Barber boom bucks high street struggles as demand for male hair grooming jumps November 18, 2018 A boom in barber shops is helping to revive the stricken high street, fuelled by the growing demand for hipster beards. Male hair grooming is now one of the fastest-growing retail sectors, as young men – especially workers in the City – care more than ever about the state of their face fuzz. The rise in [...]
FTSE 100 roundup: Today’s winners and losers November 16, 2018 The FTSE 100 lost ground today, down 5.31 points at 7,032.70 just before markets closed after a turbulent start to the day when it lost as much as 0.8 per cent. All week markets have been reacting to the political fallout from Brexit as the FTSE 100 wiped out gains made late last week. Top 5 FTSE [...]
Debenhams supplier issue could be ‘nail in the coffin’ for department store November 15, 2018 Supplier problems that have reportedly hit Debenhams could be the “nail in the coffin” for the embattled department store, according to industry experts. A number of high street suppliers stopped working with the 240-year-old store after credit insurers reduced their protection, trade magazine Drapers reported. “They really need to implement strategic change in the business, [...]
Businesses to splash out over £6bn on Christmas advertising November 14, 2018 UK businesses will fork out £6.4bn on festive advertising this Christmas during the final quarter, according to the Advertising Association. The expenditure, which is up 5 per cent on last year’s record amount, shows the growing competition between companies as they vie to make the season’s most popular advert and achieve festive fame. Many of [...]
Consumer spending falls in October as shoppers continue to abandon the high street November 13, 2018 UK consumer spending dipped in October after having risen for two months, with an e-commerce rebound propping up a two per cent fall in face-to-face sales. Expenditure has fallen in six of 10 months so far this year, adding to a cocktail of concerns for bricks-and-mortar retailers, according to Visa UK Consumer Spending Index data [...]
Thousands of stores fall off high street as retail woes worsen November 9, 2018 Fresh evidence of the retail woes facing Britain’s shopkeepers emerged this morning, with more than 2,500 stores vanishing from the high street over the first six months of this year. Some 14 stores have closed every day in the first half of 2018, as stiffer competition and higher costs make the retail struggle for survival [...]
Shareholders need to hear more than just contrition if they are to believe in the future of M&S November 8, 2018 Another day, another bleak set of results from a struggling high street retailer. This time it was the turn of M&S to take centre stage, reporting falling food and fashion sales and pledging to leave “no stone unturned” in its bid to restructure the business. Blighted by rising costs, more competition, and major changes in [...]
Arcadia concessions to be hit by Debenhams store cuts in latest blow to Sir Philip Green October 28, 2018 Hundreds of Arcadia concession stores are under threat after Debenhams revealed proposals to close 50 branches as part of a cost-cutting bid, in another blow for retail tycoon Sir Philip Green. It comes after Topshop boss Green was named in parliament by Lord Peter Hain as the businessman that blocked The Telegraph reporting on allegations of sexual harassment and [...]
Debenhams shares rise despite £500m loss: Industry reaction October 25, 2018 Debenhams’ share price rose 15 per cent this morning despite the high street department store posting a £500m loss, its worst in 240 years of trading. A £491.5m loss for its 2018 financial year was down from a £59m profit it recorded in 2017, while revenue fell 1.8 per cent to £2.9bn and like-for-like sales [...]
High street turmoil: Debenhams cancels dividend as it confirms £500m loss October 25, 2018 Debenhams scrapped its dividend this morning as it confirmed a loss of almost £500m amid plans to close up to 50 stores, after news of the troubled retailer’s desperate outlook broke late last night. The department store’s biggest loss in its 240-year history came as chief executive Sergio Bucher insisted the company remains a “profitable business”, [...]