H&M sales pick up in March as some markets allow stores to reopen March 15, 2021 H&M announced that sales began to pick up in the first half of this month as coronavirus pandemic restrictions have lifted in some markets. Sales between 1 and 13 March were up 10 per cent in local currencies as many countries, including single-biggest market Germany, began to lift restrictions, allowing the retailer to open hundreds [...]
Gambling Commission chief Neil McArthur steps down amid sector review March 15, 2021 Gambling Commission chief executive Neil McArthur is stepping down after less than three years in the role, the regulator announced today. McArthur has served at the commission for almost 15 years, joining as general counsel in 2006. He was appointed to the top job in April 2018. His surprise departure comes at a crucial time [...]
Pandemic essentials: Hand gel, dumbbells and loungewear enjoy consumer boost March 15, 2021 Hand gel, dumbbells and men’s loungewear bottoms are among the latest post-pandemic additions to Britain’s official consumer price index this month, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said today. Consumer habits have transformed throughout the pandemic, reflected in data from ONS which has, unsurprisingly, revealed a rise in casual clothing, home exercise equipment and travel-sized [...]
Covid-19: Forget the fashion pages, the ONS inflation basket tells us pandemic shopping trends March 15, 2021 Covid 19: Forget the fashion pages, the ONS inflation basket tells us pandemic shopping trends
Screwfix to open 50 new stores and create 600 jobs this year March 15, 2021 Screwfix is planning to open an extra 50 stores this year, creating around 600 new jobs, in response to the boom in demand for home improvements during the pandemic. The retailer, which is owned by B&Q parent company Kingfisher, will open 40 new branches in the UK, creating 500 jobs, and a further 10 in [...]
Exclusive: Business owners on how the recovery is playing out on the ground March 15, 2021 This morning it was announced that the rapid rollout of Covid-19 vaccines has led to business confidence hitting its highest levels in three years. According to IHS Markit’s global business outlook survey, business confidence now stands at +32 per cent, up from +26 per cent in October. The increase has been driven by the success [...]
Thorntons to close all UK stores putting 600 jobs at risk March 15, 2021 Thorntons has announced it will close all of its stores, putting around 600 jobs at risk. The chocolatier said this afternoon that it will permanently shutter its 61 branches due to the restrictions on trading during the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement the Sheffield-founded brand said lockdown restrictions over the Easter and Christmas period and [...]
More than half of UK spending now online after pandemic, says Lloyds Bank March 15, 2021 More than half of all UK spending has now shifted online thanks to the Covid pandemic and physical payments have shifted one kilometre closer to people’s homes, according to Lloyds Bank. A new study by the bank also found that ATM and branch withdrawals plummeted by 33 per cent over the past year. Debit card [...]
Flutter mulls spinning off Fan Duel sports betting brand in US March 14, 2021 Paddy Power owned Flutter is mulling spinning off its Fan Duel brand in order to capitalise on the growing US sports betting market. Over the weekend the FTSE 100 firm confirmed it was looking at listing part of the brand on a US exchange, it was reported. Having first invested in Fan Duel in 2018, [...]
Hollywood Bowl taps investors for £30m to expand in UK March 12, 2021 Hollywood Bowl has successfully tapped investors for £30m, which it will use to invest in its chain of UK bowling alleys. The leisure firm this morning completed a share placing to raise the cash ahead of its reopening date. Hollywood Bowl will use the proceeds of the raise to invest in its new centre pipeline, [...]