Private equity firm Privet Capital cuddles up with Care Bears maker Vivid Toy Group March 14, 2017 Private equity firm Privet Capital has snapped up a toymaker behind Care Bears, Thunderbirds and Moshi Monsters. Vivid Toy Group sells its products to major retailers across the UK, France, Benelux, Germany and the US, including in Tesco, Argos, Wal-Mart, Toys ‘R’ Us and Amazon. Headquartered in Guildford, the firm also has operations in Paris, Frankfurt and [...]
Marks and Spencer has shut down its Beijing branch as it heads out of China March 14, 2017 Marks and Spencer has pulled out of China, closing its prestigious Beijing branch earlier this month, the company confirmed. The retailer said it also closed two stores in February in the country and three more in January. Three remaining stores in Shanghai are scheduled to close by 1 April. Adam Colton, Marks & Spencer managing [...]
Another year of profit losses for French Connection March 14, 2017 High street fashion shop, French Connection, has reported yet another year of losses. The figures French Connection said revenues for 2016 were £153.2m, down six per cent, compared to last year’s £164.2m. The company declared an underlying operating loss of £3.7m this year, compared to £4.7m last year. It has less cash this year and [...]
Ocado share price rises as it delivers steady sales growth but eyes sterling currency movements March 14, 2017 Grocery delivery company Ocado reported increased sales but said it remains vulnerable to changing price pressures and currency movements. Shares rose by more than 1.5 per cent at the open before paring some gains. The figures Gross retail sales grew by 13.1 per cent in the quarter to February, matching last quarter’s growth to reach [...]
The Gym Group share price rises as it flexes its muscle and moves into the black March 14, 2017 Pay-as-you-go gym operator The Gym Group has posted its first full-year profit with revenues rising 22 per cent as it shows no signs of slowing expansion. Read more: How budget chain The Gym Group built up its muscle The figures The company, which owns 89 low cost gyms across the UK, reported revenue of £73.5m [...]
Revealed: Notes coffee shop nets £600,000 loan from challenger bank OakNorth to open two new London branches, despite Brexit uncertainty March 13, 2017 Notes has struck a deal for a £600,000 loan to open two further branches in London, including its largest site to date, City A.M. has learnt. The coffee shop and wine bar chain, which already has six sites dotted around the capital, hopes to push ahead with aggressive growth plans in the near future and the [...]
Lush says Brexit sent “shockwaves” through the business and threatens to focus expansion outside the UK March 13, 2017 Lush has threatened to focus its future expansion outside the UK as Brexit sent "shockwaves" through the business. The natural cosmetics firm said the 20 per cent of its UK workforce who do not have British citizenship "suddenly felt unwelcome and understandably upset" after the UK voted to leave the European Union. The bath bomb [...]
British book worms are spending more on reading this year, sending sales up £100m March 13, 2017 Britons are reading more than last year and increased spending by six per cent on books by as much as £100m more compared to 2016, according to research from Nielsen Book Research UK. Printed book sales were up seven per cent, driven by greater reading amongst younger generations, despite commonly held assumptions that young people [...]
Aldi is harnessing the ’90s revival with a retro new logo March 13, 2017 Aldi has launched a retro new logo as it goes for a ‘90s update to the German supermarket’s blue, red and orange badge. Aldi Sued, the owner of the discount supermarket, rejected the flat design of its current logo, plumping instead for the gradient sheen beloved of companies when computers first became capable of giving [...]
Meet Aaron Simpson, the man building the world’s biggest superyacht for billionaires – and take a peek inside it March 13, 2017 A billionaire recently wanted to watch a romantic movie with his girlfriend on the beach, but did not want to get sand on his feet. What did he do? He covered the entire beach with carpets. The man who made this bizarre fantasy possible is Aaron Simpson of Quintessentially, a concierge service for billionaires. Founded [...]