Everything in Retail Week
Everything published this week in Retail Week.
Retail Week News
Waitrose's Delia and Heston ads break on Sunday
Waitrose’s debut ad starring celebrity chefs Delia Smith and Heston Blumenthal will break at lunchtime on Sunday.
Sports Direct given ‘put up or shut up’ deadline on Blacks
Sports Direct has been given a “put up or shut up” deadline by the Takeover Panel over its interest in Blacks Leisure.
Benetton chief exits as profits and sales fall
Italian fashion group Benetton is losing its chief executive after three years as its profits and sales fell last year.
Sir Stuart Rose under fire over new pay package
Sir Stuart Rose faces yet more criticism as analysts and Marks & Spencer investors raised concerns over the salary he will receive when he moves to a non-executive position in July.
DSGi steps up roll out of 2-in-1 shops
DSGi is to accelerate the roll out of its 2-in-1 Currys and PC World stores with 60 locations identified.
Strong results galvanise John Lewis and Waitrose
John Lewis and Waitrose both produced strong performances in the week of their annual results announcement.
Blacks rejects Sports Direct bid
Blacks Leisure has rejected a takeover offer from Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct as “wholly inadequate”.
Former Baugur boss to launch low-cost supermarket in UK
Former Baugur executive chairman Jon Asgeir Johannesson is plotting to launch a low-cost supermarket called Best Price in the UK.
DFS sale is ‘Lord Kirkham’s call’
Sofa retailer’s founder considers refinancing alternatives as doubts rise over sale of the business
Sir Stuart Rose to stand down from M&S in March 2011
Marks & Spencer chief executive Sir Stuart Rose will leave the retailer next March, earlier than he was obliged to.
B&Q ramps up its green credentials
B&Q will launch its first eco shop-in-shops at two of its biggest stores tomorrow (Friday).
Co-op reports bumper profits, lifted by Somerfield acquisition
The Co-operative Group has reported underlying operating profits up 20% to £473m, buoyed by its acquisition of Somerfield.
Police launch race probe into Walmart store announcement
Police have launched a race hate investigation after the broadcast of an announcement in a Walmart store ordering black people to get out.
Private equity firms confirm interest in DFS
Two private equity firms have reaffirmed their interest in buying sofa retailer DFS and a third is expected to do so, despite doubt about whether a sale will be concluded.
Ocado to float after general election
Home shopping group Ocado has signalled its intention to launch an IPO after the general election.
Ethel Austin closes a further 81 stores after failing to secure buyer
MCR, the administrators of Ethel Austin, will close a further 81 stores after failing to secure a buyer for the value chain.
British Bookshops on course for profitability after sale
Private equity firm Endless has sold British Bookshops & Stationers to its management for an undisclosed sum, it has emerged.
Envy sold to private equity consortium
Young fashion chain Envy Retail has been sold to a consortium of private equity investors including the boss of SKG Capital, Chris Althorp-Gormlay.
Barclaycard Freedom reward scheme launches
Barclaycard’s reward scheme, Barclaycard Freedom, has launched this morning with cardholders able to earn reward money when using their credit card to buy goods and services in participating outlets.
Phase Eight receives bid approaches
Womenswear chain Phase Eight is understood to have received a number of bid approaches.
Blockbuster may put up stores as collateral to ensure DVD supplies
Troubled DVD rental group Blockbuster may have to put up Canadian stores as collateral after failing to secure bank credit for stock.
Inditex full year profits grow 5%
Inditex net profits grew 5% in its full year to January 31 with total sales across the Spanish fashion group up 7% to €11bn (£9.95bn).
Former La Senza boss to launch Hed Kandi stores
Former La Senza chief Rose Foster is working with nightclub group the Ministry of Sound to open clothing stores under its Hed Kandi brand.
Debenhams gains market share as sales rise
Debenhams said that like-for-like sales at the department store were on an improving trend and that it has gained market share from rivals.
Park Group to launch pre-paid cards
Christmas hamper company Park Group is launching a range of pre-paid cards to for its customers that will redeemable at major high street chains.
Marks & Spencer to pay bonus early to avoid 50% tax rate
Marks & Spencer has become the latest retailer to bring forward bonus payments in order to beat the 50% tax rate being introduced next month.
Asos launches new management incentive plan
Fashion etailer Asos has unveiled details of its new management incentive plan.
Sports Direct acquisition of 31 JJB shops cleared by Competition Commission
The Competition Commission has formally cleared Sport Direct’s acquisition of 31 shops from rival JJB Sports.
Moss Bros chairman resigns
Moss Bros non-executive chairman David Adams has resigned from the menswear business.
House of Fraser outlines growth plans to suppliers
House of Fraser chairman Don McCarthy has written to suppliers to update them on the department store’s growth plans and revealed that like-for-like sales rose 10% in the first five weeks of its financial year to March 7.
Lloyds eyes stake sale in TM Lewin
Shirt specialist TM Lewin is exploring its options after Lloyds Banking Group put its 20% stake in the business on the market.
Blacks suppliers threaten boycott if Sports Direct takes control
Suppliers to Blacks Leisure have threatened to boycott the outdoor chain if Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct successfully bids for the business.
French Connection to sell Nicole Farhi and scale back US retail
Fashion group French Connection is selling its Nicole Farhi business and closing most of its US shops following a strategic review.
Sainsbury's bonus payouts to be brought forward
Bonus payouts for Sainsbury’s staff are to be brought forward to beat the introduction of the new 50% tax rate.
Richemont makes bid for Net-a-Porter
Luxury etailer Net-a-Porter is reported to have received a bid from Swiss luxury group Richemont.
Central London retail sales up 9.9% in February
Central London retail sales in February were 9.9% higher on a like-for-like basis than a year ago according to British Retail Consortium figures, suggesting that low January sales were a blip caused by the snowy weather.
From the Magazine
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Principles is Debenhams’ most successful launch yet
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SuperGroup to expand overseas via global ecommerce assault
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Figleaves trials move from pure play with concession in Allders
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Flying Brands’ focus on core areas paying off
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Stores shares lifted as retail interest piqued
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QD brings in SAP business system to up efficiency
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One-hour slots boost Kiddicare delivery rates
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White Stuff set to launch upmarket occasionwear
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Homebase fires back at B&Q price offensive
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Asos aims for £1bn sales in five overseas markets
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My-Wardrobe pursues funds to back growth
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Tesco plots homewares line to propel F&F as global brand
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VAT on food ‘could cut grocers’ profits by 16%’
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Lakeland cooks up overseas debut
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Home Retail to beat City forecasts
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Grow-your-own trend lifts gardening sector
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Schuh TV
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Cash Generator draws up plan for expansion
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Inditex confident of prospects as it slows pace of store openings
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Brand Alley launches ad campaign to educate consumers
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Anthropologie opens store on King’s Road
In Depth
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Carpetright: Cleaning up in carpets
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Richard Jones: Can he make Tesco the clothing leader?
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Dobbies: From food to fuchsias in Aberdeen
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Is it true that we are no longer going to be able to provide credit at the point of sale in the same way as we have?
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How to be the best employer
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Store of the Week: Banana Republic Regent Street
Store Galleries
Dobbies: From food to fuchsias in Aberdeen
The new-look Dobbies garden centre in Aberdeen is sustainable and modern, with a seamless mixed-product offer.
All Retail Week Content
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Waitrose's Delia and Heston ads break on Sunday
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Sports Direct given ‘put up or shut up’ deadline on Blacks
-
Benetton chief exits as profits and sales fall
-
Sir Stuart Rose under fire over new pay package
-
DSGi steps up roll out of 2-in-1 shops
-
Strong results galvanise John Lewis and Waitrose
-
Blacks rejects Sports Direct bid
-
Former Baugur boss to launch low-cost supermarket in UK
-
Principles is Debenhams’ most successful launch yet
-
Tesco plots homewares line to propel F&F as global brand
-
SuperGroup to expand overseas via global ecommerce assault
-
DFS sale is ‘Lord Kirkham’s call’
-
VAT on food ‘could cut grocers’ profits by 16%’
-
Figleaves trials move from pure play with concession in Allders
-
Lakeland cooks up overseas debut
-
Flying Brands’ focus on core areas paying off
-
Home Retail to beat City forecasts
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Upgrade in store for Ted Baker?
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White Stuff set to launch upmarket occasionwear
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Inditex confident of prospects as it slows pace of store openings
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Is Blockbuster springing into action too late?
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Why Superdry boss will need 2020 vision
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Work Experience
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Green shoots have many sources
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Justin King and Sir Stuart Rose’s lessons for Marc Bolland
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Store of the Week: Banana Republic Regent Street
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Richard Jones: Can he make Tesco the clothing leader?
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Online retail demographics: the law of averages
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ICM Poll: Retail services
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Anthropologie opens store on King’s Road
-
My-Wardrobe pursues funds to back growth
-
Cash Generator draws up plan for expansion
-
Homebase fires back at B&Q price offensive
-
Brand Alley launches ad campaign to educate consumers
-
Stores shares lifted as retail interest piqued
-
Grow-your-own trend lifts gardening sector
-
QD brings in SAP business system to up efficiency
-
Schuh TV
-
One-hour slots boost Kiddicare delivery rates
-
Carpetright: Cleaning up in carpets
-
Dobbies: From food to fuchsias in Aberdeen
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Capital Shopping Centre's Newcastle project
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I understand the law on temporary workers is changing. How will this affect retailers when it comes to sourcing and treating their staff?
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Is it true that we are no longer going to be able to provide credit at the point of sale in the same way as we have?
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How to be the best employer
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What it's like to work at Best Buy
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Asos aims for £1bn sales in five overseas markets
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The UK’s poshest Council House
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The retail week ahead: March 22-26
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Experian Footfall: Week 10, 2010
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Kantar Worldpanel: Audio-Visual Entertainment market data
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BDO High Street Sales Tracker
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Sir Stuart Rose to stand down from M&S in March 2011
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Could Richemont net a winner?
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B&Q ramps up its green credentials
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Co-op reports bumper profits, lifted by Somerfield acquisition
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Police launch race probe into Walmart store announcement
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A lesson in Anthropologie
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Private equity firms confirm interest in DFS
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Ocado to float after general election
-
Ethel Austin closes a further 81 stores after failing to secure buyer
-
British Bookshops on course for profitability after sale
-
Envy sold to private equity consortium
-
Barclaycard Freedom reward scheme launches
-
Phase Eight receives bid approaches
-
Blockbuster may put up stores as collateral to ensure DVD supplies
-
Inditex full year profits grow 5%
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Off your Marks
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Unlikely bedfellows
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Former La Senza boss to launch Hed Kandi stores
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Debenhams gains market share as sales rise
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Park Group to launch pre-paid cards
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Marks & Spencer to pay bonus early to avoid 50% tax rate
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Asos launches new management incentive plan
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Sports Direct acquisition of 31 JJB shops cleared by Competition Commission
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Moss Bros chairman resigns
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Old pilots never die...
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Weekend round-up: What the weekend papers said - March 13 to 14
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House of Fraser outlines growth plans to suppliers
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Lloyds eyes stake sale in TM Lewin
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Blacks suppliers threaten boycott if Sports Direct takes control
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French Connection to sell Nicole Farhi and scale back US retail
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Sainsbury's bonus payouts to be brought forward
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Richemont makes bid for Net-a-Porter
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Central London retail sales up 9.9% in February
Data Feed
Comment
Upgrade in store for Ted Baker?
SuperGroup’s £5 a share IPO is good news for founder Julian Dunkerton. It might also be good news for some of the retailer’s fashion peers - in particular Ted Baker.
Why Superdry boss will need 2020 vision
An unscientific survey admittedly, but an analysis of the branded hoodies on a flight back from the French Alps last week revealed that even Abercrombie & Fitch was being left in the wake of Superdry.
Green shoots have many sources
Word is the recession is over - and it’s not coming from stats, but consumers, says Lord Kirkham
Justin King and Sir Stuart Rose’s lessons for Marc Bolland
According to Michael Watkins of Harvard Business School, chief executives get just 90 days to prove themselves in a new role. So how should Marc Bollland proceed at M&S?
Is Blockbuster springing into action too late?
The latest financial results from Blockbuster make for grim reading. For the year ending January 3, 2010, losses at the US-based video rental giant widened from $374m (£204m) in 2008 to $558m (£358m).
Could Richemont net a winner?
No wonder Richemont is targeting a larger slice of Net-a-Porter — it has been one of the best etail growth stories in a market where its founder Natalie Massenet once faced naysayers who believed luxury fashion would never work online.
Unlikely bedfellows
The property debate at the Retail Week Conference revealed that landlords and retailers actually have a greater level of common interest than might first be thought.
Old pilots never die...
Why is is that experimental formats are allowed to stagger on and not put out of their misery?
