Retail Week
Nicola Harrison

Nicola Harrison is Acting News Editor at Retail Week

Nicola has worked on the news desk for three years, covering property, furniture, DIY, general merchandise, policy and entertainment.

Before that she worked at HR magazine, which was her first proper reporting job.

Nicola's Interests include retailers launching new formats and expanding internationally, as well as the changing landscape of the retail property market.

Follow Nicola on twitter: @NicolaRHarrison

Sales of winter warmers drive John Lewis sales

10-Feb-2012
John Lewis sales grew 6% to £52.5m in the week to February 4 as shoppers stocked up on winter warmers in the cold weather.
Comet axes 450 staff

10-Feb-2012
Comet’s new owner has taken the axe to 450 jobs as it seeks to turn around the ailing electricals business, it is understood.
Dunelm steady under Wharton

February 10 2012
Nicola Harrison has worked on the news desk at Retail Week for three years, covering property, furniture, DIY, and entertainment.
When emergency surgery is needed

February 10 2012
HMV and Game are selling parts of their business to preserve the core. Nicola Harrison reports on crisis disposals.
Edinburgh Woollen Mill in the frame to buy Peacocks

8-Feb-2012
Edinburgh Woollen Mill has emerged as one of the four bidders in the running to buy collapsed value clothing retailer Peacocks, Retail Week understands.
Game marketing boss Dave Hughes exits as 46 jobs put on the line

8-Feb-2012
UPDATED: Game chief marketing officer Dave Hughes it to leave the retailer as it enters into a consultation with staff at its head office, putting about 46 jobs in jeopardy.
Dunelm reports strong H1 as it appoints Matt Davies to the board

8-Feb-2012
Value homewares Dunelm has notched up a strong half year performance as it appoints outgoing Pets at Home boss Matt Davies as a non exec director.
Amazon topples HMV to become UK's biggest entertainment retailer

7-Feb-2012
Amazon is the biggest player in the UK entertainment sector after toppling HMV for the first time.
Vacancy rates show sharp north-south divide

7-Feb-2012
Shop vacancy rates have stabilised at 14.3% during the second half of last year, although the latest figures show a sharp north-south divide.
Game sets Friday deadline for overseas business first round bids

6-Feb-2012
Game has set a Friday deadline for first round bids for its overseas business.
Is SuperGroup more than a fad?

February 3 2012
Nicola Harrison has worked on the news desk at Retail Week for three years, covering property, furniture, DIY, and entertainment.
Private equity firms submit second round bids for Iceland

2-Feb-2012
Iceland has attracted interest from two private equity firms interested in acquiring the frozen food chain.
Carpetright Ireland business in recovery despite group profit warning

2-Feb-2012
Carpetright issued a profit warning on Tuesday despite an improving sales trend that included a double digit like-for-like increase in the tough Irish market.
High street crisis ‘irreversible’, Wrigley warns

2-Feb-2012
The former boss of New Look, Phil Wrigley, has sounded the death knell of the traditional high street, and described Mary Portas’s review as the “right diagnosis, wrong prescription”.
Former M and M Direct boss joins B&Q board

2-Feb-2012
B&Q has appointed former M and M Direct boss Steve Robinson to its board as it strengthens its multichannel offer.
Game confirms review of overseas business

2-Feb-2012
Game has said it has put its overseas operations under review, confirming Retail-Week.com’s story yesterday.
Game to offload overseas operations

1-Feb-2012
Entertainment group Game aims to offload overseas businesses as it seeks to stem widening losses in the face of a punishing games market.
Argos appoints John Walden as managing director

1-Feb-2012
Argos has appointed John Walden as its new managing director.
Carpetright issues profit warning

31-Jan-2012
Floorings retailer Carpetright has issued a profit warning despite an improving trend in sales.
Garden Centre Group in exclusivity talks with Terra Firma

30-Jan-2012
Garden Centre Group is to enter exclusivity talks with private equity firm Terra Firma, it is understood.
Co-op Food hires Steve Murrells as chief executive

27-Jan-2012
The Co-operative has made two key appointments, including hiring Steve Murrells as the new chief executive of its food business.
Ocado blow as FD departs

January 27 2012
News editor Nicola is has worked on the news desk at Retail Week for three years, covering property, furniture, DIY, and entertainment.
Retail sales suffer steepest fall in three years, says CBI

26-Jan-2012
Retail sales suffered their biggest fall in three years in January, according to the CBI Distributives Trades Survey.
Tributes paid to MFI legend Derek Hunt

26-Jan-2012
Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Derek Hunt, the former MFI boss identified with the retailer’s glory days, who died last week aged 72.
Edinburgh Woollen Mill plans 150 new stores as it eyes Peacocks property

24-Jan-2012
Edinburgh Woollen Mill is to open 150 high street and mall stores this year, as well as more than 100 across the rest of the group that includes Jane Norman.
Bonmarché bought out of pre-pack by Sun European

23-Jan-2012
Bonmarché has been bought by private equity firm Sun European Partners in a pre-pack administration deal.
Former Woolies staff share £68m payout

23-Jan-2012
Former Woolworths employees have won compensation totalling £68m after being made redundant when the retailer collapsed in 2008.
Asda to invest £500m in stores and supply chain

23-Jan-2012
Asda will invest £500m this year in new stores and its supply chain.
Video: Oxford Street shops flooded as water mains burst

20-Jan-2012
Shops including Primark, Next and Ann Summers have been flooded on London’s Oxford Street after aging water mains burst.
HMV granted breathing space by banks

20-Jan-2012
UPDATED: Struggling entertainment retailer HMV has revealed its banks have relaxed its terms and given it more headroom in a move that will have a “materially positive impact on the Group’s profitability and cash flow”.
Former MFI boss Derek Hunt dies

20-Jan-2012
Derek Hunt, the former boss of MFI, has died.
Duddy must stop Argos’s slide

January 20 2012
News editor Nicola is has worked on the news desk at Retail Week for three years, covering property, furniture, DIY, and entertainment.
Asos sales and margin up in third quarter

19-Jan-2012
Fashion etailer Asos UK sales were up 10% to £62m in its third quarter.
Dixons holds its own against supermarkets

19-Jan-2012
Dixons boss John Browett maintained the electricals retailer has beaten off competition from the supermarkets through its renewed focus on customer service.
Bonmarche stores to close as part of rescue deal

18-Jan-2012
Up to half of Bonmarché stores are likely to closed or be offloaded as part of a rescue deal to salvage the heart of the business.
B&Q invests £12m in product ranges

17-Jan-2012
B&Q has made a £12m investment in its gardening products as it prepares for its critical Easter trading period.
Past Times collapses into administration

16-Jan-2012
Past Times has collapsed into administration after appointing KPMG this afternoon.
Notices of intent filed for Peacock Group and Bonmarché

16-Jan-2012
UPDATE: Notices of intent to appoint administrators have been filed for both Peacocks Group and Bonmarché, placing the clothing retailers into a 10-day moratorium until a solution to its difficulties is found.
Not so entertaining

January 13 2012
You wouldn’t want to be selling anything entertainment-related right now, going by the updates from HMV and Game this week.
Alshaya to revamp La Senza stores and product as it hires CBRE

12-Jan-2012
La Senza’s new owner Alshaya will introduce new product lines and revamp stores as part of its plan to turn around the ailing lingerie brand.
New Look reports strong Christmas trading

12-Jan-2012
New Look like-for-likes rose 3.6% in the 5 weeks to December 31 despite the “challenging” trading conditions.
Tesco reports "disappointing" Christmas as like-for-likes fall 2.3%

12-Jan-2012
Tesco has reported its worst Christmas sales performance in decades as UK like-for-likes excluding VAT and petrol declined 2.3%.
HMV trims head office jobs

11-Jan-2012
HMV has made a “handful” of redundancies at head office days after reporting a slump in sales over Christmas.
N Brown like-for-likes up 2%

11-Jan-2012
Home shopping group N Brown like-for-likes rose 2% in the 19 weeks to January 7.
Dunelm margins improve as like-for-likes grow 1.1%

10-Jan-2012
Dunelm like-for-likes increased 1.1% in the 26 weeks to December 31 and it expects first half pretax profit to come in at about £52m.
Game like-for likes plunge as margins hit

10-Jan-2012
Game UK & Eire like-for-likes slumped 15.2% in the 8 weeks to January 7 as the challenging conditions in the games market continue to take their toll.
Strong start to Boxing Day Sales for furniture retailers

Janaury 6 2012
Furniture retailers have reported strong starts to their critical Boxing Day Sales but remain cautious on the outlook for the big-ticket sector.
Winners and losers

Janaury 6 2012
Who will be the winners of 2012?
Clintons Christmas like-for-likes edge up

5-Jan-2012
Greetings card retailer Clinton Cards like-for-likes edged up 0.4% in the five weeks to January 1 as a “renewed focus on the right customer offer and improved service” paid off.
JJB shows improving performance over Christmas

5-Jan-2012
Embattled sports retailer JJB like-for-likes rose 5% in the 4 weeks to December 26.
John Lewis Christmas like-for-likes up 6.2%

4-Jan-2012
John Lewis like-for-likes were up 6.2% in the 5 weeks to 31 December 2011 as the retailer notched up an “outstanding performance”.
Next sales up as Directory outperforms stores

4-Jan-2012
Next sales rose 3.1% between August 1 and December 24 as sales in its directory outperformed stores.
Brand Alley sales surge 61% in fourth quarter

3-Jan-2012
Private sales site Brand Alley has had an “excellent” year, posting a 61% sales surge in the final quarter of 2011.
B&Q launches biggest ever online marketing campaign

28-Dec-2011
DIY retailer B&Q has launched its biggest ever online marketing campaign to promote its winter kitchen and bathroom Sale.
Albemarle & Bond to open 25 shops next year

28-Dec-2011
Pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond will open 25 new shops next year as it takes advantage of a decline in lending from banks in the challenging economic climate.
Retailers benefit from post-Christmas sales frenzy

28-Dec-2011
Shoppers flocked to post-Christmas Sales yesterday and analysts believe December 27 will have been the busiest shopping day of the year.
Mixed reactions to Tesco results

16-Dec-2011
Opinion was divided in the City when Tesco revealed its third-quarter update last week.
First British boss for Ikea UK and Ireland

December 16 2011
The UK’s largest furniture retailer Ikea has appointed a new boss to replace Martin Hansson who is relocating to Shanghai to run its Asia Pacific region.
Robert Dyas boss exits after five months

15-Dec-2011
Robert Dyas chief executive Steve McVey has stepped down from the homewares and hardwares retailer after just five months and has been replaced by finance director Graham Coles.
Interested parties circle Barratts

15-Dec-2011
A number of retailers have expressed interest in shoe business Barratts and Priceless’ stores after it collapsed into administration last week.
Analysts confident of Carpetright recovery

15-Dec-2011
Analysts believe Carpetright is well positioned for when the recovery comes despite the floorings retailer reporting a first-half loss.
'Christmas on a knife edge' as footfall dips last week

15-Dec-2011
High street footfall dipped in the week beginning December 5, down 2.6% year-on-year.
Carpetright IT and e-commerce director Ian Woosey made redundant

15-Dec-2011
Carpetright group IT and e-commerce director Ian Woosey has been made redundant following a review of the business.
Moss Bros like-for-likes soar

15-Dec-2011
Moss Bros like-for-likes soared 10.5% in the 19 weeks to December 10, despite being up against tough comparables.
Sports Direct sales up in first half

15-Dec-2011
Sports Direct has reported flat pretax profits at £100.3m as sales grew in the first half.
Martyn Phillips

15-Dec-2011
As B&Q launches its biggest ever winter Sale, Nicola Harrison asks its recently appointed chief executive what the future holds in store
Hammerson welcomes Portas Review

14-Dec-2011
Landlord Hammerson, owner of malls including the Bull Ring, has welcomed The Portas Review into high streets.
Clintons FD Paul Salador quits

14-Dec-2011
Clinton Cards group finance director Paul Salador has stepped down after 15 years at the business.
La Senza calls in restructurers

14-Dec-2011
Lingerie retailer La Senza has appointed KPMG to restructure the business.
Carpetright reports first half loss

13-Dec-2011
Carpetright has reported a first half pretax loss of £800,000 against a £9.8m profit last year as the “very challenging trading environment” hit performance.
In pictures: Argos Christmas pop up shops in London train stations

12-Dec-2011
Argos has opened pop up gift shops in London train stations Paddington and Waterloo this week.
Wickes opens first high street store

12-Dec-2011
Wickes has opened a convenience store on a high street in Tumbridge Wells.
Wiggle to focus on stores and M&A following sale

December 9 2011
Large destination shops on the agenda for cycles etailer following £180m deal.
Ex-Uniqlo man becomes Body Shop UK boss

December 9 2011
Cosmetics specialist Body Shop has hired former Uniqlo director Simon Coble as its new UK boss.
Carpetright focused on the future

December 9 2011
All eyes will be on floorings giant Carpetright next week, as it is expected to report its worst first-half figures as a listed company.
Big Price Drop drives volume growth at Tesco

8-Dec-2011
Tesco like-for-like sales in the UK, excluding petrol and VAT, fell 0.9% in the third quarter.
Wiggle bought by Bridgepoint in £180m deal

7-Dec-2011
Cycles etailer Wiggle has today been acquired by private equity firm Bridgepoint in a £180m deal.
Irish Government scraps plans to change upward only rent reviews

7-Dec-2011
The Irish Government has scrapped plans to ban upward-only rent review clauses from existing leases.
Shop price inflation falls to 2% in November

7-Dec-2011
Overall shop price inflation dropped to 2% last month, from 2.1% in October, representing the lowest rate for 12 months as the supermarket price war kept prices down.
New Look's Will Kernan jumps ship to White Company

6-Dec-2011
New Look’s chief operating officer Will Kernan has become the latest director to exit the embattled fashion retailer.
Tesco veteran David Potts to stand down

6-Dec-2011
Tesco veteran David Potts is to stand down from the grocer after 13 years on its board.
Everything Everywhere to launch transactional site

6-Dec-2011
Everything Everywhere, the company formed after the merger of mobile phone firms Orange and T-Mobile, is to launch a transactional site.
November retail like-for-likes down 1.6%

6-Dec-2011
Retail like-for-like sales in November fell 1.6%, the weakest performance since May.
VAT to rise to 23% in Ireland

5-Dec-2011
The Irish Government is expected to reveal plans to increase Vat from 21% to 23% tomorrow (Tuesday).
Cath Kidston overseas expansion drives sales

5-Dec-2011
Kitsch homewares and fashion retailer Cath Kidston operating profits nearly doubled in the 53 weeks to April as the company expanded overseas.
Comet deal financing delayed

2-Dec-2011
The proposed sale of Comet has hit a stumbling block because its prospective buyer has not yet secured a key part of its financing.
Ikea price cuts power market share advance

2-Dec-2011
Swedish furniture giant invests in online and store revamps as it ‘prepares for uplift’ in market.
Reviving Clintons

December 2 2011
At the global property conference Mapic two weeks ago, one of the main questions on the lips of landlords and agents was ‘what will Clintons do with its 800-strong store estate?’
New Wickes boss Simon King ‘excited’ by the challenge ahead

1-Dec-2011
Wickes new boss Simon King hopes to bring strong leadership qualities to the DIY retailer after being appointed managing director.
‘Affection’ for MFI will help online relaunch

1-Dec-2011
The new boss of revived furniture retailer MFI has insisted the brand still has resonance.
Simon King

1-Dec-2011
His time at Asda may have been short-lived, but King is held in high regard as his appointment as managing director of Wickes shows. Nicola Harrison reports
MFI to be reborn online tomorrow

29-Nov-2011
Furniture retailer MFI will be revived as a pureplay etailer tomorrow (Wednesday) and has recruited a former MFI director to run the business.
Former Asda COO Simon King appointed Wickes MD

28-Nov-2011
DIY chain Wickes has appointed former Asda chief operating officer Simon King as its managing director.
TM Lewin profits up as it eyes further international growth

28-Nov-2011
TM Lewin EBITDA rose 5% to £14.7m in the year to February 26 despite the “challenging conditions”.
Boots debuts pop up shop on Oxford Street

25-Nov-2011
Boots has opened its first pop up Christmas store on Oxford Street as it relocates one of its shops on the famous shopping destination.
Swarovski to launch new lola&grace fascia next spring

25-Nov-2011
Jeweller Swarovski is to launch a new format next year aimed at a younger audience, Retail Week can reveal.
Foot Locker to launch new fascia in the UK

25-Nov-2011
US giant to unveil The Locker Room ‘concept’ store in Brent Cross
DIY innovation pays dividends

November 25 2011
Kingfisher’s programme of self-help has paid dividends, and not just to its shareholders.
Fossil finds time to launch new Watch Station fascia in Stratford

24-Nov-2011
Accessories and fashion retailer Fossil is to launch a new fascia in the UK in Westfield Stratford.
Rivals woo M&S fashion boss Bostock

24-Nov-2011
Marks & Spencer’s general merchandise executive director Kate Bostock is in the frame for top jobs with other retailers who are attempting to woo her away from the high street giant.
Dixons group losses widen despite improved UK performance

24-Nov-2011
Electricals group Dixons underlying pre-tax losses widened from £6.9m to £25.3m in the 24 weeks to October 15 however the UK performance strengthened in the period.
Arcadia profits fall as Sir Philip Green confirms mass store closures

24-Nov-2011
Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia fashion group experienced a profit slump in the year to August 28 as the retailer confirmed mass store closures on the high street.
JD Sports preparing for "tough" Christmas

23-Nov-2011
JD Sports Fashion has revealed flat like-for-likes in the 16 weeks to November 19.
'Christmas momentum building' at John Lewis despite sales fall

21-Nov-2011
John Lewis sales fell 3.2% last week year-on-year but the department store said Christmas momentum is building as week-on-week sales grew 11.6%.
Dwell posts EBITDA profit despite tough trading in furniture sector

18-Nov-2011
Furniture chain Dwell has bounced back into the black at an EBITDA level as sales grew in the year to January 28 despite a punishing big-ticket market.
Halfords on the right road

November 18 2011
On the face of it, Halfords’ numbers did not look too pretty last week. The car parts and bikes retailer reported a pre-tax profit fall of 20% in its first half.
Game downgrades sales forecasts in “extraordinary economic times”

16-Nov-2011
Game has revealed a like-for-like sales fall of 8.6% in the 41 weeks to November 12 as the retailer suffers in “extraordinary economic times”.
Asda like-for-likes up 1.3% in Q3

15-Nov-2011
Asda like-for-likes excluding fuel and VAT increased 1.3% in its third quarter to September 30.
Ocado launches Blackberry app

15-Nov-2011
Ocado has launched the first ever supermarket app for the Blackberry mobile phone as it continues its “mission to deliver on the go shopping”.
National Geographic to open in Knightsbridge

14-Nov-2011
National Geographic is relocating its London flagship store from Regent Street to Knightsbridge.
BrightHouse refinances

14-Nov-2011
BrightHouse has completed its debt refinancing, resulting in more than £100m of senior debt facilities that it will use for repayment of existing financing and working capital.
In pictures: HMV opens new standalone techshop

14-Nov-2011
HMV has opened a pop up store devoted to technology as it continues to focus on the growing category in the face of dwindling sales in its core products of music and games.
John Lewis customers "resilient" despite sales dip

14-Nov-2011
John Lewis sales slipped 0.8% to £76.3m in the week to Saturday November 12.
John Lewis Christmas ad unveiled

11-Nov-2011
John Lewis managing director Andy Street remains upbeat on prospects for the festive season as he hailed the department store’s Christmas ad, unveiled today, the retailer’s best yet.
MFI to relaunch online despite challenging trading environment

11-Nov-2011
Furniture retailer MFI is to be reborn at the end of the month as an online retailer almost three years to the day after the company collapsed amid the punishing trading conditions of 2008.
M&S strategy looks sound

November 11 2011
So far so good for Marc Bolland. While the Marks & Spencer chief executive revealed a fall in first-half profits this week, the overall performance was in line with analysts’ expectations and most onlookers breathed a sigh of relief.
Sofas giant with designs on expansion

November 11 2011
After coming under new management last year, DFS is embarking on a new growth phase under changed ownership. Nicola Harrison reports.
Mydeco.com to vie for John Lewis share

10-Nov-2011
Mydeco.com, the homewares and furniture aggregator website, plans to take on John Lewis as it launches a transactional website targeting the department store’s customer.
Westfield plans third London shopping centre in Croydon

10-Nov-2011
Westfield plans to open a third London shopping centre in Croydon.
Etailer Chain Reaction on hunt for out-of-town locations in UK

10-Nov-2011
Northern Ireland-based bikes etailer Chain Reaction Cycles is to open stores in the UK in another example of a predominantly online retailer eyeing opportunities in physical space.
WHSmith like-for-likes fall 6%

10-Nov-2011
WHSmith has revealed a like-for-like sales slump of 6% in 10 weeks to September 1.
Morrisons remains cautious as like-for-likes rise 2.4%

10-Nov-2011
Grocer Morrisons has revealed a like-for-like increase excluding fuel of 2.4% in the 13 weeks to October 30, despite conditions remaining “challenging”.
Multiyork appoints joint managing directors

9-Nov-2011
Furniture retailer Multiyork has appointment Adrian Iles and Oliver Spark as joint managing directors after the departure of executive chairman and chief executive Indira Thambiah last month.
River Island to launch standalone shoes and accessories store

9-Nov-2011
Fashion retailer River Island is to launch a new fascia selling only shoes and accessories in Nottingham this month, Retail Week can reveal.
Channel Islands VAT loophole to be closed in April

9-Nov-2011
The controversial Channel Islands VAT loophole exploited by retailers including HMV, Asda and Play.com is to be closed in April, the Treasury has revealed today.
Retail like-for-likes slip 0.6% in October

8-Nov-2011
UK like-for-like retail sales slipped 0.6% in October as growth in food sales slowed and non food sales fell. Total sales were up 1.5%.
BrightHouse profits up 22% in first half

7-Nov-2011
Rent-to-own electricals and furniture retailer BrightHouse has revealed EBITDA rocketed 21.8% to £20.7m in its first half.
Video: Arsenal reveals Generation Game-inspired Christmas online ad

4-Nov-2011
Arsenal has had a bit of fun in the lead up to Christmas, producing an online ad starring football aces Kieran Gibbs, Andrey Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun.
Mydeco.com to launch transactional site

4-Nov-2011
Mydeco.com, the homewares and furniture aggregator website, is transforming itself into a fully fledged retailer when it launches a transactional site later this month, Retail Week can reveal.
Dwell launches kitchens

3-Nov-2011
Furniture chain Dwell has introduced a range of “high quality kitchens at affordable prices” to its offer.
Blacks appoints Dominic Lavelle as interim finance director

3-Nov-2011
Embattled retailer Blacks Leisure has appointed Dominic Lavelle as interim finance director.
DFS profits rise 11.4% as sales slip

3-Nov-2011
Sofas giant DFS has revealed full-year EBITDA growth of 11.4% to £80m in a “very challenging” big ticket environment.
Property pipeline

3-Nov-2011
The opening of Parkway in Newbury a week ago heralds the last of the major shopping centres – at least until the economy is back on its feet
John Lewis to open smaller format store in York

2-Nov-2011
John Lewis has revealed plans to open another smaller format department store, in York.
John Lewis in "Made in UK" product push

31-Oct-2011
John Lewis is to push British-sourced products in its stores to support UK manufacturing.
Asda £5 'thank you' offer hailed a success as Morrisons enters Christmas price war fray

31-Oct-2011
Asda’s £5 ‘thank you’ offer that it launched two weeks ago has driven 1 million customers to its Asda Price Guarantee (APG) website.
Iceland bids fall short of asking price

31-Oct-2011
First round bids for Iceland are thought to have fallen short of the £1.5bn asking price.
No respite for furniture retailers until 2014

28-Oct-2011
Battered furniture and flooring retailers will not have any relief from punishing conditions until 2014 as the housing market remains stagnant.
Conran Shop to open in China

28-Oct-2011
Conran Shop has notched up a strong first-half performance as it reveals plans to launch in China.
Kingfisher’s Turkish adventure

October 28 2011
It might not attract as much attention as some overseas markets, but Turkey is one of Kingfisher’s big hopes for the next decade. Rebecca Thomson reports on its plans there.
The Range revamps website

26-Oct-2011
Furniture and homewares retailer The Range has revamped its website to simplify the buying process.
Amazon profits tumble as it continues to invest

26-Oct-2011
Etail giant Amazon said further investment in the business led to a 73% slump in net income in its third quarter.
Video: Dundrum shopping centre evacuated after severe flooding

25-Oct-2011
Dundrum shopping centre in Dublin has been flooded after more than a month’s worth of rain fell in just a few hours yesterday (Monday).
UK families £15 a week worse off in September

25-Oct-2011
UK families were £15 a week worse off in September according to the Asda Income Tracker, representing the biggest drop since records began.
Booths reveals flat sales as trading conditions remain tough

24-Oct-2011
Booths pretax profit rose 7.2% to £8.2m in the year to April 2, however sales were flat and the upmarket northern grocer said current trading has remained tough.
In Pictures: House of Fraser.com, Aberdeen, opens today

21-Oct-2011
House of Fraser has revealed pictures of its click and collect store, House of Fraser.com, which opened today in Aberdeen’s Union Square shopping centre.
The Hut FD quits after float scrapped

21-Oct-2011
The Hut’s finance director has exited the online retailer after it scrapped plans for a flotation this year.
Game launches new payment system to capture digital spend

21-Oct-2011
Game has launched a new way of paying for its products as it aims to capture share in the digital games market.
HMV launches first TV ad dedicated to tech products

21-Oct-2011
HMV has launched its first TV ad dedicated to its expanded technology offer, which it is rolling out across it stores as it fights declining sales in its core products.
John Lewis sales up as shoppers feel festive

21-Oct-2011
John Lewis sales rose 9.9% to £62.6m last week as it clocked up the best performance of the half.
Kesa manoeuvres to keep ‘economic interest’ in Comet

October 21 2011
Kesa could keep an economic interest in Comet, the embattled electricals chain it has put up for sale, under a proposal being discussed with private equity firm OpCapita.
WHSmith pushes the envelope

October 21 2011
WHSmith has never been the most exciting of retailers. In the last few years its City updates have followed the same reassuring yet predictable path – rising profits as further cost savings are found, and falling sales, particularly in its high street arm.
Wiggle room

October 21 2011
From humble roots Wiggle has grown to be a multinational etail pioneer – and now it is even considering stores. Nicola Harrison reports.
Grocers eye Iceland as first round bids deadline passes

20-Oct-2011
Grocers Morrisons and Asda have expressed interest in acquiring frozen foods chain Iceland as the deadline for first-round bids passes.
Argos continues to drag down Home Retail as profits slump

19-Oct-2011
Argos has continued to drag down the performance of its parent Home Retail in the first half, as group pre-tax profit slumped 70% to £28m.
A-wear acquired by Hilco

18-Oct-2011
Irish fashion retailer A-wear has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by restructuring specialist Hilco Ireland.
Oxford Street Christmas lights switch on set for November 1

18-Oct-2011
The Oxford Street Christmas lights will be switched on on November 1, as retailers on one of the busiest shopping streets in the UK gear up for the crucial festive period.
Retailers 'filling hole in Scottish Government's budget'

18-Oct-2011
The Scottish Government has a “hole in its budget and has chosen the retail sector to fill it”, according to the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC)
Dragon's Den star in line for chairman job at Comet

17-Oct-2011
Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones is in the running to become executive chairman at embattled electricals retailer Comet, under plans being drawn up by would-be owner Hilco.
Blockbuster UK posts profits fall

17-Oct-2011
DVD rental chain Blockbuster UK profits slumped from £4.6m to £1.7m in the year to January 2.
Poundland profit surges as cash strapped consumers seek value

13-Oct-2011
Poundland underlying EBITDA surged 34% to £31.7m in the year to March 27 as the retailer continues to pull in cash strapped shoppers in the downturn.
Wickes Q3 like-for-likes down 2% as big ticket items suffer

12-Oct-2011
DIY retailer Wickes like-for-likes slipped 0.5% in the 39 weeks to October 1, but worsened in the most recent 13 week period, falling 2%.
Burberry sales soar 30% in first half

12-Oct-2011
Luxury fashion brand Burberry saw total revenue surge 30% to £830m in the six months to September 30.
Asda launches 'price war' on toys

11-Oct-2011
Asda has kicked off a price war on toys in the run up to the crucial festive period as it launches a new TV ad campaign that takes it head-to-head with Argos.
First glimpse of House of Fraser click and collect store

11-Oct-2011
House of Fraser will open two House of Fraser.com stores this month, providing a click and collect offer in 1,500 sq ft units.
Aspinal of London opens first shop outside of the capital in Bluewater

11-Oct-2011
Three retailers have signed to open stores in Bluewater, including Aspinal of London, which will open its first store outside the capital in the centre.
Kingfisher boss calls on Government to focus on job creation

11-Oct-2011
Kingfisher group chief executive Ian Cheshire has called on Government to focus on job creation in order to fuel economic growth in the downturn.
In focus: Laura Ashley

October 7 2011
Laura Ashley has had a turbulent history since its launch in the 1960s by the eponymous fabric designer and her husband.
Dunelm store in flames on Coventry retail park

6-Oct-2011
A large fire has broken out in a Dunelm store on the Orchard Retail Park, in the Willenhall area of Coventry.
Alexon ‘must act to reposition brands’

6-Oct-2011
Alexon needs to revamp its brands to survive in the highly competitive fashion market after it was bought out of pre-pack administration last week.
Wiggle attracts private equity interest as it gears up for sale or float

6-Oct-2011
Bikes etailer Wiggle has attracted several private equity firms and trade buyers as the retailer mulls a sale or float.
USC boss Jim McGonigle exits

5-Oct-2011
USC chief executive Jim McGonigle has exited after nearly a decade at the chain, Retail Week has learned.
Cameron urges households to pay off credit and store card debt

5-Oct-2011
Prime Minister David Cameron will today warn millions of cash-strapped households that they should pay off their credit card and store card debt as Britain aims to rebuild itself.
Dunelm like-for-likes drop 2% in first quarter

5-Oct-2011
Value homewares retailer Dunelm like-for-likes declined 2% in the 13 weeks to October 1.
Waterstone's unveils its new board of directors

4-Oct-2011
Bookseller Waterstone’s, which was bought by Russian investor Alexander Mamut from HMV in June, has unveiled its new board, which includes the appointment of Miranda Curtis as chairman.
Foyles to shut One New Change store

4-Oct-2011
Bookseller Foyles is to shut its store at One New Change, the shopping centre located in the City of London.
Wickes hires ex Sainsbury's executive as operations director

4-Oct-2011
DIY retailer Wickes has hired former Sainsbury’s executive Martin Roberts as its new operations director.
Garden Centre Group sales bounce back as suitors circle

4-Oct-2011
Garden Centre Group has benefited from the warm weather and a focus on plants to achieve a 7% rise in sales this year.
EU legislation prevents UK retailers opening stores in Europe, says BRC

4-Oct-2011
Unnecessary legislative barriers are preventing UK retailers opening stores in other EU countries, according to the British Retail Consortium.
Lakeland warns of "miserable" 2011 despite profits rise last year

3-Oct-2011
Lakeland grew profits and sales last year but the homewares retailer has said that 2011 has been “miserable” in the last two months.
Reiss hires Sanjay Sharma as international director

3-Oct-2011
Upmarket fashion retailer Reiss has appointed Sanjay Sharma to the newly created role of international director for Reiss.
Wiggle pedals towards sale or float

3-Oct-2011
Wiggle held a beauty parade last week as six investment banks pitched to advise its potential float, as the bikes etailer also mulls a sale to private equity.
Morrisons eyes Garden Centre Group

3-Oct-2011
Supermarket Morrisons is considering bidding for garden centre specialists Garden Centre Group, formerly known as Wyevale.
Wickes to shrink stores as web transforms retail

September 30 2011
1.4 million sq ft to be ditched as online reduces need for physical store space
Bill Carrahar

September 30 2011
The new director of Carpetright’s beds business, Sleepright, is passionate about the sector that has given him a second career, and is looking forward to working with an ‘icon in the industry’
In focus: Fat Face

September 30 2011
A year ago, the young fashion chain looked burnt out. Now it looks ready to venture overseas
HobbyCraft to throw in-store kids' birthday parties

29-Sep-2011
HobbyCraft is aiming to create more in-store theatre and make its shops local community hubs as it aims to attract a wider audience.
Alexon bought by Sun European in prepack deal

29-Sep-2011
Alexon has been bought by private equity firm Sun European Partners as part of a prepack deal after the business fell into administration today.
Game resists City calls to close more stores

29-Sep-2011
Game has insisted it needs a large bricks-and-mortar presence despite analysts calling for more store closures to cut costs as the retailer posted widening first-half losses.
Clintons delays results announcement

29-Sep-2011
Troubled greetings cards retailer Clintons has delayed the reporting of its prelims by two weeks.
Alexon suspends shares as administration looms

29-Sep-2011
Troubled womenswear group Alexon has suspended its shares on the Stock Exchange “pending clarification of the company’s financial position”.
Argos will not close stores, says Duddy

28-Sep-2011
Argos has maintained it needs a 750-strong store estate despite growing calls from the City to slash store numbers.
Sun European and Debenhams in the race to buy Alexon

28-Sep-2011
Private equity firm Sun European Partners is thought to be the front runner to acquire troubled womenswear group Alexon.
Former HMV director sets up 'revolutionary' co-buying shopping site BuyaPowa

28-Sep-2011
A former HMV director has today launched a new online co-buying shopping service that allows consumers to use their collective buying power to achieve bulk-buy discounts on branded products.
Poundland co-founder's retail business Hub collapses

27-Sep-2011
Hub, the variety store retailer set up by Poundland co-founder Dave Dodd, has hit the buffers.
Game losses widen in first half

27-Sep-2011
Game made a loss before non-recurring costs and tax of £48.5m in the six months to July 31, compared with a £18.8m loss in the same period last year.
Bimba & Lola to make UK debut in Westfield London

26-Sep-2011
Spanish fashion chain Bimba & Lola is to make its UK debut in Westfield London, as tipped by Retail Week in March.
Hilco boss rakes in £4.5m in 2010

26-Sep-2011
Hilco UK boss Paul McGowan took home a £4.5m bonus last year as the restructuring firm benefitted from snapping up ailing retailers.
Kesa mulls retaining pension to ease Comet sale

26-Sep-2011
Comet-owner Kesa is understood to be planning to retain the Comet pension fund to enable a sale of the embattled electricals chain.
Aurora says far fewer stores are needed in the multichannel age

September 23 2011
Fashion group Aurora Fashions is conducting a property review across its brands as it reassesses its bricks-and-mortar needs in the multichannel age.
John Lewis at Home to open in Chichester

22-Sep-2011
John Lewis at Home is to open in Chichester in spring 2012.
Cheshire urges end to public sector job doubt

22-Sep-2011
DIY giant Kingfisher has called on the Government to speed up its consultation process to reduce the jobs uncertainty that is affecting 20% of civil servants.
Scottish Government to impose levy on supermarkets

21-Sep-2011
The Scottish Government is planning to increase business rates for large retailers of alcohol and tobacco in Scotland, meaning major food retailers would have to pay an extra half a billion pounds in tax over the next four years.
John Lewis tweaks At Home

September 16 2011
Department store group John Lewis has admitted its At Home stores are performing below expectations in a tough market and will tweak the format to broaden the offer.
Mothercare shop collapses in Bishop Auckland

15-Sep-2011
Mothercare shoppers had to be led to safety when a building containing a branch of the maternity specialist collapsed in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.
Online sales up 14% in August

15-Sep-2011
Online sales were up 14% to £5.3bn in August as fashion drove sales.
Future retail leaders will need "new leadership skills" to meet multichannel challenges

15-Sep-2011
Future retail leaders will require a new set of leadership skills in order to adapt to the changing dynamics in the fact paced industry, according to speakers at the Retail Leadership Forum.
US homewares retailer Jonathan Adler comes to UK

15-Sep-2011
US homewares retailer and designer Jonathan Adler is to open its first store outside the US in London’s Sloane Avenue at the end of this month.
Kingfisher first half profits soar

15-Sep-2011
DIY giant Kingfisher group adjusted pretax profit soared 24% to £439m in the 26 weeks to July 30, with two thirds of profits coming from outside the UK.
The Entertainer profits slip after investment

15-Sep-2011
Toy chain The Entertainer suffered a fall in profits last year as it invested in the business.
Avon appoints new boss for UK and Ireland

15-Sep-2011
Beauty specialist Avon has appointed a new boss for its UK and Republic of Ireland business.
Home Retail appoints managing director for Habitat

13-Sep-2011
Home Retail has appointed a managing director for Habitat, the furniture brand it acquired in June, Retail Week can reveal.
In pictures: First look at Westfield Stratford City

13-Sep-2011
Westfield Stratford City opened to hordes of shoppers on 13 September 2011.
Sue Townsend

September 2 2011
Passionate about retail, the former Blackwell commercial director has taken on the challenge of resurrecting the three times failed fashion retailer Ethel Austin. Nicola Harrison reports.
OFT decision on Amazon's acquisition of Book Depository delayed

1-Sep-2011
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has delayed its decision on whether to refer Amazon’s acquisition of rival Book Depository to the Competition Commission.
Walmsley Furnishing bought by SKG Capital

1-Sep-2011
UPDATED: Parts of furniture chain Walmsley Furnishing, which collapsed into administration yesterday, have been acquired by turnaround specialist SKG Capital.
Waterstone's to axe 3 for 2 offer

31-Aug-2011
Waterstone’s is axing its popular 3 for 2 discounts on books in one of the most dramatic changes so far under new boss James Daunt, it is understood.
WHSmith launches £50m share buy-back programme

31-Aug-2011
WHSmith is to run another £50m share buy-back scheme this financial year following the success of last year’s programme.
Ikea Foundation donates $62m to East Africa relief effort

30-Aug-2011
The Ikea Foundation has donated $62m (£38m) towards the relief effort in East Africa.
New marketing director outlines plans to transform Clintons brand

August 26 2011
Clintons’ new marketing boss has outlined a strategy to transform the greetings card retailer’s brand that could include party organising and Red Letter Day-type offers.
Signet UK profit tumbles in second quarter

25-Aug-2011
US jewellery giant Signet’s UK division saw second quarter net operating income plummet 40% to $2.8m (£1.7m) in a “challenging market”.
Remaining TJ Hughes stores to be shuttered

25-Aug-2011
The last remaining TJ Hughes stores still trading are to be shuttered, with closing down Sales commencing immediately.
99p Stores to launch in Ireland with €uro 50 Stores format

24-Aug-2011
99p Stores is to launch in Ireland next month adopting a price-capped business model and trading as €uro 50 Stores.
Businesses set up further High Street Fund for riot hit retailers

24-Aug-2011
A further nationwide High Street Fund has been set up to help small business affected by the riots that hit England this month.
WHSmith full year to be in line with expectations

24-Aug-2011
WHSmith said that it expects full year figures to be in line with market expectations.
Riots cost retailers 7,500 trading hours as 11,000 staff impacted

24-Aug-2011
More than 11,000 retail staff were impacted by the riots earlier this month and store groups lost more than 7,500 hours of trading.
HMV ramps up technology buying team

23-Aug-2011
HMV has doubled the size of its technology buying team as it expands the category to grow sales.
Birmingham looters may receive shop bans

August 19 2011
Birmingham rioters could be banned from the city’s shops for an undecided length of time after looters caused carnage there last week.
Poundworld’s credit insurance pulled despite 500% profit rise

August 19 2011
Discount chain highlights continued performance and supplier support as Euler Hermes stops cover
Insurance claims

August 19 2011
Last week’s UK riots resulted in widespread theft and damage to stores, but what does retail insurance cover and who will ultimately foot the bill?
Wilkinson launches upmarket own-brand

18-Aug-2011
Wilkinson is launching an upmarket own-brand range including more than 100 home and kitchenware products as it seeks to appeal to quality conscious customer.
Lombok insists it’s committed to growth despite second pre-pack

18-Aug-2011
Lombok has not ruled out opening more stores after being bought out of pre-pack administration by its management for the second time in two years.
Westfield Stratford 95% leased

17-Aug-2011
Westfield Stratford is 95% leased or committed ahead of its opening next month.
London footfall slumps amid riots

17-Aug-2011
Footfall slumped in London last week as people stayed away from the high street to avoid the riots and retailers shut up shops.
Poundworld invests in staff wellbeing after Undercover Boss TV show

16-Aug-2011
Single price point retailer Poundworld is investing almost £500,000 in staff wellbeing initiatives after it appeared on Channel 4’s Undercover Boss series last week.
Wilkinson profits hit by rising costs, VAT hike and exchange rates

16-Aug-2011
Wilkinson pre-tax profits fell from £65m to £61m in the year to January 28 as the value retailer was hit by rising commodity prices, the increase in VAT and fluctuating exchange rates.
Inflation rises to 4.4% in July

16-Aug-2011
Inflation rose to 4.4% in July, up from 4.2% in June.
Creditors better protected under new pre-pack rules

15-Aug-2011
Businesses may find it harder to push through controversial pre-pack administrations under a new draft regulation to be unveiled next month.
Game strikes digital deal with Sony

15-Aug-2011
Game has struck a partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) to sell digital games in the retailer’s stores across Europe.
Lombok bought out of pre-pack administration

15-Aug-2011
Furniture retailer Lombok has been bought out of pre-pack administration by its management for the second time in two years.
Morrisons appoints Credit Suisse as it mulls Iceland bid

12-Aug-2011
Morrisons has appointed Credit Suisse as its investment banking advisor as the retailer mulls bidding for Iceland.
Kurt Geiger to revamp website as it opens new format store

12-Aug-2011
Premium footwear business Kurt Geiger is to relaunch its website later this month as it opens a new format store in Mayfair.
Investigation into sports retail market to close, says OFT

12-Aug-2011
The Office of Fair Trading had provisionally decided to close its investigation into alleged anti-competitive conduct in the sports retail sector.
Trevor Reeves: "I felt total despair"

August 12 2011
The owner of The House of Reeves furniture store in Croydon has described the “extremely emotional” moment when the store was demolished after being razed to the ground amid the riots.
Timothy Melgund

August 12 2011
Having weathered the collapse of Borders UK, the media-shy Paperchase boss has led from the front and driven the stationery retailer through tricky times. By Nicola Harrison
Administration looms for Lombok

11-Aug-2011
UPDATED: Furniture chain Lombok has filed an intention to appoint an administrator and is danger of going bust in the next few days.
Grainger Games hires former HMV commercial director

11-Aug-2011
Grainger Games has hired former HMV commercial director Simon Peck to bolster its management team as it seeks to expand.
Riot-hit retailers granted business rate relief

11-Aug-2011
Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed a series of concrete measures to help riot-hit retailers, including business rates holidays.
Robert Dyas boss to ‘get back to basics’

11-Aug-2011
Robert Dyas’s new boss is to focus on supply chain, cost control and leveraging customer loyalty as the owner of the hardware and homewares chain looks for an exit.
Consumers more cash-strapped than ever

11-Aug-2011
British consumers have never felt so strapped for cash as rising utility bills leave little money left over for basic needs.
Tesco "disheartened and disturbed" at OFT's decision on price fixing

10-Aug-2011
UPDATED: Tesco has strongly rebuffed the decision made by the Office of Fair Trading that it, along with other supermarkets, price fixed on dairy products.
French Connection H1 profit in line with expectations

10-Aug-2011
Fashion retailer French Connection said that first half profit will be in line with management expectations.
16,000 police officers to be deployed in London today, says PM

9-Aug-2011
Prime Minister David Cameron has said that the number of police on the streets tonight will be upped to 16,000, compared to the 6,000 officers deployed last night, in anticipation of more rioting across London today.
Shopping centre construction falls to early 1990s levels

9-Aug-2011
The rate of shopping centre construction activity has fallen to levels not seen since the early 1990s recession, according to a new report from property firm CB Richard Ellis.
House of Fraser to open new format click-and-collect store

5-Aug-2011
House of Fraser is to open a new format click-and-collect store in Aberdeen next month.
HoF clicks into a new gear

August 5 2011
Department store group to take multichannel leap with new format click-and-collect store in Aberdeen
Borders collapse hits Paperchase’s profits

August 5 2011
Greetings cards and stationery retailer Paperchase’s profits took a hit last year as it suffered amid the troubles of its former US parent Borders Inc.
Bookseller The Works targets online to ‘turbo-charge’ growth

August 5 2011
Discount bookseller The Works is seeking to buy an online business to bolster its ecommerce offer as it moves its focus away from opening physical shops.
Pushing the envelope

August 5 2011
Card Factory has been one of the unsung retail success stories of recent years. In a rare interview, Nicola Harrison finds out the secrets of its prosperity from chief executive Richard Hayes
Credit insurer cuts Dreams' supplier cover

4-Aug-2011
Suppliers to beds specialist Dreams have had credit insurance withdrawn by Euler Hermes.
Lombok mulls further store closures as it shuts half its estate

3-Aug-2011
UPDATED: Furniture chain Lombok has closed half its shops and is mulling the closure of more amid punishing trading conditions in the big ticket sector.
Capital Shopping Centres reports rising retail sales and footfall

2-Aug-2011
Property developer Capital Shopping Centres (CSC) said retail like-for-like sales in its centres have risen by an estimated 3% in the six months to June 30.
Carpetright sales improve at the expense of margins

2-Aug-2011
Floorings giant Carpetright’ trading performance has improved, with domestic like-for-likes flat in the first quarter against a 6.3% slump in the fourth quarter of last year.
Wickes gains market share as like-for-likes stall

1-Aug-2011
DIY chain Wickes like-for-likes edged up 0.3% in the six months to June 30.
TJ Hughes stores sold to Lewis's Home Retail

1-Aug-2011
TJ Hughes administrators have sold four of the collapsed retailer’s stores to Lewis’s Home Retail.
Trevor Moore

July 29 2011
Having learned the retail ropes at Phones 4U, the Jessops chief executive is now thriving in a targets-focused environment, says Nicola Harrison
Overseas success brings Hamleys profit joy

28-Jul-2011
Iconic toy shop Hamleys’ soaring international business has helped profits climb in a tough market.
HobbyCraft aims new line at value shoppers

28-Jul-2011
Arts and crafts retailer HobbyCraft is to launch an own-brand value range next year as it continues its attempt to appeal to the increasingly value-conscious consumer.
Retail employment falls as non-food stores cut staff

28-Jul-2011
Retail employment fell 0.4% in the second quarter of this year, equivalent to 3,100 fewer full-time jobs.
Amazon sales surge but profits dip following investment

27-Jul-2011
Online giant Amazon said second quarter group sales surged 51% to $9.91bn but net income fell in the period.
Game rolls out digital games across global store estate

26-Jul-2011
Game has begun selling its digital games range in all stores across the group as the retailer continues its transformation into a fully multichannel business.
Continued Irish retail sales slump as fashion and electricals suffer

26-Jul-2011
Ireland retail sales have continued to slump, falling 6% on a like-for-like basis in the second quarter, down from 3% in the first quarter.
Games Workshop profits slip as it invests in training and product

26-Jul-2011
Fantasy board game specialist Games Workshop experienced a slide in pretax profit from £16.1m to £15.4m in the year ending May 29.
Ryness sold to Marlowe Holdings

25-Jul-2011
Lighting and electricals chain Ryness has been sold to Marlowe Holdings, the holding company of Edmundson Electrical which supplies electricals to trade and industry.
Labour Party calls for temporary cut in VAT to boost economy

25-Jul-2011
The Labour Party has launched a campaign to save the high street, outlining a four point plan that includes temporarily cutting VAT to 17.5%.
Clinton Cards' refinancing delayed

25-Jul-2011
Greetings cards retailer Clinton Cards’ refinancing is to take a month longer than expected.
HobbyCraft EBITDA up 18% as boom in crafts continues

25-Jul-2011
Arts and crafts specialist HobbyCraft has reported an 18% increase in EBITDA to £14.4m in the 52 weeks to February 20.
John Lewis back on store trail with smaller format

July 22 2011
Fashion to play a significant role in new mid-sized John Lewis department store format for second-tier towns
Lloyds pharmacy to trial ‘health village’ offering broader service

July 22 2011
Lloyds pharmacy is to open a pilot ‘health village’ on a retail park in north London at the end of August as part of its plan to evolve into an all-round healthcare provider.
Steve Johnson

July 22 2011
Never afraid of a challenge, the new Dreams chairman is well equipped to take on the difficult big-ticket sector. Nicola Harrison reports
Superquinn boss exits days after Musgrave take over

21-Jul-2011
The chief executive of Superquinn, the Irish grocer that was bought out of receivership by rival Musgrave on Tuesday, has left the business.
Halfords like-for-likes slip in a "difficult environment"

21-Jul-2011
Halfords retail like-for-likes slid 1.1% in the 13 weeks to July 1.
Household discretionary income falls £9 in June

20-Jul-2011
Families were £9 worse off a week in June compared to the same time last year.
Land Securities reports fall in retail void rate

19-Jul-2011
Property giant Land Securities has reported a drop in void rates within its shopping centres in its first quarter as it attracted retailers such as Primark and Gap to its schemes.
Waterstone's new boss plans "complete overhaul" of infrastructure

18-Jul-2011
Waterstone’s new boss James Daunt is planning a “complete overhaul” of the bookseller’s infrastructure under new owner, Alexander Mamut.
West End retail sales rocket 11% in June

18-Jul-2011
London’s West End retail sales rocketed 11% in June, radically outperforming the UK drop of 0.6% recorded by the BRC earlier this month.
'M&S girls' ditched from TV ads

18-Jul-2011
Marks & Spencer has ditched its glamorous TV ad campaign featuring female celebrities including Myleene Klass, Twiggy and Dannii Minogue, it is understood.
Debenhams completes £650m refinancing

18-Jul-2011
Department store group Debenhams has completed its refinancing of the £650m senior credit facility it agreed in July 2010.
Jack Wills eyes sale or float next year

18-Jul-2011
Preppy fashion chain Jack Wills is gearing up for a stake sale or float next year that could value the retailer at up to £500m.
White Company EBITDA rockets as boss prepares to step down

15-Jul-2011
Fashion and homewares retailer White Company has defied the economic gloom to post a better than expected 37% surge in EBITDA to £10.7m in the year to March 27.
Retailers unprepared for Olympic windfall

July 15 2011
Half of UK retailers have admitted they are unprepared for the impact that the Olympic Games will have on their businesses, but a third expect a sales boost from it.
Return to sales growth puts Dunelm on course

July 15 2011
Value homewares retailer Dunelm expects full year profit to be in line with expectations after revealing like-for-like growth improved in the fourth quarter.
John Lewis launches online product reviews

14-Jul-2011
Department store group John Lewis has launched product reviews on its website.
Retailers urged to prepare for Olympics

13-Jul-2011
Retailers are being urged to prepare for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games so they can fully capitalise on their commercial potential.
Topps Tiles sales dip in third quarter

13-Jul-2011
Topps Tiles like-for-likes declined 1.9% in the 13 weeks ended July 2.
EBay may be liable for counterfeit goods

12-Jul-2011
EBay was struck a blow today as the European Court of Justice ruled that online marketplaces cannot shirk responsibility for counterfeit goods sold on their sites.
Boots' Tim Stacey joins DFS in new online role

11-Jul-2011
Sofa giant DFS has appointed Boots UK’s director of healthcare services and solutions Tim Stacey as its online and business development director.
HMV appoints former Waterstone's man as commercial director

11-Jul-2011
HMV has appointed former Waterstone’s commercial director Michael Neil to the same position at the entertainment group.
Garden Centre Group sales up 8% in first half

11-Jul-2011
The Garden Centre Group, formally known as Wyevale, has revealed an 8% jump in revenues to £152m in the six months to June 30.
Hilco sells Habitat European arm to Cafom Sa

8-Jul-2011
Habitat’s European business has been sold by Hilco to Cafom SA, a French international home furnishings retailer.
Pets at Home profits rise as spending on pets holds up

8-Jul-2011
Chief executive Davies cautious despite 10% increase in both sales and EBITDA in year to March.
End of an era at Clinton

July 8 2011
Troubled retailer mulls appointing outsider as managing director after decades of being family run
20 stores a day shut by multiples, report says

July 8 2011
Multiple retailers closed 20 stores a day on average between January and May as they slashed costs amid punishing trading conditions.
Morrisons to open first of c-store chain

July 8 2011
Grocer Morrisons is due to open the first of a chain of convenience stores in the affluent Yorkshire town of Ilkley today.
Paul McGowan

July 8 2011
The Hilco boss has an uneviable reputation as the ‘undertaker’ of the high street, but the bad press is only one side of the story. Nicola Harrison reports
Technology products key as HMV sets sights on recovery

July 8 2011
Analysts remained bearish on HMV after the entertainment group revealed full-year profits had slumped and set out recovery plans
BrightHouse to launch transactional website

7-Jul-2011
Rent-to-buy electricals and furniture retailer BrightHouse is to launch a transactional website to better serve its increasingly tech-savvy customers.
Sun European expected to buy part of Homeform in prepack deal today

6-Jul-2011
Private equity firm Sun European Partners is expected to buy parts of the Homeform business in a prepack administration deal later today.
Mothercare under fire over executive pay

5-Jul-2011
Maternity retailer Mothercare has been lambasted by an activist shareholder for the “highly excessive” incentive payments awarded to its senior directors.
Crate & Barrel to make a play for the UK

4-Jul-2011
US homeware chain Crate & Barrel is planning to bring CB2, a smaller version of its store, to the UK.
Waitrose targets London for convenience store format

4-Jul-2011
Supermarket chain Waitrose is to open 20 “Little Waitrose” convenience stores in and around London over the next 18 months as it goes head-to-head with Marks & Spencer on the high street and Ocado online.
CSL sales up as it plots South East expansion

4-Jul-2011
Sofa retailer Csl has reported like-for-like sales growth of 6% in the nine weeks to June 26 amid a punishing big ticket trading environment.
BrightHouse EBITDA jumps despite economic gloom

4-Jul-2011
Rent to buy electricals and furniture retailer BrightHouse has defied the economic gloom by posting a 16.4% rise in underlying EBITDA to £39.7m in the year to March 31.
Dreams grows market share but profits drop

July 1 2011
With turnover up to £300m, the beds specialist has grown its market share
Home is where the hurt is

July 1 2011
With the high-profile collapse of Habitat and a struggling big-ticket market, what does the future hold for home specialists? Nicola Harrison reports
Jane Norman store closure list revealed

30-Jun-2011
The 33 stores that will close as a result of Jane Norman’s administration have been revealed.
TJ Hughes in administration: potential buyers circle

30-Jun-2011
Discount department store group TJ Hughes collapsed into administration this morning, Retail Week has learned.
Consumers starting to ration as cost of living rises, says Asda

29-Jun-2011
Consumers are suffering from a “toxic mix” of “facts and fear” about household incomes, eurozone debts and rising prices, according to Asda chief finance officer Judith McKenna.
Waterstone's operations and commercial directors exit

28-Jun-2011
Bookseller Waterstone’s has revealed that commercial director Michael Neil and operations director Roger Childs will be leaving the business with immediate effect.
Carpetright profits slump in the face of weak consumer demand

28-Jun-2011
Floorings giant Carpetright has suffered a 40% plummet in underlying pre tax profit to £16.9m as weak consumer confidence hit the retailer.
TJ Hughes puts administrators on standby

27-Jun-2011
TJ Hughes has today filed an intention to appoint an administrator, making it the fourth retailer within a week to call in the administrators, Retail Week can reveal.
VAT rise floated at furniture crisis summit

27-Jun-2011
Retailers have hit out after the prospect of a further rise in VAT was floated at a crisis meeting last week between furniture retailers, the Department for Business and the Bank of England.
Conran and Radice to launch new department store concept

27-Jun-2011
Furniture and homewares guru Sir Terence Conran and former Selfridges supremo Vittorio Radice are to work together on a project to develop a new department store concept.
Robert Dyas hires Stephen McVey as chief executive

27-Jun-2011
Hardware and homewares retailer Robert Dyas has appointed Stephen McVey as chief executive, Retail Week can reveal.
Clinton Cards mulls management buyout

27-Jun-2011
Clinton Cards management has approached City banks with a plan to buy the company from the Stock Exchange.
Home Retail confirms Habitat deal, but rest of UK business enters administration

24-Jun-2011
Home Retail Group has confirmed that it has bought some parts of Habitat UK for £24.5m, but the rest of the business has entered administration.
Retail sales slip as consumers feel the pinch

23-Jun-2011
Retail sales slipped in recent weeks, marking the first time in a year when sales have not shown growth.
Argos owner in talks to buy Habitat

23-Jun-2011
Home Retail Group, owner of Argos and Homebase, is understood to be in talks to buy parts of the UK operation of Habitat in a deal worth £20m-£30m.
Homeform unites its brands for Sale push

23-Jun-2011
Kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms group Homeform is launching a new ad campaign uniting its three brands for the first time.
Loss-making Comet to close 17 stores

22-Jun-2011
Electricals retailer Kesa said Comet slumped into the red in the year to April 30, making a loss of £8.9m compared with retail profit of £11.5m the year before.
Moss Bros like-for-likes up 13.4% as it disposes of Cecil Gee

20-Jun-2011
Menswear retailer Moss Bros like-for-likes surged 13.4% in the 20 weeks to June 18.
Game sales decline prompts downgrades from analysts

June 17 2011
Analysts slashed profit forecasts for Game this week as the retailer downgraded its revenue guidance in the face of a worse-than-expected decline in the games market
Kingfisher targets aspirational shoppers with Polish revamp

16-Jun-2011
Kingfisher is revamping its Polish business to focus on higher-margin, aspirational products as the DIY group ramps up its own-brand offer in the country.
Scottish retail sales worst since 1999

15-Jun-2011
Scottish total retail sales declined 1.1% in May, making it the worst decline since the survey began in 1999.
Game sales decline prompts downgrades from analysts

15-Jun-2011
Game group like-for-likes dropped 11.3% in the 19 weeks to June 11 as the retailer was hit by a worse than expected decline in the games market.
Game appoints new boss of UK and northern Europe

13-Jun-2011
Game has hired Tom Devine as regional managing director of the UK and northern Europe.
Sir Terry Leahy invests £2m in supply chain tech firm

13-Jun-2011
Sir Terry Leahy has invested £2m of his fortune into a British software company he believes could transform retailers’ supply chains.
Majestic Wines profits surge 27%

13-Jun-2011
Majestic Wines group pretax profits surged 26.6% to £20.3m in the 52 weeks to March 28.
HMV chief says music chain still has a future as a high street store

June 10 2011
HMV chief executive Simon Fox has ruled out any store closures at the entertainment chain after it secured a life-saving loan agreement with itslenders.
Delay to Focus transfers frustrates Ian Cheshire

June 10 2011
Kingfisher boss Ian Cheshire has hit out against competition laws that he says are preventing the DIY group from transferring staff who work at the Focus DIY stores it has acquired.
99p Stores profit rockets as it lays out international plans

June 10 2011
99p Stores’ pre-tax profit has rocketed from £1.8m to £6.3m in the year to January 31 as the single price point value chain maps out plans for European expansion.
The bicycles market

June 10 2011
Bike retailers are beating the recession as people try to get healthy and petrol costs soar. And the success isn’t limited to the big names
BRC's Luke Mayhew to slam criticism of large retailers

8-Jun-2011
The British Retail Consortium chairman Luke Mayhew will condemn criticism of successful multiple retailers as “ridiculous” in a speech today.
New Look profits hit by "significant internal disruption"

8-Jun-2011
Fashion chain New Look underlying operating profit slumped from £162.7m to £98m in the year to March 26 as the retailer suffered from “significant internal disruption”.
Tony Shiret made redundant by Credit Suisse

7-Jun-2011
Tony Shiret, the highly regarded analyst and vocal critic of Marks & Spencer under the leadership of Sir Stuart Rose, has left Credit Suisse after 18 years with the bank.
Homebase owner in licensing talks with Habitat

6-Jun-2011
Home Retail has held talks with Habitat owner Hilco about licensing the furniture brand within its DIY chain Homebase.
HMV close to securing £210m refinancing deal

6-Jun-2011
Embattled entertainment retailer HMV is thought to be close to securing a refinancing deal to ensure its future.
Amazon and eBay most visited websites in UK

3-Jun-2011
Amazon and Ebay are the most visited websites by UK consumers with Tesco coming top of the bricks and mortar retailers.
HobbyCraft ups sales with sharper pricing

June 3 2011
HobbyCraft’s new chief executive Catriona Marshall has turned around a sales decline at the arts and crafts retailer by realigning its pricing stance.
Carpetright UK MD stands down amid board reshuffle

2-Jun-2011
Floorings giant Carpetright has restructured its board, appointing Andrew Corden to the board as operations director for Europe as Christian Sollesse, managing director of UK & Ireland, steps down.
Lord Myners questions Cameron's appointment of Portas

31-May-2011
Doubts are growing over David Cameron’s decision to appoint TV star Mary Portas as his new retail advisor.
HobbyCraft unveils new branding and store concept

27-May-2011
Arts and crafts retailer HobbyCraft has unveiled a new store concept and rebranding to appeal to a younger audience.
Happily ever after for Waterstone’s?

May 27 2011
Rising ebook sales and the competition from grocers have made life tough for Waterstone’s. Nicola Harrison finds out how the bookseller can be turned around under new ownership.
Locations of Focus stores acquired by Wickes and B&M Bargains revealed

26-May-2011
Focus DIY administrators Ernst &Young have revealed the locations of all Focus stores purchased from retailers Wickes and B&M Bargains.
B&Q reveals locations of Focus stores bought from E&Y

26-May-2011
B&Q owner Kingfisher has revealed locations of the 31 stores it acquired from the administrators of Focus DIY after it collapsed earlier this month.
SuperGroup snaps up iconic Regent Street store from Austin Reed

25-May-2011
Austin Reed is to exit its iconic store on London’s Regent Street to make way for trendy fashion retailer of the moment SuperGroup, Retail Week can reveal.
120 Focus stores to be closed

25-May-2011
UPDATED: The administrators of Focus DIY have confirmed the appointment of restructuring firm Gordon Brothers to advise on the sale of all stock with a view to “closing down the chain”.
British Land to kick start new developments

24-May-2011
Property developer British Land is gearing up to start new retail developments for the first time since the recession.
Morrisons prepares bid for Iceland

23-May-2011
Morrisons is preparing a £1.5bn bid for frozen food retailer Iceland, it has been reported.
Agent Provocateur hires Chris Woodhouse as chairman

23-May-2011
Luxury retailer Agent Provocateur has hired Chris Woodhouse, Debenhams’ finance director, as its new chairman.
Focus stock liquidation to begin next week

20-May-2011
DIY group Focus’s administrator Ernst & Young has hired restructuring specialists to begin liquidating stock next week, Retail Week has learned.
B&M Bargains acquires 11 Focus stores

20-May-2011
B&M Bargains has acquired 11 Focus stores after the DIY chain collapsed this month.
Halfords Autocentres report improved sales

20-May-2011
Bikes and car parts retailer Halfords has revealed trading in its Autocentres has improved as it takes analysts of a tour of its centres in the Birmingham area.
Habitat hires new boss as it targets both value and affluent shoppers

May 20 2011
Furniture retailer Habitat is to broaden the appeal of its ranges and review its property portfolio in a bid to continue its turnaround under newly appointed group chief executive Kevin Styles.
Humphrey Cobbold

May 20 2011
This may be his first big retail role, but the Wiggle boss’s passion for entrepreneurialism and cycling are keeping the etailer’s wheels turning at an impressive rate, says Nicola Harrison
Hollister signs for National Geographic store on Regent Street

19-May-2011
Fashion brand Hollister has snapped up the store on Regent Street currently occupied by National Geographic, Retail Week can reveal.
Moss Bros like-for-likes up 8.2%

19-May-2011
Menswear retailer Moss Bros like-for-likes jumped 8.2% in the 15 weeks to May 14, despite being up against tough comparatives this time last year.
Topps Tiles appoints non exec Michael Jack as chairman

18-May-2011
Topps Tiles has appointed former MP and non executive director Michael Jack as chairman.
Habitat hires Kevin Styles as group chief executive

17-May-2011
Furniture chain Habitat has appointed former Best Buy marketing director Kevin Styles as its group chief executive.
Wickes snaps up 13 Focus stores for £8.4m

17-May-2011
Wickes has bought 13 Focus DIY stores following the retailer’s collapse into administration earlier this month.
Brand Alley seeks £87m to fund growth

16-May-2011
Online upmarket private sales site Brand Alley has appointed Merril Lynch to raise €100m (£87m) to fund acquisitions of fledgling businesses in the sector.
HMV receives £43m cash offer for Waterstone's

13-May-2011
HMV Group has received a £43m cash offer from Russian billionaire Alexander Mamut to buy Waterstone’s, according to reports.
Poundstretcher returns to profit as it snaps up Alworths stores

13-May-2011
Poundstretcher managing director Charles Kay said the variety chain returned to profit in the year to the end of March 2011 for the first time in six years.
Poundstretcher

May 13 2011
Poundstretcher has struggled despite the customer flight to value, but with the acquisition of 15 Alworths stores the value retailer is out to turn things around
Turkish retailer Colin’s makes play for the UK

May 13 2011
Turkish fashion retailer Colin’s aims to make a splash in the UK, with ambitious expansion plans to open more than 100 shops here in the next decade.
Wiggle sale or IPO on cards as profits surge

May 13 2011
Bike etailer Wiggle has clocked up surges in sales and profit and is considering an IPO or sale.
HMV group marketing director Graham Sim leaves for Penguin

12-May-2011
HMV group marketing director Graham Sim has left the business to become creative director at the children’s division of publisher Penguin.
Focus administrators report “fantastic level of interest" in business

11-May-2011
Focus DIY administrators have received a “fantastic level of interest” in the business as it seeks offers for a sale of the retailer.
Ocado first half EBITDA up as sales growth slows

11-May-2011
Online grocer Ocado said it is “encouraged by the progress of the business so far this year” as it revealed that EBITDA is expected to grow 12% in its first half.
HMV nears Canada sale but Waterstone's talks stall

9-May-2011
Struggling entertainment retailer HMV is close to selling its Canadian arm but negotiations to sell its book chain Waterstone’s have stalled.
Wickes grows market share as like-for-likes rise 1.9%

9-May-2011
Wickes like-for-likes increased 1.9% in the 17 weeks to April 30.
Wiggle gears up for £200m sale

6-May-2011
Online bikes retailer Wiggle has hired advisory firm Rothschild to oversee a strategic review which could result in a sale or IPO valuing it at more than £200m, according to reports.
Poundstretcher snaps up Alworths stores

6-May-2011
Value retailer Poundstretcher has acquired 15 of the 17 Alworths stores following the collapse of the ‘son of Woolies’ variety retailer, Retail Week can reveal.
Rivals circle Focus stores after its collapse into administration

May 6 2011
4,000 jobs in the balance as struggling DIY retailer calls in Ernst & Young after defaulting on loan.
Carpetright sheds 350 jobs and 12 stores as cost drive continues

5-May-2011
Carpetright has made about 350 job cuts in the past 12 months as it slashes costs in a difficult market.
Focus in administration

5-May-2011
Focus DIY collapsed into administration this morning after filing an intent to appoint administrators yesterday, as revealed by Retail Week.
Administration looms for Focus

4-May-2011
Focus DIY has filed an intention to appoint administrators following a credit default.
5pm deadline for Focus rescue deal

4-May-2011
Focus DIY’s owner has entered into exclusive talks with restructuring firm GA Europe about buying the business, but if talks are unsuccessful the retailer could collapse, it is understood.
Shop price inflation edges up to 2.5% in April

4-May-2011
Shop price inflation increased to 2.5% in April, up from 2.4% in March.
Royal Wedding and warm weather boosts Next sales

4-May-2011
Next sales rose 5.2% in its first quarter as warm weather over Easter as well as spending in the run up to the Royal Wedding boosted sales.
Most people oppose moving May Day bank holiday says B&Q

3-May-2011
The majority of people are opposed to moving the May Day bank holiday to another date, a survey has shown.
Retail in Scotland

3-May-2011
Uncertainty over jobs and income plus the later time of Easter have had an impact on retail in Scotland, causing the worst drop in sales since 2000.
Retail sales growth sluggish

3-May-2011
Retail sales picked up in April although store groups said the performance was considered poor for the time of year.
Consumer confidence falls to 'worrying' level in April

28-Apr-2011
Consumer confidence fell sharply this month, making the chances of a double dip recession “increasingly real”, according to the GfK NOP.
St James' in London to be transformed into 'eclectic shopping destination'

April 28 2011
London’s upmarket St James’ area is to be given a makeover as part of landlord Crown Estate’s £500m regeneration programme to transform it into an “eclectic shopping destination”.
Steinhoff UK devolves authority in restructure

April 28 2011
Furniture giant Steinhoff UK is restructuring the group into separate businesses, resulting in the scrapping of the Steinhoff UK chief executive role.
Blackwell scraps role of chief executive as part of restructure

26-Apr-2011
Blackwell chief executive Andrew Hutchings has been made redundant as part of a restructure of the academic books chain.
Fashion brands eye National Geographic Regent Street store

26-Apr-2011
Superdry and Abercrombie and Fitch fashion brand Hollister are eyeing stores on famous shopping destination Regent Street.
The garden centre market

26-Apr-2011
With Easter on the horizon garden centre retailers are preparing for their busiest time of the year, with the aim to recover and grow after lost sales last year.
Sainsbury’s moves into fashion top 10 by volume

April 21 2011
Sainsbury’s has broken into the top 10 UK fashion retailers by volume as it further ramps up its non-food offer by extending stores to create more space.
Asda installs ‘go-getters for forgetters’

April 21 2011
Asda is to permanently install ‘go-getters for forgetters’ in all its 340 superstores from Easter.
Boris vows to protect retailers from more West End protests

April 21 2011
Meeting aims to stop future demonstrations damaging trade for retailers in London’s West End.
Software optimises Boden’s content

April 21 2011
Fashion etailer Boden has increased sales and conversion rates after installing software to help it find the optimum way of presenting its content.
WHSmith to launch Funky Pigeon stores

April 21 2011
WHSmith is to launch a new store format that will offer personalised greetings cards and an upmarket stationery offer.
Tesco acquires online video streaming service

20-Apr-2011
Grocery giant Tesco is hoping to take a slice of the “internet-driven revolution in home entertainment” by acquiring a majority stake in an online movie streaming service.
Scottish total retail sales drop for first time in decade

20-Apr-2011
Scottish retail sales dropped 3.9% on a like-for-like basis in March, making it the worst drop since January 2000.
Oddbins administrator seeks buyers for 55 closed stores

19-Apr-2011
Oddbins administrator Deloitte has appointed property agent Christie + Co to find buyers for the off-licence’s closed 55 stores after it collapsed into administration earlier this month.
Five Alworths stores closed

15-Apr-2011
Five Alworths stores have closed after the ‘son of Woolworths’ chain collapsed last month.
Westfield Stratford to open September 13

15-Apr-2011
Westfield Stratford City is to open to the public on September 13.
Trinity Walk signs more retailers ahead of opening next month

15-Apr-2011
Ethical cosmetics retailer The Body Shop and fashion chains USC and Pulp have all signed to Wakefield’s Trinity Walk scheme, which is due to open next month.
Kingfisher appoints chief executive to head B&Q

April 15 2011
Kingfisher UK and Ireland boss Euan Sutherland to focus on group strategy
Clinton Cards fights sliding sales with hi-tech shopfit

April 15 2011
Retailer to shake-up store experience with augmented reality cards and personalised printing.
ScS defies big-ticket gloom with return to profit after sales climb

April 15 2011
Sofas retailer ScS has bounced back into the black after focusing on widening its appeal, improving customer service and tight control of costs.
John Lewis at Home to open in Tamworth

14-Apr-2011
Department store group John Lewis is to open a Home store in Tamworth in the autumn.
WH Smith half year profits rise 3%

14-Apr-2011
Bookseller and stationer WH Smith group pretax profit rose 3% to £64m in the six months to February 28.
Retail regulation

14-Apr-2011
The Government has set up a website for retailers to challenge red tape, with a promise that regulation that can’t be justified will be axed. Will the scheme give retailers the boost they need?
TJ Hughes hires Anthony Solomon as executive chairman

13-Apr-2011
TJ Hughes’ new owners have hired Anthony Solomon as executive chairman.
JD Sports "extremely cautious" on outlook despite profits surge

13-Apr-2011
JD Sports Fashion pretax profits surged 28% to £78.6m in the 52 weeks to January 29 yet the retailer remains “extremely cautious” on the outlook.
Game to appoint former Ladbrokes boss as chairman

11-Apr-2011
Game is set to hire Chris Bell, the former boss of Ladbrokes, as its new chairman.
Record companies relax terms to help HMV cashflows

11-Apr-2011
HMV suppliers are set to agree to slash upfront payments for CDs to help boost the troubled retailer’s cashflows as the possibility of pulling off a rights issue fades.
Beales targets a return to profit after buying Anglia Co-op stores

April 8 2011
Beales chief executive Tony Brown has vowed the department store chain will return to profit within 18 months following the acquisition of 19 stores from Anglia Regional Co-operative Society (ARCS).
Hawkin’s Bazaar aims to double store count

April 8 2011
Hawkin’s Bazaar plans to have up to 170 shops in the long term as it scouts for 60 temporary stores to open in time for its crucial Christmas trading period.
National Minimum Wage increase 'out of step with reality'

7-Apr-2011
The National Minimum Wage increase of 2.5% to £6.08 is “out of step with reality”, according to retailers.
Forever 21 to open at Bluewater

7-Apr-2011
US fashion giant Forever 21 has signed for a store at Bluewater shopping centre, Retail Week has learned.
Government clamp down on red tape

7-Apr-2011
Government is urging businesses and individuals to give their views on overregulation via a new website.
Time Out owner mulls offer for HMV Live

6-Apr-2011
HMV’s live venue business is being eyed by the founder of Oakley Capital, which has a stake in Time Out magazine.
JJB Sports to improve 'retail basics' with £65m fundraising

6-Apr-2011
Sports retailer JJB Sports has said its intended £65m fundraising will help provide management with greater operational flexibility and the money to fund to its turnaround plan.
Beales set to buy Co-op department stores

5-Apr-2011
Beales is set to buy 19 department stores from the Anglia Co-op.
HMV gives Mamut 15 days to secure Waterstone's deal

5-Apr-2011
Russian Oligarch and HMV shareholder Alexander Mamut has been given just 15 days to agree a deal to buy HMV’s bookselling business, Waterstone’s.
Tesco enters used car market

4-Apr-2011
Grocery giant Tesco has begun dealing in second hand cars as it continues its march into non-food retailing.
Alworths goes into administration

1-Apr-2011
Alworths, the ‘son of Woolworths’ chain launched by a former Woolies director, has collapsed into administration, Retail Week has learned.
Retailers' confidence rises for first time in four quarters

1-Apr-2011
Retail business confidence has risen for the first time in four quarters as store groups expect improvements in gross profit and turnover this year.
Stricter rules for pre-packs

1-Apr-2011
New rules for pre-pack administrations could make it harder for owners to regain control of failing businesses.
House of Fraser scouting for small click-and-collect stores

April 1 2011
Smaller shop formats planned for collection of online orders as customer demand grows
Kingfisher aims to grow by attracting reluctant DIY-ers

April 1 2011
DIY giant Kingfisher is prioritising making DIY easier for customers and continued global expansion as it approaches the next stage of its strategy under boss Ian Cheshire.
Running up the down escalator

April 1 2011
Retailers are in unknown territory, but it is areas such as cost-cutting and multichannel that will mark out the winners. Nicola Harrison reports
Oddbins expected to file for administration on Monday

31-Mar-2011
Wine retailer Oddbins is expected to go into administration on Monday after it was unable to proceed with a company voluntary arrangement.
Game staff bought up Tesco stocks of Nintendo 3DS

30-Mar-2011
Game told its store staff to buy up Nintendo 3DS consoles from Tesco as it aimed to keep a steady supply in stores.
Topps Tiles like-for-likes up 1.8% in first half

30-Mar-2011
Topps Tiles expects like-for-likes to have increased by about 1.8% in the 26 weeks to April 2.
DFS half year EBITDA flat as sales rise 1%

30-Mar-2011
Sofa giant DFS adjusted EBITDA remained flat at £41.2m in the 26 weeks to January 29.
'Storm in a tea bag' as Co-op employee sacked 'for drinking Lady Grey'

29-Mar-2011
A Co-operative employee has claimed he was sacked for drinking Twining Lady Grey tea at work instead of Co-op own brand tea.
HMV in 'exclusive talks' with Tim Waterstone and Mamut

28-Mar-2011
HMV has entered exclusive talks with Tim Waterstone and HMV shareholder Alexander Mamut about a possible sale of Waterstone’s, it is understood.
99p Stores mulls sale as advisors appointed

28-Mar-2011
Discount retailer 99p Stores has appointed advisors to work on a strategic review of the business that could lead to a sale.
HMV confirms it is mulling sale of Waterstone's and Canada business

25-Mar-2011
HMV has confirmed it is mulling the sale of Waterstone’s as well as its Canadian business as part of its turnaround strategy.
Burberry to boost brand with ‘statement stores’

March 25 2011
High-profile London stores designed to dazzle shoppers and mark British heritage.
Retailers weigh up impact of Channel Islands VAT changes

March 25 2011
Chancellor hopes tackling Low Value Consignment Relief will help struggling entertainment stores
Clinton Lewin

March 25 2011
As Clinton Cards posts results, Nicola Harrison talks to the group managing director about growing up in the business and what the year ahead holds.
SCS set to forge ahead with new stores despite trading slowdown

March 25 2011
Sofa retailer SCS is pushing ahead with store expansion plans despite a slowdown in trading last month.
Consumers given a lift as Chancellor cuts fuel duty

23-Mar-2011
Retailers received a lift in today’s budget as Chancellor George Osborne cut fuel duty, easing pressure on cash-strapped consumers.
Sainsbury's Q4 like-for-likes up 1%

23-Mar-2011
Sainsbury’s fourth quarter like-for-like sales grew 1% excluding fuel in the 10 weeks to March 19.
JJB to reveal result of life-saving CVA today

22-Mar-2011
Troubled sports retailer JJB Sports has said it expects to reveal the results of its company voluntary arrangement (CVA) meetings later today.
HMV hires Comet's Ewan Pinder as head of technology

22-Mar-2011
HMV has appointed Comet head of merchandising and store development Ewan Pinder as its head of technology.
Foyles acquires Grant & Cutler book store

21-Mar-2011
Bookseller Foyles has acquired Grant & Cutler, the largest foreign language bookshop in the UK.
HMV to present rescue plan to banks this week

21-Mar-2011
HMV is to meet with banks this week to outline a rescue plan that could include a sale of its book chain Waterstone’s.
Crackdown on Channel Islands VAT loophole

21-Mar-2011
Chancellor George Osborne is planning to crack down on cheap goods flooding into the UK from the Channel Islands.
HMV shares rise as boss Simon Fox remains upbeat

18-Mar-2011
HMV shares surged yesterday after chief executive Simon Fox remained upbeat on the entertainment retailer’s future.
Lighting specialist Ryness deemed ‘attractive asset’ as it goes up for sale

March 18 2011
Ryness Lighting & Electrical has been put up for sale by its private equity owner Epic.
Waitrose boss happy with Ocado deal at present

17-Mar-2011
Upmarket grocer Waitrose managing director Mark Price has said he is “really happy” with the retailer’s relationship with online grocer Ocado but did not rule out operating independently when their current contract runs out.
French connection boss hits out at upward only rent reviews

17-Mar-2011
French Connection chief executive Stephen Marks has hit out at upward only rent reviews, asking the government to review the law.
Allied Carpets sold by Hilco

16-Mar-2011
Allied Carpets has been sold by restructuring firm Hilco to a consortium of private investors.
Grocers back Government healthy living pledge

15-Mar-2011
The UK’s seven largest food retailers have signed up to a Government-backed pledge to encourage consumers to make healthier choices.
Debenhams first half profit to be ahead of last year

15-Mar-2011
Department store group Debenhams said it expects pretax profit for its first half to be ahead of last year and in line with management expectations but it remains cautious on the outlook.
Spar appoints Debbie Robinson as managing director

14-Mar-2011
Spar UK has appointed Debbie Robinson as its new managing director.
World of Sofas bought in pre-pack deal by management

14-Mar-2011
World of Sofas, the sofa chain set up by Land of Leather founder Paul Briant, has been bought out of pre-pack administration by its management team, led by Briant.
Co-op disposals spark convenience space race

February 25 2011
Big grocers circle 40 Co-op stores in drive for larger share of £32.1bn c-store market.
Kingfisher and Wickes upbeat but cautious as results impress

February 25 2011
Analysts were pleased by upbeat updates from DIY retailers Kingfisher and Wickes but remain cautious on the outlook for the sector.
Twinings seeks site for London flagship

24-Feb-2011
Famous tea brand Twinings is on the hunt for a Central London flagship store that will be its first opening in 300 years.
JJB landlord Capital Shopping Centres to oppose CVA

23-Feb-2011
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).
Wickes gains market share despite flat like-for-likes

23-Feb-2011
DIY chain Wickes like-for-likes remained flat in 2010, rising 0.2%, but current trading has improved.
Waitrose invests £10m in online operations

21-Feb-2011
Upmarket grocer Waitrose has invested £10m in its online business as it ramps up its web operation to take on rivals including Ocado.
Game’s new strategy aims to triple digital revenue by 2013

February 18th 2011
Retailer is aiming to be a fully multichannel business with a focus on downloads and mobile gaming
JJB: Second time lucky?

February 18th 2011
JJB’s second CVA attempt has called the process into question. Nicola Harrison asks if landlords will throw JJB another lifeline and if the CVA process is fatally flawed
HMV enjoys sales uplift after last night's Brits

16-Feb-2011
HMV has enjoyed a boost in sales on the back of the Brit Awards last night, with sales of one winner’s album soaring 594% compared with the same day last week.
Game to invest £15m in its three year multi-channel strategy

16-Feb-2011
Game is to invest £15m in its three year multi-channel strategy and has secured refinancing from its banks for the period until 2014.
CPI inflation rises to 4%

15-Feb-2011
Consumer prices index (CPI) inflation rose to 4% in January, up from 3.7% in December.
JJB Sports confirms plans for second CVA

11-Feb-2011
Sports retailer JJB Sports has confirmed it is to attempt a second Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) within two years in order to ensure the survival of the business.
JJB set for showdown with landlords over second CVA

February 11 2011
Angry property owners threaten not to support another CVA now the market has picked up
Chinese tourists

10-Feb-2011
Chinese tourist spend has soared in the past year, but what can retailers do to capitalise on this and is the UK doing all it can to welcome them?
Game strikes deal with Microsoft to sell downloads in store

9-Feb-2011
Game has struck a deal with Microsoft to sell downloadable games in its stores.
Shop price inflation rises to 2.5%

9-Feb-2011
Shop price inflation rose sharply to 2.5% in January, up from 2.1% the month before.
Asda sells e-reader for half the price of Kindle

8-Feb-2011
Asda has launched an e-reader for £52 that is likely to spark a price war in the growing market.
Pets Corner profits up as it plots expansion

7-Feb-2011
Pets retailer Pets Corner has notched up pretax profits of £1.14m in the three months to the end of December – a quarterly rise of 105%.
Morrisons in talks with George Davies

7-Feb-2011
Morrisons is in talks with fashion guru George Davies about designing the supermarket’s first clothing range.
HMV investor Mamut mulling shake-up of business

4-Feb-2011
HMV shareholder Alexander Mamut, the Russian oligarch who has been building up his stake in the business, has appointed Credit Suisse to advise him on options for the embattled retailer.
Robert Dyas chief executive Steven Round in shock exit

February 4, 2011
Chairman to run the business until new chief executive is appointed, while board is bolstered.
Carpetright cautions prices will rise in 2011

February 4, 2011
Floorings giant Carpetright is to hike up its prices by about 8% this year as it seeks to mitigate soaring costs including freight and petrol.
Kingfisher’s trade chain Screwfix opens up to public with showroom

February 4, 2011
DIY giant Kingfisher’s trade chain Screwfix is to trial a standalone bathroom store, called Watersmith.
Game poaches M&S director Dave Hughes

3-Feb-2011
Game has poached senior Marks & Spencer director Dave Hughes as its chief marketing officer.
Go Outdoors reveals record year

3-Feb-2011
Outdoor specialist Go Outdoors has notched up a record year, with sales soaring 57%.
Irish parties promise to end upward-only rents

3-Feb-2011
Upward-only rent reviews are set to be banned on existing leases in Ireland if the highly anticipated coalition government is installed.
Consumer confidence up in fourth quarter

2-Feb-2011
Consumer confidence rose in the final quarter of last year as consumers felt more positive about job prospects and their personal finances.
Waterstone's to close 11 shops

1-Feb-2011
Waterstone’s will close 11 stores as part of parent HMV’s plan to shed 60 stores across the group this year.
HMV begins closing stores

1-Feb-2011
HMV has shut nine shops as part of its plans to close 60 across the group as it seeks to cut costs.
Amazon ebooks outsell paperbacks

28-Jan-2011
US etail giant Amazon has revealed that sales of ebooks have overtaken those of paperback physical books for the first time.
Hamleys up for sale

January 28 2011
Frozen food chain Iceland also up for sale as Landsbanki sells off assets as part of winding up process
Poundworld to roll out multi-price store format

January 28 2011
Single price point retailer Poundworld is to roll out it multi-price format, Discount UK, as it opens its second store in Stevenage.
Homestyle profits drop 19% but Reid acquisition boosts turnover

January 28 2011
Homestyle, the furniture retailer that operates chains including Harveys and Bensons for Beds, has revealed a 19% fall in profits in the year to June 26, while turnover increased.
WHSmith sales slip over key period but margin improves

January 28 2011
Bookseller and stationer WHSmith pleased analysts with improved margin despite a worse-than-expected sales decline during the peak period.
84% of retailers will pass on VAT rise in full

27-Jan-2011
More than eight out of 10 retailers plan to pass on in full the VAT rise that came in to effect on January 4.
WH Smith AGM blow

27-Jan-2011
WH Smith suffered a blow at its AGM yesterday when nearly a third of its shareholders who voted refused to back the remuneration report.
Habitat to exit Regent Street store

26-Jan-2011
Habitat is closing its Regent Street store in Central London because it “no longer fits” with the retailer’s strategy.
British Bookshops & Stationers attracts offers as bid deadline expires

26-Jan-2011
The deadline for bids for British Bookshops and Stationers, which collapsed earlier this month, expired yesterday (Tuesday).
WH Smith like-for-likes fall 5%

26-Jan-2011
WH Smith group like-for-likes dropped 5% in the 21 weeks to January 22.
Scottish Parliament advised by committee to scrap planned levy on large retailers

26-Jan-2011
Retailers are unlikely to have to pay extra tax on larger stores in Scotland after the Local Government and Communities Committee of the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of annulling the proposed Large Retailer Levy.
Wolverhampton shopping centre plans to be scrapped

25-Jan-2011
Plans to build a £300m shopping centre in Wolverhampton look likely to be scrapped after a report for the council found that the financial risks of investing public money in the scheme are too great.
Foyles to open first shop outside London in 70 years

25-Jan-2011
Bookseller Foyles is to open its first shop outside London for 70 years, in Bristol’s Cabot Circus.
London, Glasgow and Manchester best for town centre shopping

25-Jan-2011
London, Glasgow, and Manchester offer the best town centre shopping experience, according to research from retail consultancy Verdict.
HMV shareholder backs management

24-Jan-2011
One of HMV’s largest shareholders has defended the management of the embattled entertainment retailer after a difficult month of profit warnings and reduction of credit insurance.
Ian Cheshire to be drafted into Government

24-Jan-2011
Ian Cheshire, chief executive of B&Q-owner Kingfisher, is expected to be drafted into the Department of Work and Pensions as a lead non-executive director.
British Bookshops & Stationers axes 40 staff

21-Jan-2011
British Bookshops & Stationers, the book chain that collapsed last week, has made 40 redundancies as it gears up for a Sale this weekend.
Food sales suffer worst December on record

21-Jan-2011
Food sales by volume declined 3.4% in December, the lowest on record since the index began in 1988.
Scottish Parliament committee raises questions over planned levy on large retailers

21-Jan-2011
The Scottish government is again being urged to reconsider its proposed levy on large retailers, as a report by the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee questions how the policy will support town centre retailing.
Credit insurers vow not to pull plug on retailers

January 21 2011
Insurers insist there won’t be a repeat of the withdrawal of cover despite HMV’s woes
Second management buyout could save troubled British Bookshops and Stationers

January 21 2011
Collapsed chain British Bookshops and Stationers could be revived under its existing management, which is understood to be attempting a second management buyout within a year.
Jim Hodkinson

20-Jan-2011
The retail veteran will be able to call on decades of experience as he takes on his latest challenge at Floors-2-Go.
The Book Depository reveals strong first half

19-Jan-2011
Online bookseller The Book Depository has revealed a 70% surge in sales to £60m in the six months to December 31.
Asos sales up 59%

19-Jan-2011
Fashion etailer Asos’ retail sales jumped 59% to £100m in the 3 months to December 31.
HMV credit insurance under review

18-Jan-2011
UPDATED: HMV Group has confirmed that credit insurers are reviewing the level of cover they provide to the retailer.
Jessops Christmas like-for-likes up 3%

18-Jan-2011
Camera specialist Jessops like-for-likes grew 3% over Christmas as “choice and service” helped grow sales.
West End retail sales up 3.8% in December

17-Jan-2011
Retail like-for-like sales in London’s West End increased 3.8% year-on-year in December, as post-Christmas Sales pulled in shoppers.
Ikea group profits rise 6%

14-Jan-2011
Furniture giant Ikea has revealed full year net profit growth of 6.1% to €2.7bn.
John Lewis sales up 39% ahead of VAT increase

14-Jan-2011
John Lewis sales soared 38.7% to £74.7m in the week to January 8, making it the largest weekly increase this financial year.
Hodkinson joins Floors-2-Go

January 14 2011
Floorings specialist wins £3.25m cash injection and hires sector veteran as it guns for growth
A third of Woolworths stores still vacant two years after closure

January 14 2011
A third of Woolworths’ 800 former stores still lie empty two years after the shutters came down, and experts believe that they are likely to remain vacant because of their locations.
How many stores does a retailer need?

January 14 2011
Could HMV’s decision to downsize signal a more general trend for retailers to slim down their property portfolios, asks Nicola Harrison
Dreams founder Mike Clare sets up new furniture venture

12-Jan-2011
Entrepreneur Mike Clare, who founded beds giant Dreams, has set up a new mid-to-high-end furniture retailer.
HMV begins staff consultation across group

12-Jan-2011
HMV and Waterstone’s head office staff are in consultation as parent HMV Group strives to make cost savings across the business.
Fortnum & Mason reveals record Christmas

12-Jan-2011
Luxury department store Fortnum & Mason has notched up a record Christmas despite, it said, the snow, tube strikes and student riots in central London.
SuperGroup Christmas sales soar

12-Jan-2011
SuperGroup, the owner of fashion chain Superdry, has revealed a bumper Christmas, with retail sales surging 93.6% to £51.7m.
Russian oligarch Mamut increases his stake in HMV

12-Jan-2011
Russian oligarch Alexander Mamut has increased his stake in HMV again, to more than 6%.
Shop price inflation rises to 2.1% in December

12-Jan-2011
Shop price inflation rose to 2.1% in December, up from 2% in November, as rising costs pushed prices up.
BrightHouse reveals strong Christmas and remains confident for 2011

7-Jan-2011
Rent to own electricals and furniture retailer BrightHouse has revealed a strong Christmas trading period and feels confident of sustaining “robust” growth in 2011.
HMV backtracks on fashion after grim trading

January 7 2011
Embattled HMV is scaling back its fashion ambitions and has not ruled out closing more stores after a disastrous Christmas.
Furniture Sales benefit from VAT rise

January 7 2011
Furniture retailers have experienced a good start to their Boxing Day Sales despite the snow putting off customers initially.
Losses fall at Jysk as turnover soars 20%

January 7 2011
Danish furniture retailer Jysk has increased sales in a difficult market while shaving a third off its losses.
Harveys appoints former Dixons director to drive market share

January 7 2011
Furniture chain Harveys has hired former Dixons director Stephen Campbell as its new managing director.
Rough Trade festive sales up 5%

5-Jan-2011
Iconic music retailer Rough Trade has revealed a strong Christmas performance and remains confident for 2011.
HMV to shut 60 stores as it issues profit warning

5-Jan-2011
HMV has outlined plans to shut 60 of its HMV and Waterstone’s stores in the next 12 months as sales have continued to fall over the Christmas trading period and the retailer warned on profits.
The White Company reveals strong Christmas trading

4-Jan-2011
Furniture and fashion retailer The White Company experienced a 24% surge in Christmas sales as gifts, clothing and fragrance helped pull in shoppers.
Bluewater records highest ever Christmas footfall as Sales pull in crowds

4-Jan-2011
Shopping Centre Bluewater said it experienced a record Christmas, recording its highest ever footfall of 28.1 million.
JJB to ask shareholders for further £50m

4-Jan-2011
Troubled sports chain JJB Sports is expected to ask investors for a further £50m following the £31.5m promised before Christmas, according to reports over the weekend.
WHSmith group marketing director Richard Cristofoli poached by Debenhams

17-Dec-2010
WHSmith group marketing director Richard Cristofoli is to leave the stationer and bookseller next year to become Debenhams marketing director, Retail Week has learned.
Three quarters of digital music tracks downloaded illegally

17-Dec-2010
Three quarters of music tracks downloaded this year were done so illegally.
Big-ticket retailers race to start Sales before the VAT rise hits

December 17 2010
DIY and furniture retailers confident about early start to January Sales but cautious about early 2011
Carpetright to downsize larger stores in a bid for better returns

December 17 2010
Carpetright is downsizing 10% of its portfolio as it seeks to get better returns from its selling space.
HMV cautious over Christmas trade after poor interim results

December 17 2010
HMV disappointed the City last week with worse-than-expected interim results and cautious comments about the crucial Christmas trading period after snow hit sales.
In need of specialist treatment

December 17 2010
Across games, music, sport and electricals, specialist retailers are suffering, but what is the diagnosis and can they be brought back to health, asks Nicola Harrison
Jessops on course to make EBITDA profit

December 17 2010
Camera specialist Jessops expects to make an EBITDA profit in the year to January 2, after making a £41m loss last year. The retailer has also bolstered its management team as it gears up for growth.
World Duty Free boss Mark Riches to stand down

16-Dec-2010
World Duty Free, the airport retailer, has revealed its chief executive Mark Riches is to stand down at the end of the year.
Booker boss Charles Wilson replaces Justin King as IGD president

16-Dec-2010
Booker Group’s chief executive Charles Wilson has been appointed president of international food and grocery analysts IGD, replacing Sainsbury’s boss Justin King.
Tesco's One Stop acquires 77 stores from Mills

16-Dec-2010
Tesco’s convenience fascia One Stop has acquired 77 stores from Mills Group as part of its long term expansion plans.
Laura Ashley sales rise despite snow

16-Dec-2010
Furniture and fashion retailer Laura Ashley like-for-likes grew 2.7% in the 19 weeks to December 11.
Clas Ohlson scales back UK expansion plans in tough market

15-Dec-2010
Swedish DIY and homewares chain Clas Ohlson has scaled back its UK expansion plans due to difficult market conditions.
Halfords hires Gerry Murphy as group brand marketing director

14-Dec-2010
Car parts and bikes retailer Halfords has appointed former Superdrug marketing director Gerry Murphy as its group brand marketing director.
Business rates revamp under Localism Bill

14-Dec-2010
Local authorities will have greater control over setting business rates under new powers proposed in the Localism Bill.
Landlords kick start talks with retailers over new developments

14-Dec-2010
Property giants Land Securities and Hammerson have kick-started talks with retailers about taking space in upcoming shopping centres.
John Lewis records best ever week as snow thaws

13-Dec-2010
John Lewis has reported its best ever weekly sales performance as customers returned to the high street after the heavy snow.
Habitat enters into fitted kitchen market

December 10 2010
Furniture chain Habitat is to begin selling fitted kitchens as it seeks to cash in on the surge in sales in the big-ticket category.
Lombok turnaround puts it back into black

December 10 2010
Furniture chain Lombok has bounced back into the black, after instigating a turnaround plan that saw it slash costs and shut stores.
Passing on the VAT increase

December 10 2010
With VAT set to rise retailers will struggle to absorb the increase, especially as other costs are rising. Some are already putting prices up to make January’s change less noticeable, Nicola Harrison discovers
John Lewis sales up 8% as snow begins to clear

9-Dec-2010
Department store John Lewis sales grew 8% in the four days to the end of Wednesday December 8.
Game cautious as like-for-likes drop

8-Dec-2010
Game UK & Ireland like-for-likes slumped 12.2% while total sales dropped 14.7% in the 44 weeks to December 4.
Dolphin owner eyes Bathstore

7-Dec-2010
Dolphin Bathrooms owner Sun European Partners has held early discussions with Bathstore over a potential acquisition of the business.
Cath Kidston plans Far East push as profits soar

6-Dec-2010
Homewares and fashion retailer Cath Kidston has revealed a jump in profits as it outlines plans for expansion in the Far East.
All-party group pledges to make MPs aware of retail’s importance

December 3 2010
The new co-chairs of the All-Party Retail Group (APRG) have said there is a lack of awareness of retail in parliament and pledged to raise the profile of the sector among MPs.
Oxford Street blight ahead as Crossrail work kicks in

December 3 2010
Retail giants hold talks over street closures that could hit footfall hard around Bond Street
Hamleys blasted over penguin and reindeer show

1-Dec-2010
Updated: Toy shop Hamleys has pulled its plans to have live penguins and reindeer in its famous Regent Street branch, after animal welfare experts and animal lovers reacted angrily to the news.
Co-op members donate £1.2m of their dividend to good causes

30-Nov-2010
Co-operative Group members have donated £1.2m of their interim dividend to charities and community groups.
Oddbins launches new format in bid to make profit

30-Nov-2010
Oddbins has launched a smaller format under the name Oddies as it aims to return the business to profit.
Topps Tiles profits and sales up

30-Nov-2010
Topps Tiles pre tax profit grew from £9.9m to £12.4m in the 53 weeks to October 2 as the retailer kept a tight control on costs.
Fewer public sector jobs to be axed than initially forecast

29-Nov-2010
The Government is expected to make fewer public sector job cuts than first anticipated, with the Office for Budget Responsibility adjusting its estimate down to 330,000 from 490,000.
John Lewis to open in Middle East, according to reports

29-Nov-2010
John Lewis is understood to be in talks to open department stores across the Middle East, according to reports.
Waitrose sales up 10.6% last week

29-Nov-2010
Upmarket grocer Waitrose revealed sales up 10.6% to £103m for the week ending November 27, as customers stocked up on Christmas goodies.
Walmart set to acquire 51% of Massmart

29-Nov-2010
US grocery giant Walmart has confirmed its intention to acquire 51% of South African general merchandise and food retailer Massmart.
Hamleys opens pop-up shops to maximise Christmas sales

November 26 2010
Temporary stores in shopping centres will extend the retailer’s reach in key toy-selling period.
B&Q gives customers January Sale "sneak preview" this weekend

25-Nov-2010
B&Q is going on Sale this weekend as it gives customers a “sneak preview” of its January Sale.
VAT in Ireland to rise to 22% in 2013 as minimum wage is reduced

24-Nov-2010
The Irish Government will increase VAT from 21% to 22% in 2013 as part of its austerity package to cut its huge deficit.
Superquinn hires Andrew Street as chief executive

24-Nov-2010
Irish grocer Superquinn has appointed former Dunnes Stores director Andrew Street as its chief executive.
HobbyCraft annual profits double

24-Nov-2010
Arts and crafts retailer HobbyCraft profits almost doubled in the year to February 21.
Clinton Cards "well prepared" for Christmas despite sales fall

23-Nov-2010
Greetings cards retailer Clinton Cards group like-for-likes fell 3% in the 16 weeks to November 21.
Toy Story 3 set to boost flagging DVD market

23-Nov-2010
Toy Story 3 is set to become this year’s biggest selling DVD within hours of its release, giving the flagging DVD market a welcome lift.
Amazon blasted as Black Friday deals sell out within seconds

23-Nov-2010
Amazon has come under fire as its Black Friday Christmas deals sold out within seconds.
Retailers to ramp up their expansion across EMEA region

22-Nov-2010
Retailers will ramp up their expansion plans across the EMEA region next year, prompted by a renewed confidence in the sector.
Tesco sales "strong" in Asia as analyst trip kicks off

22-Nov-2010
Tesco said its performance in its Asian business continues to be “strong” as it kicked off an analyst event in the region yesterday.
Updated: Forever 21 confirms it will open in London's Oxford Street

17-Nov-2010
Updated: US fast fashion retailer Forever 21 has confirmed it has signed for a flagship store in London’s Oxford Street, currently occupied by HMV.
SuperGroup hires Nigel Jobson as head of property

15-Nov-2010
SuperGroup, owner of fashion brand Superdry, has poached Nigel Jobson, a director at its property agent Jones Lang LaSalle, as its new head of property.
Tesco remains a potential bidder for Carrefour's Malaysian stores despite Thai setback

15-Nov-2010
Tesco remains a potential bidder for rival Carrefour’s Malaysian assets after losing out to Casino in an auction for Carrefour’s Thai business.
Fat Face starts rolling out ranges after overhaul of its product offer

12-Nov-2010
Lifestyle retailer Fat Face has overhauled its product offering as part of new chief executive Anthony Thompson’s turnaround strategy.
Black Ops and Kinect spur games market

November 12 2010
Video games retailers opened hundreds of stores at midnight this week as Call of Duty: Black Ops and Microsoft’s much anticipated Kinect motion-sensor device hit the shelves.
BrightHouse eyes best Christmas since 2007

November 12 2010
Rent-to-own electricals and furniture retailer BrightHouse is looking forward to its best Christmas for three years after revealing another strong trading performance in its first half.
Ikea slashes prices in chase for market share

November 12 2010
Furniture giant Ikea UK & Ireland is to focus on growing turnover and market share at the expense of profits as it navigates its way through a challenging big-ticket market.
Theo Paphitis

November 12 2010
The multimillionaire entrepreneur and TV Dragon is preparing to launch his new lingerie brand next spring. Nicola Harrison finds out what drives him
Former New Look boss Phil Wrigley invests in etail start-up

11-Nov-2010
Former New Look boss Phil Wrigley has invested a “six figure sum” into a new online retail venture that claims to “turn retail logic on its head”.
Supergroup Q2 sales surge 68.4%

10-Nov-2010
Supergroup, the owner of trendy fashion brand Superdry, experienced a 68.4% surge in group total sales to £57.5m in the three months to October 31.
Call of Duty launch kicks off busiest week in video games calendar

9-Nov-2010
A video game expected to become the fastest and biggest selling title in games history was launched in stores across the country at midnight, kicking off the busiest week in the games calendar.
Theo Fennell losses narrow in first half

9-Nov-2010
Upmarket jeweller Theo Fennell narrowed its losses from £1m to £877,330 in the six months to September 30.
Grocers pledge to tackle industry skills gap

8-Nov-2010
Grocery retailers have pledged to tackle the skills gap in the industry as a survey reveals that the vast majority (80%) of grocers believe there is a skills gap in basic literacy levels in school leaver recruits.
Arcadia mulls closure of 200 shops

8-Nov-2010
Arcadia could close as many as 200 stores as it looks to restructure its property portfolio in the next three years.
Alworths continues to grow after first year

November 5 2010
Alworths, the variety store that sprung from the ashes of Woolworths, enjoyed a record week last week as it hits its first year anniversary today.
Break-up merchants eye struggling DIY chain Focus

5-Nov-2010
DIY chain’s owner appoints adviser as it considers options for troubled retailer
Wilkinson boosts its own-brand offer by introducing food lines

November 5 2010
Variety chain Wilkinson has launched its first range of own-brand food products.
Paphitis reveals plans for lingerie chain Boux Avenue

4-Nov-2010
Entrepreneur Theo Paphitis has revealed his new lingerie brand will be called Boux Avenue, and has outlined plans to open in top shopping centres including Manchester’s Trafford Centre, Sheffield’s Meadowhall and the Bullring in Birmingham.
Whole Foods kick starts expansion with shops in Richmond and Glasgow

3-Nov-2010
Whole Foods has kicked off its much-awaited UK expansion with plans for a store in Scotland next year and another in Richmond in 2013.
Thorntons appoints Caffè Nero boss Jonathan Hart as group chief executive

3-Nov-2010
Chocolatier Thorntons has appointed Caffè Nero managing director Jonathan Hart as its new group chief executive.
Highest shop price inflation since January

3-Nov-2010
Shop price inflation increased to 2.2% in October, up from 1.9% in September, making it the highest rate since January.
London vacancy rates continue to outperform rest of UK

1-Nov-2010
Central London continues to significantly outperform the rest of the UK in terms of vacancy rates, resulting in an exacerbated two tier retail property market.
Morrisons set to hire 1,000 homeless people

1-Nov-2010
Grocer Morrisons is training homeless people as fishmongers, butchers and bakers as part of the retailer’s pledge to hire 1,000 people that live on the street.
Ikea UK & Ireland full year sales edge up 1%

1-Nov-2010
Furniture giant Ikea UK & Ireland experienced a 1% rise in like-for-likes in the year to August 31 as the retailer grew its share in a difficult big ticket market.
Focus brings in Lazard as owner considers its options

1-Nov-2010
Focus DIY’s owners have hired bank Lazard to consider options that could lead to a sale of the home improvement chain.
Traffic-free shopping on Oxford Street on November 27

29-Oct-2010
London’s famous shopping Mecca Oxford Street will offer traffic-free shopping again this year, on November 27.
Go Outdoors triples profit to £4.3m and rejigs management

October 29 2010
Outdoor specialist Go Outdoors’ pre-tax profits more than tripled from £1.2m to £4.3m in the year to January 3 and the retailer has rejigged management roles.
Grainger Games plans rapid store expansion

October 29 2010
Grainger Games will have doubled store numbers year on year by Christmas as it bucks the downbeat trend in the games market with a focus on value.
Martin Harris

October 29 2010
Bellwether Carpetright updated this week. Nicola Harrison profiles the man widely expected to succeed founder Lord Harris at the helm
B&Q and Homebase voted worst online retailers

28-Oct-2010
DIY giants B&Q and Homebase have been voted the worst online retailers in the UK.
One New Change opens

28-Oct-2010
One New Change, the new shopping centre in the City of London, open its doors to the public today.
Lovefilm turnover grows as losses narrow

26-Oct-2010
Amazon-backed online film rental company Lovefilm pretax losses narrowed from £7.4m to £934,000 last year.
Tesco launches iPhone app barcode scanner

26-Oct-2010
Tesco is revamping its iPhone app to include a barcode scanner which the UK’s largest retailer has said is a first for the supermarket industry.
Ocado to deliver to the South West and Wales

25-Oct-2010
Online grocer Ocado is to begin delivering into the south east of England and South Wales next year after acquiring a distribution centre near Bristol.
Staples UK cuts costs and returns to profit

October 22, 2010
Stationer Staples UK has bounced back into the black, posting a pre-tax profit of £6.2m compared with a loss of £8.6m the year before.
WHSmith travel arm trumps high street for the first time

October 22, 2010
WHSmith could demerge its travel and high street arms as early as this financial year, some analysts believe.
Tesco scales back Clubcard rewards to keep double points

21-Oct-2010
Tesco is scaling back the number of Clubcard rewards offered to customers so it can continue to offer double points on their purchases.
490,000 public sector jobs to go

20-Oct-2010
Nearly 500,000 people will lose their jobs in the public sector over the next four years as part of the Coalition Government’s Spending Review.
M&S launches electricals recycling service

20-Oct-2010
Marks & Spencer has today launched a service which allows customers to recycle unwanted electrical items in exchange for M&S vouchers.
Sports Direct profits up as bonus scheme pays off

20-Oct-2010
Sports Direct gross profit increased 5.4% to £117m in the 9 weeks to September 26 as its bonus share scheme paid off.
George Davies set to close all GIVe stores

18-Oct-2010
George Davies is set to close all his GIVe standalone stores little more than a year after first opening.
Wolseley mulls sale of Bathstore

18-Oct-2010
Bathstore owner plumbing and heating group Wolseley is considering selling the bathroom retailer.
Tesco wins 14-year battle to open store in Norfolk town

15-Oct-2010
Tesco has won a 14-year long battle to open a store in the Norfolk town of Sheringham.
Homeform chief sets out his three-year plan

October 15, 2010
Kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms specialist Homeform’s new chief executive has laid out a three-year plan to increase profits and enable an exit for owner Sun European Partners.
Landlords join retailers in business rates battle

October 15, 2010
Retail landlords have lent their voice to the campaign against next year’s rise in business rates, warning that a disproportionate increase will endanger the economic recovery.
N Brown on the acquisition trail after strong start to year

October 15, 2010
Home Shopping group N Brown is eyeing further acquisitions to drive growth as it revealed a strong first half.
Conran Shop in talks to open US concessions in Bloomingdales

October 15, 2010
Furniture retailer Conran Shop is in talks with Bloomingdales that could result in the British retailer opening concessions in the famous US department store group.
Halfords set to cut space as web sales accelerate

15-Oct-2010
Retailer to cut space by at least 15% as online allows it to downsize its portfolio.
Shopping centre pipeline continues to dry up

13-Oct-2010
The number of new shopping centres being completed this year is likely to fall by around 40% below the 10-year annual average.
Record levels of promotions fail to lift grocery sales

13-Oct-2010
Grocers sold a record amount of goods on promotion in the four weeks to October 2 as supermarkets bring forward deals on Christmas-related products.
Asda market share dips for 10th consecutive period

12-Oct-2010
Asda’s share of the grocery market has dipped for the 10th consecutive report, with sales growth lagging behind the other major grocery retailers.
N Brown first half profits up 5.5%

12-Oct-2010
Home shopping retailer N Brown has revealed that its adjusted pre tax profit grew 5.5% to £44.1m in the six months to August 28.
Wickes like-for-likes rise 0.6% in third quarter

11-Oct-2010
DIY chain Wickes like-for-likes grew 0.6% in the 13 weeks to October 2.
Ralph Lauren to open first Rugby store in UK

11-Oct-2010
Ralph Lauren will open its first Rugby store in the UK in Covent Garden.
House of Fraser asks Lloyds to up its stake

11-Oct-2010
House of Fraser has asked Lloyds Banking Group to increase its share in the department store as part of a property deal.
99p Stores extends its Family Bargains trial

October 8, 2010
Single price-point retailer 99p Stores is trialling the conversion of some stores to its new variety format Family Bargains.
Toy retailers mop up after Woolworths’ demise

October 8, 2010
Toy retailers Toys R Us and The Entertainer have reported a strong year in 2009 after mopping up share left from the collapse of Woolworths.
Comet to trial Game concessions in move to give stores young feel

October 8, 2010
Comet is to trial Game concessions in its stores as part of its attempts to give its stores a younger, more modern feel.
Dunelm outperforms in first quarter despite tough comps

October 8, 2010
Value homewares retailer Dunelm has revealed a better than expected first quarter after posting positive sales growth against tough comparables.
If consumer confidence is down, why are sales rising?

October 8, 2010
Consumer confidence has fallen yet again and many expect the decline to continue - so why are sales growing, with shoppers seemingly defying their mood?
Phones4U attracts 10 interested parties

6-Oct-2010
Phones4U has attracted around 10 parties interested in acquiring the retailer, with the deadline for first round bids expiring next Wednesday.
Dunelm like-for-likes up in first quarter

6-Oct-2010
Value homewares retailer Dunelm has reported like-for-like sales growth of 2.1% in the 13 weeks to October 2.
Best Buy reveals further store openings

5-Oct-2010
US electricals giant has revealed it will open three further stores next year.
Phones4U reveals plunge in profits

4-Oct-2010
Mobile phone retailer Phones4U has revealed a plunge in profits last year.
Convenience store chains in board room dispute

1-Oct-2010
Convenience chains Costcutter and Nisa Today’s are embroiled in a row after Costcutter chairman Colin Graves resigned from Nisa Today’s board in a dispute over a conflict of interest.
GIVe closes Regent Street store

1-Oct-2010
George Davies’ GIVe brand has exited its Regent Street store a year after it first opened.
Habitat poaches a second Fat Face executive to strengthen its team

October 1, 2010
Furniture chain Habitat has poached lifestyle fashion chain Fat Face’s finance director Shaun Wills as its new chief operating officer.
Home Bargains warns of tough times ahead

October 1, 2010
Value retailer Home Bargains has reported another record year but warned that the value sector is heading for tough times as margins are squeezed in the face of rising costs, and competition hots up.
Julian Rayner

October 1, 2010
Renowned for its off-the-wall products, Lakeland has won a hugely loyal following among the middle classes. Nicola Harrison profiles one of the brothers driving the business forward
Paperchase profits hit by closure of Borders

October 1, 2010
Paperchase suffered a slide in profits last year as the closure of bookseller Borders hit the card and stationery retailer’s bottom line.
United Carpets reports "challenging" first half

30-Sep-2010
United Carpets said trading has been “challenging” in the 25 weeks to September 30 as like-for-likes dropped 5.5%.
Waitrose set for Duchy Originals US launch

30-Sep-2010
Upmarket grocer Waitrose is to make its first foray into the US as it discusses selling its Duchy Originals range through retailers in the country.
Consumer confidence dips in September

30-Sep-2010
Consumer confidence dropped two points to -20 in September, according to GfK NOP’s Consumer Confidence Index.
Topps Tiles full year sales up

29-Sep-2010
Topps Tiles said it expects to report UK revenues up 2% to £182.4m in the 53 weeks to October 2.
The Range doubles full year profits

28-Sep-2010
Homewares and furniture chain The Range almost doubled its pre tax profits from £10.2m to £20.3m in the year to January 31.
Pawn broker Albemarle & Bond profits soar

28-Sep-2010
Pawn broker Albemarle & Bond experienced a pre tax profit surge of 37% to £20m in the year to June 30.
Sainsbury’s eyes China expansion

27-Sep-2010
Sainsbury’s has sent a team to China to explore the possibility of opening the group’s first overseas shops in almost a decade.
Blockbuster to sell electricals

24-Sep-2010
Blockbuster UK is to start selling mobile phones, iPods and TV sets alongside the selling and renting of DVDs and games.
Debenhams uses older models to target ‘forgotten women’

24-Sep-2010
Department store Debenhams is featuring older models in its new ad campaign which the retailer claims is an industry first.
B&Q lures Asda head of marketing to board role

September 24, 2010
DIY giant B&Q has poached Asda marketing director Katherine Paterson and appointed her to the board, reinstating a marketing role at that level for the first time in two years.
Kingfisher aims for overseas growth in emerging markets

September 24, 2010
DIY giant Kingfisher aims to grow by expanding internationally over the next five to 10 years.
Nick Wharton

September 24, 2010
The ambitious Halfords finance boss will become the first non-family member to lead the closely knit Dunelm.
ScS widens appeal with upmarket lines

September 24, 2010
Sofa retailer ScS is introducing more upmarket brands in an attempt to widen its appeal. The upholstery chain said the move “adds another dimension to the offering”.
Foyles profits rocket

23-Sep-2010
Bookseller Foyles has experienced a surge in profits in the year to June 30.
Asda purchase of Netto cleared by OFT

23-Sep-2010
Asda has been given the green light to acquire Netto after the Office of Fair Trading cleared its takeover of the discount grocer.
Tesco wows shoppers with 1p bargains

23-Sep-2010
Tesco has started to sell discontinued products for just 1p each.
Blockbuster files for bankruptcy in the US

23-Sep-2010
Updated: US film and games rental chain Blockbuster has filed for bankruptcy protection as it strives to cut its debts and ensure the survival of the business.
Tesco to expand online offer overseas

21-Sep-2010
Tesco is planning to launch online shopping in China, Poland and the Czech Republic as part of its global expansion plans under incoming chief executive Phil Clarke.
Tesco to start selling cut-price Viagra

20-Sep-2010
Tesco is to start selling cut-price Viagra from next Monday, in 300 of its in store pharmacists.
Sainsbury's to be prosecuted for excess packaging

17-Sep-2010
Sainsbury’s is being taken to court for using excessive packaging, making it the first major retailer to be prosecuted under environmental laws.
Brantano turns corner and eyes store growth

September 17, 2010
Footwear retailer Brantano plans to open 50 UK stores in the next five years as it expects to make a pre-tax profit for the first time since 2005.
Laura Ashley to open clothing-only stores

September 17, 2010
Floral-inspired fashion and furniture retailer Laura Ashley is to open standalone clothing stores in a bid to lift sales.
Paperchase goes international as it launches transactional site

September 17, 2010
Paperchase is launching its first transactional website next week as part of a “major strategic initiative” to grow sales in the UK and abroad.
Kingfisher reports profits surge but warns on ‘fragile’ outlook

16-Sep-2010
Kingfisher group adjusted pretax profit surged 22.9% to £354m in the 26 weeks to July 31, but warned that the “outlook for consumer spending is fragile”.
Marks & Spencer director slams retailer’s eco kettles

15-Sep-2010
A Marks & Spencer director has joked that the retailer’s eco kettles are “bug ugly” and said he feared his cleaner could accidentally leave it on and burn his house down.
Findel appoints Roger Siddle as chief executive

15-Sep-2010
Home shopping group Findel has appointed Roger Siddle as its chief executive with immediate effect.
Sir Stuart Rose joins private equity firm Bridgepoint

14-Sep-2010
Marks and Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose has been appointed to private equity firm Bridgepoint’s European Advisory Committee.
Boden profits surge 16% in 2009

13-Sep-2010
Online and mail order retailer Boden’s pre-tax profits increased 15.9% to £28.7m in 2009 as it focused on cost control.
Laura Ashley first half profits surge

10-Sep-2010
Furniture and fashion retailer Laura Ashley experienced a surge in pretax profits excluding exceptionals from £100,000 to £5.7m in the 26 weeks to July 31.
Childrenswear sales drive 5.6% sales uplift at John Lewis

10-Sep-2010
Department store John Lewis sales rose 5.6% to £57m last week as Back to School drove a record week for childrenswear.
GameStop prepares UK online assault with transactional launch

10-Sep-2010
The world’s biggest games retailer GameStop is preparing to launch an online assault on the UK market in time for Christmas.
Potential buyers sit tight as Blockbuster awaits its fate

10-Sep-2010
Uncertainty dogs up-for-sale DVD firm’s Christmas prospects as US parent mulls bankruptcy
Conran Shop pushes social media with new site

September 10, 2010
Upmarket furniture retailer The Conran Shop has relaunched its website to include social media functions as it aims to grow its online sales five-fold by 2015.
Gadget Shop acquisition suggests online strategy shift at WHSmith

September 10, 2010
WHSmith has bought gift and gadget brand the Gadget Shop from toy retailer The Entertainer in a move analysts believe could point to a wider shift in the stationer’s online strategy.
Vacant shops leading to North-South divide

9-Sep-2010
The number of vacant shops increased 13% in the six months to June 30, with regional differences becoming “more apparent than ever”, creating a “clear North- South divide”.
Tesco launches grocery iPhone app

9-Sep-2010
Tesco has launched its first grocery shopping app for the iPhone.
World Cup hits sales at HMV

9-Sep-2010
Entertainment group HMV suffered a 14.9% like-for-like sales plunge at its eponymous UK business as the World Cup hit performance.
Blackwell to shut HQ and hand power to stores

8-Sep-2010
Academic books retailer Blackwell is closing its head office and decentralising power to its individual stores as it creates a new ownership structure.
WHSmith buys Gadget Shop

7-Sep-2010
WHSmith has bought gadget and gift etailer the Gadget Shop from toy specialist The Entertainer.
Waterstone's founder linked to buy-back deal

6-Sep-2010
Waterstone’s founder Tim Waterstone is considering a £100m-plus bid to buy the book chain from its parent HMV if it fails to turn the business around by the end of the year.
American Apparel UK’s future in the balance amid liquidity fears

August 27, 2010
Restructuring specialists Hilco and GA Asset advisors are circling the UK arm of US fashion retailer American Apparel as the future of the retailer hangs in the balance.
Clas Ohlson plans store acquisition drive as it aims to go nationwide

August 27, 2010
Swedish DIY, homewares and electricals retailer Clas Ohlson has laid out plans for a store acquisition drive to create a nationwide chain.
HMV broadens range with fashion brands offer

August 27, 2010
Entertainment group HMV is expanding its fledgling fashion offer with the introduction of a raft of big-name brands next week.
Brands: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again

August 27, 2010
Joining the ranks of high street failures such as Zavvi and Woolworths, high-profile retail casualty of the recession MFI is being resurrected as an online brand. But can failed or struggling brands successfully put their tattered reputations behind them and regain trust
Disruption at new warehouse set to hold back Halfords’ sales

August 27, 2010
Supply chain difficulties following move to centralise distribution set to hit retailer’s Q2 like-for-likes
Halfords hit by more supply chain woes

25-Aug-2010
Halfords is facing further disruption due to problems at its new distribution centre, which will likely have an effect on second quarter sales, according to one analyst.
Halfords new DC causes supply troubles

24-Aug-2010
Halfords’ new distribution centre has disrupted supply to stores, according to the Daily Mail.
Waterstone's to open food outlets in two stores

24-Aug-2010
Bookseller Waterstone’s has confirmed it will next week open a restaurant and bar in its Deansgate branch in Manchester, as well as a new café in its Cambridge shop.
Swannell to remain chairman of HMV

23-Aug-2010
Robert Swannell will stay on as chairman of entertainment retailer HMV despite agreeing to take up the same position at Marks and Spencer next year.
MFI brand back from the dead following £250k deal

20-Aug-2010
Brand relaunch marks a new chapter in the furniture retailer’s tumultuous history
Book Depository sales up as it targets overseas

August 20, 2010
Online bookseller The Book Depository’s revenue soared 20% to £74.2m in the year to June 30 as the etailer focused on overseas territories.
Fossil’s best year ever fuels store expansion

August 20, 2010
Accessories and fashion chain Fossil wants to double its store portfolio as it expands across the UK and Europe.
Trading outlook: Who is right, the bulls or the bears?

August 20, 2010
With uncertainty rife as to retail’s prospects, who is right when it comes to the outlook - the doom-mongering bears or the optimistic bulls? Retail Week puts the arguments for and against
Poundland profits rocket as like-for-likes slow

19-Aug-2010
Single price point retailer Poundland operating profit rocketed 81.5% to of £21.5m in the year to March 28.
Sixty UK files for liquidation

18-Aug-2010
Sixty UK, the UK distributor for young fashion brands Miss Sixty and Energie, has filed for liquidation after the High Court last month rejected its Company Voluntary Arrangement.
Westfield Stratford to open in September 2011

18-Aug-2010
Westfield’s new shopping centre in east London, Stratford City, will open in September 2011, the developer has revealed.
Consumer price inflation slows for third consecutive month

17-Aug-2010
Consumer price inflation (CPI) slowed to 3.1% in July, down from 3.2% in June, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Tesco data firm to pay £17.5m dividend

16-Aug-2010
Data firm Dunnhumby, which helped set up Tesco’s Clubcard, is to pay a £17.5m dividend to be shared between Tesco and the husband and wife team that founded the business.
United Carpets warns positive results will be hard to replicate

August 13, 2010
Floorings specialist United Carpets posted full-year results ahead of expectations but weaker current trading led to downgrades of this year’s profit forecasts.
Retailers plan Sales to capitalise on VAT rise

August 13, 2010
Retailers are aiming to capitalise on the VAT rise by planning targeted Sales and promotions in the run-up to the new year, according to a new report.
Bangladesh called upon to increase minimum wage

12-Aug-2010
The Ethical Trading Initiative has backed calls for the Bangladeshi government to make a further increase in the minimum wage.
Ed Hardy closes Westfield store as Australian arm collapses

12-Aug-2010
US fashion brand Ed Hardy has closed its store at Westfield London after the Australian arm of the retailer collapsed into administration.
Pets at Home poaches Wilkinson head of buying Peter Pritchard

11-Aug-2010
Pets at Home has hired Wilkinson’s head of buying Peter Pritchard as its new trading director.
Tesco seeks planning permission for ‘green’ DC

10-Aug-2010
Tesco has submitted a planning application for a new regional distribution centre on part of a former Ford site in east London.
HMV and Waterstone’s marketing departments merged

9-Aug-2010
Entertainment retailer HMV has promoted marketing director Graham Sim to the newly created position of group marketing director as the retailer restructures its teams in order to deliver “significant synergies” between its HMV and Waterstone’s chains.
United Carpets full year profits rocket while current trading weakens

9-Aug-2010
Floorings retailer United Carpets pretax profits soared 84.5% to £1.1m in the year to March 31, although current trading has weakened.
Retailers buy Christmas stock cautiously

9-Aug-2010
Retailers are planning to stock cautiously in the run up to the crucial Christmas trading period due to uncertainty over the economy and concern over house prices.
B&M Bargains threats spark value sector fury

6-Aug-2010
Variety retailer irks competitors with ultimatum to suppliers for exclusivity deals
Fopp opens store in Waterstone’s shop

6-Aug-2010
HMV-owned music chain Fopp will open an outlet in Waterstone’s store on Gower Street, London.
Lombok retail boss promoted after managing director stands down

August 6, 2010
Lombok has promoted retail director Stuart Lewis to the position of managing director, replacing William Landale, who takes up a non-executive position at the furniture retailer.
The Works focuses on expansion in the South amid sale speculation

August 6, 2010
Discount bookseller The Works will focus store expansion in the South of England as part of a plan to more than double its portfolio as its owners mull a sale next year.
India

August 6, 2010
As the third biggest Asian economy India is increasingly cited as an attractive market for retailers to exploit, but how easy is it to set up shop there?
Wickes predicts tough times ahead for big-ticket market

August 6, 2010
DIY retailer Wickes anticipates a punishing big-ticket market for years to come as consumer confidence dips and the outlook for mortgage approvals is weak.
Wolfson and Harris: tough times in store

August 6, 2010
Bellwether retailers Carpetright and Next spooked the City on Tuesday with cautious updates presaging punishing times for the stores sector.
Axed Waterstone’s boss takes home up to £494,000

4-Aug-2010
Former Waterstone’s managing director Gerry Johnson could take home up to £494,000 in the year to April 24, despite being given the chop in January after a poor Christmas sales performance.
Carpetright remains cautious as Q1 sales drop

4-Aug-2010
Flooring giant Carpetright has revealed a 2.5% decline in group sales in the 13 weeks to July 31.
Benetton profits jump in first half

2-Aug-2010
Benetton net income increased from €29m (£24m) to €40m (£33m) in the first half of 2010, as a focus on higher value products drove sales.
The Works to be sold for £80m

30-Jul-2010
The Works is set to be sold for about £80m after its owners implemented a quick turnaround of the discount bookseller.
CVAs under the spotlight as court rules against Miss Sixty owners

July 30, 2010
The rejection of the CVA carried out by the owners of fashion chain Miss Sixty will pave the way for landlords to challenge the process, according to experts.
Steven Round

July 30, 2010
He may have bought Robert Dyas back from the brink but the hardware chain boss tells Nicola Harrison why he’s more than just a turnaround specialist
West End rejuvenation plans aim to up shopper spend 66% by 2020

July 30, 2010
The improvement body for London’s West End has set out plans to revitalise the famous shopping destination by attracting more shoppers, reducing traffic and rejuvenating the east end of Oxford Street.
Local shops should be better protected, says London Assembly

28-Jul-2010
The London Mayor should change his policies to give councils more ways to protect local shops from big retail developments, according to the London Assembly.
HMV launches new digital download service

26-Jul-2010
HMV has today launched its new digital music service, hmvdigital.com, in a bid to take on iTunes.
Refreshed Robert Dyas surges back into black

23-Jul-2010
Broadened appeal, focus on own-brand and tighter cost control lifts hardware retailer
Tesco rapped for 'misleading' bread ad

21-Jul-2010
A Tesco ad has been pulled because it misled consumers that its bread was “baked from scratch” in stores.
Trinity Leeds work to resume in August

21-Jul-2010
Shopping centre Trinity Leeds has been given the go ahead by developers Land Securites, which has said it expects work to resume on site next month, in preparation for opening in spring 2013.
Shop Direct full year losses narrow

21-Jul-2010
Littlewoods owner Shop Direct said its pre-tax losses narrowed from £114m to £21m in the year to April 30 after a year of “significant restructuring”.
BrightHouse full year like-for-likes grow 10.7%

19-Jul-2010
BrightHouse has had another strong year of growth, with like-for-likes increasing 10.7% in the year to March 31.
Carpetright trials cleaner new logo for its high street format

July 16, 2010
Carpetright is testing a new fascia on three shops as it mulls an overhaul of the logo for its entire chain.
Dreams expects to continue its rapid growth as more rivals fail

July 16, 2010
Bed specialist Dreams is set to notch up double-digit revenue growth this year on the back of its record year in 2009, but the retailer predicts more of its rivals will hit trouble.
Learning to play their cards right

July 16, 2010
With Clinton Cards issuing a profit warning and Paperchase being sold, the UK’s £1.5bn card market is a hive of activity.
Convert empty shops into schools, says consultancy

15-Jul-2010
Converting empty shops into schools could give retailers an alternative way to exit unwanted leases, according to building consultancy EC Harris.
DFS appoints Ian Filby as chief executive

15-Jul-2010
DFS has appointed former Alliance Boots director Ian Filby to the position of chief executive.
Topps Tiles Q3 sales improve

14-Jul-2010
Topps Tiles like-for-like sales decline has softened to -1.2% in the 13 weeks to July 3.
Paperchase bought in management buy out

13-Jul-2010
Paperchase has been bought in a £30m management buyout backed by private equity group Primary.
HMV pay freeze

13-Jul-2010
HMV has implemented a group wide pay freeze that hits staff at both HMV and Waterstone’s.
Oka halves full year losses

13-Jul-2010
Furniture and homewares retailer Oka has halved its operating losses from £568,425 to £257,186 in the year to December 31.
Dunelm grows revenue but remains cautious on outlook

13-Jul-2010
Dunelm like-for-likes grew 8% in the year to July 3 and the retailer expects full year operating profit to come in “a little ahead” of market expectations.
Waterstone's to open cinema in Piccadilly store

12-Jul-2010
Waterstone’s is to open a cinema in its Piccadilly branch next year in a move that follows its sister chain HMV.
Cost cutting and tourist numbers put Hamleys back in the black

July 9, 2010
Iconic toy store Hamleys has edged back into the black for the first time in six years as cost reduction measures last year paid off.
Fashion brand Core Spirit picks London for first store

July 9, 2010
Upmarket fashion brand Core Spirit will open its first ever store on London’s New Bond Street in mid-September.
Trespass aims for 250 stores as it capitalises on property market

July 9, 2010
Outdoor specialist Trespass has revealed plans to expand to 250 stores within four years as it takes advantage of property opportunities thrown up by the recession.
Outdoor retailer Tiso back in the black

8-Jul-2010
Scottish outdoor retailer Tiso has bounced back into the black after posting a pre-tax profit of £1.2m in the year to January 31 as it lays out plans for expansion.
Clinton Cards issues profit warning

7-Jul-2010
Clinton Cards has issued a profit warning and expects its full year profits to remain flat as the greetings card retailer is hit by weaker trading, particularly in Ireland.
DFS owner to buy out Lord Kirkham’s remaining interest in the business

5-Jul-2010
DFS owner Advent International is working towards a refinancing deal that would buy out the last remaining debt interests of its founder Lord Kirkham.
Pets at Home profits soar

2-Jul-2010
Retailer achieves recession-busting performance and downplays VAT threat as it plans 150 more stores
Carpetright eyes sales boost ahead of January VAT rise

July 2, 2010
Carpetright expects a sales fillip this autumn as consumers buy ahead of January’s VAT rise, and has posted an increase in preliminary profits.
Disney insists sparkle will return despite dip

July 2, 2010
Disney Stores has slipped back into the red in the year to October 3 after posting a pre-tax loss of £11.3m compared with a profit of £2.8m the year before.
Michael Kors closes in on Regent Street store

July 2, 2010
US upmarket shoes and accessories retailer Michael Kors is to open its second UK store on Regent Street in the shop formerly occupied by opticians Dollond & Aitchison.
Consumer confidence falls in run up to Budget

30-Jun-2010
Consumer confidence has fallen again as spending cuts and speculation around tax rises in the lead up to the Budget dampened confidence in June.
Carpetright profit surges as UK business improves

29-Jun-2010
Carpetright pretax profit grew from £16.7m to £22.3m in the year to May 1.
Beales profits surge as revenue dips

28-Jun-2010
Department store Beales pre-tax profit surged 67% to £909,000 in the 26 weeks to May 1.
Buoyant Wilkinson to speed up store revamps after profits soar

June 25, 2010
Value chain Wilkinson is to ramp up its store rebranding programme after recording another strong year, with profits more than doubling in the 12 months to January 29.
HomeSense appoints MD

June 25, 2010
Off-price furniture retailer HomeSense, the sister chain to TK Maxx, has poached fashion chain M&Co’s head of buying Louise Koser as its managing director.
Homeform chiefs leave company over ‘disagreement in strategy’

June 25, 2010
Homeform chief executive Tony Vicente and chief financial officer Tim Kowalski have left the business amid a difference of opinion with the owners, it has emerged.
Furniture Village bucks trend to more than double pre-tax profit

June 25, 2010
Furniture Village has more than doubled its profit before interest and tax from £2.4m to £5.4m in the year to March 2010 - but has warned that the outlook for the current year remains tough.
Ian Shepherd

June 25, 2010
As a keen gamer the new chief executive of Game has just landed his dream job, but will his lack of experience in retail companies matter.
Wilkinson full year profits rocket

23-Jun-2010
Value chain Wilkinson has had another strong year with profits more than doubling in the year to January 29.
Sainsbury’s unveils biggest ever Back to School range

23-Jun-2010
Sainsbury’s has launched its biggest ever Back to School range as it aims for record year-on-year growth in the category.
Victoria’s Secret confirms first UK store on New Bond Street

22-Jun-2010
Updated: US lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret has confirmed it has signed for its first UK store on London’s upmarket New Bond Street, as revealed by Retail Week this month.
Minimum wage to rise 2%

21-Jun-2010
The minimum wage will increase 2% to £5.93 an hour in October.
Online sales jump 22% in May

21-Jun-2010
Total online sales showed their fastest rate of growth in two years last month, jumping 22%.
Shop rents decline 1.5% in the last year

18-Jun-2010
Shop rents fell 1.5% in the year to June and the trend is expected to continue as government efforts to slash the deficit hits consumer confidence.
99p Stores launches new Woolworths-style fascia

18-Jun-2010
99p Stores founders broaden offer with out-of-town variety chain Family Bargains
Feather & Black set for new phase of growth

June 18, 2010
Bed specialist Feather & Black has revealed a 40% uplift in like-for-like sales in the eight months to June 1 and has hired former Harrods Direct marketing director Alison Lancaster to the new role of marketing director.
Kingfisher’s French connection

June 18, 2010
Kingfisher’s French arm has been an unsung hero for the DIY giant, achieving strong results in a tough market. Nicola Harrison reports from Lyon
Argos iPhone app hits 500,000 downloads

17-Jun-2010
Argos’ iPhone app has been downloaded more than 500,000 times in the three weeks since it launched.
BRC calls for cut in ‘excessive’ fees charged for plastic payments

15-Jun-2010
The British Retail Consortium is calling on Government to cut the “excessive” and “unjustifiably high” charges banks levy on retailers for accepting debit and credit card payments.
Spain’s Cortefiel picks sites for first UK shops

June 11, 2010
Spanish retailer Grupo Cortefiel is to open its first UK stores by the end of the summer in Leeds, Livingston and the yet-to-open One New Change development in the Cityof London.
Mark Saunders exits Habitat in shake-up at the top

11-Jun-2010
Habitat chief executive Mark Saunders has left the business following the hiring of former New Look boss Phil Wrigley as executive chairman last week.
Victoria’s Secret close to signing for first UK store

11-Jun-2010
US lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret is understood to be on the verge of signing its first UK store on London’s New Bond Street.
Paul Loft: Holding Homebase’s place

June 11, 2010
He may not court the limelight but the Homebase managing director is impressing by holding the retailer’s position in an increasingly competitive sector, says Nicola Harrison
M&S Plan A injects £50m profit back into the business

10-Jun-2010
Marks & Spencer has revealed that its Plan A eco and ethical programme has injected more than £50m of profit back into the business last year.
DSGi reports World Cup sales boost

9-Jun-2010
DSGi has reported surging sales in TVs in the run up to the World Cup, with this year’s tournament “shaping up to be best World Cup ever” for the retailer in terms of TV sales.
Waterstone's operations director exits

9-Jun-2010
Waterstone’s operations director Alex Rayner has left with the business with immediate effect.
Sainsbury’s chief Justin King paid £8m last year

9-Jun-2010
Sainsbury’s paid its chief executive Justin King almost £8m last year, when the grocer reported its lowest sales growth in five years.
Best Buy sponsors London venue The O2

9-Jun-2010
Best Buy is sponsoring London venue The O2 to bolster its entertainment credentials.
Inditex profits surge in first quarter

9-Jun-2010
Zara owner Inditex’s net income surged 63% to €301m (£249m) in its first quarter to April 30, as it revealed its launch date for selling online.
Shop price inflation slows to 1.8% in May

9-Jun-2010
Shop price inflation slowed to 1.8% in May, down from 2% in April, according to the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index.
WHSmith sales hit by volcanic ash cloud

8-Jun-2010
WHSmith said its like-for-like sales decline was worsened by the affect of the volcanic ash cloud, as it revealed it has hired Walker Boyd as its non-executive chairman.
BRC warns Government against increasing VAT

7-Jun-2010
The British Retail Consortium is calling on the Government to focus on public spending cuts rather than tax rises in order to tackle the deficit, reiterating its belief that VAT should not be increased.
Habitat hires Phil Wrigley as executive chairman

7-Jun-2010
Furniture chain Habitat has appointed former New Look boss Phil Wrigley as executive chairman.
Floors-2-Go and Topps Tiles in dispute over email allegations

4-Jun-2010
Topps Tiles has become embroiled in a row with floorings retailer Floors-2-Go over allegations that an email was circulated by a Topps employee making allegations about Floors-2-Go’s performance.
Lakeland

June 4, 2010
Last week, Lakeland came out top in a study of UK retailers by consumer group Which? We examine what makes the retailer so popular
Sir Terry Leahy pockets £5.2m

3-Jun-2010
Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy was paid £5.2m in salary, bonus and shares last year.
Sainsbury’s offers staff World Cup working hours

3-Jun-2010
Sainsbury’s staff will be able to plan their shifts around “vital team matches” during the World Cup.
Theo Walcott axe delivers blow to M&S ad

2-Jun-2010
A Marks and Spencer’s ad campaign suffered a blow when one of its stars, England striker Theo Walcott, was dropped from the England team.
Topps Tiles profit falls in first half

2-Jun-2010
Topps Tiles adjusted profit before tax and discontinued operations fell from £8.7m to £7.8m in the 27 weeks to April 3 as consumer confidence remains subdued.
Apple iPad global sales hit 2 million

1-Jun-2010
Apple iPad global sales have hit 2 million since the tablet launched two months ago, exceeding recent figures for its Mac laptop and desktop computers.
Moss Bros like-for-likes climb 12.6%

28-May-2010
Suit specialist Moss Bros like-for-likes climbed 12.6% in the 16 weeks to May 22, while total sales rose 12%.
Discounters fear rise in VAT

May 28, 2010
Discount retailers have warned that a rise in VAT would smash their margins and result in some products being pulled off the shelves.
Kingfisher and Topps Tiles updates won’t lift home sector gloom

May 28, 2010
Updates from Kingfisher and Topps Tiles next week are expected to paint a subdued picture of the home sector’s performance.
Top credit insurer to give retailers notice of future cover reductions

May 28, 2010
Credit insurance giant Euler Hermes has altered its ratings procedure to give retailers and suppliers the chance to challenge any decisions to reduce cover.
Topps Tiles invests in ads and website

May 28, 2010
Topps Tiles has made a “substantial investment” to bolster its marketing presence, revamping its website and resuming TV advertising after dropping it during the downturn.
WHSmith hits out at claims it has the worst shops in the country

27-May-2010
WHSmith has hit out at claims that its shops are among the worst in the UK for store environment and customer service.
Lakeland and Richer Sounds ranked best shops in Which? survey

27-May-2010
Richer Sounds and Lakeland have been ranked as the UK’s best shops with WHSmith and Currys Digital being named as the worst stores in the country.
Waitrose and Ocado sign new 10 year deal

26-May-2010
Online grocer Ocado has agreed a new 10 year deal with Waitrose to sell the upmarket supermarket’s products.
Smythson chief executive exits

26-May-2010
Smythson chief executive Paddy Byng is to step down from the upmarket stationers and leather goods retailer at the end of the month.
BRC delivers verdict on Queen's Speech

25-May-2010
The British Retail Consortium has welcomed some aspects of the legislative programme set out in the Queen’s Speech but cautions that parts of it do not go far enough.
Kingfisher boss wades into VAT debate

24-May-2010
Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire has called on the government to consider extending VAT to food and other exempt items if an increase in the tax is implemented.
SouthGate Bath 75% let

21-May-2010
Shopping centre SouthGate Bath has signed a raft of fashion and electricals retailers ahead of opening in September, meaning the scheme is now 75% let.
B&M Bargains profits grow 140% in 2009

May 21, 2010
Value retailer B&M Bargains is aiming for £1bn in sales within five years as it reported another set of sparkling full-year figures.
Robert Dyas set to spend £3m on repositioning ad campaign

May 21, 2010
Hardware retailer Robert Dyas is launching a new ad campaign in June to adjust the positioning of the business following last year’s rebranding exercise.
Green light for Leeds Trinity scheme

19-May-2010
Land Securities plans to resume work on its 750,000 sq ft Leeds Trinity scheme this year as long as deals which are at an advanced stage are completed.
One New Change signs clutch of retailers

19-May-2010
One New Change, the new shopping centre located in the City of London, is 90% pre-let or in solicitors’ hands.
HMV shuffles management team

18-May-2010
HMV has made two senior management appointments as the retailer continues its “strategic development as a multichannel entertainment brand”.
Trade credit insurer demands more transparency

18-May-2010
Credit insurer Coface is demanding more transparency from businesses in return for trade credit insurance.
London sales growth slows in April

18-May-2010
London retail sales increased 3.6% on a like-for-like basis in April, with growth hit by the early timing of Easter and the volcanic ash cloud, according to the British Retail Consortium-KPMG London Retail Sales Monitor.
Wickes like-for-likes dip as consumers remain ‘wary’

17-May-2010
Wickes owner Travis Perkins reported a 1.7% like-for-like decline in its retail business in the 17 weeks to May 1 as “wary consumers hold on to their money”.
Poundstretcher opens transactional website

May 14, 2010
Discount retailer Instore, which trades as Poundstretcher, has launched a transactional website selling items from 99p up to £150.
Jim McCarthy: From paper boy to Poundland chief executive

May 14, 2010
From paper boy to chief executive, retail is in the Poundland boss’s blood. Nicola Harrison talks to the man who’s eye for convenience has turned in more than a pound or two
Waterstone’s unveils its new look and logo

May 14, 2010
Bookseller Waterstone’s has unveiled its new branding, designed to reflect the retailer’s “new direction”.
National Insurance rise scrapped, new Government confirms

12-May-2010
The new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition Government has this afternoon confirmed it will scrap part of Labour’s planned rise in National Insurance.
Kesa sales hit by January’s ‘extremely poor weather’

12-May-2010
Kesa group like-for-likes dropped 1.2% from January 9 to April 30 as poor weather hit sales, but the retailer said it expects full year adjusted pre-tax profits to be “significantly ahead of last year”.
Waterstone’s unveils new branding

10-May-2010
Waterstone’s has unveiled its new branding on its website today ahead of a “major” launch in stores this Thursday.
Jessops to tear down the counters in refurb

May 7, 2010
Camera specialist Jessops vowed to focus back on customer service as it revealed a “single digit” like-for-like sales improvement in the calendar year to date.
Original Factory Shop to rev up fashion following bumper sales

May 7, 2010
Value retailer Original Factory Shop is to focus on growth in fashion and footwear after revealing a bumper set of sales and profits for the year to March 28.
Sale of Poundland will speed up moves to expand overseas

May 7, 2010
Poundland is edging closer to an overseas debut under its new owner, US private equity firm Warburg Pincus, which bought the retailer for £200m.
The common denominator

May 7, 2010
Kingfisher international boss Peter Høgsted is convinced group sourcing of common ranges is the DIY giant’s biggest opportunity to cut costs and boost differentiation.
Google to launch ebook store

6-May-2010
Google will go head-to-head with Amazon and Apple this year when it launches an ebook service.
Westfield London targeted by gang of robbers

5-May-2010
Westfield London has been targeted by a gang of robbers who stole hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery.
Shop price inflation rises to 2% in April

5-May-2010
Shop price inflation rose to 2% in April, up from the 1.2% recorded in March.
Westfield Stratford signs raft of retailers

4-May-2010
Westfield has said it has made “excellent progress” at its Stratford shopping centre, with a raft of signings including Primark, Topshop and H&M.
Rough Trade sales surge

30-Apr-2010
Independent music retailer Rough Trade has revealed a sales surge of 17.5% in the 52 weeks to March 31 as it lays out plans for more stores.
UK remains international retailers’ favourite

30-Apr-2010
The UK has retained its position as the most attractive market for international retailers to expand into as the growth in retail expansion has slowed amid the economic crisis.
Fashion boosts John Lewis sales while Waitrose sparkles in the sun

30-Apr-2010
John Lewis sales rose a “healthy” 11.4% in the week to April 24, as its sister chain Waitrose achieved its highest sales growth of the year.
Lord Kirkham upbeat after ‘bittersweet’ DFS exit

April 30, 2010
DFS founder Lord Kirkham has described the sale of his sofa chain to private equity firm Advent as “bittersweet” but vowed that the business would do “more of the same but at a much faster rate”.
Argos aims to fend off supermarket competition with store revamps

April 30, 2010
Argos is to embark on a £70m makeover of its stores for the first time in a decade as it fights off stiff competition from the supermarkets.
WHSmith shines despite ash cloud dampening sentiment

April 30, 2010
WHSmith’s group pre-tax profit edged up 2% to £62m in its first half but despite beating analyst expectations, upgrades were dampened by the retailer’s airport stores being closed during the volcanic ash crisis.
Best Buy promises opening weekend bonanza

29-Apr-2010
US electricals giant Best Buy opens its doors to the public for the first time on Friday and will mark the occasion with four days of activities over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Sainsbury’s revamps tills to reduce queuing times

29-Apr-2010
Sainsbury’s has invested in “cutting edge” technology to improve its self-service and manned tills, which it said will reduce customer queuing time by 500,000 hours a year.
HobbyCraft sold to Bridgepoint Capital

29-Apr-2010
HobbyCraft has been sold in a management buyout backed by private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital, as predicted by Retail Week last week.
Carpetright sales below expectations as it warns of tough year ahead

28-Apr-2010
Carpetright like-for-likes in the UK & Ireland rose 1.5% in the 12 weeks to April 24, which was below internal expectations.
Argos among retailers ordered to pay £20m over ‘toxic sofas’

26-Apr-2010
Retailers including Argos have been ordered to pay £20m to 2,000 people who suffered from chemical burns found in anti-fungal agents in sofas.
Carphone Warehouse bullish ahead of Best Buy opening

26-Apr-2010
Carphone Warehouse Group has reported like for like sales up 3% in its European business in its fourth quarter, as the group gears up to open its first Best Buy store in the UK this Friday.
Bill Grimsey to become Focus chair

23-Apr-2010
Focus chief executive Bill Grimsey is to become chairman at the DIY chain with managing director Rob Gladwin taking over as chief executive.
Forever 21 on track for UK debut in Birmingham

April 23, 2010
US fashion giant Forever 21 has signed its second deal for a UK store in Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre, which is likely to be its first to open here.
Best Buy revs up to sell electric cars in the UK

April 23, 2010
Best Buy will turbocharge its UK debut next Friday with the inclusion of electric cars on the sales floor.
Game suffers body blow as two top chiefs exit amid results woe

April 23, 2010
Game was dealt a blow this week with the exit of its two most senior executives as it revealed a sharp fall in full-year profits and turnover and plans to close more than 100 stores.
Nick Worthington: Dreams’ driven chief executive

April 23, 2010
He may not have the profile of the retailer’s flamboyant founder Mike Clare, but Dreams’ chief executive has continued its strong growth despite the recession
Retailers pay tribute to B&Q’s David Quayle

April 23, 2010
Retailers have paid tribute to David Quayle, the co-founder and the ‘Q’ behind B&Q, who has died, aged 73.
Bridgepoint in exclusive talks to buy HobbyCraft

22-Apr-2010
Bridgepoint Capital is poised to buy HobbyCraft, Retail Week has learned.
Game’s two most senior executives exit

21-Apr-2010
Game’s two most senior executives, including chief executive Lisa Morgan, have stepped down from the business as it revealed sharp falls in full year profits and turnover, and announced plans to close more than 100 stores.
Asos revenue up 35% as international sales surge

20-Apr-2010
Online fashion retailer Asos achieved a 35% uplift in revenue to £223m in the year to March 31 with full-year pre-tax profits expected to be in line with forecasts.
Volcanic ash hits supermarket supply

19-Apr-2010
The supply of flowers, green beans, mangetout, sugar snap peas and some exotic fruits are under threat as volcanic ash grounds planes destined for the UK.
B&Q co-founder David Quayle dies

16-Apr-2010
Kingfisher bosses have paid tribute to David Quayle, the co-founder and the ‘Q’ behind B&Q, who has died, aged 73.
Dream profits and sales for bed market leader

April 16, 2010
Bed retailer Dreams has bucked the downturn to achieve pre-tax operating profits up 36% to a record £18.4m last year as it drove costs down and benefited from economies of scale.
Lombok bolsters management as turnaround plan bears fruit

April 16, 2010
Furniture retailer Lombok has drafted in a former Tesco executive as it strengthens its management team and returns to profitability.
Who’s front-runner in retail’s election?

April 16, 2010
The National Insurance controversy has thrust retail and its leaders into the thick of the general election battle. How will the parties’ policies affect our industry?
Cargo profits rocket after drive to cut costs

April 16, 2010
Furniture retailer Cargo - which operates the Cargo and Homestyle fascias - more than tripled its pre-tax profits in the year to June 27, 2009, as it slashed costs and benefited from the buying power of its parent, Steinhoff.
Envy hits the buffers

15-Apr-2010
Updated: Branded fashion retailer Envy has collapsed into administration, with Leonard Curtis appointed administrators.
JD Sports profit rockets 61%

14-Apr-2010
JD Sports Fashion pre-tax profit surged 61% to £61.4m in the year to January 30.
Easter boosts UK retail sales in March

13-Apr-2010
UK retail sales achieved their best total sales growth since April 2006 last month, as the timing of Easter helped to boost sales.
Laura Ashley weighs up new formats to fuel expansion

April 9, 2010
Standalone kids’ stores and more gift and accessories shops on the cards as profits and sales climb
Property deals tempt H&M into out-of-town store growth drive

April 9, 2010
Swedish fashion giant H&M is pushing into out-of-town locations as it takes advantage of newly available space and attractive property deals for its continued UK expansion.
99p Stores takes on greeting cards market

April 9, 2010
Single price-point retailer 99p Stores is expanding its greeting cards range as it seeks to take share from value players such as Card Factory.
Concerns over Topps Tiles forecasts spark downgrades

April 9, 2010
A worse than expected update from Topps Tiles led to widespread downgrades to profit forecasts as analysts voiced concern over dampened appetite for home and big-ticket purchases.
Lillian Tan: The low-profile chief revitalising Laura Ashley

April 9, 2010
Laura Ashley’s chief executive may keep a low profile, but her revival of what had become a tired brand has thrust her into the spotlight.
MPs pass bill targeting illegal downloaders

8-Apr-2010
The controversial Digital Economy Bill designed to curb online piracy was forced through Parliament last night.
Card Factory to be sold to Charterhouse

7-Apr-2010
Card Factory is poised to be sold to private equity firm Charterhouse for more than £350m, sources familiar with the situation have told Retail Week.
Small retailers oppose call for longer Boxing Day trading hours

7-Apr-2010
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has rejected the need for a relaxation in Sunday trading laws that would allow retailers to trade for longer on Boxing Day this year.
Tory plans ‘do not include an increase in VAT’

6-Apr-2010
The Conservative Party has insisted that it would not need to increase VAT in order to cut the deficit if it forms the next Government as Prime Minister Gordon Brown is today expected to confirm that the next general election will be held on May 6.
Cath Kidston confirms sale and lays out international expansion plans

1-Apr-2010
Cath Kidston has confirmed it has been bought by TA Associates as it lays out plans for international expansion.
Laura Ashley profit rise driven by strong UK performance

1-Apr-2010
Home furnishings and fashion chain Laura Ashley’s group pre-tax profit climbed 7.8% to £11m in the year to January 30, driven by a strong performance in the UK.
Wickes to cash in on MFI gap with new-format trial

April 1, 2010
DIY retailer Wickes is opening standalone kitchen and bathroom stores to expand geographically and soak up market share left by MFI’s collapse in 2008.
Brand overhaul on the cards for Clinton

April 1, 2010
Greeting cards retailer Clinton Cards has embarked on its biggest ever portfolio and branding review that could result in a “complete change” in the look and feel of its stores.
An Easter battle come rain or shine

April 1, 2010
Recent unpredictable weather has only heightened pressures on the DIY sector and an Easter washout could spell disaster. Nicola Harrison looks at retailers’ fightbacks and asks if the looming price war will help
Blackwell narrows losses but suffers from ‘unprecedented’ discounting from rivals

30-Mar-2010
Updated: Academic books retailer Blackwell has narrowed its operating losses from £11.3m to £10.2m in the year to June 27 but is conducting a further review of the business against a backdrop of increased competition from online booksellers and supermarkets.
Barclays eyes Poundland

30-Mar-2010
Poundland has received an expression of interest from Barclays Private Equity to buy the retailer for around £200m, according to The Independent.
Israeli cosmetics chain Laline targets UK via Land Securities tie-up

30-Mar-2010
Israeli cosmetics chain Laline is on the hunt for stores in the UK as part of a deal with landlord Land Securities’ Brand Empire venture.
Former Asda chief Tony DeNunzio installed as Pets at Home chairman

March 26, 2010
Pets at Home has hired former Asda president and chief executive Tony DeNunzio as its non-executive chairman to help drive growth under its new owner, private equity firm KKR.
Blockbuster UK insists it has a future despite US struggles

March 26, 2010
The boss of the UK arm of embattled US DVD rentals chain Blockbuster has vowed that the retailer has a future and is not seeking to exit large swathes of its 638-store portfolio.
Carpetright profit warning sparks fears for home sector

March 26, 2010
Carpetright issued a profit warning on Tuesday, reigniting fears in the home and furniture sector that shaky consumer confidence will prevent shoppers spending in 2010.
Dean and Janet Hoyle: the husband-and-wife team behind Card Factory

March 26, 2010
The unassuming husband-and-wife team behind Card Factory has turned it into a winning business with a £350m price tag.
Focus close to signing first ‘compact’ store

March 26, 2010
Focus DIY is poised to sign its first small-format store as it vowed not to be drawn into the DIY price war gripping the sector.
Game reshuffles management team

25-Mar-2010
Game has reshuffled its management team to “strengthen the group’s offer in the UK and around the world”.
Kingfisher full year profits surge 49%

25-Mar-2010
DIY giant Kingfisher’s adjusted pre-tax profits surged 48.6% to £547m in the year to January 30 but the retailer remains cautious on the outlook.
Sainsbury’s like-for-likes up 1.7% in Q4

24-Mar-2010
Sainsbury’s like-for-likes rose 1.7% excluding fuel in the 11 weeks to March 20, which was in line with the retailer’s own expectations.
Carpetright: Cleaning up in carpets

March 19, 2010
Carpetright might have emerged even more dominant from the recession, but it wants to up its game in service and product.
B&Q ramps up its green credentials

18-Mar-2010
B&Q will launch its first eco shop-in-shops at two of its biggest stores tomorrow (Friday).
Video games streaming service OnLive to launch in June

12-Mar-2010
Video games online streaming service OnLive, which is expected to pose a significant threat to traditional games retailing, has revealed it will launch in the US on June 17.
B&Q ads challenge Homebase on price

March 12, 2010
B&Q has fired the first salvo in what could be a savage price war in the DIY sector as the home improvement giant takes aim at rival Homebase.
David Dodd: Poundland co-founder is back

March 12, 2010
The Poundland co-founder is back to shake up the variety sector with Hub, a mid-market chain with potential for 200 stores. He tells Nicola Harrison what inspired the return
Hamleys kicks off overseas growth drive

March 12, 2010
Toy retailer Hamleys has kick-started its international expansion after signing a franchise agreement to open in the Balkans. Hamleys is targeting nine markets in the Balkans, and this month will open franchise shops in the Middle East and India.
Losses widen at Jysk despite strong sales

March 12, 2010
Danish furniture retailer Jysk’s UK operation has reported strong sales in its full-year accounts, although losses widened as start-up costs hit its bottom line.
Sainsbury’s considers sale and leasebacks to back expansion

March 12, 2010
Grocer mulls funding options to support aggressive growth plans in non-food and convenience
HobbyCraft picks six suitors for second-round bids

10-Mar-2010
Arts and Crafts retailer HobbyCraft has narrowed its list of suitors to six bidders.
Card Factory founders set to rake in £400m

10-Mar-2010
Card Factory has received bids for the business from several private equity groups that could result in the founders taking home a £400m windfall.
Shop vacancies on the rise

9-Mar-2010
Shop vacancies rose in the three months to January 31, with more than one in ten shops on the high street lying empty.
DFS set to be sold within days

9-Mar-2010
Sofa giant DFS is poised to be sold for more than £500m before the end of next week.
Vero Moda and Jack & Jones to open on Oxford Street

5-Mar-2010
Danish fashion chains Jack & Jones and Vero Moda will open a new dual fascia shop on Oxford Street.
Homebase unveils networking website

5-Mar-2010
Homebase has launched a social networking site to promote its gardening credentials.
Poundland founder to launch mid-market variety chain

March 5, 2010
Dave Dodd unveils vision for 200-strong national chain Hub, with first stores to be open in three months
99p Stores to build stores empire as it targets turnover of £1bn

March 5, 2010
99p Stores is gunning to open more than 200 stores by 2014, taking its store count to 350, and is targeting turnover of £1bn by 2016.
Prudential renews monthly rents offer

March 5, 2010
Prupim, the property investment arm of Prudential, has extended its offer to most UK retailers to pay monthly rather than quarterly rent payments on its existing leases.
RWC2010: Carpetright’s Lord Harris warns 2010 will be tougher than last year

March 5, 2010
Carpetright founder and chairman Lord Harris believes 2010 could shape up to be tougher for retailers than 2009.
Will Adderley

March 5, 2010
Last week Dunelm’s interims revealed soaring profits. Nicola Harrison looks at how its chief executive has taken the homewares retailer from strength to strength
RWC2010: Halfords restructures staffing teams

4-Mar-2010
Halfords has restructured its staffing teams to improve leadership in stores.
RWC2010: Focus chief Bill Grimsey defends CVAs

4-Mar-2010
Focus chief executive Bill Grimsey has defended Company Voluntary Arrangements in a presentation at the Retail Week Conference.
RWC2010: Reformatted DSGi stores are best performing stores in group

3-Mar-2010
DGSi’s new reformatted stores are the best performing in the group and its latest £5m advertising campaign has helped drive sales, chief executive John Browett has revealed.
Sir David Michels rules out M&S chairman role

3-Mar-2010
Marks & Spencer deputy chairman Sir David Michels has ruled himself out of the running to replace Sir Stuart Rose as chairman of the retailer.
Game to close 43 outlets

26-Feb-2010
Video game retailer Game is to shut 18 stores and all its 25 Debenhams concessions as it reviews its property portfolio in the face of “tough market conditions in 2010”.
Carpetright targets Europe and high street for expansion

February 26, 2010
Flooring specialist strives for ‘service like Sainsbury’s and value of Tesco’ as it ramps up growth
Dwell guns for growth in tenants’ market

February 26, 2010
Mid-market furniture retailer Dwell has laid out plans to reach up to 60 stores and 20 concessions in the next five years.
Lombok eyes growth as sales start to revive

February 26, 2010
Lombok has recorded like-for-like sales up “single digits” since the start of 2010, after being bought out of pre-pack administration last year.
Suits You confident of profit breakthrough after CVA rescue

February 26, 2010
Speciality Retail Group chairman Peter Lucas has vowed that the struggling menswear retailer will make a profit in the year to January 2011, after it was rescued from administration by a company voluntary arrangement on Tuesday.
Books Etc website goes down two days after launching

24-Feb-2010
The Books Etc website has gone down just two days after launching.
Wickes full year profits soar

24-Feb-2010
DIY retailer Wickes experienced a 2.4% decline in like-for-likes in the seven weeks to February 20, but full year profits soared as the chain grew its market share.
Former Zavvi boss Simon Douglas to head Luminar

23-Feb-2010
Simon Douglas, the former boss of defunt entertainment retailer Zavvi, is set to become the new chief executive of nightclub operator Luminar.
Suits You CVA succeeds

23-Feb-2010
Suits You, the menswear retailer owned by Speciality Retail Group, has won backing for its Company Voluntary Arrangement.
Grocers hit out at Tory planning proposals

23-Feb-2010
Grocers have hit out at Tory plans to give more power to local councils to veto the development of shopping complexes.
Morrisons prevents Marc Bolland poaching staff

22-Feb-2010
Marks and Spencer’s incoming chief executive Marc Bolland will be barred from poaching staff from his former employer Morrisons, for one year.
Suits You offers better terms to secure CVA

February 12, 2010
Suits You owner Speciality Retail Group’s proposed company voluntary arrangement is expected to be backed by landlords as the retailer attempts to offer more amenable terms than previous CVAs.
The Entertainer uses focus groups to help create new store format

February 12, 2010
Toy retailer The Entertainer has overhauled its branding and store format following customer analysis.
Best Buy trademarks Rumbelows name

10-Feb-2010
Best Buy has trademarked the name of defunct electricals retailer Rumbelows but the brand will not be used by the US giant, which will open its first big box store in this country in the spring.
No new developments in pipeline for British Land

10-Feb-2010
The UK’s second-biggest landlord British Land said it has no imminent plans to begin any new property developments as it revealed strong figures for its third quarter.
Shop vacancies rise to 12% across UK

10-Feb-2010
Shop vacancies have increased to 12.4% in the six months to December 31, compared with 10% in the previous six month period.
Focus DIY asks for rent holiday as snow hits sales

9-Feb-2010
Focus DIY has asked landlords for a rent holiday as the snow last month hit sales.
China to overtake US as world's largest grocery market

8-Feb-2010
China is set to overtake the US as the largest grocery market in the world by 2014.
Retailers back Haiti charity single

5-Feb-2010
Retailers including Marks & Spencer, House of Fraser and BHS have joined entertainment retailers in stocking the Helping Haiti charity single, which is tipped to be one of the biggest selling songs of the past decade.
DFS: Sofa, so good

February 5, 2010
He may now be thinking about succession and selling the business, but Lord Kirkham does not intend to put his feet up yet. He tells Nicola Harrison about his plans to pass the £1bn sales barrier
Tesco staff to share £144m

4-Feb-2010
Tesco employees are to share £144.4m from maturing Save As You Earn reward schemes.
Suits You confirms CVA proposal

4-Feb-2010
UPDATED: Menswear retailer Speciality Retail Group (SRG), which trades as Suits You, has proposed a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), as predicted by Retail-Week.com this morning.
Pre-pack for Diamonds & Pearls

3-Feb-2010
Updated: Jewellery retailer Diamonds & Pearls has been bought out of pre-pack administration this afternoon by a consortium of suppliers.
Two more retailers sign to St Martin's Courtyard development

3-Feb-2010
Fashion chains Jack Wills and Hoss Intropia have both signed to St Martin’s Courtyard, in London’s Covent Garden.
Snow hits Carpetright sales

3-Feb-2010
Carpetright group sales grew 7% in the 13 weeks to January 30 as snow last month hit sales.
Diamonds & Pearls set to hit buffers for second time

2-Feb-2010
Updated: Jewellery retailer Diamonds & Pearls has filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator at the high court.
HMV acquires Mama Group

1-Feb-2010
HMV has acquired Mama Group after receiving an adequate level of acceptance from the live music group’s shareholders.
John Lovering to make bid for DFS

1-Feb-2010
Veteran retailer John Lovering has teamed up with private equity firm Permira to put together a deal for furniture retailer DFS valued at more than £500m.
Retailers to pay more in business rates to fund Crossrail

29-Jan-2010
Retailers will be forced to pay more in business rates in order to fund London’s Crossrail network.
Amazon sales soar

29-Jan-2010
Giant e-tailer Amazon has revealed a fourth quarter 49% uplift in sales to $4.56bn in its international arm, which includes the UK as well as German, Japanese, French and Chinese operations.
DFS targets £1bn sales after record full-year results

January 29, 2010
DFS has laid out plans to top £1bn in sales after reporting record full-year profits despite the challenging furniture market.
B&Q to muscle in on outdoor market

January 29, 2010
B&Q is to take on leisure and outdoor retailers with the launch of a camping range in March.
Online ratings and reviews

January 29, 2010
Amazon pioneered them and other online retailers have followed suit. So are ratings and reviews worth adding to your website and what are the risks?
Store acquisitions send Ryman profits rising

January 29, 2010
Stationer Ryman’s turnover soared 125% in the year to March 28 as the retailer reaped the rewards from the integration of Partners and Stationery Box.
WHSmith festive sales slide but book market share grows

January 29, 2010
WHSmith has gained share in a dismal books market in which rival Borders collapsed and the boss of Waterstone’s stepped down following a terrible Christmas.
Apple iPad to shake up books market

28-Jan-2010
Apple has unveiled the much-anticipated iPad that it said will ignite the e-books market.
Best Buy to create 1,000 Geek Squad jobs in UK

28-Jan-2010
US electricals retailer Best Buy is to create up to 1,000 UK jobs as it expands its Geek Squad customer support service.
Pets at Home sold to KKR for £955m

27-Jan-2010
Pets at Home has been sold to private equity house Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) for £955m, including the debt.
WHSmith delivers performance in line with expectations

27-Jan-2010
WHSmith group sales declined 2% with like-for-likes dropping 4% in the 21 weeks to January 23.
UK exits recession

26-Jan-2010
The UK has exited its most severe recession since the 1930s as data this morning showed the economy had grown by a weaker-than-expected 0.1% in the last three months of 2009.
ONS reports worse than expected December sales

22-Jan-2010
Retail sales volumes in December rose 0.3% compared to November, below than the 1.1% lift expected by analysts, according to the Office for National Statistics.
John Lewis boosted by ‘pent-up demand’ as snow thaws

22-Jan-2010
John Lewis said it is finishing its financial year with a “flourish” as the department store chain notched up an 11.1% increase in turnover to £53.58m in the week to January 16.
Alexon pushes ahead with store disposals as like-for-likes slump

January 22, 2010
Womenswear retailer Alexon has begun a push to close stores with a disposal list of 16 stores distributed to the property market.
Jessops plc shareholders vote to wind up company

21-Jan-2010
Jessops plc shareholders have voted to voluntarily wind up the company after the Jessops store business was sold to new company Snap Equity in September.
M&Co. reveals strong Christmas trading

20-Jan-2010
Scottish fashion retailer M&Co. has revealed an 11.1% uplift in like-for-like sales in the nine weeks to January 2.
Hilco writes off 60% of Habitat debt

20-Jan-2010
Habitat owner Hilco plans to write off 60% of the furniture retailer’s debts as part of a turnaround plan.
Land Securities moves closer to starting Leeds scheme

20-Jan-2010
Developer Land Securities is moving closer to starting work on several shopping centre developments, including The Trinity Quarter Project in Leeds, after the recession delayed progress on the schemes.
Comet owner like-for-likes slip 0.3% over Christmas

20-Jan-2010
Electricals retailer Kesa revealed a like-for-like decline of 0.3% in the 10 weeks to January 8.
Waterstone's commercial director exits

19-Jan-2010
Waterstone’s has made further management changes, with commercial director Neil Jewsbury leaving the business less than a week after managing director Gerry Johnson exited.
Theo Fennell reveals sales surge over Christmas

19-Jan-2010
Upmarket jeweller Theo Fennell experienced a 25% like-for-like sales surge over the Christmas trading period, from December 1 – 24.
Oka reshuffles management as it prepares for expansion

18-Jan-2010
Upmarket homewares and furniture retailer Oka has reshuffled its management team as it seeks to expand the business in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
The White Company reveals strong Christmas trading

18-Jan-2010
Clothing and homewares retailer The White Company has revealed a strong Christmas trading period as its full year profits soar 31% to £7.9m.
Online sales of books and electricals to overtake those on high street by 2020

18-Dec-2009
Online sales of electricals and books are set to overtake those on the high street within 10 years.
Luke Johnson mulls bid for HobbyCraft

December 18, 2009
Entrepreneur and former Borders UK owner Luke Johnson is considering bidding for arts and crafts retailer HobbyCraft after it was put up for sale this week.
DFS brings Boxing Day Sale forward ahead of VAT hike

December 18, 2009
Britain’s biggest sofa retailer DFS has brought forward its Boxing Day Sale, sparking fears of a furniture sector price war.
Simon Fox optimistic despite Waterstone’s sales hit

December 18, 2009
Entertainment retailer HMV boss Simon Fox has insisted there is room on the high street for a specialist book store despite its Waterstone’s chain revealing declining sales and its rival Borders UK looking set to be wound down.
Lord Harris upbeat as Carpetright delivers stellar first half

December 18, 2009
Carpetright, the UK’s biggest floor coverings specialist, generated pre-tax profit growth of 15.8% to £11m in its first half and is considering further expansion in Europe.
Focus reshuffles its management team

17-Dec-2009
Focus DIY has made a series of senior management changes, which include promoting its chief operating officer Rob Gladwin to the position of managing director.
Kingfisher appoints former global Ikea boss as non exec

16-Dec-2009
Ikea’s former global chief executive Anders Dahlvig is to join DIY giant Kingfisher as a non-executive director.
Scottish retail sales record worst decline in six months

16-Dec-2009
Scottish retail sales fell 0.6% on a like-for-like basis in November, the worst decline since May.
HMV makes move into music festivals

16-Dec-2009
HMV has made a move in to music festivals with its joint venture partner Mama Group as the entertainment retailer seeks to further diversify its offer in the face of dwindling music sales.
Kesa records better-than-expected first half

16-Dec-2009
Electricals retailer Kesa’s has revealed a better-than-expected first half, with adjusted group pre-tax profit jumping 37% to £14.9m in the six months to October 31.
Borders to shut shops next week unless buyer is found

15-Dec-2009
Borders UK is to shut all its stores on December 22 unless a buyer for the business is found.
Dunelm founder transfers 10% stake

15-Dec-2009
Dunelm founder Bill Adderley has offloaded more shares in the family-run business, transferring around a 10% share of the retailer to his son and Dunelm chief executive Will.
Carpetright notches up best half-year performance in five years

15-Dec-2009
Carpetright pre-tax profit grew 15.8% to £11m in the 26 weeks to October 31 as the domestic arm clocked up it strongest half year performance since 2004.
Specsavers profit edges up 3%

14-Dec-2009
The UK’s largest opticians Specsavers pre-tax profits rose 3% to £26.5m in the year to February 2008.
Retail round-up: What the weekend papers said December 12-13

14-Dec-2009
Asda to use Walmart power to reduce non-food prices; Debenhams directors receive bumper bonuses; George Davies considers taking GIVe international, and more…
HobbyCraft to be put up for sale

14-Dec-2009
Arts and crafts retailer HobbyCraft is to be sold for £70m after it appointed Grant Thornton to consider its strategic options.
Habitat sold to Hilco

14-Dec-2009
Habitat has been sold to Hilco in a deal that will see chief executive Mark Saunders remain in his position.
Tesco launches iPhone with £20 monthly contract

11-Dec-2009
Tesco is to sell the Apple iPhone with a £20 monthly contract in time for Christmas, in a move that could spark a price war on the high street.
HMV confident about Christmas as losses narrow

11-Dec-2009
Entertainment retailer HMV made a first half pre-tax loss of £24.9m, compared with £27.5m last year, after a “weak” performance at Waterstone’s.
Paperchase eyes 200 stores despite Borders collapse

December 11, 2009
Paperchase has insisted it will remain largely unaffected by the administration of Borders UK despite operating 38 concessions in the collapsed chain.
US fashion giant Forever 21 in Westfield Stratford store talks

December 11, 2009
US fashion giant Forever 21 is on the verge of signing its first deal for a UK store in Westfield Stratford as it unveils its intentions to build a major European presence.
Gerry Johnson is determined to ensure that Waterstone's has a future

December 11, 2009
Waterstone’s affable managing director has had a hard time but is dedicated to ensuring that high street bookselling’s ‘last man standing’ has a future. Nicola Harrison profiles him.
Soaring B&Q UK and Ireland profit helps propel Kingfisher

December 11, 2009
Kingfisher’s group retail profit soared 28.3% to £227m in its third quarter, helped by strong performances in the UK and Ireland, and Poland.
‘Son of Zavvi’ Head Entertainment starts closing down Sales

9-Dec-2009
Head, the entertainment chain set up by the boss of defunct music retailer Zavvi, is understood to be closing its four stores less than a year after opening.
Boots celebrates 160th anniversary

9-Dec-2009
Alliance Boots has reiterated its ambitions to become a global brand as the health and beauty retailer celebrates its 160th anniversary.
Game like-for-likes drop 15.1%

8-Dec-2009
Game’s group like-for-likes slumped 15.1% in the 44 weeks to December 5, but the retailer claimed it had continued to take market share.
BRC poised to restart battle against upward-only rents

December 4, 2009
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is braced to launch a campaign to ban upward-only rent reviews if its members demand it, after the Irish government scrapped the reviews this week.
Nokia to withdraw from Regent Street

December 4, 2009
Nokia is to pull out of its flagship Regent Street store on the back of disappointing sales after just two years.
Suitors eye Borders stores as break-up fears escalate

December 4, 2009
Major high street retailers are circling Borders UK stores as fears mount that the business will be broken up.
Toy shortages predicted this Christmas

2-Dec-2009
Toys shortages are likely this Christmas, according to a major toymaker and distributor.
Upward only rent reviews banned in Ireland

1-Dec-2009
Upward only rent reviews have been banned in Ireland by its Government.
Tesco's plan for biggest Irish shop refused

1-Dec-2009
Grocery giant Tesco’s plans to build its largest store in Ireland have been scuppered as its proposals have been refused for a second time.
Borders makes majority of head office staff redundant

30-Nov-2009
Borders UK has made the vast majority of its head office staff redundant following its collapse into administration on Thursday.
Borders begins ‘closing down’ Sales while interested buyers circle

30-Nov-2009
Borders has commenced ‘closing down’ Sales in all its stores as interested parties circle the business.
Westfield assures on charges at Stratford

November 27, 2009
Westfield has attempted to allay retailers’ fears about rising service charges at its upcoming Stratford development in east London.
Retailers target Europe for low-risk expansion

November 20, 2009
Retailers are still keen to expand internationally despite the recession, although most are focusing on the more mature Western European markets to limit risk.
Majestic Wine profit climbs 9% in first half

16-Nov-2009
Majestic Wine’s pre-tax profit jumped 9% to £6.1m in the 26 weeks to September 28.
Ikea: VAT cut had no sales impact

November 13, 2009
Ikea, the world’s biggest furniture retailer, said last year’s VAT cut did nothing to stimulate its UK sales and that the planned rise next year will be equally insignificant.
Modern Warfare 2 fires up flagging games sector

November 13, 2009
Games retailers pulled out all the stops this week as they clambered to grab share of the biggest ever software launch to hit the market.
Play.com investigated for customer data leak

November 13, 2009
Entertainment etailer Play.com is being investigated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for a possible breach of the Data Protection Act.
Recession to drive store card comeback

November 13, 2009
Store cards are posed for a comeback next year as retailers offer alternative lending options to consumers finding it hard to secure credit through other channels.
Threshers franchisees form action group

11-Nov-2009
Updated: 55 of the 65 Threshers’ franchisees have formed an action group to resist being bought by a buyer they view as “unfavourable”.
‘Middle-class shoplifters’ fuel surge in crime

10-Nov-2009
Shoplifting has surged to unprecedented levels in the past year as the ‘middle-class shoplifter’ turns to crime to fund luxury lifestyles in the recession.
Richer Sounds profits slide while revenue soars

9-Nov-2009
Hi-fi and televisions retailer Richer Sounds experienced a pre-tax profit decline of 8% to £3.4m in its full year.
BrightHouse like-for-likes rise 9.9% in first half

9-Nov-2009
Rent-to-own electricals and furniture retailer BrightHouse’s like-for-likes climbed 9.9% in the six months to September 30.
Boots awaits decision on bid for Swedish chain

9-Nov-2009
Alliance Boots is expected to learn this week whether it has been successful in its bid to buy part of Sweden’s pharmacy monopoly.
The Entertainer draws road map to 100 shops

November 6, 2009
Toy retailer The Entertainer is gunning to double the size of its business over the next four years as it takes advantage of the gap left in the toy market after the demise of Woolworths.
Is the property market moving in favour of the landlords again?

November 6, 2009
The property market has swung in favour of retailers during the recession, but is it about to move back the other way?
SouthGate scheme in Bath opens its doors

4-Nov-2009
Bath’s SouthGate shopping centre opened its doors today.
Christmas lights switch-on kick starts London festive shopping period

4-Nov-2009
50,000 Londoners last night flocked to see the biggest-ever co-ordinated Christmas lights switch-on across the capital’s most famous high streets.
Carrier bag charges in Wales by May 2011

4-Nov-2009
Shoppers in Wales may have to start paying for plastic bags before May 2011.
Dunelm like-for-likes rise 15.1%

3-Nov-2009
Value homewares retailer Dunelm has delivered a better-than-expected performance in the first 17 weeks on the new financial year, as like-for-likes jumped 15.1%.
Oxford Circus diagonal crossing opens

2-Nov-2009
A new diagonal pedestrian crossing on London’s Oxford Circus will be unveiled this morning, in time for the busy Christmas trading period.
Instore narrows losses and delists from stock exchange

30-Oct-2009
Value retailer Instore has narrowed its pre-tax losses in its first half as it reveals it is to delist from the stock exchange.
‘Perverse’ rates rises lambasted as MP urges Government to defer

October 30, 2009
Central London MP Mark Field has launched a scathing attack on the impending business rates increases.
Trade buyers circle as Habitat pursues sale

October 30, 2009
International trade buyers are circling struggling furniture retailer Habitat as its owner considers whether to sell the business.
Harvey Nichols expands Christmas shop format

28-Oct-2009
Luxury department store Harvey Nichols is to expand its pop-up Christmas Foodmarket shop format to more cities this festive season.
Nostalgic toys to sell well this Christmas

28-Oct-2009
Nostalgic toys “with a modern twist” are expected to fly off the shelves this Christmas, according to the Toy Retailers’ Association (TRA).
Carpetright delivers better than expected first half

28-Oct-2009
Carpetright like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland increased 3.5% in the 25 weeks to October 24 after an improvement in the second quarter.
Threshers owner on the brink of administration

28-Oct-2009
Threshers owner First Quench is on the brink of going into administration, Retail Week has learned.
Land Securities puts end to softer rent deals as demand rises

27-Oct-2009
Landlord Land Securities has said it no longer plans to offer retail tenants concessions in its properties amid signs of increasing demand for space, leading some to claim that landlords are back in the driving seat at the negotiation table.
Floors-2-Go seeks new investment to fund expansion

26-Oct-2009
Floors-2-Go is close to securing new investment, and is thought to be looking to acquire up to £5m to fund expansion.
Matalan considers £1.5bn sale

26-Oct-2009
Discount retailer Matalan is considering a £1.5bn sale after receiving a number of expressions of interest.
Net-a-Porter moves head office to Westfield London

23-Oct-2009
Luxury fashion etailer Net-a-Porter is to move its head offices to shopping centre Westfield London.
Is furniture getting back on its feet?

October 23, 2009
Furniture retailers may no longer be dropping like flies, but that doesn’t mean the sector’s troubles are over just yet. Nicola Harrison reports.
Clinton to expand store chains after better than expected trading

October 23, 2009
Greetings cards retailer Clinton Cards is gunning to grow its store base from 876 to 1,200 within six years and has revealed better than expected full-year trading.
Home Bargains: A home-grown retailer bargaining on success

October 23, 2009
Home Bargains has set out a no-holds barred expansion target as it plans to treble in size. Operations director Joe Morris tells Nicola Harrison why the company wants more, more, more
Kingfisher creates innovation role to hold on to market leadership

October 23, 2009
B&Q owner Kingfisher has created a role of group innovation director to ensure it remains at the cutting edge of retail.
WHSmith nets second-half profit for first time in decade

October 23, 2009
Bookseller and stationer WHSmith delivered better than expected full-year results, revealing it had been profitable in its second half for the first time in more than 10 years.
Families £11 a week better off than a year ago

21-Oct-2009
The average family is £11 a week better off last month compared to the same period last year, according to the Asda Income Tracker.
B&Q launches string of green initiatives

21-Oct-2009
B&Q is launching a raft of new green initiatives including shop-within-shops and eco-advisors in stores.
Home Retail Group reveals better than expected first half

21-Oct-2009
Home Retail Group has revealed better than expected trading in the first half as it makes market share advances at both Argos and Homebase.
Kingfisher writes to landlords to secure better terms

20-Oct-2009
B&Q owner Kingfisher has written to landlords demanding similar concessions to those offered to its rival Focus as a result of its Company Voluntary Agreement.
Online retailers investigated by OFT

16-Oct-2009
Online retailers are being investigated for the practice of targeted pricing and advertising while supermarkets’ Bogof offers are also being scrutinised.
Banana Republic close to signing third UK store as it prepares to open at Brent Cross

16-Oct-2009
Updated: Fashion brand Banana Republic is on the verge of signing a deal for its third UK store as the retailer prepares to open its second shop in shopping centre Brent Cross
99p Stores signs ex-Wilkinson boss Gordon Brown as chairman

October 16, 2009
Value retailer 99p Stores has appointed former Wilkinson boss Gordon Brown as its new chairman.
Serious Organised Crime Agency probes former JJB Sports executives

14-Oct-2009
Former JJB Sports executives are facing the scrutiny of the Serious Organised Crime Agency and HM Revenue, piling more pressure on the sports retailer that is already under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading and the Serious Fraud Office.
Grocers’ growth continues to slow along with food price inflation

13-Oct-2009
Growth among the grocers continues to slow as food price inflation moderates, according to the latest TNS Worldpanel market share figures.
Homebase launches ‘biggest ever’ home and garden consumer survey

13-Oct-2009
DIY retailer Homebase has launched what it calls Britain’s “Biggest Home and Garden survey” as it seeks to determine the public’s tastes when it comes to the home.
Shoppers in Republic of Ireland still paying more than Northern counterparts

13-Oct-2009
Shoppers in the Republic of Ireland are still paying almost a fifth more than those in Northern Ireland, despite retailers’ price war.
British shoppers retain ethical stance despite recession

13-Oct-2009
British shoppers are more ethical than their European counterparts, according to a report by research firm IGD.
B&Q wins landlord concession to cut rent on seven larger stores

9-Oct-2009
B&Q has secured a 10% reduction in rents for seven of its warehouse-format stores in a deal with landlord British Land.
Habitat chief puts date on profitability return

9-Oct-2009
New Habitat chief executive Mark Saunders expects to return the furniture and homewares chain to profitability within three years.
Property chiefs slam CVAs

7-Oct-2009
Property industry chiefs including Westfield’s Peter Miller have slammed Company Voluntary Arrangements and plans to introduce Chapter 11 style bankruptcy protection for UK companies.
Retailer wanted to run London 2012 stores

7-Oct-2009
Retailers are being invited to tender for a contact to operate London 2012 stores in the run-up to the Olympics.
Dunelm founder sells 8% stake

7-Oct-2009
Updated: Dunelm founder and life president Bill Adderley has sold a 7.8% stake in the company.
Thorntons in a "good position" for Christmas as sales rise

7-Oct-2009
Thorntons revealed its revenue edged up 2.3% to £46.8m in the 14 weeks to October 3 as it reports it is in a in a “good position” for Christmas.
Borders demands switch to monthly rent payment

2-Oct-2009
Borders UK has written to landlords demanding an immediate switch from quarterly to monthly payments as September’s quarterly rent day hit.
Boots eyes more drive-throughs after trial success

2-Oct-2009
Boots is to expand its drive-through pharmacy business on the back of soaring sales at its trial location.
Jessops focuses on return to profit after debt-for-equity rescue deal

October 2, 2009
Camera specialist Jessops said it is well placed to restore profitability after completing a debt-for-equity rescue deal.
Robert Dyas plunges into red with £10m loss

2-Oct-2009
Hardware chain Robert Dyas has plunged into the red, posting a pre-tax loss of £10.4m for the year to March 28.
Retailers get business rates revaluation

1-Oct-2009
Retailers are able to discover how much they will be charged in business rates today after the Government revealed its revaluation rates.
Co-op says it holds the key to ‘democratic consumerism’, not Asda

1-Oct-2009
The Co-op has invited Asda to “come and see how it’s done” as it objects to its rival’s claims of leading the way in “democratic” business.
Wickes sales boosted by showroom ranges

1-Oct-2009
DIY retailer Wickes’ like for likes rose 0.7% in the 39 weeks to September 26.
Asda installs webcams as it aims for company transparency

1-Oct-2009
Asda has outlined a radical new strategy that it claims will make it the first genuinely transparent business that puts the customer at the heart of its decision-making process.
‘Son of Woolworths’ Alworths set for November launch

1-Oct-2009
Updated: A chain of Woolworths-like stores is set to open next month under the name Alworths, but could face legal hurdles.
Habitat takes store at Liverpool One

30-Sep-2009
Furniture and homewares retailer Habitat has signed for a store in shopping centre Liverpool One.
Marks & Spencer second quarter beats expectations

30-Sep-2009
Marks & Spencer delivered a better than expected second quarter performance, as UK like-for-like sales declined by just 0.5%, continuing the improving trend seen over the last three quarters.
Jessops completes debt for equity swap to ensure survival

29-Sep-2009
The UK’s largest camera specialist Jessops has unveiled a survival deal which secures 2,000 jobs but leaves its bank owning almost half of the retailer.
Retailers to be hit by local car park tax

28-Sep-2009
Retailers may be forced to pass on a new “shopping tax” to customers under new plans by local authorities to charge for parking spaces.
Blacks considers CVA

28-Sep-2009
Blacks Leisure is planning a company voluntary arrangement in order to secure its future.
Kesa appoints new finance director

28-Sep-2009
Comet owner Kesa has appointed Dominic Platt as it finance director.
No delay on VAT rise, says Mandelson

25-Sep-2009
Business secretary Lord Mandelson has ruled out a delay in the planned VAT increase at the end of this year.
Original Factory Shop commits to 400-store expansion as sales rise

25-Sep-2009
Value retailer Original Factory Shop has recorded a 27.1% rise in pre-tax profits to £9.7m in the year to March 29 as it lays out plans for 400 stores within five years.
Home Bargains to double stores as it speeds to £1bn sales target

September 25, 2009
Value retailer Home Bargains plans to smash its £1bn revenue target two years earlier than expected, after reporting record sales and earnings in its full-year accounts.
Need to know: London Fashion Week

September 25, 2009
Celebrating its 25th birthday, London Fashion Week has undergone a renaissance this year. So what’s changed and why is it important?
Weak releases dampen Game profits but outlook is positive

September 25, 2009
Computer entertainment group Game posted a slump in first-half profits, but the plunge was in line with expectations.
British Land head of retail Andrew Jones to leave

23-Sep-2009
British Land’s head of retail Andrew Jones is set to leave the property firm.
JD Sports pre-tax profits jump 14.5%

22-Sep-2009
Sports fashion retailer JD Sports Fashion revealed a 14.5% increase in group pre-tax profits before exceptional items to £14.2m in the 26 weeks to August 1.
Topshop opens second largest UK store in Liverpool

21-Sep-2009
Topshop has opened its second-largest store in the UK, in Liverpool’s shopping centre, Liverpool One.
Spar benefits as recession-hit consumers stay in

21-Sep-2009
Spar’s like-for-likes increased 5.2% in the three months to July as consumers stay in more and indulge in treats.
Christmas shopping starting early

21-Sep-2009
Nearly half of shoppers have already begun filling bags with Christmas gifts, according to research from Asda.
Selfridges Christmas sales soar

17-Sep-2009
Selfridges has revealed soaring sales in its Christmas and toy departments in the run up to the festive period.
New chair for Robert Dyas as debt deal nears

11-Sep-2009
Hardware retailer Robert Dyas has lined up former Kingfisher director Geoff Brady as chairman and is concluding a debt-for-equity swap as it refocuses on trading following financial restructuring.
Retail crime rises up Conservative agenda

11-Sep-2009
A commission set up by the Conservative Party has recommended the Tories take a tough stance on retail crime and is aiming for the proposals to form part of the party’s policy in the run-up to the general election.
Pets at Home launches first TV ad campaign to raise its profile

September 11, 2009
Pets at Home is to embark on its first national TV ad campaign as it seeks to raise awareness of the brand.
Strong UK trading drives Kingfisher’s first-half profits

September 11, 2009
B&Q parent Kingfisher revealed better than expected pre-tax profit figures this week for the six months to August 1, driven by a strong performance in the UK.
‘Recovery hopes premature’ as August UK retail sales fall

8-Sep-2009
UK retail like-for-like sales fell 0.1% in August as shoppers stayed away from the high street due to very wet weather, casting doubt on early economic recovery hopes.
Retail round-up: What the weekend papers said September 5-6

7-Sep-2009
Jon Moulton planning new fund; Association of British Insurers says large firms should be allowed to use CVAs; Carpetright, Sports Direct and Kesa could face shareholder rebellions; Richard Baker joins Whitbread as a non-executive director; Alex Fortescue leaves Apax Partners’ European retail team; European Commission dairy price investigation
Online cards retailer Moonpig doubles profits

7-Sep-2009
Online greetings card retailer Moonpig’s pre-tax profits more than doubled from £2.54m to £6.7m in the year to April.
Primark UK arm drives sales

7-Sep-2009
Primark owner Associated British Foods said sales and profits in the year to September 12 at the value fashion retailer will be “well ahead of last year”.
Kingfisher appoints new group property director

4-Sep-2009
Kingfisher has appointed Ian Playford, chief executive of western Europe and Russia at landlord Parkridge Holdings, as its new group property director.
Amazon warns on Google e-books proposals

4-Sep-2009
Online retail giant Amazon has warned a US court that Google will stifle competition and break anti-trust laws if it is permitted to add millions of book titles to its digital library.
Flight to value brings Wilkinson record sales

4-Sep-2009
Value retailer Wilkinson has recorded its highest ever annual sales of £1.45bn, as it capitalises on shoppers’ continued flight to value in the recession.
Home Bargains triumphs in web war on shoplifters

4-Sep-2009
Value retailer Home Bargains has said it has achieved some early wins on its campaign to tackle theft in stores and urged other retailers to roll out the initiative.
Proposals to tackle illegal downloaders divide retailers

4-Sep-2009
Retailers are divided over Government proposals to switch off internet connections of illegal file sharers.
Blinding light bulb sales as ban sparks hoarding

September 4, 2009
Sales of incandescent light bulbs have shot through the roof as shoppers stock up in the wake of the European ban, brightening up DIY retailers’ trade.
Gudjon Reynisson faces the challenge of restoring Hamleys

September 4, 2009
The former PE teacher is in no doubt about the weight of responsibility he bears in restoring much-loved toy retailer Hamleys to its former glory. Can he succeed, asks Nicola Harrison
Rejected Nisa-Today’s suitor to rally support

September 4, 2009
Distribution group Bibby Line was expected to make moves to overturn convenience store buying group Nisa Today’s decision to reject its takeover bid last week, as Retail Week went to press.
The Entertainer profits slide but Woolworths closures aid recovery

September 4, 2009
The Entertainer suffered a fall in pre-tax profits from £674,643 to £38,722 in the year to January 31, but the toy chain said it is on course to post record profits in its current financial year as sales soar.
M&S on verge of appointing headhunter for chief executive search

2-Sep-2009
Marks & Spencer is on the verge of appointing a headhunter to begin its search for a new chief executive to replace Sir Stuart Rose next year.
August footfall steepest decline in seven months

2-Sep-2009
Footfall on the UK high street fell 4.1% in August as high temperatures kept shoppers out of stores.
John Lewis to sell updated version of wartime pamphlet Make Do and Mend

28-Aug-2009
John Lewis is to publish its own updated version of the famous wartime pamphlet, Make Do and Mend, as it takes advantage of the frugality revival in the recession.
Hamleys losses soar but sales revival under way

28-Aug-2009
Toy retailer Hamleys’ net losses leapt last year to £7.1m from £2.7m as interest rate charges and restructuring costs ate into the bottom line.
99p Stores considers sale or float as it maps out rapid expansion

28-Aug-2009
Value specialist 99p Stores is to review its ownership structure, potentially resulting in a sale as early as next summer or a flotation in the next three years.
Stores gear up for bank holiday

28-Aug-2009
Retailers have kicked off a swathe of high-profile promotions to woo shoppers over the bank holiday weekend – the last public holiday before Christmas.
Discounters lead way as 60% of Woolworths stores snapped up

28-Aug-2009
Nearly 60% of the 800 former Woolworths stores have been let or are under offer, assuaging fears that the variety store group’s demise is turning town centres into ghost towns.
Bill Grimsey is driven by turning around the fortunes of ailing retailers

August 28, 2009
As the Focus DIY boss successfully pulls off a CVA for his struggling business, he tells Nicola Harrison why he’s so driven by turning around ailing retailers
Italian retail giant Gruppo Coin looks for UK stores

August 28, 2009
Italian retailer Gruppo Coin is seeking suitable UK locations to launch its department stores and fast-fashion chain OVS.
Tesco criticised for false poll claims

26-Aug-2009
Tesco has been condemned for using false statistics as part of a local marketing campaign aimed to win public backing for a new store.
Focus wins backing for CVA

24-Aug-2009
The future of embattled DIY group Focus has been secured after creditors today supported a proposal for a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).
Consumer loyalty to own-brand products here to stay

24-Aug-2009
The growth in sales of retailers’ own-brand products is likely to slow although the shift in loyalty away from branded lines is permanent, according to retail consultancy Verdict Research.
Debenhams asks for improved supplier terms

24-Aug-2009
Department store group Debenhams wrote to some of its suppliers last month, demanding that they meet its “minimum standard payment terms” by August 4.
Tesco sets up ‘weather team’

24-Aug-2009
Tesco has set up its own weather team to help it stock the right products for the changeable British weather.
Government amends credit insurance top-up scheme again

21-Aug-2009
The Government has cut the price of its credit insurance top-up scheme and doubled the amount it is prepared to underwrite.
Holland & Barrett takeover approved

21-Aug-2009
Health food specialist Holland & Barrett’s takeover of Julian Graves does not substantially reduce competition in the food and ingredients sector, the Competition Commission has found.
John Lewis fashion holds out amid sales dip

21-Aug-2009
John Lewis sales fell 1.4% in the week to August 15 with fashion showing resilience despite the good weather keeping shoppers out of the stores for a large part of the week.
Home Retail Group sounds alarm on credit insurance risks

21-Aug-2009
Argos and Homebase parent Home Retail Group has written to its suppliers urging them not to do business with retailers that have had their credit insurance removed.
Jessops hires chief executive as restructuring nears end

21-Aug-2009
Jessops has appointed Select Property managing director Trevor Moore as chief executive while questions continue over the retailer’s future as a quoted company.
Dutch fashion retailer The Sting signs first UK store

19-Aug-2009
Dutch fashion retailer The Sting has confirmed it will open its first UK shop in the famous Tower Records store on London’s Regent Street.
Retail helps stem British Land losses

18-Aug-2009
Losses at shopping centre and retail park owner British Land have been stemmed in its first quarter, helped by a robust performance by its retail assets.
Argos prices 24% more expensive in Republic of Ireland

18-Aug-2009
Argos has been criticised for charging its customers in the Republic of Ireland on average 24% more for its products than shoppers in the UK.
Online retailers under threat as Government clamps down on VAT loophole

17-Aug-2009
Online retailers using a Channel Islands VAT loophole on the sale of entertainment products are under threat as Government looks into whether they are abusing the system.
London sales growth slows as July’s wet weather hits footfall

17-Aug-2009
London retail like-for-like sales climbed 2.2 per cent in July while footfall declined due to wet weather.
Fashion sales boost Bluewater performance in July

14-Aug-2009
Bluewater shopping centre experienced a 2.1 per cent uplift in sales in July on the back of rising fashion sales.
Cult to open flagship at St. David's

14-Aug-2009
Fashion chain Cult will open its first UK flagship store in the new St. David’s shopping centre, Cardiff.
Home Bargains fights shoplifting with ‘crime busters’ web initiative

14-Aug-2009
Value retailer Home Bargains has taken an innovative approach to in-store theft by launching an online campaign to identify suspected shoplifters.
CVAs: A necessary evil or an easy way out?

August 14, 2009
The supposed abuse of CVAs has caused anger and as Focus becomes the latest to attempt one, Nicola Harrison asks if these arrangements are fair
Red5 builds presence with Hamleys tie-up

August 14, 2009
Gadgets retailer Red5 has opened a concession in Hamleys’ famous Regent Street toy shop in which it now occupies about a third of the basement space.
Hamleys' deal with Russian franchise partner collapses

12-Aug-2009
Hamleys will not open its store in Moscow as planned this September after the deal with its franchise partner collapsed.
Clas Ohlson signs for fourth UK store

12-Aug-2009
Swedish hardware retailer Clas Ohlson has signed its fourth UK store in Reading.
B&Q appoints Liz Bell and Nick Folland to board

11-Aug-2009
B&Q has appointed its HR director Liz Bell and parent Kingfisher’s company secretary Nick Folland to its board.
Thorntons completes refinancing

11-Aug-2009
Thorntons has completed its refinancing, having signed a new revolving credit facility of £52.5m.
HMV’s Simon Fox drops out of race to head ITV

10-Aug-2009
HMV boss Simon Fox has dropped out of the race to become chief executive of ITV.
Carpetright shifts ads away from price focus

August 7, 2009
Carpetright has overhauled its marketing to focus on “emotional engagement” rather than just price as the retailer achieved its first like-for-like sales growth since the fourth quarter of 2007/08.
Disney Stores upbeat after return to profit

August 7, 2009
Disney Stores has bounced back into the black, recording a pre-tax profit of £2.8m in the year to September 27, 2008, after posting a loss of £6.6m the previous year.
Focus CVA plan to offload ‘dark’ stores receives positive reaction

August 7, 2009
Focus DIY’s proposed company voluntary arrangement (CVA) will be well received by creditors, according to analysts and landlords.
Need to know... Spotify

August 7, 2009
Streaming site Spotify offers an alternative distribution model for music, but can it prove a money maker and does it pose a threat to traditional retailers?
Wickes improvement gives City hope for upturn in DIY

August 7, 2009
Good weather and a hike in online sales helped Wickes limit its like-for-like sales fall to 2.4 per cent in the six months to June 30.
Sales drop at Signet's UK arm

6-Aug-2009
Jewellery retailer Signet’s group like-for-likes fell 5.3 per cent in the 13 weeks to August 1.
Topps Tiles like-for-likes drop 10.9 per cent

5-Aug-2009
Topps Tiles like-for-likes slumped 10.9 per cent in the 18 weeks to August 1 as declining consumer confidence continued to knock the retailer.
Focus to unveil CVA

3-Aug-2009
Focus DIY is to unveil plans for a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) of 38 non-trading stores on Wednesday, as part of the DIY chain’s turnaround plan.
Government thinks again as credit insurance scheme fails

31-Jul-2009
The Government is reassessing its credit insurance top-up scheme as it emerged only a handful of businesses have taken up the scheme.
Carpetright eyes Allied Carpets’ ‘hidden gem’ insurance business

31-Jul-2009
Carpetright is in talks to acquire all or parts of the Allied Carpets Inspections business as it makes a play for the insurance market.
Feather & Black defies gloom with refocus

July 31, 2009
Bed specialist Feather & Black has defied the gloom in the battered furniture sector, revealing a like-for-like sales uplift of 10 per cent in the four months to July 30.
Irish retailers fearing worst Christmas ever

July 31, 2009
Irish retailers are braced for their worst Christmas in history as sales continue to be battered by the slump in consumer confidence.
Philip Downer: Borders boss is no quitter

July 31, 2009
Having led a management buyout of Borders, Downer finally has a shot at restoring some stability at the ailing bookseller says Nicola Harrison
Lombok bought out of pre-pack administration

29-Jul-2009
Mid to high-end furniture retailer Lombok has been bought out of pre-pack administration by a consortium led by Privet Capital and Paradigm this afternoon.
United Carpets profits fall while like-for-likes rise

29-Jul-2009
United Carpets’ pre-tax profit fell from £1.73m to £1.36m in the year to March 31, although the figure came in ahead of expectations.
Halfords remains cautious despite sales rise

29-Jul-2009
Halfords like-for-likes increased 1.3 per cent in the 13 weeks to June 27 as the bikes and car maintenance retailer benefited from strong multi channel growth.
Fitch: No high street recovery until 2011

28-Jul-2009
Any signs of green shoots on the high street are unsustainable and a lasting recovery may not emerge until 2011, according to credit ratings agency Fitch.
Liberty considers international push

27-Jul-2009
Iconic London department store Liberty has confirmed it has begun a strategic review of the business to explore ways of developing the brand internationally.
Land of Leather executive in talks with Allied Carpets

24-Jul-2009
Clive Hatchard, former chief finance officer of collapsed retailer Land of Leather, has emerged as the third senior executive of a failed retailer to be linked with Allied Carpets about a possible position at the company.
Fashion sales suffer as swine flu rocks consumer confidence

24-Jul-2009
Retail like-for-like sales were down 4.1 per cent in the week ending July 19 as swine flu shook consumer confidence.
Former MFI and Woolworths chiefs drafted in to Allied Carpets

24-Jul-2009
The former bosses of collapsed retailers Woolworths and MFI have been parachuted in to help turn around embattled Allied Carpets, which was bought out of pre-pack administration last week.
Can Kingfisher's Castorama triumph in Russia?

July 24, 2009
Russia may be hard to crack but Peter Høgsted vows Kingfisher’s Castorama chain can win DIY share there. Nicola Harrison reports from St Petersburg
HMV to take on label role in band tie-up

July 24, 2009
HMV is producing, distributing and marketing the music of an unsigned band in return for a share of the revenues for the first time in its history.
Kingfisher eyes franchise model to chart new territory

July 24, 2009
B&Q owner Kingfisher is mulling an unprecedented move into franchising as it seeks to expand into new international markets.
Customer service expectations soar in recession

23-Jul-2009
The recession has changed consumers’ shopping habits so much that three quarters of shoppers would leave a store without buying if they received poor levels of customer service.
Traditional toys to sell well this Christmas, says Hamleys

22-Jul-2009
Barbie, Lego and Transformers are among the traditional toys being touted as big sellers this Christmas by iconic toy retailer Hamleys.
Barnes & Noble launches e-book store

22-Jul-2009
US bookselling giant Barnes & Noble has launched what it says is the largest online shop of electronic books.
Households £12 a week better off in June, says Asda

21-Jul-2009
UK families were on average £12 better off a week in June compared with last year, representing a 7.8 per cent increase as interest rate cuts continue to help mortgage payers.
No green shoots for two years, say retailers

20-Jul-2009
The world’s top retailers do not expect any recovery in the economy for up to two years, denting any hopes of green shoots.
Argos set to hike prices 5%

20-Jul-2009
Argos is expected to increase its prices by 5 per cent in its new catalogue, as the retailer is hit by the decline of sterling against the dollar.
Embattled Focus strikes Carpetright concessions deal

July 17, 2009
Focus, which is awaiting confirmation of continued support from its banks, has struck a deal with Carpetright for the floor coverings specialist to open concessions in its stores.
Ikea cost cutting prepares it for renewed success

July 17, 2009
Ikea has made an unprecedented number of job cuts as it faces declining sales for the first time in its 65-year history. However, industry observers do not believe the world’s largest furniture retailer is on the wane.
Jysk prepares for UK expansion after improving business model

July 17, 2009
Danish furniture retailer Jysk is poised to roll out more UK stores after resolving teething problems at its operations here and bolsters its management with a head of buying from Next.
Borders UK in talks with Hilco private equity arm

15-Jul-2009
Struggling bookseller Borders UK is in advanced talks with the private equity arm of turnaround specialist Hilco over a possible sale of the business.
Explosion of fake designer shoes websites

14-Jul-2009
The number of websites selling fake designer shoes has exploded, resulting in shoppers being increasingly conned by the counterfeit sites.
Moss Bros outlines ambitious plans for store expansion

13-Jul-2009
Men’s suits specialist Moss Bros has revealed it wants to up its store numbers by 40 per cent as it takes advantage of attractive property deals in the recession.
70% of old Woolworths stores still lie vacant

13-Jul-2009
Most of the former 800 Woolworths stores that closed when the retailer collapsed in January still lie vacant, as landlords struggle to find tenants in the harsh trading conditions.
Dunelm like-for-likes rise 5 per cent in second half

13-Jul-2009
Homewares retailer Dunelm has revealed better than expected sales for its second half, with like-for-likes growing 5 per cent as it takes market share.
BrightHouse bolsters IT but trims openings

July 10, 2009
BrightHouse has curtailed its store opening plans as it ploughs money into transforming its IT infrastructure.
Game splits City opinion as sales suffer a surprise slump

July 10, 2009
Analysts are divided over entertainment retailer Game’s prospects after a sales plunge shocked the market.
Need to know: The consumer advocate

July 10, 2009
The Government has decided an advocate to promote consumer rights is needed. So what will the role entail and will it have teeth or is it just a token gesture?
B&Q launches £5m price investment

9-Jul-2009
DIY giant B&Q is launching a £5m price investment tomorrow across thousands of products.
Threshers sourcing chief exits

8-Jul-2009
Struggling off-licence chain Threshers has suffered another blow after losing its long-serving head of global sourcing Jonathan Butt.
British Bookshops and Stationers puts 600 staff in consultation

7-Jul-2009
British Bookshops and Stationers has put most of its 600-plus shop staff in consultation after making nearly a third of its head office staff redundant last month.
Mr Shoes bought out of administration by previous owners

7-Jul-2009
Footwear retailer Mr Shoes has been bought out of administration by its previous owners.
Virgin Megastores’ losses revealed

7-Jul-2009
Music chain Virgin Megastores made operating losses of more than £300m, according to documents filed at Companies House.
Jacques Vert makes full-year pre-tax loss of £2.9m

7-Jul-2009
Womenswear retailer Jacques Vert made a full-year pre-tax loss of £2.9m, compared with a profit of £4.3m the year before, after incurring exceptional charges of £4.9m, mostly related to leases.
Sock Shop opens first store since collapse in 2006

6-Jul-2009
Sock Shop is to open its first outlet in the UK after falling into administration three and a half years ago.
BrightHouse EBITDA jumps 21.5 per cent

6-Jul-2009
Rent-to-own electricals and furniture retailer BrightHouse has defied the economic gloom, revealing a 21.5 per cent hike in EBITDA to £29.4m in its full-year results.
Allied Carpets to cut jobs as some stores prepare to close

3-Jul-2009
Allied Carpets is to slash hundreds of jobs as early as next week as the retailer starts to close stores, according to reports.
Hamleys picks ex-Baugur chief as chairman after board shake-up

3-Jul-2009
Hamleys has appointed Gunnar Sigurdsson, director of failed Icelandic retail investor and former shareholder Baugur, as chairman.
Shoppers flock to buy Michael Jackson music

3-Jul-2009
Entertainment retailers have reported a surge in sales of Michael Jackson’s albums after the sudden death of the music legend last week.
Furniture Village buys World of Leather name

July 3, 2009
Furniture Village has bought the World of Leather brand name to bolster its top-end offer.
Lagging Waterstone’s fails to dampen resurgent HMV

July 3, 2009
Entertainment group HMV impressed the city with improved profits, despite difficulties at its Waterstone’s books chain.
Wickes and B&Q go head to head in summer TV campaigns

July 3, 2009
DIY rivals Wickes and B&Q are battling for customer spend with the launch of ad campaigns.
Vodafone signs Carphone deal after three-year hiatus

2-Jul-2009
Carphone Warehouse is to start selling Vodafone UK contracts in its stores next week after a three-year hiatus.
Tesco ‘considers Northern Rock bid’

1-Jul-2009
Tesco is reported to be considering buying nationalised bank Northern Rock ahead of the next General Election.
European Union approves state loan for Arcandor

1-Jul-2009
The European Union has given approval for the German state to loan insolvent retailer Arcandor €50m (£43m).
B&Q launch monthly bonus scheme for store staff

30-Jun-2009
B&Q has launched a £12m monthly bonus scheme for store staff to incentivise its workforce.
Carpetright profits tumble 72 per cent

30-Jun-2009
Carpetright’s group pre-tax profit has slumped 72 per cent to £16.7m in the 52 weeks to May 2, 2009 as the domestic performance pulled down the group.
Retail round-up: what the weekend papers said, June 27-28, 2009

29-Jun-2009
Sainsbury’s has added David Tyler to the shortlist to replace Philip Hampton as its chairman, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
Beales first-half profits slide as outlook remains uncertain

29-Jun-2009
Department store operator Beales has revealed its pre-tax profits fell from £570,000 to £540,000 in the 26 weeks to May 2.
Asos reveals record year as profits soar 93 per cent

29-Jun-2009
Online fashion retailer Asos has revealed a record year for sales and earnings, with pre-tax profits rocketing 93 per cent to £14m in the year to March 31.
99p Stores guns for growth as profits soar

June 26, 2009
Value retailer 99p Stores is gunning to break the £200m turnover barrier and operate 120 stores by the end its financial year.
Focus weighs up options for costly closed stores

June 26, 2009
Struggling DIY chain Focus is exploring “all avenues” as it seeks to shake off the £12m-a-year strain its 20-plus closed stores are putting it under.
Halfords calls on mobile phone market to offset sat-nav slump

June 26, 2009
Halfords is to start selling mobile phones online and in 100 of its largest stores as it seeks to expand its in-car technology offer.
Administration looms for Allied Carpets division

25-Jun-2009
Allied Carpets Properties, a subsidiary of the carpets retailer, has filed notice of intention to appoint an administrator. BDO Stoy Hayward is understood to have been lined up for the role.
Sir Philip Green teams up with Simon Cowell on joint venture

24-Jun-2009
Arcadia’s Sir Philip Green is setting up an international entertainment company with music mogul Simon Cowell, marking the retail boss’s first foray into the showbiz world.
Student alleges disability discrimination by Abercrombie & Fitch

24-Jun-2009
Abercrombie & Fitch is being sued by a law student who claims she was forced to work in a stockroom because her prosthetic arm did not fit the chain’s image.
Ikea makes redundancies as growth slows

24-Jun-2009
Ikea has made 5,000 redundancies this year as it seeks to navigate through the toughest furniture market in memory.
Sainsbury’s considers two City stalwarts for chairman role

22-Jun-2009
Sainsbury’s is considering two City big-hitters to replace outgoing chairman Sir Philip Hampton.
Waitrose value range lifts sales

22-Jun-2009
Waitrose sales have been lifted by its value range as cash-strapped shoppers seek out lower prices in the recession.
Hamleys makes a loss of £2.7m

12-Jun-2009
Iconic toy retailer Hamleys made a loss of £2.7m in the year to March 31, 2008 as its annual interest bill increased.
Aggressive Ackman falls flat after failed Target coup

June 12, 2009
The latest boardroom battle that William Ackman, head of US hedge fund Pershing Square Capital Management, has waged has ended in tears – literally, according to US reports.
Steamer profits lift as it defies dire market

June 12, 2009
Kitchenware retailer Steamer Trading Cookshop has defied dire trading conditions to reveal a lift in full-year profits.
Cos to open fifth UK store

11-Jun-2009
Cos, Swedish fashion retailer H&M’s sister chain, is to open its fifth UK store on London’s Kensington High Street in September.
Tesco bank unveils new Edinburgh headquarters

11-Jun-2009
Tesco has opened its retail bank’s new headquarters in Edinburgh, which was yesterday hailed as a vote of confidence for the embattled Scottish financial sector.
Versace hires new chief

11-Jun-2009
Italian luxury fashion brand Versace has appointed Gian Giacomo Ferraris as its new chief executive after the resignation of Giancarlo Di Risio last week.
Sainsbury’s freezes bonuses for executives

11-Jun-2009
Sainsbury’s has imposed a bonus freeze on its executives as it was revealed that boss Justin King took home £5m last year.
Homebase records first quarterly like-for-like sales growth since 2007

11-Jun-2009
Home Retail Group has revealed a better than expected sales performance in its first quarter as it grew market share and benefited from the warm weather.
Government extends credit insurance relief period

10-Jun-2009
The Government has bowed to business pressure and amended its trade credit insurance top-up scheme revealed in April.
Halfords profits rise as consumers holiday at home

10-Jun-2009
Halfords pre-tax profits rose 2.4 per cent to £92.4m in the 52 weeks to April 3 as the retailer maintained a tight grip on costs and benefited from consumers holidaying at home.
Andy Hornby set to earn more than £1m at Boots

9-Jun-2009
Andy Hornby is set to earn more that £1m a year as Alliance Boots chief executive.
Sports Direct plans bonus scheme for 2,000 staff

8-Jun-2009
Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley is planning to implement a £50m bonus scheme that could result in 2,000 employees receiving a year’s salary in free shares.
Alliance Boots hires former HBOS chief Andy Hornby

8-Jun-2009
Updated: Alliance Boots has confirmed it will hire former HBOS boss Andy Hornby as its new chief executive.
JD Sports like-for-like sales continue to rise

8-Jun-2009
JD Sports Fashion group like-for-like sales increased 1.7 per cent in the eight weeks to May 30.
Wyevale appoints new chairman

5-Jun-2009
Wyevale Garden Centres has appointed Andrew Sells as its new chairman.
John Lewis bolsters electricals with hiring

5-Jun-2009
John Lewis has appointed the co-founder of furniture retailer Feather & Black to be director of buying for electricals and home technology, in the latest change to its senior team.
Kingfisher surprises City with ‘stormingly good’ first quarter

June 5, 2009
Kingfisher beat analysts’ forecasts with its first-quarter trading update and wants to capitalise on the Irish market now that rival Wickes has halted its expansion plans there.
Loyalty schemes

June 5, 2009
As Homebase becomes the latest retailer to sign to Nectar, we ask how loyalty schemes work and what benefits they can bring
Possible sale on cards for Borders

3-Jun-2009
New funding is being sought for Borders UK, which could result in a possible sale.
Kingfisher profits soar 38.5 per cent in first quarter

2-Jun-2009
Kingfisher’s retail profit surged 38.5 per cent to £128m in the 13 weeks to May 2, beating expectations as seasonal products and favourable weather lifted sales.
Poundland EBITDA soars 27 per cent

2-Jun-2009
Poundland’s EBITDA has rocketed 27 per cent to £20m in the year to March 29.
Morleys Stores acquires Upminster's Roomes department store

1-Jun-2009
The owner of department store Elys of Wimbledon, Morleys Stores, has acquired Roomes department store in Upminster.
Retail round-up: what the weekend papers said on May 30-31, 2009

1-Jun-2009
Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose told The Observer that the glass ceiling in the workplace no longer exists “despite the fact that some of you [women] moan about it all the time”.
Hamleys axes chiefs in cost-cutting drive

29-May-2009
Iconic toy retailer Hamleys has parted company with two senior directors as part of a restructure of its head office, which could also result in a third of staff being axed.
Clinton Cards in bid to buy back 150 profitable Birthdays shops

May 29, 2009
Clinton Cards wants to keep the Birthdays brand alive by buying back up to 150 stores, following its collapse into administration.
Topps Tiles pre-tax profits slump, but stay ahead of expectations

27-May-2009
Pre-tax profits at Topps Tiles have slumped from £17.6m to £7.5m in the 26 weeks to March 28, although the figure exceeds analysts’ forecasts.
Pedestrianised Oxford Street pulls in 500,000 shoppers

26-May-2009
Up to £50m was spent in London’s West End stores on Saturday as 500,000 shoppers took advantage of a traffic-free Oxford Street.
Tesco staff share £98m in bonuses

26-May-2009
More than 207,000 Tesco staff are to share £98m in bonuses after the grocer’s recent record results.
Borders reviews store portfolio

22-May-2009
Borders UK has held talks with a restructuring specialist to advise it on its store portfolio.
Ikea exercises caution as furniture market toughens

May 22, 2009
Ikea group president and chief executive Anders Dahlvig has offered some words of warning for retailers in the Western world.
JJB Sports posts a loss as sales slump

21-May-2009
JJB Sports like-for-likes plummeted 23.3 per cent in the 16 weeks to May 17 as it revealed its supply suffered as a result of a lack of credit insurance.
Clinton hopes to retain selected Birthdays stores despite administration

21-May-2009
UPDATED: Cards group Clinton intends to maintain an interest in Birthdays, despite placing the chain into administration.
French Connection UK and Europe sales rise while North America and Asia suffers

20-May-2009
French Connection’s UK and European like-for-likes increased 2 per cent in the 11 weeks to May 16.
Next shareholders revolt over pay plans

20-May-2009
Next shareholders have revolted against the fashion retailer’s remuneration report.
JD Sports acquires French sports retailer Chausport

20-May-2009
JD Sports Fashion has acquired French sports retailer Chausport, as first revealed by Retail Week.
British Bookshops bought by Endless

18-May-2009
British Bookshops has been bought by The Works owner Endless.
Andy Bond to deliver BRC’s Annual Retail Lecture

18-May-2009
Asda chief executive Andy Bond is to deliver the British Retail Consortium’s inaugural Annual Retail Lecture on Tuesday.
JD Sports set for European debut

15-May-2009
Speculation mounts that sports giant JD Sports will pounce on French chain as it considers overseas move
Ikea global chief says UK furniture worst hit

15-May-2009
Ikea global president and chief executive Anders Dahlvig has described the UK furniture market as “the worst he’s ever seen it” and believes there is no other furniture market in the world suffering more.
Pets at Home outlines ambitious growth target after sales jump

May 15, 2009
Pets at Home is ramping up its expansion plans as it seeks to increase its share of the pet market.
Marks & Spencer launches Premium Club

13-May-2009
Marks & Spencer is tomorrow launching a membership club for customers with an M&S Money credit card.
Morrisons chief executive Marc Bolland’s salary rises 13 per cent

12-May-2009
Morrisons chief executive Marc Bolland has been awarded a 13 per cent increase in his base salary to £800,000.
Consumer confidence falls as unemployment concerns grow

11-May-2009
Consumer confidence has fallen nine points since last October, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium and Nielsen.
Wickes owner Travis Perkins secures rights issue to raise £300m

11-May-2009
DIY chain Wickes’ parent company, builders’ merchant Travis Perkins, has secured a rights issue to raise £300m.
Food price inflation falls

11-May-2009
Food prices fell 1.2 per cent from March to April and were up 7.6 per cent on the previous year. The year-on-year rise was the slowest increase so far this year, suggesting food inflation may have finally peaked.
Carpetright targets high street as property prices plummet

8-May-2009
Carpetright, the UK’s largest flooring retailer, is shifting its focus from out-of-town back to the high street to take advantage of falling rents, which have plunged by as much as 50 per cent.
Clas Ohlson plans 10 UK stores in a year

May 8, 2009
Swedish hardware chain Clas Ohlson is ramping up its UK expansion plans as it explores its long-term ambitions for Europe.
Wyevale axes carbon neutrality promise

May 8, 2009
Garden centre chain Wyevale has scrapped plans to become carbon neutral by 2010 after its new management deemed the pledge “unrealistic”.
MPs call for more scrutiny of pre-packs

6-May-2009
MPs have called for tighter regulations and more scrutiny of pre-pack administrations.
Pets at Home profits rocket 29 per cent

6-May-2009
Pets at Home has revealed a profit hike of 29 per cent in the 52 weeks to March 26, 2009 but said it is cautious about the year ahead.
Boots Opticians successfully merges with Dollond & Aitchison

5-May-2009
Alliance Boots has successfully merged Boots Opticians with Dollond & Aitchison, forming the second biggest optical chain in the UK.
Retailers lead business revolt against Heathrow third runway

5-May-2009
Retailers have called on Government to reconsider plans for a third runway at London’s Heathrow airport.
Metro profits halve in first quarter

5-May-2009
First quarter operating profits at German grocer Metro have halved due to currency devaluations.
Waterstone's to axe up to 650 positions

1-May-2009
Waterstone’s is to axe up to 650 positions across all its 300 branches following the retailer’s move to a new distribution centre and a change in working patterns.
April's fashion and gift sales up while homewares continues to suffer

1-May-2009
Fashion and gift retailers enjoyed a lift to sales in April while homewares continued to suffer.
Carpetright director John Kitching leaves board to focus on sister brand

1-May-2009
Carpetright executive director John Kitching will leave the retailer’s board to focus on his role as managing director of sister brand Storey Carpets.
Carpetright increases ad spend as it focuses on TV to halt sales slide

May 1, 2009
Carpetright will up its ad spend 15 per cent and alter its marketing strategy as sales fall in the tough big-ticket furniture sector.
Kate Swann

May 1, 2009
She may have a formidable reputation, but there’s no doubting Kate Swann’s success in reshaping WHSmith
WHSmith considers increasing presence in overseas airports

May 1, 2009
WHSmith is contemplating further overseas expansion of its travel business by opening in more foreign airports.
Allied Carpets chief operating officer Jean Wattel resigns

30-Apr-2009
Allied Carpets chief operating officer Jean Wattel has resigned from the carpet retailer weeks after restructuring specialist Hilco bought the company.
Hilco emerges as owner of Allied Carpets

29-Apr-2009
Turnaround specialist Hilco has emerged as the owner of Allied Carpets.
Carpetright like-for-likes continue to slump as margins slip

28-Apr-2009
Carpetright’s like-for-like sales have continued to tumble but it has successfully renegotiated its banking terms.
Retail insolvencies rise 60 per cent

27-Apr-2009
Retail collapses soared in the first quarter as companies fell victim to falling consumer confidence and a deteriorating financing environment.
Asos sales soar 104 per cent

27-Apr-2009
Sales at online fashion retailer Asos have rocketed 104 per cent to £165m in the 12 months to March 31, 2009.
Game posts record year but slower start to 2009

April 24, 2009
Game’s underlying pre-tax profit rocketed 67 per cent to £126.2m in the 53 weeks to January 31, although present trade has slowed.
Halfords to overhaul supply chain as it strives to cut costs

April 24, 2009
Bicycle and car maintenance specialist Halfords is rethinking its supply chain and distribution centre network in an effort to save costs and drive efficiencies.
Hamleys to exit House of Fraser as it eyes bigger stores

April 24, 2009
Hamleys is pulling the plug on its House of Fraser concessions as it concentrates on opening large standalone stores in the UK.
Euler Hermes welcomes credit insurance scheme but criticises banks

22-Apr-2009
Euler Hermes has welcomed the Government’s credit insurance scheme while lambasting banks for not lending.
Budget 2009: Darling’s credit insurance top-up scheme ‘too little, too late’

22-Apr-2009
Updated: Chancellor Alistair Darling has confirmed that the Government will implement a credit insurance top-up scheme, under which it will match insurance offered by the private sector.
Record year for Game but current trading slips

22-Apr-2009
Game’s underlying pre-tax profit rocketed 67 per cent to £126.2m in the 53 weeks to January 31.
B&Q awards £9m of shares to staff

21-Apr-2009
B&Q is awarding £9m of shares in parent company Kingfisher to more than 300 store managers in order to maintain high store operating standards.
Alexon rejects approach to acquire business

21-Apr-2009
Fashion group Alexon has rejected an unsolicited approach from an unnamed third party wanting to acquire the retailer.
Retail round-up: what the weekend papers said, April 18-19

20-Apr-2009
Carphone Warehouse puts off plan to split companyBest Buy in advanced talks to open 30 UK storesFootball body Fifa signs deal to produce fashion-led sportswearDesigner Amanda Wakeley buys her labelLord Sainsbury gives away £1bn to charitable causesMPs may step into row between John Lewis and textile employees
London like-for-likes climb 5.1 per cent

20-Apr-2009
London retail sales grew 5.1 per cent on a like-for-like basis in March, outperforming the UK as a whole which declined 1.2 per cent.
Nearly 20,000 jobs threatened by business rates rise

19-Apr-2009
Business rates rises could kill off nearly 600 retail businesses resulting in 19,300 redundancies by 2012, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Robert Dyas sets out plans after buyout

April 17, 2009
Hardware chain Robert Dyas has laid out a three-year strategy to revitalise the business after completing a management buyout last week.
David Wild

April 17, 2009
Halfords hasn’t escaped the recession but former Tesco and Wal-Mart man David Wild says he’s confident of light at the end of the tunnel
Dwell seeks foothold in concessions arena

April 17, 2009
Mid-market furniture chain Dwell is opening department store concessions for the first time as it seeks to widen its appeal.
Original Factory Shop plans its ‘biggest year ever’ for new stores

April 17, 2009
Value retailer Original Factory Shop revealed customer numbers were up 12 per cent in the 14 weeks to March 29 as it prepares for its “biggest year ever” for store openings.
Ann Summers co-founder Ralph Gold bought out for £56.5m

15-Apr-2009
Sex toys and lingerie chain Ann Summers co-founder Ralph Gold pocketed a £56.5m dividend as he sold his entire stake in the chain to his older brother.
Original Factory Shop like-for-likes soar

14-Apr-2009
Discount retailer Original Factory Shop has revealed a like-for-like sales hike of 12 per cent in the 14 weeks to March 29 as it attracts cash-strapped consumers.
Interest rate kept at 0.5 per cent

9-Apr-2009
The interest rate has been kept on hold at 0.5 per cent after a series of sharp cuts over the past six months.
Borders US fears grow as market woes widen losses

April 9, 2009
Embattled bookseller Borders US has plunged further into the red, prompting some experts in the US to suggest Chapter 11 bankruptcy may be its only chance of survival.
Cargo to open garden centre concessions

April 9, 2009
Furniture and homewares retailer Cargo will this week launch its first concession in a garden centre as it seeks to widen its appeal.
DIY chains prepare Easter ad campaigns

April 9, 2009
DIY retailers are gearing up for the crucial Easter trading period with a series of high-profile marketing campaigns, but trade could be hit by changeable weather.
Strong range and academic focus help Blackwell defy downturn

April 9, 2009
Academic bookseller Blackwell is defying the slump in the book industry, with like-for-likes up 2 per cent in its financial year to date.
Robert Dyas completes management buyout

8-Apr-2009
Hardware retailer Robert Dyas has completed its management buyout.
New website highlights business impact of empty rates

7-Apr-2009
The British Property Federation has launched a website highlighting the impact empty property rates have on businesses.
Half of Brits fear losing their jobs, according to Asda survey

7-Apr-2009
Half the population fear losing their jobs during the next six months and two thirds would be prepared to take a pay cut or a reduction in hours to avoid being made redundant, according to an Asda survey.
Robert Dyas pays owners £2.75m

7-Apr-2009
Robert Dyas has paid its private equity owners Change Capital £2.75m in fees for ‘strategic’ advice, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Half of Brits fear losing their jobs, according to Asda survey

7-Apr-2009
Half the population fear losing their jobs during the next six months and two thirds would be prepared to take a pay cut or a reduction in hours to avoid being made redundant, according to an Asda survey.
Robert Dyas moves closer to rescue deal

6-Apr-2009
Robert Dyas chief executive Steven Round is close to completing a management buyout of the business.
M&S latest retailer to clothe the Obamas

3-Apr-2009
Marks & Spencer is the latest retailer to clothe the family of US President Barack Obama.
Argos launches entertainment website

3-Apr-2009
Argos has launched an entertainment website selling 125,000 CDs and DVDs.
Dreams defies furniture sector gloom with 18% jump in profits

April 3, 2009
Bed specialist Dreams has triumphed over grim furniture retail conditions by revealing an 18 per cent hike in operating profits to £14.4m in the year to December 25.
Hobbs profits decline

April 3, 2009
Upmarket fashion retailer Hobbs has revealed full-year pre-tax profits slid from £21.3m to £18.8m, on sales up 3.6 per cent to £101.6m.
Ian Cheshire pledges B&Q China turnaround after sales slump

April 3, 2009
B&Q owner Kingfisher will “reinvent” its store model in China as it prepares to slash shop space in the country by 40 per cent.
Clinton Cards profits slump but banking facilities renegotiated until 2012

31-Mar-2009
Clinton Cards’ profit has plummeted but the retailer has successfully renegotiated its banking terms, which will be extended until January 2012.
M&S shareholder calls for new chairman within 15 months

30-Mar-2009
A major Marks & Spencer shareholder has called on the retailer to appoint an independent chairman within 15 months.
New Waterford Wedgwood owner to invest €100m

27-Mar-2009
The new owners of crockery and glassware company Waterford Wedgwood will pump €100m (£92.5m) into the business and embark on an aggressive growth strategy.
Row breaks out over Chris Ronnie's exit from JJB

27-Mar-2009
Chris Ronnie's exit from JJB Sports could be scrutinised in the law courts after a row broke out on whether he jumped or was pushed from the company.
Jessops wins concessions on swathe of properties

27-Mar-2009
Jessops renegotiated rental terms with half its landlords by Wednesday’s quarterly rent day, which was the retail sector’s toughest payment day in 18 years.
B&Q website to take advantage of ‘world-class’ Screwfix fulfilment

27-Mar-2009
B&Q and its sister brand Screwfix are sharing fulfilment capabilities as parent company Kingfisher seeks to expand its UK trade businessand find synergies between the two businesses.
Former Asda stalwart joins Wilkinson team

27-Mar-2009
Topps Tiles like-for-likes continue to decline

25-Mar-2009
Topps Tiles expects to report an 18 per cent slump in like-for-like sales for the 26 weeks to March 28.
Jessops says it will pay quarterly rent bill

24-Mar-2009
Jessops has said it will have no problem meeting its quarterly rent bill that is due this week after speculation cast doubt on the retailer’s ability to pay.
Allied Carpets rescued by investment fund

24-Mar-2009
Allied Carpets has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by an offshore investment fund backed by US investors.
Woolworths' former book wholesale arm sold to Smiths News

23-Mar-2009
Bertram, the book wholesaler formerly owned by collapsed retailer Woolworths, has been sold to Smiths News for £8.6m.
Retail round-up: What the weekend papers said on March 21-22, 2009

23-Mar-2009
Asda has embarked on a round of “tough” negotiations with its suppliers as the price war with its rivals intensifies. According to The Observer, pricing terms of nearly all 30,000 products are under scrutiny, including those made by Unilever.
Games sales help retailers defy downturn

23-Mar-2009
Entertainment retailers were lifted by rising sales of computer games last year, according to the Entertainment Retailers Association.
Lombok lightens up with new collection

20-Mar-2009
Upmarket furniture and homewares retailer Lombok has launched its first range of light wood furniture as it seeks to attract a wider audience.
Credit insurance fury reaches boiling point

20-Mar-2009
Retailers are turning the heat up on the Government to intervene in the credit insurance crisis.
Robert Dyas appoints turnaround specialist

20-Mar-2009
Hardware retailer Robert Dyas has appointed a turnaround specialist, fueling further speculation about the chain's financial stability.
The challenges of the crunch

19-Mar-2009
Three emerging retailers have been discussing the opportunities and challenges of growing a retail business, particularly in the present challenging economic conditions.
Kingfisher to reward store managers with company shares

18-Mar-2009
Home improvement giant Kingfisher is to reward high-performing store managers with shares worth up to six months of their salary.
Retail round-up: what the weekend papers said, March 14-15

16-Mar-2009
The Treasury has intervened in Dave Whelan’s proposed £70m acquisition of JJB Sports’ health and fitness chain, according to The Observer.
Marks & Spencer to extend branded food trial

16-Mar-2009
Marks & Spencer is to extend its trial of branded food products to 20 stores in the Southeast.
London like-for-likes continue to outperform UK

13-Mar-2009
London retail sales continued to outperform the rest of the UK in February when they rose 5.9 per cent like for like, according to the British Retail Consortium-KPMG London Retail Sales Monitor.
Next refuses to pay all of Westfield's service charges

13-Mar-2009
Fashion retailer Next is refusing to pay part of its service charge at Westfield London after the property developer increased its fees within days of the shopping centre opening.
Land of Leather founders plot sofa chain comeback

13-Mar-2009
The founders of collapsed retailer Land of Leather are to launch a new furniture chain in the midst of the toughest big-ticket retail environment in memory.
WHSmith launches site for entertainment offer

13-Mar-2009
WHSmith has launched a dedicated entertainment website selling more than 200,000 products.
B&Q scoops employee engagement award

11-Mar-2009
B&Q’s workforce has been ranked as one of the most engaged in the world for the third year running by workplace behaviour experts Gallup.
Selfridges Easter chocolate sales rocket 80 per cent

10-Mar-2009
Easter chocolate sales at Selfridges have soared 80 per cent and overall confectionery sales have jumped by more than 30 per cent as shoppers look for affordable gifts for family and friends.
Former Woolworths manager set to open Wellworths store

10-Mar-2009
A former manager with the defunct Woolworths chain will reopen her store as Wellworths on Wednesday.
Retail like-for-likes fall 1.8 per cent in February

10-Mar-2009
Retail sales slid 1.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis in February, according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.
Majestic Wine acquires Lay & Wheeler

6-Mar-2009
Majestic Wine has acquired fine wine specialist Lay & Wheeler for £4.75m in cash plus £1m in net debt.
Drag queen jailed for WHSmith bomb hoax

6-Mar-2009
A 19-year-old drag queen who made a hoax bomb threat to WHSmith’s head office has been jailed for 14 months.
UK non-food like-for-likes fall in February

6-Mar-2009
UK non-food retail like-for-like sales slumped 8.1 per cent in February, according to BDO Stoy Hayward's Like 4 Like Club figures, which revealed fashion sales were down on homewares.
Build-A-Bear lowers its entry price point

6-Mar-2009
Toy specialist Build-A-Bear Workshop has lowered its entry price point to draw in customers in the downturn, as it revealed a robust full-year performance.
Nick Moore: In the hot seat

6-Mar-2009
Conran Shop boss Nick Moore tells Nicola Harrison why top-quality furniture and service will survive recessionary times
Praktiker cuts worker hours in attempt to stave off job losses

6-Mar-2009
German home improvement retailer Praktiker has introduced shorter working hours in a third of its stores as it seeks to cut costs in the economic downturn.
MFI leases cost Galiform £100m

5-Mar-2009
The MFI leases that reverted back to former parent company Galiform when the furniture retailer collapsed last year have cost it nearly £100m.
Borders restructures head office for second time in 12 months

3-Mar-2009
Bookseller Borders has restructured its head office for the second time in 12 months, resulting in three people leaving the business and the creation of a merchandising department and two new director positions.
Carphone Warehouse sells South African call centre subsidiary

3-Mar-2009
Carphone Warehouse has completed the sale of its South African call centre subsidiary The Phone House.
DSGi to roll out new store formats

3-Mar-2009
DSGi has revealed its store transformation programme is performing ahead of expectations and will roll out the new formats over the next 12 months.
Analyst lambasts Sir Stuart Rose for making 'no financial progress' at M&S

3-Mar-2009
Marks & Spencer must change its strategy in a “fundamental way”, close its Simply Food stores and open a new chain to attract young consumers if it is to thrive, a leading retail analyst has said.
Smallbone suspends shares as it begins strategic review

3-Mar-2009
Upmarket furniture retailer Smallbone has suspended its shares as it launches a strategic review of the business amid torrid trading conditions.
280 Comet staff in consultation

2-Mar-2009
Electricals retailer Comet has begun a consultation with 280 of its office-based staff as it consolidates its head office functions and closes four of its 18 service centres.
Zavvi website relaunched as rights sold by administrator

2-Mar-2009
Zavvi’s website has been relaunched today and is selling sportswear, lingerie and perfume alongside the entertainment items traditionally associated with the now defunct retailer.
Oddbins suffers after collapse of wine supplier

2-Mar-2009
High street off-licence Oddbins is suffering from a shortage of wine after French customs officials impounded stock following the collapse of its shipping company.
Waterford Wedgwood bought by US private equity firm KPS

27-Feb-2009
Waterford Wedgwood’s UK and Irish business has been sold to US private equity firm KPS.
Toy retailers lap up Woolworths' market share

27-Feb-2009
Specialist toy retailers’ sales have surged since the demise of Woolworths enabled them to seize market share.
'Son of Zavvi' will only be taking short leases

27-Feb-2009
Head, the entertainment retailer launched by the former boss of defunct Zavvi, has only taken short-term leases on stores bought from the administrator, raising questions over its long-term plans.
Wickes chief warns ‘there isn’t room’ for DIY big four

27-Feb-2009
One of the biggest DIY retailers has warned that the sector is not big enough for the existing four big hitters to survive the recession and has raised the prospect of a price war.
Play.com expects to grow share despite market woes

27-Feb-2009
Entertainment e-tailer Play.com expects to continue to increase its market share for at least the next five years, despite facing tougher comparatives.
Kingfisher expected to ride out downturn

27-Feb-2009
DIY giant Kingfisher is expected to emerge stronger from the downturn, but weakening performances in some international markets have prompted City caution about short-term prospects.
Lowe’s and Home Depot hit as consumer downturn bites

27-Feb-2009
The steep fall in consumer spending battered fourth-quarter profits at Home Depot and Lowe’s, the world’s two biggest home improvement retailers.
Habitat confirms move into Middle East and Russia

26-Feb-2009
Habitat has confirmed it is to open stores in the Middle East and Russia this year.
Borders sheds staff and freezes pay

26-Feb-2009
Bookseller Borders UK is restructuring its head office and implementing a pay freeze as the recession takes its toll on the business.
HobbyCraft appoints head of marketing

26-Feb-2009
Arts and craft retailer HobbyCraft has appointed Lisa Looker as head of marketing.
Carrefour stalks Russia's Seventh Continent

25-Feb-2009
French retail giant Carrefour has made a non-binding offer to buy Russian food retailer Seventh Continent.
Home Depot's profits almost halve

24-Feb-2009
The world’s biggest home improvement retailer, Home Depot, revealed that consolidated profit plunged by nearly 50 per cent last year as it suffered amid the US housing slump.
Grocers blamed for abandoned trolleys in UK waterways

24-Feb-2009
Grocers have being urged to take more action to prevent supermarket trolleys being abandoned in canals and rivers.
Pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond's profits soar

24-Feb-2009
Pawnbroker Albemarle & Bond’s profits jumped 19 per cent in the six months to December 31 as consumers sought alternative credit sources because of banks' 'inflexible' lending practices.
Primark like-for-likes rise 5 per cent

23-Feb-2009
Value fashion retailer Primark has continued to attract cash-strapped consumers, generating a further sales rise.
Grocers accused of misleading labelling

20-Feb-2009
Retailers are selling meat products with misleading information about where they are sourced, according to the Conservative Party.
Euan Sutherland: Home improvement

20-Feb-2009
As B&Q celebrates turning 40, Nicola Harrison talks to boss Euan Sutherland about his master plan to revitalise the brand
Volatile economy hits Laura Ashley profits

20-Feb-2009
Laura Ashley has issued a profit warning after suffering in the “volatile economic climate”.
Majority of store chiefs gloomy about 2009 outlook

19-Feb-2009
Two thirds of retailers do not expect trading conditions to improve before the end of this year.
Zavvi name disappears from the high street

18-Feb-2009
Zavvi’s former chief executive Simon Douglas has bought eight stores from administrator Ernst & Young and plans to rebrand them under the fascia Head.
Body Shop profits dive

18-Feb-2009
Body Shop’s profits slumped from €64m in 2007 to €36m in 2008, dragging down the performance of parent company L'Oreal.
Grocers rubbish claims that they produce too much waste

17-Feb-2009
Retailers have hit out at local authorities that say supermarkets should pay recycling costs because they produce too much waste.
Debenhams and Arcadia race to buy Principles

17-Feb-2009
Debenhams and Top Shop-owner Arcadia are battling it out to take control of Principles, the Icelandic-backed fashion chain.
Laura Ashley warns on profits

17-Feb-2009
Laura Ashley has issued a profit warning after suffering in the “volatile economic climate”.
Booksellers fury at BAA's exclusive WHSmith deal

13-Feb-2009
Book retailers have hit out at airport operator BAA's decision to grant exclusive rights to WHSmith to operate all specialist bookshops in its London airports.
Sofa Workshop founder outlines plan for revival

13-Feb-2009
Sofa Workshop's founder and new owner has vowed to give the retailer back its 'sparkle' after lambasting former owner MFI’s management of the business.
City quells revival hopes despite gains in January

13-Feb-2009
Retail sales in January grew at their strongest rate since May last year, but analysts warned it is too early to call a recovery.
B&Q sells loft insulation at £1 a roll

12-Feb-2009
B&Q is selling loft insulation at £1 a roll, which the DIY giant claims is the cheapest it has ever been sold at.
Retailers cautiously optimistic on Valentine's Day sales

12-Feb-2009
Nearly half of retailers heavily reliant on Valentine’s Day expect sales to remain flat or increase on last year.
Land of Leather poised to make more redundancies

11-Feb-2009
More redundancies are looking increasingly likely at Land of Leather as administrator Deloitte has so far failed to find a buyer for the business as a going concern.
Union accuses Deloitte of 'serious legal breaches' over Woolworths redundancies

10-Feb-2009
Union Usdaw is making an Employment Tribunal claim against Woolworths administrator Deloitte, seeking a protective award for its members in the defunct retailers' stores and distribution centres.
WH Smith corners airport market with exclusive BAA contract

10-Feb-2009
WH Smith is poised to corner the airport market as it enters into a contract with BAA that will see all the airport operator’s book stores operated by the retailer.
Marks & Spencer admits mistakes in Shanghai

10-Feb-2009
Marks & Spencer has conceded it made several “basic shopkeeping” mistakes when it opened its first store in mainland China.
JJB confirms interest in its fitness clubs

10-Feb-2009
Sports retailer JJB Sports has confirmed interest from a number of parties about the possible sale of its fitness clubs arm.
Retail like-for-likes up 1.1% in January

10-Feb-2009
Like-for-like retail sales figures rose 1.1 per cent in January, the biggest increase since May, although the outlook remains 'challenging'.
Baugur: Retailers' hopes high for high street future

6-Feb-2009
The retail industry has reacted with a degree of optimism that the demise of Baugur could signal the end of months of uncertainty for its brands and ring in positive changes to the high street.
Ailing Irish retailers call on government for protection

6-Feb-2009
Irish retailers have urged their government to take action to ease the mounting pressures on beleaguered companies suffering in the recession.
Woolworths online rebirth to tap entertainment

6-Feb-2009
Woolworths is to be reborn as a serious player in the online entertainment market under the ownership of Shop Direct.
The White Company sales leap over Christmas

4-Feb-2009
Upmarket homewares and clothing retailer The White Company saw sales climb 14 per cent in the 10 weeks to December 27.
Woolworths directors to be scrutinised by Deloitte

4-Feb-2009
The actions of Woolworths’ directors will be reviewed by its administrator Deloitte after creditors questioned whether the retailer should have stopped trading earlier.
Iceland continues to record strong sales growth

3-Feb-2009
Frozen food retailer Iceland recorded year-on-year sales growth of 16 per cent in the 12 weeks to January 26, according to new market research data.
BRC produces US product safety standard

3-Feb-2009
Some of world’s biggest retailers will have to adhere to the British Retail Consortium's product safety standard following an agreement with North America's leading retail trade association.
Whistles finds new financing

3-Feb-2009
Womenswear retailer Whistles has found new financing as it fights to ease the strain placed on the business last year when Icelandic bank Glitnir collapsed.
Waterford Wedgwood receives bid offer from Clarion

2-Feb-2009
Waterford Wedgwood has received a bid from US private equity firm Clarion Capital.
Most retailers report like-for-like Christmas sales growth

2-Feb-2009
More than half (52 per cent) of retailers reported positive like-for-like sales over the Christmas period.
EBTM sales plummet

30-Jan-2009
EBTM, the online retailer of music inspired fashion, has revealed losses of £435,352 before interest, tax and depreciation in the six months to October 31, 2008.
Sofa Workshop bought out by founder

30-Jan-2009
Sofa Workshop has been bought out of administration by a consortium led by founder Andrew Cussins.
1,000 shoe stores could close as recession bites

30-Jan-2009
The UK footwear sector could be on the brink of the biggest shake-up since the demise of the British Shoe Corporation at the end of the 1990s, according to Verdict Research.
Retail chiefs call for Government support

30-Jan-2009
Store chiefs have called for decisive government action to support retailers after business secretary Lord Mandelson threw a 2.3bn lifeline to the car industry.
WHSmith on growth trail despite sales dip

30-Jan-2009
WHSmith is eyeing several former Woolworths stores as it seeks to extend its portfolio by 44 shops by the end of its financial year in August.
Administrators close 12 more Zavvi stores

29-Jan-2009
A further 12 Zavvi stores have been closed by administrator Ernst & Young, resulting in 295 redundancies.
Homebase in consultation with 300 store staff

28-Jan-2009
Homebase is in consultation with up to 300 of its staff as the struggling DIY retailer seeks to realign its store leadership structure in the difficult trading environment.
Sainsbury's trials in-store mobile phone charging service

28-Jan-2009
Sainsbury’s is to trial a mobile phone charging service in its stores.
Gamestation consults staff ahead of central office merger

27-Jan-2009
Game has begun a consultation process with 80 of its Gamestation staff at its head office in York as it realigns its management across the group.
Retail sales plummet in early January, CBI figures show

27-Jan-2009
Nearly two thirds of retailers experienced a fall in sales volumes in the first half of January, and February is expected to be just as tough.
Tesco appoints group finance director

27-Jan-2009
Tesco has appointed Laurie Mcllwee as its new group finance director with effect from January 27.
ProCook to close all high street stores

27-Jan-2009
Kitchenware retailer ProCook is to close all its high street stores as it focuses on internet sales and factory outlet stores after being bought out of administration last year.
Comet presses suppliers to pay for shopfloor displays

27-Jan-2009
Electricals retailer Comet has told suppliers they must pay up to £15,400 to have each of their product lines displayed on the shopfloor.
Land of Leather closes 33 stores

26-Jan-2009
Land of Leather is to close 33 stores after it collapsed into administration earlier this month.
UK in recession as ONS reports December retail sales value fall

23-Jan-2009
The UK plunged into recession for the first time since the early 1990s, official figures confirmed this morning.
Insurance rescue plan falls short, claims BRC

23-Jan-2009
Government plans to shore up businesses hit by the withdrawal of credit insurance cover should go further, say retailers.
Somerfield posts strong Christmas

21-Jan-2009
Grocery chain Somerfield performed well over the Christmas period, with like-for-likes excluding fuel jumping 3.7 per cent in the 3 weeks to January 3.
Go Outdoors to create 1,000 jobs

21-Jan-2009
Outdoor retailer Go Outdoors will create 1,000 new retail jobs as it aims to triple its store portfolio over the next two years.
Home Retail Group buys Chad Valley toy brand

20-Jan-2009
Argos parent Home Retail Group has bought Woolworths' toy brand Chad Valley for £5 million.
Inflation falls to 3.1 per cent

20-Jan-2009
Inflation fell to 3.1 per cent in December, down from 4.1 per cent in November, the Consumer Prices Index showed.
Comet posts robust festive sales

20-Jan-2009
Electricals retailer Comet's like-for-like sales dropped 2.5 per cent over the festive period, although 'strong' post-Christmas sales helped limit the fall.
Woolworths Group applies for administration

19-Jan-2009
The board of Woolworths Group has applied to go in to administration, following the collapse of its retail arm and entertainment division EUK last year.
Focus appoints new commercial director

19-Jan-2009
DIY chain Focus has appointed Penny Teale as its commercial director.
BrightHouse sales up as consumers opt to rent

19-Jan-2009
Rent-to-buy electricals and furniture specialist BrightHouse has revealed underlying revenue increased 13.5 per cent in the 13 weeks to December 28.
Pets at Home like-for-likes up 10.4 per cent

19-Jan-2009
Pets at Home has defied the economic gloom by posting a 10.4 per cent increase in like-for-likes in the six weeks to January 8.
HobbyCraft profits soar

16-Jan-2009
Arts and crafts chain HobbyCraft’s pre-tax profits rocketed 122 per cent to £6.1m in the 10 months to January 4.
Homebase in talks with restructuring specialists

16-Jan-2009
Home Retail Group has approached restructuring specialists to review the store portfolio of its DIY chain Homebase, according to The Times.
HMV arrives on live music scene with venues deal

16-Jan-2009
HMV is to enter the live music arena by buying a 50 per cent stake in a joint venture with venue operator MAMA Group.
Land of Leather gets strong sale interest

16-Jan-2009
Land of Leather has this week received 14 expressions of interest for its business and stores after the furniture retailer collapsed into administration on Monday.
Original Factory Shop and TJ Hughes cash in on festive trading down

16-Jan-2009
Discount retailers Original Factory Shop and TJ Hughes have delivered stellar Christmas results amid a challenging economic climate.
Aldi breaks into flower delivery market

15-Jan-2009
Discount supermarket chain Aldi has this week launched a flower delivery website as it seeks to widen its offer in 2009.
HMV buys music venues and Zavvi stores

14-Jan-2009
HMV has acquired 14 Zavvi stores and is to enter the live music market with the purchase of a 50 per cent stake in a joint venture with venue operator MAMA Group.
The White Company begins consultation period with staff

14-Jan-2009
Upmarket homewares retailer The White Company has begun a consultation period with its employees.
Zavvi closes more stores

14-Jan-2009
A further 18 Zavvi stores will close today, leading to 353 redundancies, as administrator Ernst & Young revealed no offers have been received to take on the whole portfolio.
Allied Carpets in sale talks with Hilco

14-Jan-2009
Allied Carpets has held preliminary talks with restructuring specialist Hilco over a potential sale.
B&Q pulls Olympics sponsorship

14-Jan-2009
DIY retailer B&Q has terminated its sponsorship deal with the British Olympic Association because of the global economic downturn.
Jacques Vert like-for-likes drop 6.8 per cent

13-Jan-2009
Womenswear retailer Jacques Vert has revealed like-for-likes dropped 6.8 per cent in the 26 weeks to October 25, with sales falling from £58.3m to £54.9m.
Topps Tiles like-for-likes plummet

13-Jan-2009
Topps Tiles’ like-for-likes plummeted 18.1 per cent in the 13 weeks to September 28, 2008.
Game like-for-likes up, profits expected to exceed expectations

13-Jan-2009
Game has revealed like-for-likes jumped 11.4 per cent in the UK and Ireland for the 50 weeks to January 10 and the games retailer expects profits for the year to be ahead of expectations.
Habitat appoints group chief executive

12-Jan-2009
Levi Strauss Europe vice president of retail Mark Saunders has been appointed chief executive of Habitat.
Land of Leather in administration

12-Jan-2009
Land of Leather has been placed into administration.
Land of Leather suspends shares

12-Jan-2009
Land of Leather has suspended its shares on the London Stock Exchange.
Foyles like-for-likes climb

12-Jan-2009
Books chain Foyles has revealed its like-for-likes jumped 9 per cent in the year to June 30, 2008.
Pawnbroker H&T's sales climb

12-Jan-2009
Pawnbroker H&T has revealed its like-for-likes climbed 3 per cent over December and believes profits for the year will exceed expectations.
Waterstone's to axe 200 jobs

12-Jan-2009
Books retailer Waterstone’s is to axe 200 jobs as part of a cost-cutting initiative.
Poundland sales soar over Christmas

12-Jan-2009
Poundland enjoyed a strong Christmas, revealing its like-for-like sales climbed 3.9 per cent in the five weeks to January 4, 2009.
Zavvi to close 22 stores

8-Jan-2009
Zavvi is to shut 22 of its stores with immediate effect after it fell in to administration before Christmas.
Wyevale's Andrew Livingston to join Screwfix

8-Jan-2009
Andrew Livingston is leaving Wyevale to join DIY chain Screwfix as its commercial director.
Woolworths' biggest shareholder criticises closure

7-Jan-2009
Woolworths’ largest shareholder has branded yesterday’s closure of the chain as “unnecessary” and lambasted the retailer’s management and administrator Deloitte for allowing it to fail.
Woolworths closes final stores

6-Jan-2009
Woolworths will bring down the shutters for the last time on January 6 as the final group of stores close.
EBTM issues profit warning and considers disposal of group

6-Jan-2009
EBTM, the music-inspired online fashion retailer, has issued a profit warning for the year to April 2009, and is considering a disposal of all or part of the group as it suffers in the downturn.
Dunelm gains market share while like-for-likes drop

6-Jan-2009
Homewares retailer Dunelm has revealed its like-for-likes dropped 5.6 per cent in the 26 weeks to December 27, 2008, and said it is in “very robust shape” to weather the downturn.
Marks and Spencer 'to cut 1,000 jobs'

6-Jan-2009
Marks & Spencer is to shed nearly 1,000 employees in stores and several hundred at head office and support functions after disastrous Christmas trading, according to a national newspaper.
Retail rents fall for first time in 15 years

5-Jan-2009
Retail rents fell for the first time in 15 years in 2008 and are not expected to return to growth until 2013.
Liberty reveals robust trading update for 2008

5-Jan-2009
Iconic London department store Liberty has revealed that sales for the first 10 months of 2008 were ahead of comparative trading levels.
Woolworths' lenders to rake in cash after retailer's collapse

5-Jan-2009
Woolworths’ lenders are in line to receive millions of pounds in fees following the collapse of the retailer.
Shoppers flock to high street in search of last-minute bargains

23-Dec-2008
Retailers can at last enjoy some festive cheer as figures show high street footfall climbed 13.6 per cent on Monday as shoppers flooded the high street to take advantage of discounts.
Cash-strapped consumers stop donating clothes to Oxfam

23-Dec-2008
Oxfam has rejected claims that charity shops boom in a recession as it has been hit by cash-strapped consumers unwilling to donate their clothes.
Retailers' pre-Christmas Sales to hit new record

23-Dec-2008
Retailers will embark on the biggest ever pre-Christmas Sales drive from now until Christmas Eve in a last-ditch attempt to lure shoppers onto the high street.
B&Q marketing director steps down amid board shake-up

22-Dec-2008
B&Q marketing director Jo Kenrick is leaving at the end of this month as part of a restructure of the board.
Hundreds of retailers poised to collapse next year

22-Dec-2008
Hundreds of retailers will hit the buffers next year as the recession kicks in, according to a retail insolvency expert.
MFI customers to get refund as all stores close

22-Dec-2008
MFI customers with outstanding orders will get their money back after all stores were closed down on Friday.
HobbyCraft profits climb

18-Dec-2008
Arts and crafts retailer HobbyCraft has revealed its pre-tax profits climbed 10 per cent to £3.2 million in the year to February 24, 2008, while its profits for this year are “well ahead of forecast”.
Consumer behaviour: A new era of frugal living

18-Dec-2008
Asda’s Andy Bond is convinced shopper habits are changing permanently as recession sets in. Nicola Harrison investigates how the new frugality is affecting retail and asks if it is here to stay.
Furniture clearance player cashes in on sector gloom

18-Dec-2008
Furniture clearance retailer Trade Secret has reported strong sales as shoppers seek to rein in spend and seek out bargains.
John Lewis sales continue to rise

18-Dec-2008
John Lewis said its sales have continued to gain momentum in the run-up to Christmas as it revealed its top sellers in the trading days from Sunday December 14 to Wednesday December 17.
Monthly rents demand as Carpetright struggles

18-Dec-2008
Carpetright has revealed to Retail Week that it will only take on new stores from landlords that offer monthly rents.
Strategic Retail chief rescues raft of stores

18-Dec-2008
More than half of Strategic Retail’s stores have been bought out of administration by a non-executive director of the company.
Focus boss calls on Mandelson to back shift to monthly rents

18-Dec-2008
Bill Grimsey, boss of DIY chain Focus, has written to Business Secretary Lord Mandelson to flag up the “heavy-handed” behaviour of landlords that refuse to grant retailers monthly rents.
Argos launches biggest ever Christmas Sale

17-Dec-2008
Argos has become the latest retailer to offer unprecedented discounting in the run-up to Christmas, launching a half-price Sale that the retailer said was its biggest ever.
All Woolworths stores to close by January 5

17-Dec-2008
Updated: All Woolworths stores are to close by January 5.
Tom Hunter rejects claims he will lose his stake in Wyevale

17-Dec-2008
Wyevale Garden Centre’s biggest shareholder, Sir Tom Hunter, has insisted he is not about to lose the majority of his stake in the retailer.
Michael Parkinson to be voice of M&S ads

16-Dec-2008
Sir Michael Parkinson is the latest celebrity to lend his voice to Marks & Spencer’s Christmas food ads.
Kesa profits slump as Comet posts a loss

16-Dec-2008
Electrical giant Kesa’s retail profit has slumped 71.2 per cent to £13 million in the six months to October 31.
Carpetright profits plummet

16-Dec-2008
Carpetright has issued a profit warning for the full year as it recorded a sharp fall in underlying first-half pre-tax profit of 67.6 per cent to £8.8 million in the 26 weeks to November 1.
Zavvi plays down restructuring talks

12-Dec-2008
Zavvi has insisted it is not on the verge of administration after hiring Ernst & Young.
Bid deadline set for 48% stake in grocer Mercator

11-Dec-2008
Two shareholders in Mercator, one of southeast Europe’s biggest food retailers, have set a deadline for bids as they prepare to sell their 48.3 per cent stake.
Woolworths closing down Sale threatens high street woe

11-Dec-2008
The high street braced itself for the biggest closing down Sale in history as hopes of finding a buyer for Woolworths fade.
Europe passes 'radical' review of toy safety standards

11-Dec-2008
Toy companies will have to adhere to tough new rules and standards after a “radical review” of toy safety law was agreed in Europe yesterday.
The Pier makes redundancies at head office

9-Dec-2008
The Pier has made almost half its head office staff redundant after falling into administration last week.
Carphone's David Ross 'faces FSA inquiry'

9-Dec-2008
Former Carphone Warehouse deputy chairman David Ross is to be investigated by the Financial Services Authority for possible breaches of stock market rules, according to reports.
Land of Leather ends takeover talks

9-Dec-2008
Land of Leather has ended talks with parties interested in buying the business, saying the offers would fail to deliver shareholder value.
Verdict: Retail profits to dive in 2009

9-Dec-2008
Retailers should brace themselves for one of the worst years on record in 2009, as high street spending goes into reverse and retail profits nosedive.
Like-for-like retail sales slide 2.6 per cent

9-Dec-2008
Retail Sales Monitor: UK like-for-like retail sales slipped 2.6 per cent in November, and total sales fell for a second consecutive month for the first time since records began in 1995.
Retail round-up: what the Sunday papers said, December 7, 2008

8-Dec-2008
Administrators at Woolworths may struggle to find buyers for as many as two thirds of its 815 stores, according to The Mail on Sunday.
Woolworths to launch 'Biggest Ever' Sale on Friday

4-Dec-2008
Updated: Woolworths is planning to hold a 'Biggest Ever' Sale on Friday, in a move that will intensify the price war on the high street.
Last-ditch attempts made to save EUK as supply dries up

4-Dec-2008
Desperate attempts were being made as Retail Week went to press to provide a payment guarantee on behalf of EUK, the Woolworths-owned entertainment supplier, enabling it to resume trading.
Interest rate slashed to 2%

4-Dec-2008
The Bank of England has cut the interest rate by 1 percentage point to 2 per cent in a move that will bring some respite to retailers.
Chance of delayed VAT reaction gives retailers hope

4-Dec-2008
The VAT cut introduced this week is expected to delay spending until this weekend, as shoppers wait for lower prices.
Retailers ramp up pre-Christmas Sales

4-Dec-2008
Retailers have stepped up their discounting dramatically in recent weeks, with three quarters of the UK's leading chains offering discounts in the run-up to Christmas.
Morrisons to buy 38 Co-op stores as sales soar

4-Dec-2008
Morrisons has revealed like-for-like sales excluding fuel climbed 8.1 per cent in the 13 weeks to November 2, and said it has entered into a conditional agreement with Co-operative Group to buy 38 of its stores.
The Pier descends into administration

4-Dec-2008
Homewares retailer The Pier has fallen into administration.
Leading entertainment distributor collapses

3-Dec-2008
Pinnacle, one of the UK’s leading entertainment distributors, has gone into administration.
Zavvi to resume selling a limited range online

3-Dec-2008
Zavvi is to resume selling CDs, DVDs, and video games online this afternoon after the collapse into adminstration of its exclusive supplier, Woolworths' distribution business EUK, forced it to stop selling many of its products on Tuesday.
BBC Worldwide denies 2 Entertain is on the verge of administration

3-Dec-2008
BBC Worldwide has rejected reports that its joint venture with Woolworths, DVD publisher 2 Entertain, is about to go into administration.
DFS reprimanded for 'misleading' ads

3-Dec-2008
DFS has been rebuked by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for misleading consumers about the size of its sofas.
Toy and stationary supplier hits the buffers

2-Dec-2008
J A Magson, one of the UK’s largest toy and stationary distributors, has gone into administration.
Zavvi stops selling online after EUK collapse

2-Dec-2008
Zavvi has stopped selling DVDs, music and video games online in the key pre-Christmas trading period as it is hit by the administration of its supplier, Woolworths' entertainment wholesaler EUK.
Theo Paphitis confirms Woolworths talks

1-Dec-2008
Theo Paphitis, owner of Ryman, said he wants to keep the Woolworths name alive and that a speedy resolution to talks on the rescue of the variety retailer is “absolutely crucial”.
Card Factory snaps up Celebrations stores

1-Dec-2008
Card Factory has bought 76 stores from greetings card retailer Celebrations, which fell into administration in October.
Retail failures up 17 per cent

1-Dec-2008
More than a thousand retail businesses have hit the buffers in the past year, with more failures expected due to poor Christmas trading.
Theo Paphitis joins Woolworths’ fray

1-Dec-2008
Woolworths’ potential saviours are to meet administrators today for a second round of talks to try to save the retailer, with a deal hoped to be sealed by the end of the week.
Strategic Retail losses deepen as consumer confidence dives

28-Nov-2008
Strategic Retail, which owns homewares retailer Fads, has revealed pre-tax losses have worsened dramatically to £855,000 in the six months to August 30.
Topps Tiles soldiers on despite profits plunge

27-Nov-2008
Specialist retailer Topps Tiles remains confident of gaining market share as trading conditions worsen, despite revealing a 27 per cent decline in full-year pre-tax profits to £27.7 million.
Focus value range brings home £1m in first month

27-Nov-2008
DIY retailer Focus has generated sales of more than £1 million from its new value range Payless since launching it four weeks ago.
Retailers to go VAT-free in twist on discounting frenzy

27-Nov-2008
Retailers are staging VAT-free promotions to kick-start trade in the key Christmas period.
Second MFI administration is latest blow for home sector

27-Nov-2008
Big-ticket home retailers believe MFI’s collapse into administration could deal another huge blow to the beleaguered sector in the run-up to the crucial January Sales period by further denting already fragile cons-umer confidence.
Home Retail Group purchases two electricals brands

27-Nov-2008
Home Retail Group, owner of Argos and Homebase, has acquired specified rights to the electricals brands Alba and Bush.
Kingfisher profits drop and Trade Depot to close

27-Nov-2008
Kingfisher has revealed its profits have dropped 4 per cent at constant exchange rates to £176 million in the 13 weeks to November 1 and warns there are challenging times ahead.
Green and Rose lead talks as retailers scramble to deliver VAT cut

26-Nov-2008
Sir Philip Green and Sir Stuart Rose have led discussions among retailers scrambling to deliver the cut in VAT by the time it comes into force on Monday.
Woolworths shares suspended

26-Nov-2008
Shares in the struggling retailer Woolworths have been suspended while it is in talks to sell both its retail arm and its publishing arm 2 Entertain.
Woolworths stops selling toys online

25-Nov-2008
Updated: Embattled retailer Woolworths has stopped selling toys online during the key Christmas period, shocking and delighting rivals.
Topps Tiles profits down 27 per cent

25-Nov-2008
Pre-tax profits at Topps Tiles slipped 27 per cent to £27.7 million in the year to September 27.
Supermarkets up ad spend

24-Nov-2008
Supermarkets have upped their ad spend while most other major retailers have slashed theirs in response to the economic crisis.
Woolworths in danger of administration this week

24-Nov-2008
Woolworths could fall into administration in a matter of days unless it completes a deal to sell its retail business to restructuring specialist Hilco, according to sources close to the company.
UK booksellers accused of too much discounting

21-Nov-2008
UK booksellers are creating a “vicious circle” of discounting and are seeing poorer growth volumes and lower profits than their international counterparts.
100,000 retail jobs cut this year

20-Nov-2008
As tough trading continues, full scale of hidden job losses revealed – and the worst is still to come.
US retailers batten down hatches as trade worsens

20-Nov-2008
US retailers are bracing themselves for further deterioration in trading conditions in the run-up to Christmas after retail sales in October fell below expectations and a raft of retailers slashed forecasts last week.
Up to 250 jobs at risk at Halfords

20-Nov-2008
Motor accessories retailer Halfords is to make up to 250 job cuts at head office and in stores as it seeks cost savings.
Original Factory hits six-month sales high

20-Nov-2008
Value retailer Original Factory Shop continued to defy the downturn, revealing its strongest six months to date.
Retail sales remain flat

20-Nov-2008
Retail sales volume growth remained flat in the three months to September compared with the previous three months, according to the latest ONS figures.
Woolies' biggest shareholder slams £1 Hilco talks

20-Nov-2008
Woolworths' biggest shareholder Ardeshir Naghshineh has criticised the potential sale of the retailer to Hilco, saying the group's stores are worth much more than the nominal price that has been tabled.
Thresher revives 40% discount offer

20-Nov-2008
Off-licence operator Thresher Group is reviving its 40 per cent discount campaign again, making it the third consecutive year the retailer has run the offer.
Halfords profits climb

20-Nov-2008
Halfords said it is confident it will hit full-year expectations as profit before tax climbed 3.2 per cent to £49.1 million in the 26 weeks to September 25.
Mothercare profits leap 94%

20-Nov-2008
Mothercare revealed group underlying profit before tax soared 94 per cent to £9.5 million in the 28 weeks to October 11 and said it is well placed to trade through the economic turmoil.
Neal's Yard Remedies appoints new marketing director

19-Nov-2008
Health and beauty retailer Neal’s Yard Remedies has appointed Shirin Valipour as director of marketing as it steps up its expansion plans.
BrightHouse profits up 15.6 per cent

18-Nov-2008
Rent-to-buy furniture and electricals retailer BrightHouse has revealed a 15.6 per cent hike in its operating profit to £9.6 million, for the six months to September 30, 2008.
Carrefour chief executive exits

18-Nov-2008
Carrefour chief executive José Luis Duran is to stand down.
Burberry profits up but second-half trading harder

18-Nov-2008
Luxury fashion retailer Burberry’s adjusted operating profit has risen 3 per cent but it said trading has been more difficult since the start of the second half.
Debenhams sparks price war

17-Nov-2008
Debenhams has ignited a high street battle by promising more than £200 million of pre-Christmas price cuts.
London sales continue to slide

17-Nov-2008
London's like-for-like retail sales slipped 1.8 per cent in October, outperforming the UK average, which was down 2.2 per cent, although the gap between the two narrowed.
BrightHouse's Leo McKee: Safe as houses

13-Nov-2008
BrightHouse may have its critics, but its no-strings credit model is well suited to the downturn. Chief executive Leo McKee tells Nicola Harrison why.
Signet UK like-for-likes slide

6-Nov-2008
Jewellery retailer Signet’s UK arm has suffered an 8 per cent fall in like-for-like sales in the past three weeks of trading.
Homebase plans for hundreds of redundancies

6-Nov-2008
Home improvement retailer Homebase is to shed several hundred jobs to cut costs in the dire trading environment.
Walgreens slows expansion as it aims to slash outgoings

6-Nov-2008
US pharmacy chain Walgreens is targeting US$1 billion (£630 million) annual cost savings by 2011 as it adapts to counter the global economic slowdown.
Waterstone’s hires operations chief

6-Nov-2008
Waterstone’s has appointed Alex Rayner as operations director.
Toys safety law changes pass first hurdle in Europe

6-Nov-2008
Attempts to strengthen toy safety laws have won backing in a European Parliament Committee today.
Key Argos supplier hits the buffers

6-Nov-2008
One of Home Retail Group’s largest furniture suppliers has gone into administration.
Rosebys stores sold to Edinburgh Woollen Mill subsidiary

5-Nov-2008
A subsidiary of Edinburgh Woollen Mill has bought 77 outlets of Rosebys, which fell into administration in September, as well as all of the company’s stock.
Liberty appoints new buying director

5-Nov-2008
Liberty, the iconic department store, has appointed Edwin Burstell as buying director.
Moss Bros hires new buying director

5-Nov-2008
Moss Bros has appointed Paul Sheldon as its new director of buying.
Video games spend to overtake music and video

5-Nov-2008
Consumer spending on video games is set to overtake combined spending on music and video for the first time.
Laura Ashley finance director stands down

5-Nov-2008
Laura Ashley finance director David Cook has resigned.
Retailers' fury at hikes in Westfield London service charges

4-Nov-2008
Retailers which opened in Westfield London last week are furious over hikes in service charges imposed by the shopping centre.
Marks & Spencer profits plummet 34.1 per cent

4-Nov-2008
Marks and Spencer’s adjusted pre-tax profits have plummeted 34.1 per cent to £297.8 million in the 26 weeks to September 27, 2008.
Wal-Mart eyes opportunities amid downturn

3-Nov-2008
US retailing giant Wal-Mart has said it believes there are “extraordinary opportunities” for global retailers amid the financial slowdown.
Sainsbury's to convert food waste into energy

3-Nov-2008
Sainsbury’s plans to power its stores using electricity generated from thousands of tons of food waste.
Smallbone issues profit warning

31-Oct-2008
Luxury furniture retailer Smallbone has issued a profit warning, saying that it expects figures to be “materially below” current market expectations.
Focus launches budget range to be ‘Lidl of DIY’

31-Oct-2008
Focus has launched a range of value-priced products as it guns to become the “Lidl of DIY”.
United Carpets posts mixed like-for-likes

31-Oct-2008
Flooring retailer United Carpets’ like-for-like sales have dropped 6.4 per cent in the six weeks to October 23.
Tesco slammed for prolonging payments to suppliers

31-Oct-2008
Tesco has been lambasted by a leading consumer goods maker for forcing suppliers to wait almost two months before getting paid.
Instore losses deepen but current trade picks up

31-Oct-2008
Instore, the owner of Poundstretcher, has increased its losses, revealing a £6.3 million net operating loss before exceptional items for the 26 weeks to August 30.
Toy retailers fear safety law review signals cost hike

31 October 2008
Toy retailers face punitive cost hikes as the European Commission threatens to impose more stringent toy safety rules.
Shoppers pick Primark as least ethical fashion retailer

29-Oct-2008
“Green” consumers perceive Primark as the clothing retailer worst at addressing social and environmental issues, a survey conducted for a national newspaper has found.
Retailers criticised for high-interest pre-pay schemes

28-Oct-2008
Critics are lambasting some of the UK’s most well-known high street stores for high-interest credit schemes targeting low-income consumers in the run-up to Christmas.
Retailers criticised for high-interest pre-pay schemes

28-Oct-2008
Critics are lambasting some of the UK’s most well-known high street stores for high-interest credit schemes targeting low-income consumers in run-up to Christmas.
Littlewoods Direct spends heavily on Christmas ad campaign

28-Oct-2008
Littlewoods Direct is launching a Christmas campaign that will be the biggest investment the company has made in mass media advertising.
Gap to launch Factory stores in Canada

27-Oct-2008
US fashion retailer Gap has expanded its outlet business into Canada for the first time, in an effort to reach value-conscious customers in a new market.
Recession looms as economy shrinks for first time in 16 years

24-Oct-2008
The UK economy shrank for the first time in 16 years in the last quarter, confirming fears that the country is slipping into a recession.
Theo Fennell circled by suitor as it warns on profit

24-Oct-2008
Jeweller Theo Fennell has issued a profit warning and revealed that it has been approached by a party interested in buying a stake.
Travis Perkins warning reignites fears for DIY

23-Oct-2008
Travis Perkins’ profit warning last week again sparked fears about the impact of the downturn on home and DIY retailers.
Wyevale director leaves after four months in the job

22-Oct-2008
Garden centre chain Wyevale’s director of e-commerce and marketing Deborah Poll has left the company having only joined in June of this year.
Woolworths creates new board as four directors leave

22-Oct-2008
Woolworths has made a raft of changes to its management structure, including the creation of a retail operating board, two new appointments and four senior management departures.
News distributors avoid Competition Commission referral

22-Oct-2008
The magazine and newspaper supply sector should not be referred to the Competition Commission, the Office of Fair Trading has decided.
Online retail spend growth slows as financial uncertainty hits consumers

21-Oct-2008
Online retail growth dramatically slowed last month as consumers reined in their spending.
WHSmith to roll out travel bookshops after profit lift

20-Oct-2008
WHSmith will roll out standalone travel bookshops after an “encouraging performance” in its last financial year.
Aldi and Travelodge to open on joint premises

20-Oct-2008
Aldi and Travelodge have joined forces to launch hybrid supermarket-hotel developments to serve cost conscious consumers in the downturn.
Retail round-up: October 19, 2008

20-Oct-2008
What the Sunday papers said about the retail sector, including reports on Baugur, Asda, Carphone Warehouse, Debenhams, Ghost, DSGi, Home Retail, Sainsbury's, Game, JJB Sports, Woolworths and Tesco.
Sir Alan Sugar’s bid to invest in Woolworths thwarted

17-Oct-2008
Sir Alan Sugar’s attempt to stakebuild in struggling retailer Woolworths has been scuppered after his shares he thought he had bought failed to turn up, prompting speculation that the vendor may have been an Icelandic investor whose assets have been frozen.
B&Q launches 2,000 eco-products

17-Oct-2008
DIY retailer B&Q is introducing 2,000 new eco-friendly products to help customers reduce the impact that running their homes has on the environment.
Woolworths chiefs axed as slowdown strikes

16-Oct-2008
Two senior Woolworths directors have left the business as the downturn bites.
European Commission scraps plans for candle duties

16-Oct-2008
The European Commission has temporarily ditched plans to introduce anti-dumping charges on candles made in China.
Poundland to widen base by selling online

15-Oct-2008
Poundland is to launch a transactional web site, possibly before the end of next year, in an effort to attract consumers not served by any of its stores.The retailer is working with KPMG to develop a model, which will include a minimum spend and a range of delivery charges. Poundland is considering offering free delivery after a certain threshold is reached.
JJB Sports unveils rescue plans

15-Oct-2008
JJB Sports has unveiled rescue plans for its beleaguered business along with changes to its board.
Retailers predict top-selling toys this Christmas

15-Oct-2008
Animals, babies and High School Musical products all feature highly in this year’s prediction for top-selling Christmas toys.
Game appoints Terry Scicluna chief operating officer

15-Oct-2008
Game has appointed Terry Scicluna to the newly-created role of chief operating officer.
MFI 'not paying redundancy money' to call centre staff

15-Oct-2008
More than 130 MFI call centre workers who lost their jobs last month are unlikely to be paid any redundancy money, according to The Times.
HMV acquires gaming company Gamerbase

14-Oct-2008
Entertainment retailer HMV has acquired Gamerbase, the company which runs multiplayer video game centres in some of its stores.
Baugur in restructuring talks with BDO Stoy Hayward

14-Oct-2008
Baugur has approached BDO Stoy Hayward to advise it on a restructuring and possible administration.
Burberry reports revenue up 13% but warns of uncertain outlook

14-Oct-2008
Luxury fashion company Burberry has revealed a better-than-expected revenue increase of 13 per cent for the six months to September 30, but warned the outlook remains uncertain.
EBTM sells Lowlife accessory brand

14-Oct-2008
EBTM, the online retailer and wholesaler of music-inspired fashion, has sold its Lowlife accessories brand to Plus Brands.
UK retail like-for-likes down 1.5 per cent in September

14-Oct-2008
UK like-for-like retail sales slid 1.5 per cent in September as turmoil in the financial markets hit consumer confidence hard.
Hamleys moves to distance itself from Icelandic woes

13-Oct-2008
Baugur-backed toy retailer Hamleys has issued a statement distancing itself from the Icelandic investor and the Icelandic banking crisis.
Majority of shoppers to spend less this Christmas

13-Oct-2008
Two thirds of shoppers will spend less this Christmas compared with last year, according to a poll by Gfk Research Panels.
Woolworths entertainment division EUK assures retailers supply chain is sound

9-Oct-2008
Woolworths entertainment division EUK has vowed that retailers will remain unaffected in the run-up to Christmas despite the withdrawal of credit insurance from most of its suppliers.
Allan Leighton: Retail in the blood

9-Oct-2008
Credited with the transformation of Asda, Allan Leighton is one of the UK’s leading retail masterminds. He tells Nicola Harrison how retailers can learn from the downturn
Greggs issues profit warning

9-Oct-2008
Bakery retailer Greggs has issued a profit warning as costs of energy and ingredients soared and the company was hit by the poor weather.
Ideal Shopping Direct chief executive to stand down

9-Oct-2008
Ideal Shopping Direct chief executive Andrew Fryatt is to step down tomorrow.
WHSmith profits jump 15%

9-Oct-2008
Robust sales at WHSmith's travel division helped it achieve a 15 per cent hike in profit before tax and exceptional items to £76 million for the year to August 31.
Rosebys shuts 10 stores and axes another 60 jobs

3-Oct-2008
Rosebys has closed 10 of its stores, making a further 60 people redundant after slashing 32 head office jobs, as Retail Week revealed on Tuesday.
Profits soar at Game but like-for-likes slow

2-Oct-2008
Computer entertainment group Game revealed record interim pre-tax profits on Tuesday.
Homewares clearance site to help shift surplus stock

2-Oct-2008
A former managing director of retailer OKA Direct has launched an e-tail operation selling home retailers’ clearance stock.
Retailers poised as 800 book titles released

2-Oct-2008
Nearly 800 book titles are being released today in time for Christmas in what retailers are calling “Super Thursday”.
Halfords like-for-likes slip but half year profits in line with expectations

2-Oct-2008
Leisure and cycling retailer Halfords has revealed a 1.1 per cent slip in like-for-like sales in the second quarter but said that half year profits are in line with expectations.
Rosebys makes 32 redundancies

30-Sep-2008
Value home furnishings retailer Rosebys has made 32 redundancies, mostly at head office, after falling into administration last week.
Game Group profits soar

30-Sep-2008
Game Group has revealed record pre-tax profits up 33.4 per cent to £33.3 million for the six months to July 31.
Tesco pre-tax profits up 10 per cent

30-Sep-2008
Grocery giant Tesco has revealed underlying profit before tax jumped 10.3 per cent to £1.453 billion for the 26 weeks to August 23, 2008.
Consumer confidence down due to banking crisis

30-Sep-2008
Consumer confidence levels dipped at the end of September due to the crisis in the financial markets, after having climbed at the beginning of the month, but consumers are beginning to acclimatise to the downturn according to market researchers GfK NOP.
Rosebys brand name sold to parent company

29-Sep-2008
The Rosebys brand name has been sold to Rosebys UK, a subsidiary of Indian-based parent company GHCL, after the retailer went into administration last week.
What the Sunday papers said – September 28, 2008

29-Sep-2008
The Observer reported that Marks & Spencer will shock the city once again with a dramatic fall in like-for-likes, which it said are likely to decrease by more than 6 per cent.
Woolworths would not be missed say 43% of shoppers

25-Sep-2008
Almost half of consumers would not miss Woolworths if it disappeared from the high street, research commissioned by Retail Week has revealed.
99p Stores sales up as shoppers pursue value

25-Sep-2008
Value retailer 99p Stores has recorded a 7 per cent hike in like-for-like sales for the calendar year to date as cash-strapped shoppers flood to its shops.
B&Q initiative a hit as Kingfisher profits leap

25-Sep-2008
Kingfisher-owned DIY giant B&Q is reaping the benefits of a scheme to improve store standards, having cut gaps on shelves by 25 per cent.
Metro brings in advisers as it considers sale of Kaufhof

25-Sep-2008
Retail giant Metro has hired JP Morgan to advise on the possible sale of department store chain Kaufhof.
Love of the Game: Lisa Morgan

25-Sep-2008
It’s been a rollicking year for the games market, but Game chief Lisa Morgan is adamant the fun’s not about to stop. Nicola Harrison meets her
John Lewis furniture supplier Willis and Gambier in adminstration

25-Sep-2008
Willis and Gambier, one of John Lewis's furniture suppliers, has gone into administration.
Ocado seeks cash injection from investors

25-Sep-2008
Online grocer Ocado is seeking £20 million to pay down net debt in the current climate, but says it is trading well despite the decrease in consumer spending.
Laura Ashley profits climb as like-for-likes slip

24-Sep-2008
Homewares and fashion retailer Laura Ashley has revealed its profit before tax and exceptionals has increased 13 per cent to £4.5 million, but like-for-likes have slipped.
Carpetright cautious on full-year trading

23-Sep-2008
Carpetright has warned that it remains cautious about expectations for the full financial year.
Carpetright cautious on full-year trading

23-Sep-2008
Carpetright has warned that it remains cautious about expectations for the full financial year.
Gap acquires US sports brand

23-Sep-2008
Fashion retailer Gap has acquired US women’s sports and active apparel retailer Athleta for about US$150 million (£81.3 million) in cash.
Gap acquires US sports brand

23-Sep-2008
Fashion retailer Gap has acquired US women’s sports and active apparel retailer Athleta for about US$150 million (£81.3 million) in cash.
JD Sports profits jump

23-Sep-2008
JD Sports Fashion has bucked the high street gloom with pre-tax profits rocketing 71 per cent to £9.1 million in the 26 weeks to August 2.
JD Sports profits jump 71%

23-Sep-2008
JD Sports Fashion has bucked the high street gloom with pre-tax profits rocketing 71 per cent to £9.1 million in the 26 weeks to August 2.
MFI 'seeks emergency funding'

22-Sep-2008
MFI parent company Merchant Equity Partners (MEP) has appointed Argyll Partners to find new investors that can pump money into the company as a matter of urgency.
DFS culls staff to weather economic storm

18-Sep-2008
DFS has axed about 100 jobs including head office, production and store roles.
Game targets family market in festive ads

18-Sep-2008
Entertainment retailer Game wants to tap into the family market with a Christmas ad campaign featuring animations of carol singers.
Home Bargains cashes in on downturn as profits surge

18-Sep-2008
Value retailer Home Bargains has recorded a 17 per cent leap in operating profits to £34.7 million in its full-year results as cash-strapped shoppers flock to its stores in search of cheap buys.
Ikea to rein in expansion as housing crisis slows growth

18-Sep-2008
Swedish furniture group Ikea has revealed that sales growth has slowed over the past year and that it will curb its expansion plans as the global housing market stalls.
Kieron Smith: The next chapter

18-Sep-2008
Not prepared to surrender to Amazon, The Book Depository managing director Kieron Smith thinks there is plenty of room for others in the online book sector. Nicola Harrison meets him.
Topshop New York to miss Christmas debut

18-Sep-2008
Topshop will not be opening in New York in time for Christmas after Sir Philip Green ran into building difficulties.
Kingfisher profits rise despite like-for-like fall

18-Sep-2008
DIY retailer Kingfisher Group’s adjusted pre-tax profit climbed 23 per cent to £214 million in the first half but the retailer warned of tougher trading conditions in the second half.
European Commission urged not to extend footwear anti-dumping law

17-Sep-2008
The European Commission is under pressure not to extend footwear anti-dumping laws after trade experts from a majority of EU states today made a surprise decision to oppose an extension of the duties.
Woolworths unveils record first-half losses

17-Sep-2008
Woolworths has revealed record first-half losses before tax of £99.7 million for the 26 weeks to August 2, compared with a £63.8 million loss posted at the same point last year.
Grocery sales climb 5.8 per cent

16-Sep-2008
Grocery sales rose 5.8 per cent in the past 12 weeks on the same period last year, according to the latest figures from Nielsen.
Debenhams sales hold firm

16-Sep-2008
Department store group Debenhams has reported a 0.9 per cent dip in like-for-likes for the year to August 30.
Zavvi reduces loss as like-for-likes climb

15-Sep-2008
Entertainment group Zavvi revealed like-for-likes sales rose 10 per cent in its first year since being bought out from Virgin. Despite posting a loss, it said it has managed to improve EBITDA “significantly”.
August blow cements September sales fears

11-Sep-2008
Analysts fear non-food like-for-likes will dip further in September, after the BRC revealed a comparable store sales fall of 1 per cent in August.
Irish retail at saturation point

11-Sep-2008
The Irish retail market could be completely saturated by 2015 if pipeline developments proceed as planned.
Clinton Cards managing director to stand down

10-Sep-2008
Clinton Cards managing director Mike Bugler is to stand down at the end of January 2009.
Best Buy unveils new international team

10-Sep-2008
US electricals giant Best Buy has revealed its new management team for its international operations.
Blackwell boss steps down

9-Sep-2008
Blackwell UK chief executive Vince Gunn has left the retailer with immediate effect.
Asda to demolish building to avoid empty property tax

9-Sep-2008
Asda is demolishing one of its former call centres to avoid empty property rates.
Retail like-for-likes slip again in August

9-Sep-2008
Hopes of a summer sales lift have fallen flat as UK retail like-for-likes slid 1 per cent in August.
Grocers are hiking prices above costs

9-Sep-2008
Supermarkets are increasing food prices at a faster rate than their costs are rising.
Housing policy brings industry little comfort

4-Sep-2008
The Government’s £1 billion raft of initiatives to kick-start the housing market is unlikely to improve retail trading, store chiefs and analysts have said.
Original Factory defies gloom with profit hike

4-Sep-2008
Original Factory Shop has bucked the downward trend with a profit jump of 16.4 per cent to £7.7 million in its full year to March 31.
Sears should merge brands, say analysts as profits sink

4-Sep-2008
Sears will have to merge its Sears and Kmart brands if it is to compete against rivals, say experts, after profits plunged at the US retailer.
Price rises to hit non-food

3-Sep-2008
Price hikes of more than 6 per cent on non-food items such as T-shirts, shoes and sofas are possible next year, because of the sterling’s collapse against the euro and the dollar.
Asos chief nets £352,000 in pay and bonuses

2-Sep-2008
Asos chief executive Nick Robertson took £352,000 in pay and bonuses last year after bucking the downturn and more than doubling pre-tax profits at the business to £7.3 million.
Smallbone trebles profits

2-Sep-2008
Furniture retailer Smallbone became the latest luxury retailer to buck the downturn, more than trebling its pre-tax profit for the six months to June 30. However, the retailer remains cautious about the future trading environment.
Fads owner makes a loss

1-Sep-2008
Strategic Retail, which owns home furnishings retailer Fads, has revealed a loss of £145,000 for the year to March 1 compared with profit of £194,000 the year before.
Woolworths shareholder backs Malcolm Walker bid rejection

1-Sep-2008
Woolworths’ biggest shareholder is backing the variety store retailer in its rejection of Malcolm Walker’s £50 million bid, according to The Sunday Times.
Suppliers lose out on supermarket special offers

1-Sep-2008
Supermarkets pocket 86 per cent of profits made on items sold on money-off promotions, according to a report seen by The Daily Telegraph.
Borders UK restructures buying team

29-Aug-2008
Eight buyers at Borders UK are to leave the retailer following a review of the buying team structure.
Carrefour posts robust performance

29-Aug-2008
Carrefour has revealed better than expected results, delivering a rise in net income of 1.2 per cent to €750 million (£603.4 million) for the first half of this year.
Sitting pretty

28-Aug-2008
Furniture chain Dwell achieved record sales last month at a time when most retailers in the sector are struggling. Founder Aamir Ahmed tells Nicola Harrison how he does it.
Tesco supplier in US reported to employment tribunal

28-Aug-2008
One of Tesco’s suppliers in the US has been reported by America’s biggest food workers’ union in the latest spat between the two organisations.
Westfield London 96 per cent let as luxury brands sign

27-Aug-2008
Westfield London has revealed its White City development is 96 per cent let, 10 weeks before it is due to open on October 30.
John Lewis vows not to axe staff

27-Aug-2008
John Lewis chairman Charlie Mayfield has vowed not to cut any jobs over the coming year, despite admitting these were the toughest trading conditions he could remember.
Tesco local sourcing sales to reach £500m

26-Aug-2008
Tesco is on course to generate more than £500 million from the sale of locally sourced food and drink sales this year, according to The Times.
Co-op to install mini-banks in 250 convenience stores

26-Aug-2008
The Co-operative Group will put banking operations inside up to 250 of its biggest convenience stores to encourage customers to use more services within the mutual group, according to The Telegraph.
M&S drive highlights plastic bag success

22-Aug-2008
Marks & Spencer is today launching an in-store ad campaign to highlight the success to date of its scheme to charge for plastic bags.
Walker’s back to basics vision for Woolworths

21-Aug-2008
Retail entrepreneur Malcolm Walker will take Woolworths back to basics and restore its appeal as a traditional variety store if he succeeds in buying it.
Floors-2-Go founders lay down revival plan

21-Aug-2008
Floors-2-Go’s founders are poised to revive the retailer’s fortunes after axing the existing senior management as they make a return to the business.
Wyevale picks COO

20-Aug-2008
Wyevale Garden Centres has promoted Andrew Livingston to chief operating officer.
Lords slam fast-fashion culture

20-Aug-2008
Shoppers should stop buying throwaway clothes that wear out quickly and are hard to recycle, according to a House of Lords report that attacks fast fashion.
Halfords chairman stands down

19-Aug-2008
Halfords chairman Richard Pym will stand down at the end of the week after becoming chief executive of Bradford & Bingley.
Argos reaches pay settlement with staff

19-Aug-2008
Argos has settled a dispute with distribution workers after offering them an amended pay deal.
WHSmith to expand plastic bag fee trial

19-Aug-2008
WHSmith is to extend its trial to scrap free plastic bags to other parts of the UK after a successful pilot in the Midlands and the Northwest.
Baugur approaches Woolworths shareholders to force negotiations

19-Aug-2008
The Baugur-led acquisition consortium rejected by Woolworths has contacted other shareholders to try to force the board to open negotiations over a possible takeover, according to the Financial Times.
Findel sales rise

19-Aug-2008
Home shopping company Findel has revealed a 2 per cent increase in group sales for the 19 weeks to August 15.
Harrods drafts in musical stars to drive sales

18-Aug-2008
Harrods has signed stars from West End musicals and the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in an effort to attract consumers during the credit crunch.
Small retailers get funding to push fruit and veg

13-Aug-2008
Corner shops in economically deprived areas of England are to be given money to increase sales of fruit and vegetables.
Tesco signs India deal

12-Aug-2008
Tesco is to launch a wholesale cash-and-carry business in India and has signed a deal with conglomerate Tata to develop its hypermarket business.
UK retail sales slip further

12-Aug-2008
UK like-for-like retail sales fell 0.9 per cent in July compared with the same month last year.
DIY endures worst summer since 2004

11-Aug-2008
DIY retailers are suffering their worst summer since 2004, as consumers hit by the downturn put off big home improvement projects.
Retail chiefs’ pay outstrips other industries

11-Aug-2008
Chief executives and finance directors of listed high street retailers are paid far more than bosses of other types of businesses, according to research by BDO Stoy Hayward.
Western retailers must adapt clothes sizes in China

11-Aug-2008
Western retailers wishing to expand into China will need a much smaller range of clothes sizes compared to those needed in the US.
Whittard coffee sales to overtake tea

11-Aug-2008
Whittard of Chelsea’s coffee sales are set to outstrip those of tea for the first time as hard-pressed consumers opt to make their own rather than buy from coffee shops.
Signet's UK like-for-likes slip

8-Aug-2008
US jewellery giant Signet has revealed a 0.6 per cent fall in like-for-like sales at its UK arm in the 13 weeks to August 2.
BRC ups the ante as rent battle hots up

7-Aug-2008
The British Retail Consortium has thrown down the gauntlet to landlords by demanding that retailers should be able to switch to monthly rent payments on existing leases, not just new ones.
Castorama Italy sale is welcomed by City

7-Aug-2008
The sale of Kingfisher’s Castorama Italy business has been greeted with approval by the City.
Whole Foods posts £9m UK loss

6-Aug-2008
Upmarket US grocery chain Whole Foods has reported pre-tax operating losses of US$18.4 million (£9.4 million) in the year to August 3 at its six UK stores.
Consumer confidence plummets again

6-Aug-2008
Consumers are becoming increasingly nervous, with consumer spending growth expected to slow to just 0.5 per cent next year, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
Alliance Boots buys 25% of Athos Farma in Brazil

5-Aug-2008
Alliance Boots has made its first foray into South America with its purchase of a 25 per cent stake in a Brazilian pharmaceutical wholesaler Athos Farma.
Best Buy reveals aggressive expansion plans

5-Aug-2008
US electricals giant Best Buy plans to launch as many as 200 stores in the UK over the long term, according to the Financial Times.
Carpetright like-for-likes plummet

5-Aug-2008
Carpetright’s like-for-like sales in the UK and Republic of Ireland slumped 15.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to August 2, 2008.
Wrapit enters administration

4-Aug-2008
Online wedding gift service Wrapit has fallen into administration, meaning 2,000 couples could lose their presents.
Tourist spend in London rises

4-Aug-2008
Tourists are spending more money in London although the number of them is dwindling, according to figures from Visit London.
London mayor warned against affordable shops plan

1-Aug-2008
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned London Mayor Boris Johnson he must not rush into introducing laws which force retail developers to give space to “affordable” shops.
Metro results top expectations

31-Jul-2008
German retail giant Metro has posted better-than-expected results for the six months to June 30.
Woolies seeks outsider to turn fortunes around

31-Jul-2008
Woolworths is almost certain to appoint a chief executive from outside the business as it eyes a radical reshaping of its store portfolio to halt declining sales.
Kingfisher reverses UK decline as B&Q revives

31-Jul-2008
Kingfisher, Europe’s biggest DIY group, posted a 1.5 per cent fall in second quarter like-for-like sales, but the City was impressed by its UK performance.
Borders UK to spice up web offer with series of podcasts

31-Jul-2008
Books and entertainment retailer Borders UK is to launch an online audio podcast series in an effort to drive traffic to its web site.
Consumer confidence nosedives

31-Jul-2008
Consumer confidence has plummeted to an all-time low as concerns over the economy and finances take hold.
Argos distribution workers to strike

30-Jul-2008
Argos distribution staff are to go on strike over pay, after they rejected a renewed offer from the retailer.
Argos strike back on

30-Jul-2008
Argos distribution staff are going ahead with strike action over a 4 per cent pay offer after suspending it last week when Argos offered them a revised deal.
Wickes like-for-likes slide 1.1 per cent

30-Jul-2008
Travis Perkins-owned DIY retailer Wickes has revealed a 1.1 per cent decline in like-for-like sales for the six months to June 30.
Wal-Mart crowned world’s largest retailer for 10th year

29-Jul-2008
Wal-Mart has been ranked the world’s largest retailer for the 10th year running, with Tesco named the third biggest, in a report by Planet Retail.
Beds Direct sold to management

29-Jul-2008
Beds Direct has been bought out of administration by its management.
Woolworths sales slide

29-Jul-2008
Variety store group Woolworths revealed a like-for-like sales decline of 6.7 per cent at its core retail business in the six weeks to July 26.
Beds Direct hits the buffers

28-Jul-2008
Bed retailer Beds Direct has fallen into administration, making it the latest casualty of the credit crunch.
M&S victorious in stolen laptop data protection row

24-Jul-2008
Marks & Spencer has avoided a courtroom showdown and substantial fine after winning an appeal against the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) over a data leak.
MFI owner gives ground in spatwith Galiform

24-Jul-2008
MFI’s owner Merchant Equity Partners (MEP) has conceded ground in its ongoing legal dispute with Galiform.
Halfords: the city view

24-Jul-2008
Car accessories and bikes retailer Halfords has bolstered its pole market position, revealing a total sales rise of 1.7 per cent, writes Nicola Harrison.
Ilva Furniture stores to close

24-Jul-2008
Ilva Furniture, which fell into administration last month, is to shut its three UK stores after a buyer could not be found.
Handy Men: Kingfisher assembles international management

24-Jul-2008
As Kingfisher boss Ian Cheshire builds his top team of international managers, the question is how successful will they be in reviving the retailer’s fortunes? Nicola Harrison reports.
Amazon profits double

24-Jul-2008
Profits at online retailer Amazon.com soared 102 per cent to US$158 million (£79 million) in its second quarter to June 30.
JJB like-for-likes slip

24-Jul-2008
JJB Sport revealed like-for-like sales down 1.2 per cent in the 12 weeks to July 10 and said it expects the second half of the year to be “very challenging”.
B&Q like-for-like decline slows

24-Jul-2008
Like-for-likes at Europe’s biggest DIY group Kingfisher slid 1.5 per cent in the 10 weeks to July 12.
Argos strike suspended

23-Jul-2008
Argos has averted strike action due to take place tomorrow, following negotiations between its management and union Unite.
Instore independent directors warn shareholders

23-Jul-2008
Instore’s independent directors are continuing to warn shareholders not to accept Seaham Investment’s 5p-a-share offer.
Floors-2-Go enters administration

22-Jul-2008
Flooring retailer Floors-2-Go has gone into administration, appointing Kroll as administrator. 41 stores will close, resulting in 97 redundancies.
Management buy-out rescues ProCook from administration

22-Jul-2008
Troubled cookware retailer ProCook has been bought out of administration by its management and a consortium of shareholders for an undisclosed sum.
Apple reveals record third quarter

22-Jul-2008
Apple reported its best third quarter in the company’s history, driven by record sales of Macintosh computers.
E-tail sales remain immune to downturn

18-Jul-2008
Shoppers spent more than £26.5 billion online in the first half of 2008, up 38 per cent on the £19.2 billion recorded at the same time last year.
Ikea picks internal candidate to replace Hogsted

17-Jul-2008
Martin Hansson will replace Peter Hogsted as retail manager of Ikea UK after DIY giant Kingfisher poached him to head its international operations.
Saint Maclou tightens grip on French carpet market

17-Jul-2008
Saint Maclou, the French parent company of UK carpet retailer Allied Carpets, has ramped up its European presence by acquiring its biggest French rival – Mondial Moquette – and Switzerland’s Carpetland Suisse.
Toys R Us profits climb

16-Jul-2008
Toys R Us Holdings, the holding company for the UK arm of the US-owned toy business, has revealed operating profit was up 9.3 per cent, from £29.97 million to £32.76 million, for the year to February 2.
Thorntons like-for-likes climb

16-Jul-2008
Confectionary retailer Thorntons’s like-for-likes rose 3.6 per cent for the 10 weeks to June 28, 2008.
Seaham gains majority share of Instore

15-Jul-2008
Seaham Investments has confirmed it now owns a 51 per cent stake in Instore.
Burberry sales soar 14 per cent

15-Jul-2008
Burberry Group’s retail sales jumped 14 per cent for the three months to June 30.
June like-for-likes down 0.4 per cent

15-Jul-2008
UK like-for-like sales dipped 0.4 per cent in June, compared with the same month last year.
Sandwich boards to be ousted in London

11-Jul-2008
The sandwich boards that line London’s busiest shopping areas are expected to be booted out by mid-August.
Game’s glory garners a mixed City reaction

11-Jul-2008
The City is divided over the outlook for computer entertainment specialist Game, despite a stellar update last week.
Fat Face sales jump

10-Jul-2008
Fat Face sales soared 16.3 per cent from £108.6 million to £126.4 million for the full year to May 31.
Instore directors stand down

10-Jul-2008
Three Instore directors have resigned as part of a deal between shareholders Seaham Investments and Tradegro.
Netto sales climb

10-Jul-2008
Value retailers continue to pull in the customers, with Netto announcing a 7 per cent sales increase over the year to June 14.
Marks & Spencer pulls out of Taiwan

8-Jul-2008
Marks & Spencer is to close all its stores in Taiwan after just 14 months of trading in the country, dealing another blow to the embattled retailer.
Jacques Vert profits fall

8-Jul-2008
Womenswear retailer Jacques Vert has announced a drop in operating profit before exceptional items to £4.7 million for the year to April 28, from £5.7 million last year.
Dunelm like-for-likes fall

8-Jul-2008
Out-of-town specialist homewares retailer Dunelm recorded a 2.4 per cent fall in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to June 28, 2008. Total sales rose 7.7 per cent in the period.
DVD sales rocket

7-Jul-2008
DVD sales continue to soar, with first-quarter sales up 3.3 per cent on the same period last year.
John Lewis enlists staff to appear in ad campaign

7-Jul-2008
John Lewis will launch the second phase of its latest ad campaign today. For the first time in the department store’s 144-year history, it will feature employees.
Carpetright to desert expensive retail parks

4-Jul-2008
Carpetright is aiming to shift 90 per cent of its store portfolio from high-rent A1 retail parks to bulky-goods parks to better weather the economic downturn.
HMV profits rocket in first turnaround year

4-Jul-2008
HMV Group delivered a strong set of full-year results, but warned that growth could slow in the next year.
Ideal appoints Aujila to board

4-Jul-2008
TV and online shopping channel Ideal Shopping Direct has appointed Pamela Aujila to its board as commercial director.
Findel sales up

3-Jul-2008
Home shopping group Findel has disclosed a 3 per cent rise in group sales in its second quarter, compared with the same period last year.
JJB hires MD for lifestyle division

3-Jul-2008
JJB Sports has appointed Chris Lee, founder of men’s lifestyle store chain Microzine, to head its new Sports Lifestyle division.
Instore split over takeover bid

3-Jul-2008
Variety store group Instore is divided over a 5p-a-share offer by Seaham Investments to take majority control of the retailer.
Retailers post worst results in three years

2-Jul-2008
Retailers are bearing the brunt of the economic downturn, posting the highest level of negative trading statements in three years during the second quarter of 2008, according to a Grant Thornton study.
Carpetright's Harris fears tough year

1-Jul-2008
Carpetright has warned that trade is tough as it revealed a 7.6 per cent increase in underlying pre-tax profit to £62.1 million.
HMV Group profits soar

1-Jul-2008
HMV Group has revealed profits, before tax and exceptional items, have climbed 25.2 per cent, up from £45.2 million to £56.6 million for the year to April 26.

Retail WeekNicola Harrison

Retail Week
Nicola Harrison