In the snow in British Columbia November 6, 2011 RUNNING through Vancouver in bright ski gear, carrying boots, boards and skis is an experience in itself. Before hitting the steep and deep slopes of Whistler Blackcomb – British Columbia’s powder playground – we decided to find our ski legs at Vancouver’s nearby family resorts of Cypress, Seymour and Grouse Mountains. The local resorts are [...]
JJB issues profit warning as losses widen October 31, 2011 JJB Sports, the struggling British retailer rescued by a deal with landlords in March, posted wider first-half losses and warned the full-year outcome was likely to fall short of internal expectations. “As with most retailers, our year-end outturn is dependent on Christmas trading, nevertheless if current trading conditions continue our year-end outturn is likely to [...]
Blacks’ losses mount as it eyes funding October 27, 2011 OUTDOOR goods specialist Blacks leisure yesterday announced a half-year loss of £16m and said it was examining its funding options in a bid to shore up the struggling firm. The company, which also trades under the Millets brand, is fighting for survival due to mounting losses and surging debts. The pre-tax loss for the six [...]
A high-speed slice of pure heaven October 25, 2011 THE Porsche I’m driving has no air conditioning and no audio system. The last time I drove a car without HVAC and an audio system was in 1987, and it was a Mini built 15 years earlier. It didn’t usually manage to go very far and certainly not anywhere fast. Which isn’t the case with [...]
Sports Direct profits up as it eyes 2012 boost October 20, 2011 SPORTS Direct, Britain’s biggest sporting goods retailer, said revenues rose in recent weeks and added it is looking to events such as next year’s London Olympics to keep sales rolling in 2012. The firm, controlled by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, said total sales rose 11.5 per cent for the nine weeks to 25 September [...]
THE TIPSTER October 16, 2011 WEDNESDAY will see Sports Direct kick-off its figures with a trading statement, and it seems that expectations are good. Despite the retail slump, its projected earnings growth is 20 per cent a year for the next two years. Broker Panmure Gordon recently put a 300p price target on it. Capital Spreads quotes 230.6p-232.8p. Xstrata gives [...]
England’s World Cup mistakes mirrored by Twickenham chaos October 13, 2011 I WOULD like to see Martin Johnson keep his job and I think he will be asked to stay on, despite England’s disappointing World Cup campaign. But I also think he’ll be expected to make changes within the coaching staff and I’m not sure he’ll be happy to do that. One change I’d welcome would [...]
How to get the answers right at interview September 28, 2011 THE vast majority of interviews are “competency-based” these days. This means they use a method of questioning that aims to find out whether or not you can do the job. It also means that the same questions come up time and time again. This is great news for interviewees because it’s easy to prepare when [...]
You don’t need stacks of cash for marketing September 25, 2011 GUERRILLA marketing techniques used to be the only option for cash-strapped startups. Indeed, tales of startup business owners donning fancy dress, handing out flyers and doing stunts are not uncommon. Thankfully, the internet has changed the game a bit. The guerrilla spirit is still required, but nowhere near as much as a healthy dose of [...]
This year’s hot sectors: risk and compliance September 21, 2011 WE’VE been told that the boom years are over. The fast-growth sectors of City employment have ground to a halt. New job opportunities will be fewer and far between. Well, that is unless you work in risk and compliance: the fallout from the credit crunch has given a new lease of life to these sticklers [...]