After BHS: MPs eye stricter transparency rules for private companies February 12, 2017 The UK's biggest private companies and those with large pension schemes should have to abide by the same financial reporting rules as listed firms to ensure the fallout from the collapse of BHS is not repeated, MPs have said. Any private company with more than 5,000 members of a defined benefit pension scheme, or those defined as large [...]
“How would you get an elephant in a fridge?”: These are the 10 toughest questions asked at job interviews – including questions from Topshop, Network Rail and EY March 29, 2016 Job interviews are galling at the best of times – but imagine being asked how to squeeze an elephant into a fridge, or how many people named Gary were born in 2013. That's what candidates at, respectively, Gemalto and BT were faced with, according to jobs marketplace Glassdoor, which has put together the 10 toughest [...]
Christmas Day online shopping will peak at this surprisingly late time for the post-millennial “Generation Z” December 25, 2016 Most people will be aiming to put their feet up after Christmas lunch today and zone out in front of the TV – but there's one group of people who will be driving a late-night shopping boom this evening. Not content with their new stash of presents, "Generation Z", the post-millennial cohort who were born in [...]
Black Friday UK 2016: Fashion deals available today November 25, 2016 Black Friday is upon us so it's probably time to completely overhaul your wardrobe – here's a roundup of the best deals among high street and designer brands. Asos has a massive 20 per cent off all clothing if you use the code GOGOGO – the sale is running over the weekend. High street favourite [...]
Whistles recorded a £2.9m loss before its takeover by South Africa’s Foschini Group earlier this year November 13, 2016 Upmarket womenswear retailer Whistles recorded a loss of £2.9m ahead of its takeover by South Africa’s Foschini Group in March. Accounts filed at Companies House show that in the 12 months up to 30 January, Whistles's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) fell from a profit of £1.9m in 2015 to a loss of [...]
Fraudster who wanted to buy BHS denies he said Sir Philip Green avoided a sale to retail rivals June 28, 2016 Convicted fraudster Paul Sutton today denied that he said Sir Philip Green refused to sell BHS to a competitor who could have turned the business around. Evidence from Larry Verge, a partner at LEK consultants, who advised Paul Sutton on his business plan to acquire BHS, reveals Sutton said Green was "unwilling to sell out to [...]
MPs vote to strip Sir Philip Green of his knighthood October 20, 2016 MPs have voted to strip Sir Philip Green of his knighthood. MPs have been debating the collapse of BHS in the House of Commons. The amendment to take Green's knighthood was supported by over 110 MPs. The vote is not binding, and the ultimate decision over his knighthood will be taken by the honours forfeiture committee. Read more: [...]
Singles Day: What can British retailers learn from China’s version of Black Friday? November 11, 2016 Today marks the world’s largest e-commerce event. No, it’s not Black Friday yet – Singles Day is taking place in China, and it’s bigger than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined. At midnight local time it took Alibaba just 52 seconds to take its first 1bn renminbi (£116m) and just under seven minutes to reach 10bn [...]
Princess Beatrice to launch new career as business consultant with backing from Sandbridge Capital August 1, 2016 Princess Beatrice is reportedly set to launch a startup and begin her new career as a business consultant. Beatrice, 27, is said to have the backing of Sandbridge Capital – where she recently worked as an associate. Investment group Sandbridge focuses on lifestyle and fashion companies, including online retailer Farfetch and iconic British brand Topshop. "(Beatrice) is creating [...]
Beyonce to launch new brand Parkwood Topshop Athletic with Sir Philip Green’s retail empire as profits edge higher November 25, 2015 Sir Philip Green said profits for his retail empire that included Topshop and Dorothy Perkins edged higher last year against a background of a “fast changing” retail industry. The tycoon also revealed a new joint clothing venture with singer Beyonce to produce a new “athletic streetwear brand” called Parkwood Topshop Athletic. The global venture is [...]