Christmas is giving us the gift of retail relationships December 16, 2018 This year’s flagship Christmas advert from John Lewis shows how the gift of a piano to Elton John as a child gave him a talent that he nurtured into an incredible career as a musician. The ad also raised an important question – what can marketers learn from the idea behind the slogan “a gift [...]
Restaurants and pubs will be the “future of the high street” in London December 16, 2018 Pubs and restaurants could be the “future of the high street” in London, according to industry experts, as new figures revealed a healthy growth in like-for-like sales throughout the sector last month. Sales grew by 2.3 per cent in London pubs and restaurants in November against the same month last year, statistics published by the [...]
Billionaire Mike Ashley and The Entertainer may bid for iconic toy store Hamleys December 14, 2018 Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley and British toy retailer The Entertainer are among the bidders interested in a takeover of Hamleys, according to a report. The world's biggest toy shop has been owned by Chinese fashion conglomerate C.banner since 2015, but Sky News reported this morning that bids are now being considered for an acquisition [...]
Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell fined for breaching pensions law December 14, 2018 Dominic Chappell, the former owner of collapsed retailer British Home Stores, has been fined almost £124,000 for breaking pensions law after the troubled department store fell into administration. Judge Christine Henson QC, who presided over today's re-sentencing at Hove Crown Court, criticised Chappell for showing a "complete lack of remorse". He was ordered to pay [...]
Confronting the Robots December 13, 2018 Professor Peter Fleming, formerly of Cass Business School, wrote an article for Demos Quarterly which argued that the age of automation is unlikely to lead to a utopian world of play, but doesn't necessarily mean a proliferation of rubbish jobs. You can read the article in full here. Dr Simone Stumpf, Senior Lecturer in the Department of [...]
3D printed sports shoes are more about your wallet than your feet December 13, 2018 The race is on to bring 3D printed footwear to market. Adidas, Nike and Under Armour are some of the big names that have been working on delivering bespoke shoes to their customers. From the sounds of their marketing, you may be forgiven for believing that bespoke shoes are just a footstep away. But a [...]
Tech supermarket Ocado reveals solid sales growth amid physical retail downturn December 13, 2018 Once dubbed the "Microsoft of retail", online supermarket Ocado has shaken off the sector's blues to post strong sales growth in its final quarter of the year. In a trading update for the three months to the start of December, Ocado said it had seen "consistent strong" growth in sales in the region of 12 [...]
Bonmarche shares tank after it slashes profits, blaming Brexit for bleak high street trading December 13, 2018 Retailer Bonmarche lost nearly half its value this morning after investors sold out following a bleak profit warning. Its share price fell 45 per cent this morning after the markets opened. Having closed on 80p last night, shares were trading at 44p this morning. The retailer said its Black Friday sales were “extremely poor” and had [...]
Network Rail offers to wrap commuters’ Christmas presents at London stations December 12, 2018 Network Rail is offering a free gift wrapping service to commuters at London train stations this Christmas. The service, which Network Rail has dubbed “Wrapland”, is available from a pop-up stall at London Bridge until tomorrow and then at King's Cross from 17 to 19 December. The stall has been set up to encourage commuters to purchase presents from shops [...]
Zara owner Inditex falls short of market expectations despite rise in profit December 12, 2018 Fashion group Zara’s parent company Inditex fell short of market expectations today as currency effects weighed on the world’s largest clothing retailer. Shares in the Spanish firm, which is controlled by billionaire tycoon Amancio Ortega, tumbled four per cent in trading after missing estimates for third-quarter profits and sales. The group, which is highly sensitive [...]