Dear Diary: Moleskine wants to win the TikTok generation with notebook vending machines October 18, 2022 Beloved by wordsmiths across the globe, Moleskine notebooks are based on the black books of Parisian cafes in the 19th century – where artists would meet up over a glass or three of wine to share notes and experiences. But the firm’s boss is not looking back today – Daniela Riccardi’s eyes are very much on tomorrow’s [...]
Asda to open Express convenience stores in bid to gain market share October 18, 2022 Asda will open its first convenience stores this winter, as the supermarket hopes to appeal to more shoppers on the go. The first Asda Express store will open in Sutton Coldfield next month, followed by a store in Tottenham Hale in December. Some 30 more stores will be rolled out across 2023, in a scheme [...]
Pubs and brewers disappointed by alcohol duty reversal ahead of ‘toughest winter in history’ October 17, 2022 Pubs will be “hit extremely hard” this winter after the government scrapped an upcoming alcohol duty freeze, industry chiefs said. The duty freeze was one of many policies consigned to a bonfire of tax cuts from newly-appointed Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on Monday. Announced just a few weeks ago by Hunt’s predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng, the move would [...]
Matalan secures deadline extension for £350m debt payment October 17, 2022 Matalan has announced that its debt payments have been kicked back several months, buying the high street retailer more time to find cash. The discount clothes retailer said that a January deadline to refinance £350m of debt has been pushed back to July. Matalan described the update as “an important milestone” in its recapitalisation plan [...]
VAT free shopping U-turn ‘major blow’ for West End as tourists shun London for Paris and Milan October 17, 2022 Scrapping VAT free shopping for tourists is a “major blow” for London and the country’s economy, a group representing luxury stores in the West End and other retail hotspots has said. Paul Barnes, chief executive of the Association of International Retail (AIR) – whose members range from Bicester Village to Heathrow Airport – told CityA.M. the [...]
Made.com receives non-binding proposals in rescue sale talks October 17, 2022 Made has said it has recieved “a number of” non-binding indicative proposals, as the online homeware retailer searches for a buyer amid tumbling sales. After reviewing the proposals, the board has invited” a select number of parties” to progress towards firm offers by the end of October, following a due diligence process, Made said on [...]
‘Heartbreaking’: Eve Sleep calls in administrators after unsuccessful sales talks October 17, 2022 Mattress seller Eve Sleep has been forced to call in administrators after bosses said the scale of the company had struggled to withstand an “economic tsunami” this year. The AIM-listed sleep wellness brand had been searching for a buyer or equity fundraising but said talks had not been successful. Shoppers had shunned big ticket items [...]
Battersea Power Station opens doors to the public after decades since landmark closed October 14, 2022 After four decades out of action, London’s iconic Battersea Power Station is opening to the public today, as owners of the Grade II listed landmark hope to cement it as one of the capital’s top retail and leisure destinations. More than 60 shops and bars are opening today at the Art Deco development, including a [...]
Young punters protect Boxpark sales from consumer slowdown October 13, 2022 Young Londoners receiving inflation-related salary boosts has helped to protect Boxpark from a slowdown in discretionary spending, its CEO has said. The shipping container hospitality concept has seen sales increase by double digits compared to the previous year, with London sites in East Croydon, Shoreditch and Wembley “trading really well,” Simon Champion told CityA.M. The [...]
Boots sales surpass pre-Covid levels as city centres spring back to life October 13, 2022 Boots’ retail sales have exceeded pre-Covid levels for the fourth quarter, thanks to rebounding footfall in city centres. Retail sales were up 15.2 per cent on a like-for-like basis, with stores near transport hubs seeing a particular resurgence. Warm weather and a return of travel abroad also buoyed sales, with store transactions up more than [...]
