VAT free shopping U-turn ‘major blow’ for West End as tourists shun London for Paris and Milan October 17, 2022 Scrapping VAT free shopping for tourists is a “major blow” for London and the country’s economy, a group representing luxury stores in the West End and other retail hotspots has said. Paul Barnes, chief executive of the Association of International Retail (AIR) – whose members range from Bicester Village to Heathrow Airport – told CityA.M. the [...]
On the Beach promotes marketing chief to executive director October 17, 2022 On the Beach has promoted chief marketing officer Zoe Harris to executive director with immediate effect. Harris joined the beach holiday retailer in early 2021, after holding top positions at the likes of GoCo Group, which provides online comparison and information services, and newspaper powerhouse Reach. She was credited for introducing the provision of free [...]
Made.com receives non-binding proposals in rescue sale talks October 17, 2022 Made has said it has recieved “a number of” non-binding indicative proposals, as the online homeware retailer searches for a buyer amid tumbling sales. After reviewing the proposals, the board has invited” a select number of parties” to progress towards firm offers by the end of October, following a due diligence process, Made said on [...]
Dealmaker’s Spotlight: Evercore October 17, 2022 Datasite recently spoke with Alexander Asher, Vice President, Consumer-Retail Team at Evercore, to hear his thoughts and insights on market conditions, trends, and technology. Evercore is a premier global independent investment advisory firm. Founded in 1995, the firm has advised on over US$4.7 trn M&A and restructuring transactions. Headquartered in New York, it has 17 advisory [...]
City braces for fresh inflation and borrowing figures October 16, 2022 The City is bracing for another busy week of new data illustrating the health of the UK economy. Last week, the FTSE 100 index fell 1.89 per cent to finish at 6,858.79 points after it was rocked by prime minister Liz Truss ditching chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. The domestically-focused mid-cap FTSE 250 index, which is more [...]
Asos confirms £350m credit facility as shoppers dial back spending October 15, 2022 Troubled fashion retailer Asos has today confirmed it is in the final stages of arranging a £350m credit facility with financial backers, as consumers dial back spending during the cost of living crisis. In a statement today, Asos said the credit facility, which matures in July 2024, would “significantly” boost its financial flexibility against the [...]
Boots sales surpass pre-Covid levels as city centres spring back to life October 13, 2022 Boots’ retail sales have exceeded pre-Covid levels for the fourth quarter, thanks to rebounding footfall in city centres. Retail sales were up 15.2 per cent on a like-for-like basis, with stores near transport hubs seeing a particular resurgence. Warm weather and a return of travel abroad also buoyed sales, with store transactions up more than [...]
M&S to speed up plans to close 1 in 4 larger clothing stores October 12, 2022 Marks & Spencer will accelerate its plans to slash the number of its larger stores that sell clothing and homeware products. In an update to investors on Wednesday, the supermarket revealed it would shutter more than one in four of its so-called full-line stores within three years rather than five. Plans also include the opening [...]
Columbia Threadneedle suspends UK property fund over cash fears October 12, 2022 Fund manager Columbia Threadneedle said it had suspended trading in its £453m UK property fund last night after a run from investors caused a cash crisis.
Frasers Group nabs stake in JD Williams and Simply Be owner October 12, 2022 Frasers Group has snagged a 4.5 per cent stake in online retailer and JD Williams owner N Brown, as the retailer continues to put its stamp on the UK high street. The Sports Direct owner is now the sixth-largest shareholder of the Jacamo and Simply Be owner. “We are always pleased to welcome new shareholders [...]