Jones Bootmaker administration: Kurt Geiger and Endless eye up struggling shoe brand March 15, 2017 As Jones Bootmaker sits on the brink of administration, upmarket shoe retailer Kurt Geiger and Endless, the turnaround firm that owns Bathstore, are reportedly among suitors poised to swoop in to the 150-year-old firm’s rescue. The two are in discussions with advisers to Jones’ owners about deals that would potentially save hundreds of jobs, Sky News reported. [...]
Bond Street dumps its rubbish trucks March 15, 2017 Bond Street has dumped its bin men in a bid to attract overseas investment. The number of rubbish trucks going along the iconic shopping street has been slashed by 75 per cent over the past year, with the number of service providers falling from 40 to just two. Read more: Retailers in Mayfair and Bond [...]
Shareholder group Pirc hits back at Sports Direct’s “fake news” allegations March 15, 2017 A shareholder advisory group has hit back at Sports Direct after the retailer accused it of pushing out “fake news” figures on high pay ratios. Pensions and Investment Research Consultants (Pirc) also claimed Sports Direct had sight of the contested figures in 2015 and made “no response on the detail”. Read more: Revealed: The highest and [...]
Retail giant H&M lagging behind competitors as shares drop March 15, 2017 H&M’s shares dropped by nearly 5 per cent, the first downturn of its kind in four years. The figures H&M’s sales decreased 1 per cent year-on-year last month, bringing its shares down 4.5 per cent. This drop is the first of its kind in four years. Fiscal first-quarter sales were up 5.5 per cent from [...]
Bumper payday for Amancio Ortega as profits at Zara parent Inditex jump 10 per cent March 15, 2017 The owner of Zara, Pull & Bear and Massimo Dutti has reported a 10 per cent increase in full year net profit – leaving founder Amancio Ortega, one of the world's richest men, with a bumper €1.3bn (£1.1bn) payout. Profits at Inditex, the world's largest fashion retailer by sales, rose from €2.88bn to €3.16bn in the year [...]
Cheltenham Festival sets new alcohol restrictions after last year’s debauchery March 14, 2017 After last year's booze-fuelled escapades at Cheltenham Festival tarnished the lavish event, the racecourse has instated new rules in an attempt to limit how much customers drink. Racegoers are now barred from purchasing more than four alcoholic drinks at a time. However, complimentary water will be made available at each bar. In 2016, two footballers were fined after apparently urinating in a [...]
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 [...]