January Bank rates are likely to stay steady January 7, 2013 THE European Central Bank (ECB) is likely to keep interest rates on hold when it meets for its first policy meeting this year, analysts predict. “We believe the continued improvement in the forward-looking survey data will have been sufficient to stay the hand of those on the council who last month were willing to wait [...]
Travel caterer cooks up strong sales rise December 12, 2012 SSP, the airport and railway station caterer, yesterday reported a 3.2 per cent rise in annual sales, boosted by its expansion in Asia and the US. The group, which runs more than 2,100 travel outlets for brands such as Marks & Spencer and Starbucks, said operating profit jumped 23.7 per cent to £61.5m on sales [...]
The lasting public legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games December 11, 2012 AS each year draws to a close I like to look back over YouGov’s BrandIndex and consider the big gainers and fallers of the previous twelve months. Usually this involves examining Britain’s most recognisable corporate brands, such as last week when we looked at how the competition between department store giants John Lewis and Marks [...]
Sir Philip sells £500m stake in Topshop brand December 6, 2012 SIR PHILIP Green has sold a 25 per cent stake in his family’s Topshop empire to a US private equity firm in a deal that values the successful high street chain at £2bn. Arcadia, the retail tycoon’s holding company, confirmed yesterday it has sold off a £500m stake in its prized Topshop and Top Man [...]
UK firms have had mixed fortunes in the United States December 5, 2012 CADBURY SCHWEPPES Bought Dr Pepper/Seven Up in 1995. Then in 2000 bought the Snapple Group. Combined the two, but had to demerge its US fizzy drinks business by May 2008, so spun off Dr Pepper Snapple Group in a listing on the New York Stock Exchange. MARKS & SPENCER Bought the 155-store male outfitter Brooks [...]
Tesco poised for dramatic exit from US December 4, 2012 TESCO is likely to close its US franchise, Fresh & Easy, pending a strategic review of the lossmaking business. Chief executive Philip Clarke will announce the review today alongside the retailer’s quarterly results, and will make a decision on the venture by April. Fresh & Easy has failed to turn a profit in its five [...]
Topshop seals US future with J Crew owner December 4, 2012 RETAIL magnate Sir Philip Green is close to selling a stake in his family’s fast-growing Topshop fashion empire to a US private equity firm. Sir Philip is in advanced talks to sell up to 25 per cent of his family’s interest in high street labels Topman and Topshop, in a deal which values the two [...]
Christmas countdown for rival high street retailers December 4, 2012 AS we move into the final countdown to Christmas, our high street department stores are pulling out all the stops. Looking back over 2012, the race between Marks & Spencer and John Lewis has never been tighter. YouGov’s BrandIndex highlights how the two brands began the year with six points separating their Index scores – [...]
Online retailers prepare for busiest day ever December 2, 2012 HIGH street shops and online retailers will face one of their fiercest battles yet for customers this Christmas, with today set to mark the busiest internet shopping day of the year. UK online sales will peak today – dubbed Mega Monday by City analysts – with Visa Europe expecting 6.8m transactions worth £320m to be [...]
‘Tis the season November 29, 2012 ROASTED CHESTNUT DELUXE CANDLE Jo Malone, £80 www.jomalone.co.uk CRANBERRY WREATH Selfridges, £69.95 www.selfridges.com VINTAGE ROSE NAPKIN RINGS (SET OF 4) Walton & Co, £12 www.selfridges.com CHRISTMAS CARD HOLDER Selfridges, £34.95 www.selfridges.com SNOWFLAKE FELT COASTERS (SET OF 4) John Lewis, £15 www.johnlewis.com TARTAN CHRISTMAS STOCKING Gisela Graham, £15.95 www.selfridges.com LARGE TABLE RUNNER Walton & Co, £32 [...]