Mark Kleinman: Handbags (and more) at dawn for activist Ashley November 21, 2024 Mark Kleinman is Sky News’ City Editor and is the man who gets the Square Mile talking in his weekly City AM column. This week he tackles Mike Ashley’s newfound penchant for activist investing, Homebase’s turnaround and and Burberry’s flip-flopping Handbags (and more) at dawn for activist Ashley Paul Singer, Bill Ackman…and Mike Ashley? On the list [...]
Bond Street moves into third for world’s most expensive retail spot November 20, 2024 Bond Street has leaped-frogged Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong to take bronze in a list of the world’s most exclusive retail streets. The shift bucks bucks fears about the decline of brick-and-mortar retail on the high-street and the so-called tourist tax, which has faced campaigners’ calls for scrappage. The average rent on Bond Street [...]
Retail bosses warn of £7bn cost burden after Budget November 19, 2024 UK retail bosses have written to the Chancellor to warn of the wide-ranging damage from the Autumn Budget on their sector, including “inevitable” job losses and price rises. In a letter coordinated by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), 79 signatories, including bluechip retailers Tesco, Next, and Greggs, said they had “significant concerns” about the impact [...]
JD Gyms hails record year as sales pass £100m November 18, 2024 JD Gyms, which is part of the wider empire owned by FTSE 100 giant JD Sports, has posted a pre-tax loss despite its sales passing £100m in what the chain has described as a record financial year. The Greater Manchester-headquartered company has reported a pre-tax loss of £29,000 for the 12 months to 3 February, [...]
Go Outdoors: Brand owned by FTSE 100 giant JD Sports slumps to a loss November 18, 2024 Go Outdoors, which is owned by FTSE 100 giant JD Sports, has slumped into the red thanks to a “disproportionate” rise in costs. The business, which also operates the Go Outdoors Express, Taylor’s and Fishing Republic brands, has reported a pre-tax loss of £1.4m for the year to 3 February, 2024. The loss comes after [...]
Has London’s commercial property market finally recovered from the pandemic? November 15, 2024 High-quality office space in London has “continued and sustained appeal” in London, with property take-up finally exceeding pre-pandemic levels, while retail vacancy rates have similarly dipped to their lowest level since 2019. Cushman & Wakefield and Savills have both reported that the central London property market has begun to stabilise, while British property investment trust [...]
Landsec returns to profit as London property market stabilises November 15, 2024 British property investment trust Land Securities, known as Landsec, swung back into profit and hiked its forecast for the year today after a rebound in occupancy and rental income in London. Landsec told markets this morning that it had returned to the black in the first half of the year, reporting profit after tax of £243m [...]
Retailers warn of ‘inevitable’ job losses and price rises after budget tax hikes November 13, 2024 Retail bosses warned that they will be forced to hike prices and cut jobs due to the government’s tax hikes, as the sector braces for a substantial increase in employment costs. In a draft letter to the Chancellor, coordinated by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), retail bosses warned that job losses were “inevitable” and higher [...]
Square Mile and Me: Together’s Ryan Etchells on going from intern to CCO November 7, 2024 Each week we dig into the memory bank of the City’s great and good. Today, it's Together CCO Ryan Etchells, with a northerner's perspective on the Square Mile.
Mike Ashley defeated: What’s next for Boohoo and will Frasers billionaire seek revenge? November 1, 2024 Retail tycoon Mike Ashley has experienced a rare taste of defeat after fast-fashion giant Boohoo resisted his attempt to become its new chief executive by tapping the boss of Debenhams. Dan Finley is to step into the role which is being vacated by John Lyttle whose departure was announced last month. Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group [...]