H&M Group takes minority stake in e-commerce firm Centra May 7, 2025 H&M has taken a minority stake in e-commerce firm Centra as it looks to deepen its relationship with the company. The stake, which is less than 10 per cent, values Centra at just over half a billion Swedish kronor, according to Di Digital. H&M will invest SEK 50m (£3.9m) in the company, which supports retail [...]
Vinted launches venture capital arm with eye on UK start-ups April 29, 2025 Vinted, the Lithuanian-founded secondhand marketplace, has launched its own venture capital (VC) arm and is eyeing UK start-ups. The move adds new competition to the UK’s fast expanding, re-commerce and resale market, now worth already £7bn, as major platforms look to capitalise on shifting consumer habits driven by inflation and sustainability concerns. Vinted Ventures will [...]
Asos: Losses narrow as e-commerce giant drives turnaround April 24, 2025 Struggling ecommerce giant Asos has reported reduced losses as its turnaround plan begins to take shape. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) moved into positive territory at £42.5m in the 26 weeks to March 2, from a loss of £16.3m last year. Its share price dipped by nearly two per cent in [...]
Asos shares plunge as investors lose confidence March 17, 2025 Asos shares have slumped more than eight per cent in early deals this morning, extending losses recorded over the past few months as investors have lost confidence in the retailer’s turnaround plan. The e-commerce firm’s share price has dropped by a third in the last month and has fallen by half since the start of [...]
Child labour cases once again found in Shein’s supply chain February 27, 2025 Fast-fashion giant Shein found two cases of child labour in its supply chain last year, the company has told MPs. Shein’s general counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Yinan Zhu, disclosed the cases in a letter to MPs, according to The Guardian. One of the incidents involved a child aged 11 years and [...]
Retail start-up loans rise as entrepreneurs defy UK high street gloom February 5, 2025 Start-up loans for retail businesses rose by a fifth last December, with entrepreneurs still determined despite the gloom surrounding the sector, according to new figures. In December 2023, 32 loans were provided to retail business owners. In December 2024, this rose to 39, an increase of 22 per cent, according to The British Business Bank. [...]
Profit boost for Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones ahead of DHL deal February 3, 2025 A company which was sold by Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones to DHL at the end of 2024 returned to the black before the deal was signed, it has been revealed. Brandpath Group, which was part of the PJ Investment Group, provides e-commerce businesses with global fulfilment services and works with the likes such as Google. [...]
Boohoo’s money troubles increase as bidder for London office walks away December 15, 2024 Boohoo has suffered another financial setback after an Israeli bidder pulled out of talks to buy its London office. The company was set to sell its Soho office for £60m to cover a looming debt repayment of £47m due in August 2025. The fast-fashion company bought the property for £72m in 2021. The news comes [...]
Asos: Loss widens but company optimistic on growth November 5, 2024 Asos has reported a steep drop in revenue but said its restructuring has created the foundations for a return to growth. The e-commerce giant reported an operating loss of £331.9m for the year to 1 September 2024, up £83.4m from a loss of £248.5m in 2023. Like for like, revenue fell by 16 per cent [...]
Virgin Wines: Revenue flat as it looks to weather bottleneck in market October 22, 2024 Online wine seller Virgin Wines has reported flat year-on-year revenue as it searches for ways to acquire loyal customers and increase efficiency in a tough trading environment. Total revenue remained at £59m in the year ended 28 June, while profit before tax increased by £2.4m to £1.7m, from a loss of £0.7m in 2023. Adjusted [...]