The Works continues post-pandemic comeback as arts and crafts sales soar September 23, 2022 The Works continues its valiant post-pandemic comeback as revenue climbs for the high street arts and crafts store. For the year ending 1 May, total revenue hit £264.6m for the retailer, up 46.5 per cent compared with 2021 levels. This was bolstered by the fact that two-year like-for-like sales climbed 10.5 per cent, with positive growth [...]
Sterling’s freefall is global but there are still markets where the Pound buys you more than last year September 22, 2022 The pound has tanked again against the dollar and is now down 18 per cent year-on-year. As the Bank of England prepares to hike interest rates later today, Sterling has endured a rough ride on the currency markets over the last 12 months. As a result, this is making holidays more expensive in 48 out [...]
HMV back in the studio as High Street giant returns to making music for first time in 43 years September 22, 2022 HMV said this morning it will return to making records for the first time in more than four decades. The High Street giant is launching its own music label. The entertainment retailer, which runs 115 stores across the UK, has signed Newcastle-based singer-songwriter India Arkin to the new label, called 1921 Records. The label has [...]
Exclusive: ‘Covid papered over many cracks which gave firms a false positive’, warns Leonard Curtis CEO September 20, 2022 City A.M. reported recently that millions of people across the UK are now struggling to make ends meet, with only one in ten saying they don’t have any financial concerns. And it’s not just individuals that are struggling: Rising bills are the biggest worry for UK businesses, with many concerned about the spiralling cost of [...]
Qatar 2022: How can brands navigate the most political World Cup ever? September 20, 2022 While the location of this year’s Qatar 2022 World Cup makes it the most controversial yet, it is still a huge global moment that fans across the world will want to engage with, and brands be a part of. This is the first time a men’s football World Cup has been held in what is [...]
Fuller’s sales above pre-covid levels amid concern over ‘unsustainable rise’ in energy costs September 20, 2022 Pub chain Fuller’s brought its sales back above pre-pandemic levels but has warned the energy crisis could give it bills of £18m. The company announced its sales in the first half of the financial year were three per cent up on the pandemic, and 50 per cent up on the same period last year. However, [...]
Amazon strike ballot ‘making history’ says UK union boss September 15, 2022 AMAZON workers at a Coventry warehouse became the first in the UK to take part in a formal strike ballot against the ecommerce titan. Hundreds of workers began voting this morning on whether to walk out over Amazon’s 35 pence per hour pay offer, with union GMB lobbying for a £2 per hour increase as [...]
John Lewis posts £92m loss after ‘unprecedented cost inflation’ September 15, 2022 John Lewis Partnership has posted a £92m loss before tax, blaming shoppers spending less due to inflationary pressures in the first half of the year. This was versus a £69m profit compared to the same period last year, although the partnership said on Thursday it was “not unusual for us” to make a loss in [...]
Desperate small businesses beg government for immediate help as bills spiral out of control September 14, 2022 A range of small businesses said this morning that their energy bills have more than doubled in the past three months alone. Firms are therefore eagerly looking to next week’s expected mini budget for help with soaring bills despite the slight easing in inflation. Lesley So, founder of Derby-based eco-friendly drinks manufacturer So Good Kombucha, [...]
Ocado shoppers sent to cut back on spending at online grocer September 13, 2022 Ocado has warned its grocery shoppers will cut back on spending as they turn to cheaper supermarkets and add less to their baskets. In a trading update, the London-listed firm noted “accelerating trading down and smaller baskets, particularly over the last few weeks” and said it now expected to see “a small sales decline” in [...]