Sales at Tesco are growing at their fastest rate in three years – but Morrisons and Asda are still suffering November 15, 2016 The supertanker that is Tesco continues to change its course, after new figures suggested its sales rose to their highest in three years in the last quarter. Data by Kantar Worldpanel showed Tesco sales rose 2.2 per cent in the 12 weeks to 6 November, putting its market share at 28.2 per cent – up from [...]
Do schmaltzy Christmas ads cheer up revenues? November 15, 2016 What do a robin, a boxer dog, a cartoon character called Dave and Mrs Santa Claus have in common? It may sound like the start of a bad joke but this motley crew all have starring roles in 2016's Christmas adverts for major retailers. So far, the M&S ad appears to be the biggest hit [...]
The Trump-Hammond-Keynesian consensus is wrong: Higher infrastructure spending does not equal greater growth November 14, 2016 To a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Or when it comes to the UK economy: to an economist who believed in fiscal stimulus in 2011, every period of time looks like an opportunity for more government spending. In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s victory last week, even his most vociferous left-leaning economic critics [...]
A petition to stop shops opening on Boxing Day has 100,000 signatures November 14, 2016 A petition calling for shops to shut on Boxing Day has gathered more than 100,000 signatures. Boxing Day, which falls on 26 December, is traditionally a massive day for shopping as most major retailers begin their post-Christmas sales. Many companies have already launched promotions ahead of Black Friday, which falls on 25 November this year. [...]
Black Friday 2016: Eight of today’s best deals from Amazon November 14, 2016 Amazon kicked off two weeks of Black Friday deals this morning, with offers on products from CDs (old school) to TVs, headphones and, er, loo roll. For those sneaking in some early Christmas shopping while they're at work (we don't blame you), we'll list the best deals every day in the run-up to the annual [...]
Here are all the Marks & Spencer stores at risk of closure November 14, 2016 Brace yourselves residents of St Albans, Warrington and Bolton. For it seems your local M&S is at risk of getting the chop. The retailer is shutting 30 outlets around the UK and converting 45 others to Simply Food stores. While M&S hasn't yet announced its full list of closures, retail analysts at Local Data Company [...]
American Apparel files for bankruptcy again and is set to sell brand to Canadian company Gildan Activewear November 14, 2016 Bad news for fans of lamé leotards: now American Apparel has filed for bankruptcy less than a year after ending its first period under court protection. It's also agreed to sell the brand to Canadian clothing manufacturer Gildan Activewear for around $66m. In a statement Gildan announced it had entered into an asset purchase agreement to [...]
The Battle for Virality: How the advertising industry stole Christmas November 14, 2016 Consumer capitalism is like an annual balloon, pumping in steady increments throughout the year. It grows and grows, stretching and straining around November, taut before the Black Friday Pin; the pressure too much, one prick and the balloon explodes in a relentless cloud of Christmas advertising. But where has this volley come from? We can’t even [...]
Sir Stuart Rose, chairman of Dressipi: The next revolution in retail is data-based, personalised services, and the UK is at the vanguard November 14, 2016 THE DEMISE of BHS and Austin Reed, as well as gyrating retail sales figures, has again highlighted the variety of headwinds facing the retail sector, particularly on the high street. These include: the threat from companies such as Amazon, increasing costs, squeezed margins, keeping brands fresh or even the good, old-fashioned unpredictable British weather. The [...]
Retail sector shows signs of strengthening as shoppers return to the high street November 14, 2016 Retailers saw footfall drop in October, but at a slower rate than the previous month, as shoppers headed to the high street despite the lure of online shopping. Springboard UK’s latest figures showed a less severe fall last month compared to September. Read more: Christmas adverts rated: Which retailer has made the best ad of 2016? “The slight [...]