Sports Direct and Intu strike deal to save four House of Fraser sites January 22, 2019 Four House of Fraser stores have been brought back from the brink of closure following a deal struck between Sports Direct and shopping centre landlord Intu. Last-minute talks between Mike Ashley’s sportswear firm and Intu Properties has led to department stores in Norwich, Thurrock, Gateshead and Nottingham being saved, having previously been earmarked for closure. More [...]
Mike Ashley enters talks to buy struggling music store chain HMV and eyes new PR team January 20, 2019 Mike Ashley is looking to strengthen his grip on the high street by entering talks to buy struggling music store HMV while searching for a new communications firm to oversee his expanding retail empire. The ambitious business tycoon, who has bought House of Fraser and Evans Cycles in the past six months, is bidding to [...]
Debenhams shares slide as Moody’s hands struggling retailer a negative outlook January 17, 2019 Debenhams’ share price slumped seven per cent in morning trading, after ratings agency Moody’s lowered its outlook for the beleaguered retailer from stable to negative. Concerns over the risks that creditors might incur when lending to the embattled department store chain were flagged by Moody’s, pushing shares in Debenhams down 7.26 per cent to 2.8p [...]
Shares in Debenhams dive as woes show no sign of abating January 14, 2019 The falling share price of embattled department store chain Debenhams showed no sign of a let up this afternoon as its stock value plunged a further 12 per cent. The retailer’s share price plummeted amid reports that as many as 90 of its high street stores could be up for closure, putting 10,000 jobs at [...]
Debenhams may shut 90 stores and slash 10,000 jobs in rescue plan January 14, 2019 Debenhams could cut 10,000 jobs as part of a desperate attempt to keep the company afloat amid plunging profits and a dramatic boardroom coup. The struggling department store has earmarked as many as 90 high street stores for closure, the Daily Telegraph reported yesterday. Debenhams had already announced plans to close 50 of its 165 [...]
JD Sports eyes strong profits thanks to international expansion January 14, 2019 JD Sports today said it expects full-year profits to hit the higher end of its targets as international growth helped defy tough retail conditions. The sports retailer reported total sales growth of 15 per cent in the 48 weeks to 5 January, with like-for-like sales up five per cent in the same period. Read more: Retail [...]
Fears over business rates mount as Britain’s major retailers prepare to form action group January 13, 2019 Some of Britain’s biggest retailers are coming together in an urgent bid to seek business rates relief from the government, City A.M. has learned. Around 50 major high street names are joining a mass lobbying effort to curb forthcoming rises in their property tax, as profits plunge in the face of falling sales and online [...]
Debenhams’ share price plunges 18 per cent following shock boardroom coup January 11, 2019 Shares in struggling department store chain Debenhams crashed 18 per cent to 3.9p today following yesterday’s shock Mike Ashley-inspired annual general meeting coup. Sports Direct boss and major Debenhams shareholder Ashley blocked the re-appointment of the company’s chairman and chief executive to the board at yesterday’s AGM. Sir Ian Cheshire, chair of the retailer’s board since [...]
Mike Ashley loses patience with Debenhams, pushing chair and chief executive from board January 10, 2019 Mike Ashley, the chief executive of Sports Direct, has dramatically shaken up the top leadership of Debenhams, blocking the reappointment of the company’s chair and chief executive to its board during its annual general meeting this afternoon. Sir Ian Cheshire, chair of the retailer’s board since 2016, informed the company he would step down with immediate [...]
Retail sector suffers worst Christmas in a decade as sales stagnate January 10, 2019 The UK retail sector has suffered its worst Christmas in a decade as sales stagnated during the crucial festive period, despite a string of positive updates offering a glimmer of hope. Overall retail sales were flat in December, the lowest level of growth since April and the worst festive performance since 2008, according to figures [...]