Review: How John Lewis has used a bear and a hare to lure in Xmas trade November 7, 2013 WITH just one John Lewis product used in the whole advert – an alarm clock given to a bear by a hare so that he can wake up from hibernation to enjoy Christmas – its keenly awaited Christmas advert appears at first glance oddly non-commercial. But by deciding to use animation and a simple tale [...]
Morrisons boss insists sales will return to growth November 7, 2013 MORRISONS’ boss Dalton Philips has insisted that like-for-like sales will move back into the black over Christmas despite the supermarket chain suffering a further deterioration in trading in the third quarter. Sales at stores open more than a year fell 2.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to 3 November, at the bottom of analysts’ [...]
John Lewis hopes its new campaign has the X Factor November 7, 2013 EVER since its award winning advert two years ago featuring a boy impatiently waiting for Christmas to give a present to his parents – John Lewis has been under pressure to pull out all the stops for its Christmas campaign. And this year it has stopped short at nothing less than booking an entire commercial [...]
Morrisons sales down as store loses out in convenience and online shopping November 7, 2013 Morrison Supermarkets saw like-for-like sales down 2.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to 3 November, with "subdued" consumer confidence being paired with the store's "low exposure" to the key growth areas of convenience and online. Including fuel, sales were down three per cent. Chief executive Dalton Philips commented that the market is "tough". (Release) [...]
M&S shares rise despite further fall in clothing November 5, 2013 MARKS & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland said efforts put into the new autumn and winter range were showing signs of paying off, as the retailer’s decline in general merchandise sales slowed slightly, pushing shares 4.5 per cent higher yesterday. The high street stalwart reported a 1.5 per cent decline in underlying general merchandise sales [...]
Primark profits steal the show at AB Foods November 5, 2013 ASSOCIATED British Foods (ABF) said yesterday that “remarkable” results at its discount clothing chain Primark helped the FTSE 100 giant report a 13 per cent jump in profits. Primark’s adjusted operating profit rose 44 per cent to £514m in the year to 14 September, overtaking the £435m of profits at ABF’s sugar division, which was [...]
M&S sales continue to fall as Bolland has to hope for tenth time lucky November 5, 2013 Marks and Spencer has said this morning that its transformation is on track, although profits were 8.9 per cent lower at £261.1m during the six months to the end of September – the company's ninth reported loss. (Release) Analysts had predicted a 12 per cent decline in profits for the first half of the year, [...]
Online retail takes up growing share of sales before Christmas November 4, 2013 RETAILERS saw a boost ahead of Christmas during October, with sales up 2.6 per cent in comparison to the same month last year according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). However, the survey conducted with KPMG suggests the UK’s high streets may not be benefiting as much from the increase. On a like-for-like basis, sales [...]
Couple to bring Christmas cheer to the Guildhall November 4, 2013 STUCK for Christmas present ideas? The couple pictured below might just have the answer for you. Alderman John Garbutt and his partner Solangela Tangarife (who hails from Colombia and is herself a professional events organiser) have spent the past few months organising the British Red Cross Christmas Market, which takes place at the City’s Guildhall [...]
Fortnum & Mason unveils festive window November 4, 2013 THE COUNTDOWN to Christmas doesn’t officially begin until Fortnum & Mason unveils its famous Christmas windows… well that time has come. CEO Ewan Venters is pictured next to this year’s opulent displays, the theme for which is Where Dreams Come True.