Retail Week
March 4 2011
View all stories from this issue.
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Alworths in the balance?
Future unclear for ‘son of Woolworths’ as founder resigns as director and restructuring looms. -
Ann Summers sets sights on fashion not spice
Ann Summers is seeking to inject more fashion into its lingerie offer. -
Asda celebrates International Women's Day
Asda is celebrating International Women’s Day today with the launch of several initiatives to recognise women’s equality. -
Asda hits back at Tesco as price check wars heat up
Asda has hit out against Tesco’s launch this week of an online price checker, arguing that it does not match the “independence and integrity” of the Asda Price Guarantee. -
Asos Marketplace to open portal to overseas sellers
Asos is to open out its Marketplace to international sellers by the end of the year. -
B&Q to invest £35m in multichannel operations
Market leading DIY retailer B&Q is to spend £35m improving its online business. -
BDO High Street Sales Tracker
BDO High Street Sales Tracker data for the week ending February 27, 2011 -
Bensons Beds boss to step down from role
Bensons for Beds managing director Bill Carrahar is to step down from the retailer after five years in the role. -
Best Buy to close all Best Buy-bannered stores in China and Turkey
Electricals giant Best Buy is to close all Best Buy-bannered stores in China and Turkey, as well as its headquarters in Shanghai. The move is aimed at saving some $70m (£43.4m) by fiscal 2013. The retailer said its future plans in China would focus on its Five Star operations - which it acquired in 2006 - with hopes of opening 50 new stores in the 2012 fiscal year. “This aggressive expansion of the Five Star brand shows our ongoing long-ter -
Blockbuster received bid for £179.9m as it puts itself up for auction
Troubled entertainment retailer Blockbuster has put itself up for auction and has received a bid from a consortium for $290m (£179.9m). The US chain has reportedly agreed to sell itself to Cobalt Video Holdco in a deal that includes its UK operations. Blockbuster chairman and chief executive Jim Keyes said: “By initiating a sale process at this time, we intend to accelerate our Chapter 11 proceedings and move the company forward. This will allow for the consolidation of ownership of the compa -
Burberry shares bolstered by Bulgari deal
Burberry shares soared after luxury goods house LVMH acquired accessories giant Bulgari with speculation that the luxury British heritage brand could be the latest to be snapped up. -
Come buy with me at airports and rail concourses
Airports and rail concourses are being reinvented as retail destinations across the UK. Mark Faithfull looks at the retail opportunities as operators map out their new strategies -
Dansk total revenue up 3.5% to £6.7bn last year
Dansk Supermarked’s total revenue increased 3.5% to DKr59.3bn (£6.7bn) in 2010, while profit after tax amounted to DKr2.22bn (£254m). Turnover in Denmark rose 1.4% last year, and majority owner A P Møller-Mærsk Gruppen said the retailer increased its market share in groceries. Revenue outside Denmark experienced a growth of 8.3%, because of rising exchange rates. -
Debenhams stands out as a buy
Broker Singer met Debenhams managment last week and reiterated its buy advice afterwards. -
Dixons planning to open second Black store in central London
Dixons is understood to be opening a second Black store to be located in central London in the second half of this year, following the launch of its trend and fashion-led trial shop in December last year. -
Everything Everywhere to stock iPad 2
Everything Everywhere, the company formed from the merger between T-mobile and Orange, is the only mobile phone retailer, other than Apple itself, to have confirmed that it will stock the iPad 2. -
Experian Footfall: Week 8, 2011
Experian Footfall index data for the week ending February 27, 2011 -
Extra tax levy in Northern Ireland would harm retail expansion, warns BRC
The proposed extra tax on large retail properties in Northern Ireland could limit retail expansion and harm employment prospects, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warned. -
Fairtrade fans aren’t fair weather
Despite the recession people are sticking to their values and buying Fairtrade, says Mike Coupe -
February retail sales worst since May 2009
Like-for-like sales fell 0.4% across the retail industry in February as shoppers kept a close eye on spending because of squeezed disposable incomes. -
Forever 21 signs for store in Glasgow
US fashion retailer Forever 21 is understood to have signed for its first store in Scotland. -
Fortnum & Mason to sell Highgrove food products
Fortnum & Mason has secured a partnership to exclusively stock Highgrove food products. -
Frasers: Northern star
Frasers, the Glaswegian House of Fraser flagship, has come to the end of revamping its ground floor. As John Ryan discovers, the results have been spectacular -
Gap Q4 net income up 4% last year
US Fashion retailer Gap has said that fourth-quarter net income rose nearly 4% in 2010 as a result of rising sales abroad, online and at its higher price Banana Republic and lower price Old Navy chains. The retailer reported quarterly net income of $365m (£226.4m). Like-for-like sales did not change. For 2011, the retailer plans to open about 75 new franchise stores and 50 company-owned stores abroad, including 10 to 15 in China, 8 to 10 in Ital -
Gloomy outlook as retail takes a bad turn
Primark’s unsettling update and a profit warning from HMV put the frighteners on retail sector investors and general stores were sharply down against a flat market. -
Grocers angry as UBS slams ‘unfair’ food hikes
Supermarkets could face a competition inquiry because of food price hikes according to investment bank UBS. -
G-Star set to open three flagship franchise stores
Young fashion brand G-Star is in talks to open flagship franchise stores in London’s Oxford Street, Glasgow and Manchester. -
HannSpree, Westfield London
Ever considered buying a crab-shaped TV, pincers included? A visit to HannSpree might make this improbable prospect at least a possibility. -
HMV expected to consider an emergency rights issue
Disposal of Waterstone’s also a possibility following fourth profit warning by parent since last autumn -
Hollister and Cult sign for Westfield Nottingham
Fashion retailers Hollister and Cult are the first retailers to sign for Westfield’s new Broadmarsh shopping development in Nottingham. -
If Primark’s suffering, what about the rest?
Even during the worst of the recession, one thing that remained consistent was that Primark continued to power on as if nothing was wrong. -
Image Gallery: Everything Everywhere new store format
Everything Everywhere has opened its second and third own-brand stores in Eltham and Bishops Stortford today. -
Image gallery: Kiddicare
Retail Week takes a tour around Kiddicare’s giant Peterborough showroom and demonstrates its kiosk technology. -
In Focus: Debenhams
Ever wondered what Debenhams’ 150 stores would turn over if they achieved similar sales densities to John Lewis’s 29 department stores? -
Inditex to open online stores in Scandinavia
Spanish fashion retailer Inditex has announced it will open online stores for its flagship Zara brand in Scandinavia, as it moves further into the home market of Swedish rival H&M. The retailer also said it will open online stores in Switzerland and Monaco. The five new stores are due to launch on March 3, taking Zara’s total online presence to 16 European countries. Inditex launched Zara online in September last year. -
Jamie Oliver returns in Sainsbury's Comic Relief ad
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver will star in a new TV campaign for Sainsbury’s encouraging staff and shoppers to get into the Comic Relief spirit. -
Jan Heere
Having impressed at Inditex’s Russian division with his relationship building it seems M&S couldn’t have picked a better international chief, says Tim Danaher -
JJB unveils CVA proposal
Retailer will offer ‘clawback’ to landlords affected by its plans -
John Lewis appoints Paul Coby as IT director
John Lewis has appointed former British Airways director Paul Coby as its IT director. -
John Lewis reports half-term sales lift
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose 7.2% to £54m last week, when the retailer benefited from the half-term holiday south of the border. -
John Lewis to raise £50m through retail bond
John Lewis Partnership, owner of the eponymous department store chain and grocer Waitrose, is to raise £50m through a retail bond. -
Kantar Worldpanel: Grocery market share data
Kantar Worldpanel Grocery market share data for the 12 weeks ending February 20, 2011 -
Karen Millen targets £500m sales as it splits off from Aurora
Karen Millen is aiming to double sales to £500m in the next five years after parent company Aurora Fashions revealed this week it will be spun off from the rest of the group. -
Kate Middleton 'to drive growth in premium fashion'
The premium market will enjoy the strongest growth in the clothing sector over the next three years, helped by the influence of princess-to-be Kate Middleton, according to new research. -
Kiddicare’s overseas plans start in Nordics
Online baby products retailer Kiddicare has chosen Scandinavia as its first international market and said it expects to surpass its plans to reach £100m turnover in two years. -
Less really is more at Apple
In tough times, is there really any point in spending huge amounts on window displays, when low-cost can be just as effective? -
Links of London to push mobile presence
Links of London is to ramp up its mobile presence with the launch of an iPhone app and mobile site this year. -
M&S machine cranks into gear
Marks & Spencer’s appointment of Inditex’s Russian boss Jan Heere as international director, and the poaching of Laura Wade-Gery from Tesco as ecommerce supremo, should benefit the retailer in subtle as well as obvious ways. -
Marks & Spencer poaches Sara Bradley
Marks & Spencer is understood to have poached Sara Bradley, former Sainsbury’s clothing boss, who was weeks away from joining Asda. -
Massmart H1 like-for-likes jump 7.3%
Retail and wholesale group Massmart - in which a 51% majority stake is expected to be acquired by Walmart by April this year - has announced a 13.3% sales increase for the first half of its current financial year. Sales rose to R27.37bn (£2.4bn) in the period to December 26, 2010 and like-for-like sales jumped 7.3%, while operating profit before exchange losses soared 12.7%. Massmart closed the first half with a to -
Morrisons poised for £1bn share buy-back
Morrisons is reported to be poised to return about £1bn to shareholders when it reveals its full-year results next week. -
Moss Bros appoints new operations chief
Menswear group Moss Bros has appointed former Musto retail director Paul Rooke as retail operations director. -
Mulberry’s 40-year journey to the top
Mulberry’s luxury goods are in big demand and its shares are worth six times what they were a year ago. Rebecca Thomson finds out why -
Next Blacks boss will be retail specialist
Blacks Leisure chief executive Neil Gillis said the outdoor chain is looking to replace him with a traditional retailer to steer the firm back into the black. -
Northern Ireland shopping bag tax rushed to raise revenue warns BRC
A new tax on shopping bags in Northern Ireland is being rushed through to raise revenue, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned. -
Ocado sales surge in first quarter
Online grocer Ocado has posted a sales surge in its first quarter, when its average basket size fell as shopping frequency increased. -
Oddbins drafts in advisers to consider future
Wine retailer Oddbins has drafted in advisors as it considers its options amid tough trading conditions. -
Oddbins to close 39 shops
Oddbins is to close 39 stores as part of its strategic review. -
Pets at Home launches iPhone app
Pets at Home has launched a free pet care application for iPhones and iPads allowing pet owners to receive news and offers. -
RadioShack net sales up 4.6% to $4.47bn
Consumer electronics retailer RadioShack has reported total net sales and operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010 up 4.6% to $4.47bn (£2.77bn), while net income increased 1.1% to $206m (£127.8m). The sales increase was driven by a 4.4% like-for-like sales increase in company-operated stores and kiosks, helped by increased sales in the Sprint and AT&T postpaid wireless business, increased sales of pre-paid wireless handsets and airtime, and increased sales of wireless acces -
Retail bosses warn Treasury urgent action needed
The chiefs of several major retailers have warned the Treasury that urgent action is needed to prevent a double-dip recession and the possible closure of thousands of shops. -
Retail companies rank highly in The Sunday Times Best Companies survey
Retailers Bravissimo, Beaverbrooks, Net-a-Porter, White Stuff, DRL, Pets at Home and Lush have been named in The Sunday Times list of the 100 Best Companies To Work For. -
Rewe Group net turnover up 4% for 2010 to £45.2m
Rewe Group increased its net turnover for 2010 by 4%, up to about e53bn (£45.2m), based on preliminary figures. Sales for the National Full-Range Stores (Rewe supermarkets and Toom hypermarkets in Germany) grew 6.4% over the previous year up to e14.5bn (£12.4bn). The Penny discounters in Germany lost 1.2% in turnover, down to e6.9bn (£5.88bn). Abroad, the discounter grew 3.5%, whereby Romania (4.3%) and the Czech Republic (3.8%) recorded above-average growth. -
Safeway rakes up £366m net income after loss last year
Grocery chain Safeway reported net income for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2011 amounted to $590m (£366m), compared with a net loss of $1.1bn (£682.4m) reported last year. Sales for the full year edged up 0.5% to $41.05bn (£25.5bn). Excluding fuel, identical store sales declined 2% while like-for-like sales were down 1.8%. During the year, Safeway invested $838m (£519.9m) in capital expenditure, opened 14 new Lifestyle stores, completed 60 Lifestyle remodels and closed 45 stores. -
Sainsbury's launches into children's books
Sainsbury’s has launched its first range of own brand pre-school children’s books as part of a wider initiative to increase own brand and branded books. -
Sainsbury's reveals secret to the perfect pancake
Sainsbury’s and the University College London have teamed up to develop the perfect formula for pancake tossing. -
Sales slowdown at Primark sparks City retail sector fears
Value fashion powerhouse Primark sounded a warning that shoppers have been reluctant to open their purses since the start of the year, knocking City sentiment towards retailers. -
Sir Terry Leahy checks out
Sir Terry Leahy waved to staff as he left the Tesco head office in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire yesterday. -
Tesco expands Fresh & Easy with 12 new stores
Tesco has backed its loss-making US chain Fresh & Easy by opening 12 stores across California. -
Tesco joint venture builds momentum in China
Tesco has signed a new joint venture to create three more Lifespace malls in China, an initiative welcomed by the City as evidence of building momentum in the country. -
Tesco pushes music companies to renegotiate CD deals
Tesco is to demand that music companies to accept minimal upfront payments for the CDs they ship to the retailer in a deal that will test how record labels’ bargaining power has diminished alongside shoppers’ interest in CDs. -
The cream of the online crop
Online recruitment processes streamline dealing with applications, Joanne Ellul discovers -
The role of stores needs to evolve
In the past couple of years, the retail industry has faced some of the most challenging conditions for decades but online has remained a consistent star performer. -
The start of a new era for Tesco
Phil Clarke has a hard act to follow succeeding Sir Terry Leahy. As he takes over the hottest seat in UK retail, Jennifer Creevy looks at the big issues he faces -
Tile Depot planning another 15 shops
Tile Depot wants to double its store portfolio over the next two years after increasing its warehouse capacity. -
TK Maxx bolsters top team and slows openings to regain focus
TK Maxx is to slow its store opening programme and has bolstered its management team in an attempt to turn its business around following a collapse in profits. -
TK Maxx plans to open in Haymarket
TK Maxx is planning to open a store near Piccadilly Circus after being told it “wasn’t posh enough” two years ago. -
Video: New Tesco boss Phil Clarke talks about taking up the top job
Tesco’s group chief executive Phil Clarke has sent out a video message on his first day in his new job. -
Waitrose goes live with new website
Waitrose has launched its revamped website as it prepares for rapid expansion of its ecommerce sales over the next 10 years. -
Walmart International makes up for domestic dip
Walmart has reported that net sales for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011 increased 3.4% to $419bn (£259.9bn), while international sales grew 12.1% to $109bn (£67.6bn). -
What are the key changes to the London Low Emission Zone next year?
Can you outline the key changes to the Mayor’s changes to the London Low Emission Zone next year? To what extent will it affect retailers? -
What it’s like to work at Store Twenty One
The inside view from estates controller Douglas Sinclair -
White Stuff plans foreign foray
Lifestyle retailer White Stuff is considering a push into foreign markets as its search for a new chairman begins. -
Wickes online sales up 70% as it upgrades site
DIY retailer Wickes has increased the value of its online sales by 70% in the past year after introducing a range of initiatives on its website. -
With such focus on customer service do we need to up our game?
With all the focus being put on retailers’ customer service in the media, do we need to up our game? -
Woman smashes up shop because it ran out of her favourite cup cake
Police are investigating after a shop worker was attacked by a shopper after she was told that they had sold out of her favourite cup cake. -
Woolworths to acquire The Cellarmasters Group from Archer Capital for £214.6m
Woolworths is to acquire The Cellarmasters Group from Archer Capital for AUS340m (£214.6m). Cellarmasters is one of Australia’s largest direct-to-home wine retailers and providers of contract bottling and wine services with operations in Australia and New Zealand. The business represents a complementary bolt-on to Woolworths’ existing liquor portfolio, which includes successful brands such as Dan Murphy’s, BWS, Woolworths Liquor and Langton’s.
