John Lewis Partnership chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield admits pay changes in retail aren’t a “genuine move forward” November 16, 2016 The chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, Sir Charlie Mayfield, has admitted that the response to the national living wage from retailers has not been a "genuine move forward" for their employees. Following the introduction of the new national living wage, several retailers have cut staff benefits while increasing basic pay rates. Minutes from a John [...]
Service Partner One coffee price index shows UK’s cheapest coffee is in Dundee November 16, 2016 Everyone knows that giving up your daily takeaway coffee habit is the fastest way to become a millionaire (or something like that), but maybe you don't have to go completely cold turkey – just move to Dundee instead. That's where you can pick up the cheapest cup of coffee in the UK, according to new [...]
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 [...]
Trump latest: Five things you need to know on Sunday November 13, 2016 Five days in and the world is still absorbing the surprise news of Donald Trump being elected the 45th President of the United States of America. Here's everything you need to know on the latest reactions and developments waking up on Sunday morning. Nato chief speaks The head of Nato, the global security group which Trump [...]
The Waitrose Christmas advert is here: Move over Buster, there’s a plucky little Robin giving you all the feels November 13, 2016 The bouncing boxer dog of the John Lewis Christmas advert has a rival: a tiny Robin braving wild weather and perilous predators to return to a young girl's festive home. The Waitrose Christmas advert has been revealed, and while never quite matching up to the much-hyped John Lewis one before, this year that might just change with its [...]
Lego “not planning any future promotional activity” with Daily Mail amid protests at recent coverage November 12, 2016 Lego is “not planning any future promotional activity” with the Daily Mail, in an apparent protest at its editorial content. Stop Funding Hate, a group campaigning for companies like John Lewis and Waitrose to pull advertising from certain tabloid newspapers, has claimed the move by Lego as a victory. DMGT, the owner of the Daily Mail, [...]
Marks & Spencer’s 2016 Christmas advert is one for the ladies as Mrs M&S becomes Mrs Claus November 11, 2016 First there was Mrs M&S, the woman few aspire to be. Now there is Mrs Claus, the woman M&S think many would like to be this Christmas. Marks & Spencer has tonight launched its Christmas advert for 2016, with Father Christmas’ wife as the star of the show. The advert was broadcast for the first time [...]
Singles Day: What can British retailers learn from China’s version of Black Friday? November 11, 2016 Today marks the world’s largest e-commerce event. No, it’s not Black Friday yet – Singles Day is taking place in China, and it’s bigger than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined. At midnight local time it took Alibaba just 52 seconds to take its first 1bn renminbi (£116m) and just under seven minutes to reach 10bn [...]
Why it’s time to stop drinking prosecco November 10, 2016 Three years ago, when I was just starting out with this column, I boldly predicted the rise of prosecco in the hearts of the British quaffing classes. And oh how it has turned out to be true. Clever marketing, combined with the British love of cheap fizz, has propelled prosecco relentlessly up the wine charts. [...]
Waitrose is changing the rules on free coffee at more stores November 10, 2016 Waitrose fans, brace yourselves. Especially if you're a commuter. A rule change to the supermarket's incredibly popular free coffee offer caused outrage among middle England in October, and now it will apply to even more stores. Read more: Most people are enjoying the John Lewis Christmas advert. A few aren't Kale-lovers in more locations will soon have [...]