M&S dresses for success by choosing food over fashion November 9, 2016 As Marks & Spencer announces its turnaround plan, now is a great time to analyse how the retailer has reached this point, and whether a revival is possible. M&S reported falling sales and profits in the six months to the end of September and said it will close more clothing and home stores, and convert many [...]
CVS shares slide after cuts to its full-year profit expectations November 8, 2016 US pharmacy chain CVS Health has cut its full-year profit forecast, sending shares lower in New York. The company blamed the cuts on slowing prescription growth and said it expected to lose more than 40m retail prescriptions in 2017. The loss of contracts to rivals – including one for the US military – has dragged on [...]
You can’t come in to our US stores today, says Patagonia, now go out and vote November 8, 2016 A sustainable outdoor clothing retailer today shut the doors of its US outlets, telling customers to prioritise voting over shopping. Patagonia, a company that has banged the drum of environmental causes since it started in 1973, said that it was imperative that Americans got down the polls to vote in the US Presidential election. Voting was [...]
Barclays is selling its Irish insurance unit, as it continues to ditch its non-core business November 8, 2016 Barclays announced today it has agreed to sell its Irish insurance business, marking the latest step in a long journey to scale back its non-core business. The bank will sell Barclays Insurance (Dublin) Designated Activity Company and Barclays Assurance (Dublin) Designated Activity Company to Monument Re for an undisclosed sum and the deal is expected to [...]
What the analysts are saying about the M&S results: ‘Seismic change’ needed after ‘humiliating’ plans unveiled November 8, 2016 Retail experts have blasted Marks & Spencer's plans for a turnaround – even taking a swipe at the firm's recent collaboration with Alexa Chung – and warned that without "seismic change", the group risks continuing its "terminal decline" to its inevitable conclusion. Marks revealed a massive drop in profits this morning, and outlined plans to close [...]
2,100 jobs could go as Marks & Spencer close 53 international stores and 30 in the UK November 8, 2016 Marks & Spencer will consult with 2,100 staff in its international stores as it seeks to close 53 unprofitable branches overseas, it was announced this morning. In a bold move new chief executive Steve Rowe, who came into the top job in April, said 30 clothing and homeware shops in the UK will also be shut over the next [...]
American Apparel UK business goes into administration November 8, 2016 Americal Apparel's UK business has gone into administration. Jim Tucker and Richard Beard of KPMG were appointed joint administrators of American Apparel (UK) Ltd and American Apparel (Carnaby) Ltd this morning, the accountancy firm said in a statement. American Apparel (UK) and American Apparel (Carnaby) run the UK retail and wholesale operations of the US [...]
Associated British Foods shoots to the top of FTSE 100 as revenues lift at the Primark and British Sugar owner November 8, 2016 Associated British Food's (ABF) share price rose more than seven per cent this morning, taking it straight to the top of the FTSE 100, as the Primark owner posted a rise in revenues and hailed 2016 as a "turning point" for its sugar business. The retailer added that it hopes to benefit from Brexit and is in discussions [...]
Retail sales up in best month since January November 8, 2016 UK retail sales were up 1.7 per cent from last October, boosted by strong online sales of 11 per recent in the last three months. Shoppers appear to be unfazed by the prospect of Brexit and the declining pound and are continuing to spend. However, the drop in Sterling is likely to have led to [...]
Black Friday could end up being a flop-day this year November 8, 2016 Demand for bagging a bargain on Black Friday has dropped this year, as the novelty of the promotions day seems to be wearing off. Just 21 per cent of consumers say they will take advantage of the Black Friday promotions this year, on a day intended to drum up sales as retailers slice their prices. This is [...]