Profit on the cards: Card Factory sees profits rise despite fall in like-for-like sales September 25, 2018 Card Factory hailed a double digit rise in profit today as it was boosted by record sales for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Read more: Heatwave hit retail footfall figures in August The figures The high street retailer saw pre-tax profit grow 17.2 per cent year on year to £27.2m for the [...]
Next nudges up profit guidance after blistering summer despite ‘volatile’ market September 25, 2018 British fashion retailer Next nudged up its full-year outlook this morning, after the firm’s strong summer performance unexpectedly carried on into August and September. Next posted half-year pre-tax profits of £311.1m compared with £309m in the same period last year, raising its full year guidance by £10m to £727m. The better-than-expected forecasts have largely been [...]
West End retailers ‘hit by staff shortages’ as property boss urges action on visa rules September 24, 2018 London’s renowned West End retail economy is under threat from staff shortages, according to the boss of one of the area’s largest investment firms. Shaftesbury Group’s chief executive Brian Bickell, whose £3.86bn FTSE 250 property company represents nearly 600 West End businesses, told City A.M. that a combination of tight visa restrictions and uncertainty around EU [...]
BBC weather forecaster Meteo Group acquired by Swiss private equity company TBG AG September 24, 2018 BBC weather forecaster Meteo Group has been bought by Swiss private equity company TBG AG. The agency has the largest private weather measurement network in Europe, and offers solutions for industries including shipping, transport, media, energy and insurance. Read more: Online retail to be Next's summertime saviour as hot weather boosts sales Year-to-date bookings grew by [...]
Brockmans Gin doubles UK sales as supermarket expansion pays off September 24, 2018 High-end spirit producer Brockmans Gin nearly doubled UK revenues in the first six months of the year, and grew by a third globally. First-half revenue increased 35 per cent to £4.73m from £3.5m in the same period of 2017, while the company’s UK sales climbed 90 per cent, outstripping market growth of 38 per cent. The Surrey-based [...]
Debenhams looks to shore up investor panic with unveiling of its ‘store of the future’ September 24, 2018 Debenhams is gearing up for the unveiling of its “store of the future” later today, as the beleaguered retail giant looks to reassure both shoppers and investors after a challenging summer. The department store chain is also expected to reveal more details of its turnaround plans at the event in Watford today, having denied [...]
Shareholders urged to revolt against Joules founder September 23, 2018 The founder of eponymous London-listed fashion brand Joules is set to face a fresh challenge at the company’s annual general meeting on Thursday, over a board proposal that could increase his own stake in the retailer. Independent shareholder advisory firm ISS encouraged investors in a report ahead of the meeting to vote against the board's [...]
Online retail to be Next’s summertime saviour as hot weather boosts sales September 23, 2018 Fast fashion stalwart Next is preparing to reveal its half year results to investors on Tuesday, with many eager to see whether its online sales uptick continued throughout the UK’s extended hot summer. The retailer had previously warned earlier this year that it was facing its toughest trading conditions in 25 years as customers [...]
British Steel owner Greybull buys majority stake in phone recycling company Redeem September 23, 2018 Investment group Greybull Capital has bought the majority stake in mobile phone recycling company Redeem. The business works with partners such as 3, Vodafone and Sky Mobile and the undisclosed amount of funding from British Steel owner Greybull will allow Redeem to renew a contract with O2 and implement its growth strategy. Read more: Millions paying [...]
Will Aston Martin vanquish the doubters? September 21, 2018 The auto sector has had a tough time of it recently with concerns over the implementation of tariffs on their products, as well as the bad publicity around emissions cheating and investigations into other cartel like behaviour weighing on the sector in recent months. Putting aside those concerns there are certain brands that have [...]