Mother’s Day and Easter fail to bring growth to high street, as March sees “disappointing” start to 2016 continue April 8, 2016 Mother's Day and Easter weren't enough to save a high street sales decline last month. Sales were down one per cent year on year in March after a month of peaks and troughs. March started strongly, partly due to an early Mother's Day, according to BDO's high street tracker, released today. Read more: High street bounces back thanks [...]
Artist focus: John Kørner’s land of milk and honey April 1, 2016 John Kørner is one of Denmark’s most recognisable contemporary artists, his semi-abstract works probing the ills of 21st century society, from poverty to sex work. Although he’s an accomplished sculptor, he’s best known for his vivid, ethereal, often wryly funny paintings: a man rifling through a skip in After Christmas; an old woman barfing against [...]
Steel crisis: Government urged to spend £400m on UK steel workers to support towns and families March 31, 2016 The government is facing calls to spend up to £400m to support the families and towns of steelworkers hit by Indian steel giant Tata's plans to sell its UK operations. The government has been under pressure to act since Tata announced the decision that it would be putting its UK operations up for sale early on Tuesday morning. Earlier today Prime [...]
Ladies who don’t lunch: Maike Currie talks to Jane Andrews about religion, money and fund management March 31, 2016 Britishness dictates that one should never discuss money, politics or religion in polite company. It’s right up there with knowing your place in the queue and keeping up to speed with the weather. But not if you’re having lunch with Jane Andrews, veteran fund manager at investment house Smith & Williamson, who specialises in finding [...]
William Hill ads banned by Advertising Standards Authority for being “misleading” and “unclear” March 30, 2016 The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has banned William Hill from repeating two "misleading" and "unclear" promotions it ran in December. The promotions were marketed as "risk free" and stated in their terms and conditions that customers would receive money back if they placed bets of £5 or £10 on "£5 Risk Free with Family Guy… Play [...]
Foyles swings back into black as new Charing Cross flagship becomes a bestseller March 29, 2016 The late Foyle brothers would be proud. The eponymous bookshop they founded over a century ago – initially selling their old textbooks – has returned to profitability after a turbulent few years that saw the company move to a new flagship store on Charing Cross Road. Foyles, which has six book stores in Birmingham, Bristol [...]
Bottoms up to Great Brewtain: Old Speckled Hen, Doom Bar and Hobgoblin are the nation’s three top ales, according to Tesco March 23, 2016 If you don't still know the difference between ale and beer, now might be the time to learn – ale sales have shot up over 14 per cent in the past year. And, if you still need help discerning them next time you're at the pub, Old Speckled Hen, Doom Bar and Hobgoblin are the UK's [...]
Game Digital share price drops after 77.3 per cent dividend slash and pre-tax profit fall March 23, 2016 Video game retailer Game Digital's share price dropped almost nine per cent after it released its half-year results and announced a 77.3 per cent cut in its interim dividend. The figures Game Digital's pre-tax profit in the half year to January fell 32 per cent to £22.5m. Revenue was down six per cent to £549.2m and the company [...]
Jack Wills secures extra £10m funding as its embarks on a store opening spree March 21, 2016 Jack Wills has secured an extra £10m of funding from its lenders as it looks to add another 10 stores to its clothing empire this year. The preppy fashion chain, which counts Prince Harry among its fans, said HSBC has agreed to increase its revolving credit facility to £30m for the rest of 2016 to help support its expansion. [...]
Tesco is “on the cusp of something new”, says UK boss Matt Davies as he sets out three key ways supermarket hopes to win back customers March 16, 2016 The country's biggest retailer Tesco is "on the cusp of something new", its UK boss has said today, in his first public outing since taking the helm. Matt Davies, who joined last May from Halfords, told delegates at the Retail Week Live conference that customers were "more positive about Tesco than they've been for years". Tesco beat [...]