Shakespeare: Dunelm brand sees a boost as Brits improve their homes during lockdown March 3, 2021 Shakespeare: Dunelm brand sees a boost as Britons improve their homes during lockdown
Pandemic binge-watching drives UK entertainment spend to record high March 3, 2021 UK spending on films, music and gaming increased to a record high last year, driven by increased demand for streaming during Covid-19 lockdowns. Retail entertainment spend increased 18 per cent to a record £9.3bn in 2020, marking the eight successive year of growth in the sector and the fastest growth rate ever recorded. The final [...]
KPMG ‘to sell’ restructuring arm in £400m deal March 2, 2021 Big four accountancy firm KPMG is set to announce the sale of its UK restructuring arm in a deal worth £400m, according to reports, as the company braces for sweeping new audit reforms. The division, which will be renamed Interpath Advisory, will automatically become the largest restructuring firm in the UK by employee count, Sky [...]
Google launches $2m fund to help bridge funding gap for Black tech founders March 2, 2021 Google For Start Ups launches fund to tackle lack of black talent in tech
High street retailer French Connection seeking new suitors after investment firms pull out of talks March 2, 2021 High street retailer French Connection is racing to find a new buyer after investment firms Spotlight Brands and Gordon Brothers pulled out of early-stage talks to buy the struggling chain. The fashion firm has formally launched a sales process and said it has been approached by three other suitors. It is also still in preliminary [...]
Aldi and Lidl sales growth slows as discounters struggle to compete with Big Four’s online capabilities March 2, 2021 The growth of the discount supermarkets Lidl and Aldi has slowed as the Big Four UK grocers benefitted from their more established online presence during the pandemic. German budget grocers Lidl and Aldi reported that sales were up 10.9 per cent and 5.6 per cent respectively in the 12 weeks to 21 February. However, three [...]
Online sales tax would ‘kneecap’ small retailers, startups warn March 2, 2021 The introduction of a new online sales tax would “kneecap” retailers and have a disproportionate impact on smaller businesses, UK startups have warned. In his Budget tomorrow, chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to launch a consultation on new levies targeting online retailers such as Amazon and Asos that have seen their profits soar during the [...]
Online sales drive another tasty six months for Hotel Chocolat March 2, 2021 Revenue and profit before tax were up at Hotel Chocolat in the six months ended 27 December, with online growth offsetting the physical reduction in retail caused by the Covid-19 restrictions. Revenue at the chocolate retailer was up 11 per cent to £101.9m and profit before tax stood at £15.5m, an increase of three per [...]
Before the Bell: Europe pointing to lower start as bulls take a breather March 2, 2021 Equity markets started off the new month on the front foot yesterday as lower bond yields combined with stimulus hopes from the US boosted sentiment. Last week, stocks saw some selling pressure as increases in government bond yields acted as an excuse for dealers to reduce their equity positions, indices were coming from a relatively [...]
Labour’s Anneliese Dodds hints at support for online sales tax on tech giants March 1, 2021 Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds has called for the government to level the taxation playing field between digital and bricks and mortar retail in a potential call for new online taxes. Dodds said at a pre-Budget address on Bloomberg that there was a “big gulf on how businesses based in bricks and businesses based on clicks [...]