Young people actually prefer physical shops more than any other age group July 18, 2016 The success of online retail is less dependent on iPhone-obsessed millennials than you may think, according to new research by British Land. Young people are actually more likely to visit an physical shop than any other age group. They are also most likely to browse items in a physical store, and order online later if what they want isn't in stock. [...]
Chris Froome forced to run up Mont Ventoux as Tour de France takes extraordinary turn July 14, 2016 Britain's Chris Froome kept hold of the yellow jersey despite being forced to run up part of the iconic Mont Ventoux climb in one of the most extraordinary incidents in Tour de France history. The defending champion took to jogging after being knocked off his bike towards the end of the stage and finding that [...]
Asos sales jump as customer numbers grow 24 per cent July 12, 2016 Online retailer Asos grew sales by 26 per cent in the four months to 30 June, pushing revenue up to £514.6m for the period. The company's share price was up 4.7 per cent in early trading. Sales in the UK were up 28 per cent, while US sales surged by 45 per cent. Sales in the [...]
Week ahead: Fashion retailers and builders are in the spotlight July 11, 2016 Alongside the Bank of England’s first meeting after the UK voted to quit the European Union it will be a busy week of corporate numbers. Bank of England officials announce their monetary policy decision on Thursday and many economists are expecting a loosening of interest rates. The FTSE 100 rose to its highest level in [...]
Asos won’t be making an Amazon-style move into physical shops July 7, 2016 Asos won't be following in Amazon's footsteps and bringing its brand onto the high-street, intending to focus on mobile sales instead. Speaking to City A.M. about whether the online retailer would ever open physical shops, Asos' chairman Brian McBride said: "It's not on our current plans. Read more: Amazon is opening its first physical bookshop McBride said the idea of [...]
Do you work for one of the UK’s 25 most attractive employers? June 21, 2016 It's causing fevered debate in offices. Politicians are clashing over it. The cats of social media are up in arms about it. Yep, LinkedIn's list of the UK's top 25 most sought-after employers is out – and the good news is that City institutions are faring pretty well. The list, based on analysis of the site's 20m members, [...]
Maturity of Aim questioned as it celebrates its 21st birthday June 20, 2016 The London Stock Exchange’s alternative investment market (Aim) has turned 21. But, in a happy birthday message, Hargreaves Lansdown has questioned its maturity. Senior analyst Laith Khalaf highlighted in a note this morning how the FTSE Aim Index has fallen by 30 per cent since its launch. Read more: Here's why you should invest on [...]
What slowdown? New Look is bucking the high street’s trend, as profits leap June 7, 2016 Here's one retailer making hay while the sun shines: New Look, beloved of budget fashionistas, has reported a jump in profits – despite slowing confidence on the high street. The figures In a statement this morning, the UK's second-largest women's clothing retailer said revenues rose 5.4 per cent to £1.49bn in the year to the end of March, while pre-tax profits [...]
As social media platforms get better at monetising, what should marketers expect? June 6, 2016 Monetising is a top priority for the world’s leading social platforms like Twitter and Periscope, and recent figures suggest they’re getting better at it. According to the Internet Advertising Bureau, the UK’s social media ad spend rose 51 per cent last year to £574m, so what developments should marketers expect from these firms over the coming [...]
Could a focus on customer experience have saved BHS? June 3, 2016 Retailers have learnt harsh lessons about failing to stay relevant; the collapse of BHS is just the latest casualty. Like Woolworths and GAME before it, when BHS went into administration, the most common reaction was shock. However, the downfall of BHS cannot be considered a surprise. The company failed to keep up with the internet revolution and being outmanoeuvred [...]