Uniqlo owner in talks to buy out Cath Kidston April 14, 2014 THE OWNER of high street fashion chain Uniqlo is leading a pack of suitors hoping to take control of UK homeware company Cath Kidston. Japanese company Fast Retailing, which is listed in Hong Kong and Tokyo, has approached Cath Kidston’s private equity backers TA Associates about acquiring its 65 per cent controlling stake in the [...]
Bottom Line: Britain is proving ready for Asia’s century April 14, 2014 IT’S a welcome reminder of Britain’s world-class commercial creativity. Two firms whose brands we might think of only as local icons, House of Fraser and Cath Kidston, are attracting fierce interest from Asian buyers. In the case of House of Fraser, the deal is done, China’s San Power now has an 89 per cent stake [...]
WPP continues its Chinese push March 25, 2014 Advertising giant WPP bought Chinese marketing agency XMKT Group for an undisclosed sum yesterday. XMKT specialises in customer experience management for a list of clients in the region including Diageo and Uniqlo. Last year XMKT’s 254 staff brought in revenue of 126m yuan (£12.3m). WPP companies in Greater China generated revenues of $1.4bn for WPP [...]
Brand Index: How brands should appeal to the wallets of the wealthy March 11, 2014 YOUTH-OBSESSED marketers are barking up the wrong tree, and the over-45 crowd is the real consumer goldmine, according to a new study named Generation Wealth. The principal mistake that marketers have made in the past is deciding to treat the over-45s differently from other potential customers, according to the research published by YouGov and Immediate [...]
Uniqlo owner picks up sales January 9, 2014 Asia’s biggest clothing retailer Fast Retailing posted a higher-than-expected first-quarter profit, helped by strong Japan sales at its flagship casual Uniqlo brand which lured thrifty customers with affordable luxury items. The retailer also boosted growth outside Japan, with a weaker yen helping to lift revenues.
LOSSES WIDEN AT UNIQLO April 22, 2012 Japanese fashion brand Uniqlo widened its UK losses frpm £739,000 to £9.7m in the year to 31 August 2011, according to Companies House filings. The firm, which said turnover fell slightly to £63m, said the loss was partly due to accounting and lease changes. But Uniqlo still aims to expand in the UK and has [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING April 9, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES AstraZeneca faces calls for shake-up Some of the biggest investors in AstraZeneca are calling for a radical shake-up of the board and executive team, as a new chairman prepares to join the underperforming Anglo-Swedish pharma group. With the company trading on the lowest price/earnings multiple in the sector, some shareholders have been lobbying [...]
STAYING COSY December 1, 2011 SPENCER HART SLIPPERS, £550 Bespoke midnight blue velvet slippers with black silk grosgrain trim from the cool kid of Savile Row. www.spencerhart.com UNIQLO CASHMERE SCARF, £24.90 Super-soft, affordable love for your neck. shop.uniqlo.com TOPMAN XMAS SOCKS, £3 Irresistably cute and cuddly. www.topman.co.uk BANANA REPUBLIC RUFFLE TRIM GLOVE, £17.50 Snug, girly and elegant. bananarepublic.gap.eu
WINTER LOOKS December 1, 2011 FENN WRIGHT MANSON DALMATION PRINT TOP, £49 An affordable way to inject some life into your winter work wardrobe. www.fennwrightmanson.com REISS TILLY WIDE NECK KNIT, £119 Beautifully bright sweater that’s perfect for the fireside. www.reissonline.com ROSAMOSARIO SILK-SATIN AND LACE PYJAMA PANTS, £320 Be comfortable and elegant in these ornate pj pants. www.netaporter.com UNQULO BOATNECK CASHMERE [...]
Fast Retailing gets boost from Uniqlo October 12, 2011 JAPAN’S Fast Retailing yesterday forecast a 16 per cent rise in annual operating profit thanks to higher sales at its domestic Uniqlo outlets and expansion of the budget clothing chain, after posting its first profit rise in six quarters. Asia’s top apparel retailer is expanding overseas to offset slowing growth in Japan due to persistent [...]