’s mission. Walking past Inmarsat’s imposing head office on Old Street roundabout is probably the closest the average Londoner will ever come to travelling through space. Inmarsat oversees 11 satellites in orbit. The 35-year-old company is light years ahead of the government’s proposal, unveiled last week, to [...]