EBay to open a pop-up shop for Christmas November 17, 2011 ONLINE retailer eBay is to open a Christmas “pop-up” store in London’s busiest shopping district. The store, located on Dean Street – a stone’s throw away from Oxford Street – will not directly sell anything but will feature display models with codes customers can scan with their smartphone if they want to make a purchase. [...]
Tough Christmas looms despite retail sales lift November 17, 2011 AGGRESSIVE price cuts led to a surprise jump in retail sales last month, yet separate data suggests that high street stores are set for a tough Christmas. Sales volumes in October were up 0.9 per cent compared the same time last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed yesterday. The value of sales, boosted [...]
Glad rags for partying in style November 17, 2011 CHRISTMAS party season and all its fashion opportunities, work-sanctioned bouts of alcohol consumption, and colleagues letting their hair down, is on hand. Whether all this is a cause for celebration or dread, one thing you can be sure of is that looking like a festive fashionista will only improve matters. Even if you’re not feeling [...]
Give your rooms a warming touch November 17, 2011 WITH the long, cold winter nights creeping in, the prospect of a night snuggled up on the sofa is ever more appealing. Naturally, the thick throws are dug out of the cellar and some bedroom cushions stray into the lounge, giving the place a cosy feel before the Christmas decorations go up. Nearly everyone does [...]
FTSE hit by soaring bank yields November 17, 2011 The FTSE 100 fell in early trading today as yields on a Spanish bond auction soared to almost seven per cent – a level considered unsustainable by economists. A warning from ratings agency Fitch that the outlook for US banks could deteriorate if the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis is not resolved also took its toll. [...]
Early xmas deals boost retail sector November 17, 2011 Early pre-Christmas promotions gave a surprise lift to British retail sales in October, driving up volumes at their fastest pace since June, official data showed on Thursday. The Office for National Statistics said sales volumes including automotive fuel rose 0.6 per cent last month after a 0.5 per cent rise in September and confounding forecasts [...]
CITY BANKS FACE JOBS BLOODBATH November 16, 2011 THE CITY faces a jobs bloodbath as investment banks accelerate job cuts to a speed last seen during the 2008 financial crisis. With data showing UK joblessness at a 15-year high, one of Canary Wharf’s biggest employers, Citigroup, confirmed plans to slash jobs, with 3,000 expected to go globally. BNP Paribas also said it would cut [...]
Game shares slump 46pc on warning November 16, 2011 GAME Group shares tumbled 46 per cent yesterday after it warned it will not hit its full-year targets. The video games retailer was relying on the release of blockbuster titles including Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3 and Skyrim to give it a much-needed boost in the run up to Christmas but those hopes appear to [...]
Vivendi sees boost from new releases November 16, 2011 BLOCKBUSTER video game sales gave a power up to French conglomerate Vivendi, with a blistering Christmas period already guaranteed thanks to its record breaking Modern Warfare franchise. Its Activision games unit saw a year-on-year jump in profits for the first nine months of 38.6 per cent, with revenues up 4.8 per cent. The firm said its [...]
FOOD & BOOZE NEWS November 16, 2011 • Cigar lovers should black out 28 November in their diaries, as Boisdale Canary Wharf will be putting their exquisite cigar lounge to good use with a vintage cigar auction. The auction, organised by the wittily named C.Gars Ltd., includes some very highly prized lots – July’s auction sold a selection of Dunhill Cabinetta for [...]