Web treats prove to be a real bargain July 10, 2012 SHOPPING is all about justification. “I need that extra jumper because…”. And when it comes to justifying our purchases, we turn to one of two options. “Because I’m worth it” or “because it’s cheap”. Buying decisions, beyond bare essentials, are about treats and bargains. That’s true even in cash-strapped times like the present. Earlier this [...]
RAPID RESPONSES July 10, 2012 Top level failure [Re: Osborne and Tucker have both been damaged by Libor row, yesterday] I’m staggered that both Paul Tucker and Bob Diamond didn’t take notes of their telephone conversations, or indeed have them recorded. Under Financial Services Authority regulations, many of us have to. We’d get fined or disbarred if we didn’t. Quentin [...]
Marks & Spencer hit by summer rains July 10, 2012 Retailer Marks & Spencer posted its worst underlying quarterly sales performance for three and a half years after the wettest April and June since records began hammered trade in womenswear. The firm, which sells clothes, footwear and homewares as well as upmarket foods, also said on Tuesday that the head of its non-food business Kate [...]
THE TIPSTER | Female fashion fails on attractiveness July 9, 2012 HIGH street retailer Marks and Spencer’s is today expected to announce its worst performance since the first quarter of 2009. Despite attempts to revitalise its female clothing arm through celebrity advertising, this area is clearly struggling and weighs on its non-food sector. Given that women’s clothing makes up 60 per cent of M&S’s general merchandise, [...]
M&S expected to reveal weak non-food sales July 8, 2012 RETAIL giant Marks & Spencer (M&S) is expected to announce weak first-quarter sales at its annual meeting tomorrow, after clothing sales were hit hard by the poor weather. A consensus forecast of 12 analysts compiled by the company predicts a 6.7 per cent drop in clothing and homeware sales compared to the same period last [...]
It’s not just any sales fall, it’s an M&S sales fall July 8, 2012 MARKS & SPENCER’s trading update tomorrow is likely to suggest that the high-street stalwart has been particularly weather-beaten in the first quarter of the year. Not only in the face of the wettest spring on record – which it is expected to blame for a 6.7 per cent decline in non-food sales – but also [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING June 28, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Bostock poised to leave M&S Kate Bostock, the head of all of Marks and Spencer’s non-food business, including clothing, is poised to leave the high street retailer. Ms Bostock’s departure could be announced at M&S’s annual meeting on July 10, or possibly sooner. The expected departure of Ms Bostock, who has been with [...]
Stuart Rose takes the chair of discount fashion store Blue Inc June 17, 2012 SIR STUART ROSE has become chairman of the fast-growing discount fashion chain Blue Inc, taking up his first major corporate role since leaving retailer Marks & Spencer 18 months ago. Rose takes the role after investing a small amount of his own money in Blue Inc last year, following a larger investment from the billionaire [...]
Float looms for growing Metro June 10, 2012 UPSTART lender Metro Bank wants to open seven new branches by the end of this year after completing a £126m capital raising. The high street bank also said it aims to float within two years as its investors consider a lucrative exit. Hedge fund Moore Capital and billionaire investor Steve Cohen are believed to have [...]
M&S to introduce in-store banking service June 8, 2012 Retailer Marks & Spencer said it plans to launch an in-store banking service next month, backed by Europe’s biggest bank HSBC. The group said 50 M&S Bank branches will open in M&S stores across the UK over the next two years, with the first branch scheduled to open in July at its flagship Marble Arch [...]