BHS to target younger customers as it makes a comeback in the UK September 26, 2016 You may have thought BHS had shut up shop for good but now a Qatari group wants to rebuild its fortunes in the UK by targeting younger customers. The British brand – but not its shops – was acquired by The Al Mana Group back in June, along with BHS.com and BHS' international business. Since [...]
People still trust brick-and-mortar branches more than digital banks September 26, 2016 Digital banking has surged in popularity over the last few years, but research out today also shows many still won't trust a lender without a brick-and-mortar presence. Just less than half (48 per cent) of UK banking customers would not be comfortable sorting out their finances solely online or by mobile, while a third (33 [...]
Business groups write to communities secretary Sajid Javid to campaign against changes to business rates September 25, 2016 Groups representing retailers and small businesses have come together to write to communities secretary Sajid Javid to urge him to pull back on changes to business rates. Business rates are being re-evaluated, and changes proposed for the way business rates are valued could "sink individual businesses into hardship", the lobby groups warned. Read more: West End gets [...]
Economists are expecting more positive data on consumer confidence this week as shoppers shrug off the Brexit vote September 25, 2016 Consumers' worries about the economic impact of the Brexit vote are fading, as economists are expecting positive data on sentiment to be released this week. Confidence in the UK economy slumped immediately after the EU referendum, but now economists are expecting an uptick. Read more: West End gets Brexit boost as sales to tip over [...]
BHS is back September 25, 2016 The British high street stalwart BHS is back, as new investors emerge with a refreshed online incarnation of the retailer which spectacularly slid into administration earlier this year. BHS will return with a new website, BHS.com, after Qatari business group Al Mana Group snapped up BHS' 70 overseas stores and the website in June. Read more: Insolvency Service quizzed Chappell consultants over £1 BHS purchase It's now [...]
A dramatic new plan has emerged to save British steelworkers’ pensions almost exactly three months after the end of a government consultation September 22, 2016 A radical new plan has emerged to save the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS), as Tata and unions officials work to remove obstacles to a potential sale of UK steelworks including Port Talbot. India's Tata has been locked in talks with Germany's Thyssenkrupp over a potential joint venture since July, but UK sites including the [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open September 22, 2016 A divided Federal Reserve has voted to leave interest rates on hold, queuing up a hike before the end of 2016 and markets couldn't be happier. Here's what you need to know before the US market open at 2:30pm London time. Markets climbed yesterday following the Fed announcement and Janet Yellen's frank press conference. The S&P is [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open September 21, 2016 Markets are already cheering the US Federal Reserve and Mylan's chief executive is set to answer questions on the latest drug pricing scandal. Here's what you need to know before the US open at 2:30pm. The US pre-market is climbing ahead of the open, betting the Fed will not move to hike interest rates when it [...]
Sainsbury’s is opening a London fulfilment centre to stop Amazon gobbling up its customers September 21, 2016 Sainsbury's is responding to London's growing hunger for online groceries by opening a new fulfilment centre in the capital. The retailer is expecting its online orders in London to double by 2024, and will meet that demand with a new warehouse in Bromley-by-Bow that can fulfil 25,000 orders per week. In total, the fulfilment centre will [...]
Zara owner Inditex posts sales rise of 11 per cent September 21, 2016 The world's biggest clothing retailer – which owns brands such as Zara, Bershka and Pull & Bear – reported a like-for-like sales rise of 11 per cent this morning. Total sales increased to €10.47bn (£8.99bn) for the period from 1 February to the end of July. Profits jumped eight per cent annually, reaching €1.26bn (£1.08bn). Analysts had [...]