A bright new day for Monitise as new backers Santander, Telefonica and MasterCard join November 27, 2014 Monitise co-chief executive and founder Alastair Lukies felt vindicated yesterday after announcing three business giants had backed his mobile money business with a £49.2m investment and would all look to expand their commercial relationships with the company. And although no firm contracts were announced between Monitise and its partners, City A.M. understands that there could [...]
UK shoppers more upbeat than their European counterparts November 27, 2014 UK CONSUMERS are feeling confident in the run up to Christmas and the New Year, survey data released today shows. The consumer confidence barometer released by market research firm GFK yesterday stayed at minus two in November. Despite the fact the figure is negative, it does not signify a decline. The figure also marks an [...]
Poundland sits pretty after new make-up launch November 27, 2014 THE ECONOMY may be improving, but Poundland’s booming popularity is proof shoppers are sticking to recession-born habits of seeking out a bargain, the company said as it posted a jump in first-half profits. The value retailer enjoyed a 34.2 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £12.6m in the six months to 28 September, beating [...]
On the frontline November 27, 2014 PENNY MOSGROVE MD AT QUINTESSENTIALLY ESTATES You might not think an estate agent’s office is much altered by festivities, but we, too, get the occasional Christmas shopper through the door. Even at Quintessentially Estates, where we’re used to dealing with top-end property acquisitions for some of the world’s wealthiest individuals, we sometimes find ourselves playing [...]
Film review: Paddington is sweet as marmalade November 27, 2014 Cert PG | ★★★★☆ Paddington Bear is back and he’s looking… scary. With mangey, greying fur and little sharp teeth, it’s easier to imagine him ripping the throats out of livestock in Alaska than nibbling marmalade sandwiches in west London. Appearances, though, can be deceiving. In spirit, Paddington Bear is cuddlier than [...]
Something for the weekend November 27, 2014 AMERICAN TREATS: THANKSGIVING AT THE MAZE GRILL With Josper-grilled turkey, honey roast parsnips and delicately spiced pumpkin soup, Gordon Ramsay is beating the yanks at their own game with the Thanksgiving menu at his Maze Grill restaurant. Three courses £35; gordonramsay.com/mazegrill ROMANTIC FUN: SOMERSET HOUSE ICE SKATING Christmas wouldn’t be christmas without skating at Somerset [...]
Poundland’s quids in with 11.7 per cent rise in profits November 27, 2014 Shares in discount retailer Poundland edged 3.7 per cent higher to just under 314p after it posted a 11.7 per cent rise in pre-tax profits, which hit £9.3m in the six months to the end of September. Sales rose 15 per cent to £528.2m, while net debt fell 83 per cent to £4.4m, as it [...]
Labour’s VAT jibe is political hot air, George Osborne won’t bite November 26, 2014 It’s that time of year again folks. The Christmas adverts have taken root on our TV screens and Marks and Spencer has its “tastefully festive” album playing in store. That’s right, the Autumn Statement is just around the corner and boy what a stocking full of goodies the chancellor is preparing to give away this [...]
Retailers set for bumper sales this Christmas November 26, 2014 RETAIL sales stood firm in November while firms expected business to speed up as Christmas nears. Of the 130 retail companies surveyed by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), 44 per cent said sales volumes were up on the year in November, while 17 per cent said they had fallen, giving a difference, or net [...]
John Lewis Christmas ad crooner Tom Odell launches London City Island dream of Irish billionaire Sean Mulryan November 26, 2014 London had a taste of Manhattan-style island life last night, as Irish billionaire Sean Mulryan and his property firm Ballymore launched its new 12-acre island neighbourhood, City Island, across from Canning Town. There are 1,700 new properties going up for sale on City Island, and no doubt Mulryan was hoping some of the [...]