Homebase named the UK’s worst retail website in rescue deal aftermath November 13, 2018 DIY retailer Homebase has been named the UK's worst online shopping website, alongside a plethora of other familiar names in a survey conducted by independent consumer body Which?. Homebase received a rating of 55 per cent as part of a survey with over 10,000 consumers evaluating their experiences online. Customers said they found the site [...]
Fishing Republic on the hook as it tries to land extra finance November 12, 2018 Angling retailer Fishing Republic warned today its future is uncertain as it works to raise extra finance. The Aim-listed business said there was “material uncertainty regarding the group’s financial position” and said “the group continues to trade only with the short-term support of key creditors”. Shares in the group were suspended on 16 October after [...]
H&M takes a $20m stake in fintech startup Klarna October 8, 2018 Swedish fintech startup Klarna has today announced a global partnership with fashion powerhouse H&M, which included a $20m (£15.3m) investment in the business. The deal will see Klarna integrate its digital payments technology into H&M's physical and online stores via its payment programme H&M Club1. Klarna allows shoppers to pay securely for products online with flexible payment options [...]
Sports Direct’s Mike Ashley tees off in bidding war for American Golf October 5, 2018 Sports Direct owner and retail tycoon Mike Ashley is set to expand his business empire further, as it suggested he has tabled a bid for Britain's largest golf retailer American Golf. Ashley is among a number of interested parties in the American Golf takeover, including JD Sports Fashion, sources told Sky News. Deloitte, who is advising [...]
Sports Direct and JD Sports join the race for Evans Cycles October 3, 2018 JD Sports Fashion and Sports Direct have taken up seats at the bidding table alongside Halfords for beleaguered firm Evans Cycles. Both sporting retail powerhouses have tabled indicative offers for Evans in the last week, Sky News first reported late last night. The bids come in addition to an offer from Britain's biggest bike firm [...]
Out with the old, in with the new UK high street September 26, 2018 A tale of two retailers dominated the high street yesterday – Next’s shares jumped nearly eight per cent after the fashion giant lifted its full-year profit guidance while Card Factory’s shares lost a tenth of their value after profits were off-message. Read more: Next nudges up profit guidance after blistering summer The diverging fortunes [...]
Cath Kidston to review UK store locations in bid for higher footfall September 19, 2018 Fashion retailer Cath Kidston is reviewing the locations of its UK stores as it looks to move to destinations that attract higher footfall. The brand, which has 65 stores across the UK including pop-ups and concessions, is reviewing individual branches as leases come up for renewal at which point it will consider whether to relocate the store to a [...]
Cath Kidston to review UK store locations in bid for higher footfall September 19, 2018 Fashion retailer Cath Kidston is reviewing the locations of its UK stores as it looks to move to destinations that attract higher footfall. The brand, which has 65 stores across the UK including pop-ups and concessions, is reviewing individual branches as leases come up for renewal at which point it will consider whether to relocate the store to a [...]
Alive and kicking: JD Sports thrives in struggling high street environment September 11, 2018 JD Sports sprinted ahead of its high street rivals as it boosted both profit and revenue margins in its interim results today. The figures The shoe and sportswear retailer posted a 35 per cent year-on-year hike in revenue to £1.85bn for the six months to the end of August while profits before tax stepped up [...]
Value of inward UK M&A deals falls by £15.8bn September 4, 2018 The value of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) of UK companies by foreign businesses fell by £15.8bn between April and June this year. The drop, from £22.3bn to £6.5bn, reflected the absence of high-value transactions that were seen in previous periods, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Read more: Petrol station merger could drive up fuel prices, [...]