Retail Week
February 25 2011
View all stories from this issue.
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EuroShop: (retail) field of dreams
The triennial store equipment fest begins in Düsseldorf tomorrow with a host of exhibitors and installations. Ulrich Spaan, vice-president trade shows at EHI, previews what visitors can expect to see -
LED: retailing’s bright future
Retailers are increasingly turning to LED to light their stores, but how does it measure up when set against conventional lighting and is it just a fashion trend? -
A different mountain to climb
I’ll climb Everest for charity or die in the attempt, says Iceland chief Malcolm Walker -
A drive for customer service
Delivery drivers are as much a face of a retailer as shopfloor staff, says Rebecca Thomson -
A glimpse of the Morrisons of the future
As Morrisons boss Dalton Philips prepares to update the City, Jennifer Creevy visits the Leeds ‘lab store’ to reveal the direction he is taking the grocer in -
Aah! Bicester
Bicester Village has sales figures to die for, Prada and Gucci as tenants, and attracts some of the highest spending customers in Europe. Rebecca Thomson pays a visit to unearth its secret -
All Saints up for sale
Fashion retailer All Saints has been put up for sale by its Icelandic shareholders and could be valued at £140m. -
Alliance Boots strikes deal with Carrefour
Alliance Boots has struck a deal with Carrefour that will see it develop the grocer’s global beauty operation. -
Asda claims 'outperformance' as sales and profits rise
Grocery and general merchandise giant Asda has claimed a “return to market outperformance” after sales and profits rose. -
Asda Income Tracker: Family spending power fell by £9 a week in January
The average family’s spending power fell by £9 per week in January, the largest fall on record and the second record breaking month in a row. -
Asda plans premium homewares line
Asda is to launch a premium homewares line that it claims will be up to 30% cheaper than the typical high street equivalent as it seeks to take further advantage of the buying power of parent Walmart. -
Asos and M&S get behind personalised etail website
Fashion giants Asos and Marks & Spencer are among retailers to have signed up to new personalised shopping site Garmentology, which recommends items to shoppers based on their body shape. -
Asos launches Fashion Finder site
Asos has launched its Fashion Finder site which showcases the latest trends and includes products from rival retailers. -
Aurora Fashions to spin off Karen Millen
Aurora Fashions is to spin off Karen Millen as an independent company. -
BDO High Street Sales Tracker
BDO High Street Sales Tracker data for the week ending February 20, 2011 -
Best Buy beats a retreat
Many of the world’s biggest retail names have been humbled when, bolstered by strength in domestic markets, they are emboldened to venture overseas. -
Blockbuster faces eviction from dozens of US stores due to unpaid rent
Blockbuster reportedly faces eviction from dozens of US stores where it has not paid rent, adding to the bankrupt company’s troubles. According to local press, four landlords have asked a bankruptcy judge to order immediate rental payment for 38 of the company’s stores. -
Bond Street 5th most expensive shopping street in world
London’s Bond Street has become the fifth most expensive shopping street in the world, according to a report. -
Borders files for bankruptcy protection
Borders has filed for bankruptcy protection, sunk by crushing debt and sluggishness in adapting to a rapidly changing industry.The 40-year-old company plans to close about 200 of its 642 stores over the next few weeks. All of the stores closed will be superstores, a Borders spokeswoman said. The company also operates smaller Waldenbooks and Borders Express stores. -
BRC urges Chancellor to protect retailers from cost increases to aid recovery
The BRC has urged Chancellor George Osbourne to shield retailers from further cost increases in the Budget in order to protect new jobs. -
Build-A-Bear revenue up 1.4% to £247m
Toy retailer Build-A-Bear Workshop reported total revenues increased by 1.4% to $401.5m (£247m) in its 2010 fiscal year. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, net retail sales increased 0.1%.Consolidated like-for-like sales declined 2%, which included a 1.2% decrease in North America and a 5.5% decrease in Europe.Net income for the fiscal year 2010 was $100,000 (£61,200), compared with a net loss of $12.5m (£7.7m) in 2009. -
Carrefour's Promocash to be rolled out to 20 stores this year
Carrefour’s new Promocash concept is to be rolled out to some 20 stores this year following successful trials in Lille, Macon and Rouen, it is understood.The new Promocash concept emphasises fresh food and the non-food product offer and has a modernised wine cellar.Promocash has also enhanced its ecommerce offer, which is now available across all departments, and has begun to deploy adrive-in service. -
Changing time at Peter Jones
Chelsea retail dowager Peter Jones is an example of how John Lewis is shifting its visual merchandising direction. John Ryan visits and talks to Robb Bloomer, manager, retail design. -
City lukewarm on the outlook for retail
As pressure continued to bear down on general retail stocks, Nomura and Espirito Santo issued notes assessing prospects. -
Clinton Cards to place Birthdays Ireland into liquidation
Clinton Cards is to place its Birthdays Ireland chain into liquidation. -
Confetti to branch out to party products
Online retailer Confetti is to expand beyond its core wedding products range as it looks to grow. -
Consumer confidence fails to improve in February
Consumer confidence remained almost unchanged in February, following its near-unprecedented crash the previous month. -
Co-op disposals spark convenience space race
Big grocers circle 40 Co-op stores in drive for larger share of £32.1bn c-store market. -
Co-op has store in every postcode with Strand opening
The Co-op now has a food store in every UK postal area after it opened its £1m flagship shop on the Strand, London. -
Crossrail
The part closure of Oxford Street is a visible sign of the Crossrail project, but will the inconvenience be worth it in the long run for retailers? -
Debenhams launches start-of-season Sale
Debenhams has fired the starting gun on its spring Sale, offering £150m of price cuts across “tens of thousands” of new lines before the season has even officially begun. -
Everything Everywhere to trial dual-branded stores
Everything Everywhere, the joint-venture partnership between T-Mobile and Orange, is to trial dual-branded stores in April. -
Experian Footfall: Week 7, 2011
Experian Footfall index data for the week ending February 20, 2011 -
Focus offloads 6 stores to Asda
DIY chain Focus has offloaded six stores to supermarket Asda in a bid to raise funds. -
Foyles plans new Charing Cross Road flagship
Foyles’ flagship London bookstore is turning a new page and will move from its famous location just 15 yards down Charing Cross Road in a building occupied at present by the Central St Martin’s School of Art. -
Fressnapf turnover up 7.6% to £1.08bn
Pet care retailer Fressnapf has posted an annual turnover of €1.28bn (£1.08bn) for the 2010 fiscal year - an increase of 7.6% compared with the year before.Like-for-like sales grew by almost 2%. In its home market of Germany, Fressnapf posted a turnover of €874.7m (£736.9m), a 5.2% increase.In 10 other European countries, where most of Fressnapf’s stores trade under the banner Maxi Zoo, total turnover rose to €403.4m (£340m), a 13.3% increase over the previous year. -
Gap warns of squeeze on 2011 margins
Gap said international like-for-like sales dipped 1% in its fourth quarter to January 29 and warned that it expected operating margins to be squeezed in 2011 because of cost inflation driven by rising cotton prices. -
Grand designs
Zara not only took on a five-floor design challenge with its new Rome flagship, but also a huge restoration project. John Ryan pays a visit -
Green shift
Euroshop provides an insight into how retailers are thinking. -
Growing sales and protecting customer data is not mutually exclusive
Online sales in the UK generated £58.8 billion in 2010, up eighteen percent year-over-year, according to the figures released by the UK online retail trade association IMRG. -
Halfords appoints David Adams as non-exec
Cycles and automotive retailer Halfords Group has appointed former House of Fraser deputy chief executive David Adams as a non-executive director. -
Harrods Wine Shop London
Pay a visit to the Harrods wine shop and you might be forgiven for expecting premium prices to be the order of the day. -
High and Mighty revamps website in chase for sales
Specialist plus-size fashion retailer High and Mighty relaunched its website last week in a bid to double its online sales over the next year. -
HMV to close Brent Cross store
Struggling music chain HMV is to close one of its most high profile stores at Brent Cross shopping centre in London. -
HMV warns on profits
Entertainment group HMV has issued a profit warning after continued tough trading. -
How to profit from international SEO
Used correctly, SEO is the key to making money in new online territories. Alison Clements asks the experts how it’s done -
ICA operating profuit up 7.8% to £281.3m
Ahold’s Scandinavian division ICA’s full-year operating profit reached SEK2.92bn (£281.3m) in 2010, an increase of 7.8% on 2009. The retailer’s net sales for the full year amounted to SEK93.86bn (£9.04bn), down 0.8%. At constant exchange rates net sales rose 0.9%.In 2011, ICA will “have a laser-like focus” on its disappointing Norwegian operation, chief executive Kenneth Bengtsson announced, as losses there increased during 2010. ICA wants to convert another 100 stores there to the Rim -
Iceland to pay £100m dividend
Frozen food specialist Iceland is expected to pay a dividend of £100m this year, its first for three years. -
In Focus: Peacocks
Primark may epitomise the rapid development of UK value retailing, but entering the new millennium, Matalan and George at Asda sales exceeded Primark’s, while Peacocks was not far behind, passing £200m a year and a close fourth in what was a burgeoning segment. -
Inflation boosting grocery sales, Nielsen reports
Grocery volumes have been subdued in recent weeks, when supermarket sales were helped by inflation. -
Jane Norman chief Saj Shah exits after 35 years
Jane Norman veteran Saj Shah has taken early retirement from the women’s young fashion chain. -
JC Penney to close underperforming stores
Mid-market department store retailer JC Penney has outlined plans to close underperforming stores, wind down its catalogue and outlet operations and consolidate its call centres.At the same time, the retailer announced that investor William Ackman will sit on the chain’s board. Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management along with Vornado have a 26% stake in JC Penney and have put pressure on chief executive Myron Ullman III to turn the retailer around to fight off competitors such as -
Jimmy Choo kick-starts sale process
Luxury label Jimmy Choo has issued an information memoranda this morning to more that 10 bidders for a potential £500 million sale of the business. -
JJB landlord Capital Shopping Centres to oppose CVA
One of the UK’s largest landlords has dealt JJB a further blow after saying it will not back the struggling retailer’s company voluntary arrangement (CVA). -
JJB may abandon ‘Serious about Sport’ tag
JJB Sports may drop its ‘Serious about Sport’ tagline as part of revival plans because of concerns that it is perceived as intimidating. -
JJB submits business plan to banks as CVA proposal delayed
JJB Sports has delivered its revised business plan to its lender Bank of Scotland and will release its detailed CVA proposal in the next week. -
John Lewis' Simon Fowler takes over Oxford Street
John Lewis lifer Simon Fowler is to take over the running of the department store chain’s flagship Oxford Street branch this weekend. -
Jonathan Hart
The new chief executive of Thorntons has been drafted in to sweeten its retail sales, revamp the product offer and take a bite out of the competition. -
Kantar Worldpanel: Audio-Visual Entertainment
The latest Kantar Worldpanel Audio-Visual Entertainment data for the 52 weeks ending December 26, 2010 vs 2009 -
Kingfisher and Wickes upbeat but cautious as results impress
Analysts were pleased by upbeat updates from DIY retailers Kingfisher and Wickes but remain cautious on the outlook for the sector. -
Land of Leather brand up for sale
The Land of Leather brand is up for sale, just over two years after the business collapsed into administration. -
Less is more strategy pays off for Abercrombie & Fitch
After three consecutive years of negative like-for-like sales growth, which also included a period of nine consecutive negative quarters, US-based fashion chain Abercrombie & Fitch has reported like-for-like sales increased 7% in fiscal 2010. -
Like-for-like obsession is misleading
Reading Neil Gillis’s column ‘The like-for-like masquerade’ got me thinking about the relevance of like-for-like measurements for retailers. -
Linda Peters
Managing director, Cocosa -
Lloydspharmacy appoints head of retail
Lloydspharmacy has appointed former Carphone Warehouse buyer Jeff Wemyss as head of retail. -
Marks & Spencer hires Inditex man to lead international expansion
Marks & Spencer has drafted in Inditex director Jan Heere as its international director. -
Morrisons to create ‘store of the future’ from pilot shops
Morrisons is to develop a new-build ‘store of the future’ taking in learnings from its three ‘lab’ shops. -
Morrisons to double its female senior managers
Morrisons has committed to identifying future female business leaders and targeted to more than double its number of female senior managers by 2014. -
Mulberry warns business tax is putting off UK retail investment
Luxury retailer Mulberry has warned that it is being put off building another factory in the UK because of the UK’s prohibitive tax structure. -
Mum’s gone to Iceland, Malcolm’s gone to Everest
Iceland boss Malcolm Walker is to follow the example of derring-do entrepreneur Richard Branson by climbing Everest to raise £1m for research into Alzheimer’s. -
Naked window displays for Fairtrade Fortnight
London is well known for its extravagant shop window displays but not many are as eye-popping as this campaign for Fairtrade Fortnight. -
New Dunelm boss maps out plan for expansion
Dunelm’s new chief executive Nick Wharton will focus on store roll-outs and multichannel operations as he seeks to further grow the business. -
New Look’s Horspool to head design at Oasis
Barbara Horspool, the outgoing group design director at New Look, will build on Oasis’ feminine and contemporary handwriting when she joins the young fashion chain as design director in the summer. -
New Look's Barbara Horspool in shock exit
Barbara Horspool, group design director at New Look and the driving force behind the value chain’s fashion credentials, has quit to join women’s young fashion chain Oasis. -
New Tesco chief Clarke’s delicate balancing act
The term ‘end of an era’ is overused. But next week undeniably marks one, when Sir Terry Leahy - the most successful retailer of his generation - departs Tesco’s austere Cheshunt headquarters for the last time after 14 years in charge, and Phil Clarke takes over. -
Ocado signs for new distribution spoke in Wimbledon
Online grocer Ocado has signed for a new distribution spoke in south west London with capacity for 14,200 orders per week. -
Peter Davies to grow recovered Ollie & Nic
Retail entrepreneur Peter Davies, who rescued Ollie & Nic as part of a pre-pack administration last week, has vowed to grow the accessories chain via stores and online. -
Pippa Newham
Buying director, Millets -
PPR up 7.5% to £12.3bn
Luxury goods and retail company PPR reported total group revenue from continuing operations was up 7.5% to €14.6bn (£12.3bn) in the 2010 fiscal year, from €13.6bn (£11.5bn) in 2009.Recurring operating income was up 23.5% to €1.53bn (£1.29bn) from €1.24bn (£1.04bn) in 2009. -
Primark reports tougher trading
Value fashion giant Primark has reported a slowdown in demand, signalling how tough high street trading has become since the start of the year. -
Restructure at House of Fraser claims brand director Chambers
House of Fraser brand director Matt Chambers has been made redundant as part of a restructure of the department store’s support functions. -
Retail in the Middle East and North Africa
Despite unrest and revolution, the emerging markets of the Middle East and North Africa still hold appeal to retailers, but is it worth the risk? -
Retail mourns Nigel Whittaker
The retail industry paid tribute this week to Nigel Whittaker, the former Kingfisher director who died last weekend after a long illness. -
Retail sales growth slows sharply as prices rise to 1991 levels
The pace of retail sales growth slowed sharply in February as prices soared to 1991 levels according to the CBI. -
Retailers back eco-label clothing plan
H&M, Gap and Marks & Spencer are backing a scheme which will allow clothing to be globally labelled with tags showing individual garments’ environmental impact. -
Sainsbury's aims to double Fairtrade business over next 5 years
Sainsbury’s plans to double its Fairtrade business to £500m in the next five years. -
Sainsbury's and Morrisons outperform, while Tesco and Asda lag
Sainsbury’s and Morrisons outperformed in the latest Kantar Worldpanel figures, while Tesco and Asda were slightly behind the market. -
Sainsbury's teams up with Gok Wan
Sainsbury’s has struck a deal with TV stylist Gok Wan which will see the celebrity design womenswear ranges for its Tu brand. -
Sales fall at John Lewis, but Waitrose continues strong run
Sales fell at John Lewis last week, with the department store chain blaming the timing of school half-term for the decline. -
Spar sales up 4.4% to £9.9bn
AUSTRIA -
Sports Direct sales benefit from troubles at JJB
Sports Direct’s retail sales soared 13.8% during its third quarter as it continued to win market share at JJB Sports’ expense. -
Supermarket price comparison iPhone app launches
An iPhone app that allows consumers to compare supermarket deals has been launched by grocery shopping and comparison website My Supermarket. -
Supermarkets could face competition inquiry after unjustified price hikes, warns UBS
Supermarkets have been raising food prices faster than inflation in Britain and could face a competition inquiry, according to investment bank UBS. -
Supermarkets: The kings of convenience
What’s in store for UK supermarket operators during 2011? Natalie Berg, global research director at Planet Retail, reports -
Tesco close to buying Polish chain
Tesco is understood to be close to buying Polish retail chain Zabka from private equity firm Penta Investments. -
Tesco creates t-shirt for Climate Week
Tesco has teamed up with designer Eley Kishimoto to create a T-shirt for Climate Week in aid of the Environmental Justice Foundation. -
Tesco drives Clubcard loyalty online
Tesco is rolling out its online Clubcard services as it seeks to ramp up its digital operation. -
Tesco launches offensive against Asda
Tesco has today launched an offensive against rival Asda promising to pay shoppers “double the difference” on any products that are cheaper at the Walmart-owned grocer. -
The shape of things to come
EuroShop starts tomorrow so you may already be en route to Düsseldorf for a few days of looking at what’s new in the world of store equipment and design and to network with those who need to be networked. -
The shop of the new
Many of Europe’s biggest store equipment manufacturers will launch their next generation products at EuroShop. Mark Faithfull looks at some of the innovations to be unveiled in Düsseldorf -
TK Maxx parent to slow pace of growth in Europe as profits collapse
The parent company of TK Maxx and HomeSense is to slow its pace of growth in Europe in a bid to get back on track after a 52% fall in full year profits. -
Top Dog at Topshop
The Topshop Unique London Fashion Week show was themed ‘dogs meet mice somewhere in early Hollywood’. -
Twinings seeks site for London flagship
Famous tea brand Twinings is on the hunt for a Central London flagship store that will be its first opening in 300 years. -
Waitrose rebrands site as it takes on Ocado
Waitrose is expecting growth of 30% year on year in its ecommerce division as it prepares to relaunch its website and take on Ocado inside the M25. -
What do the changes to the freight delivery terms Incoterms mean?
Can you give an overview of the most recent changes to the freight delivery terms Incoterms? -
What it’s like to work at… Fonehouse
The inside view from operations director Stuart Ferguson -
What makes a good mobile-optimised website?
What makes a good mobile-optimised website and what are the pitfalls to avoid? -
Where there’s a Wills, there’s a (new) way
Preppy varsity kids brand Jack Wills’ new store in Soho is an example of a brand reaching out beyond its comfort zone. John Ryan reports -
WHSmith steady after Swann sell-off
WHSmith chief executive Kate Swann last week sold a tranche of shares in the retailer. -
Wickes gains market share despite flat like-for-likes
DIY chain Wickes like-for-likes remained flat in 2010, rising 0.2%, but current trading has improved. -
Will the integration of social media into our website drive traffic?
Will the integration of social media identity into our website drive traffic and is it worth the investment? -
Woolworths H1 sales up 9.8%
Upmarket food and clothing retailer Woolworths reported group sales grew by 9.8% year-on-year in the first half ended December 26, 2010, along with positive margin development after more effective cost control. Pre-tax profit increased by 22.1% during the period. Food sales grew by 11.8%, while clothing sales were up 11.5%.In both categories Woolworths slightly outperformed the market (which showed 9% and -
Zara expands online presence to further five countries
Fashion retailer Zara is to launch its next tranche of websites as it expands its online offering across a further five countries.
