In comes the king: M&S hires Sainsbury’s veteran Justin King as non-exec director December 11, 2018 Retail chief Justin King has re-joined the Marks and Spencer board as a non-executive director. The former Sainsbury's boss, who is the fourth new hire for the M&S boardroom in the last year, will continue to serve as vice chairman of Terra Firma as he takes on the new role in January. King has built [...]
Luxury furniture firm Smallbone of Devizes teeters on brink of collapse November 26, 2018 High-end furniture manufacturer Canburg, which owns brands such as up-market designer Smallbone of Devizes, is on the edge of bankruptcy as it faces administration. The firm has filed a notice to appoint accountancy firm Grant Thornton as administrator this week, Sky News first reported. Hundreds of jobs could be at risk if proceedings go ahead. [...]
Your commute to work can help change the world as the UK strives to meet the UN’s ambitious goals November 26, 2018 Are you cutting back on your use of plastic bags? Do you opt for the bus or train, or walk when going on a journey rather than taking your car? Have you ever spoken out when you’ve seen a glaring example of gender inequality? If so, then you’re already contributing to an ambitious global plan [...]
Online sales are set to hit record levels on Black Friday as high street footfall declines November 21, 2018 The proportion of sales made online is likely to hit its highest level ever in November, boosted by a Black Friday internet shopping rush and fewer high street shoppers. Internet sales are expected to exceed 20 per cent of total retail sales for the first time ever this month, according to research by real estate firm [...]
John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, or M&S? Whose Christmas ad was best this year November 20, 2018 So this is Christmas. And what have you done? Another year over, and the festive ads just begun. Yes, ’tis the season for brands to splash the cash on fancy holiday-themed adverts in hope of attracting that sweet Christmas shopping revenue. Retailer John Lewis has been the reigning champion of the season for the past [...]
Businesses to splash out over £6bn on Christmas advertising November 14, 2018 UK businesses will fork out £6.4bn on festive advertising this Christmas during the final quarter, according to the Advertising Association. The expenditure, which is up 5 per cent on last year’s record amount, shows the growing competition between companies as they vie to make the season’s most popular advert and achieve festive fame. Many of [...]
Consumer spending falls in October as shoppers continue to abandon the high street November 13, 2018 UK consumer spending dipped in October after having risen for two months, with an e-commerce rebound propping up a two per cent fall in face-to-face sales. Expenditure has fallen in six of 10 months so far this year, adding to a cocktail of concerns for bricks-and-mortar retailers, according to Visa UK Consumer Spending Index data [...]
City Moves for 9 November – who’s switching jobs at Baker Botts, Duff & Phelps and Just Eat? November 8, 2018 Who’s making a move on up today? Baker Botts Baker Botts, the international law firm, today announced that Matthew Levitt has joined the firm’s antitrust practice as a partner. Matthew, recognised as one of the leading competition lawyers in Europe, will be based in the Brussels office. Matthew’s practice has focused on EU and international [...]
Food can’t save M&S as it posts weak results again November 8, 2018 High street bellwether Marks and Spencer issued another disappointing set of figures yesterday and warned that sales are unlikely to pick up any time soon. Shares closed down 0.5 per cent, having been over three per cent down earlier in the day. M&S warned of tough trading conditions due to fierce competition from online competitors [...]
‘Grim reading’: Marks & Spencer sales keep falling as it rethinks food and clothing brands November 7, 2018 Same-store sales at Marks & Spencer’s food and clothing divisions both fell as it told investors it expects “little improvement” in the months ahead. The figures M&S revenue declined 3.1 per cent year on year to £4.96bn in the six months to the end of September. Clothing and home division revenue dropped 2.7 per cent due [...]