Sadiq Khan accuses government of imposing ‘new era of austerity at worst possible time’ January 27, 2021 The Mayor of London has today warned that major cuts are inevitable unless the government adequately funds the capital. Khan has vowed to build a better city in the aftermath of the pandemic but argues that he is being forced to do so “with one arm tied behind my back”. Speaking at a Budget Plenary [...]
Retail therapy: How has the Covid-19 pandemic changed the way we shop? January 22, 2021 The lifestyle changes from Covid-19 were reflected in where people chose to spend their hard-earned cash in 2020, with local shops, fitness platforms and recipe boxes feeling the benefit of a year in the coronavirus pandemic.
Card payments help Paypoint offset its drop in revenue January 21, 2021 An increase in card payment transactions has helped Paypoint weather the Covid storm as it targets more retail partners amid the pandemic. Underlying group net revenue fell nearly 11 per cent to £24.5m in the third quarter following the end of its contract with British Gas. Its revenue from UK retail services fell 1.4 per [...]
Drones and robots may get their big breakthrough in 2021, says what3words CEO January 18, 2021 2020 was a volatile and unpredictable year for businesses large and small. In a sink-or-swim situation, the swimmers were those who responded fairly quickly to the pandemic and managed to come up with creative and innovative solutions. This often involved pivoting to an entirely new model, according to Shoreditch-based Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO of [...]
Why it’s easier to spend bitcoin than £50 notes January 15, 2021 Recently a friend of mine came into possession of a number of £50 notes. If I told you too much I would have to kill you, but it apparently involved a number of Covid-19 tests, a trip to Pakistan, some Kashmiri carpets and a large man from Barbados. I know some interesting people. I thought [...]
Shakespeare: Aldi’s click service sees them set to collect January 6, 2021 Discount supermarket chain Aldi announced in December that it would be expanding its click and collect grocery service to more than 200 stores across the UK in the run-up to Christmas. The service was already in high demand across the country after beginning the first trial in the Midlands in September, and was brought in [...]
Pets at Home sells five specialist vet practices for £100m December 1, 2020 Pets at Home has agreed to sell five of its specialists referral practices for up to £100m. The FTSE 250 firm today announced it would sell the practices to Solihull-based Linnaeus Group, which operates over 150 veterinary clinics across the UK. Pets at Home said the disposal comprises £80m in cash on completion and a [...]
First digital-only Black Friday set for bumper year as Covid-19 moves shoppers online November 27, 2020 England’s first ever digital-only Black Friday will not deter customers, with figures suggesting sales could be as much as 43 per cent higher than in 2019, with customers now familiar with the convenience of shopping online thanks to coronavirus. Figures from IMRG, the UK’s industry association for online retail, found this year’s Black Friday sales [...]
London black cab advert banned for exaggerating Covid-19 safety claims November 25, 2020 An advert for London black cabs has been banned after the watchdog found it exaggerated the extent to which the taxis can prevent the spread of Covid-19. A radio ad for black cabs, which aired in July, featured a woman’s voice listing the apparent safety benefits of hailing one of the capital’s classic cars. It [...]
Pets at Home remain dogged throughout pandemic as sales soar during lockdown November 24, 2020 Pets at Home has cemented itself as a rare winner during the pandemic, as the group notched double digit revenue growth in the six months to October following an “exceptional period of demand” during lockdown. The FTSE 250-listed firm thanked its allocation as an “essential” retailer during the coronavirus crisis for its 13 per cent [...]