Retail Week
November 4 2011
View all stories from this issue.
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99 Cents Only Stores reports sales increase
Discount retailer 99 Cents Only Stores has reported that sales for the second quarter ended October 1 rose 8.8% to $363m (£226m) compared with $334m (£208m) for the prior year period.Total retail sales were $352m (£220m) against $323m (£202m), while like-for-like sales increased 6.7%. The number of like-for-like sales transactions was up 4.7%, and the average transaction climbed from $9.44 (£5.88) to $9.62 (£5.98).For the first half total sales increased 7.6% to $731.4m (£455.3m -
£1 rents as landlords try to avoid business rates
Shops are being let for just £1 to retailers on some depressed high streets as landlords try and avoid paying business rates. -
01 Nick Robertson
Chief executive, Asos -
02 Chris North
Managing director, Amazon UK -
03 Laura Wade-Gery
Executive director for multichannel ecommerce, Marks & Spencer -
04 Tim Steiner
Founder and chief executive, Ocado -
05 Ken Towle
Director of internet retailing, Tesco -
06 Scott Weavers-Wright
Chief executive, Kiddicare and Managing director, non-food online, Morrisons -
07 David Tarbuck
Multichannel development and operations manager, Argos -
08 Andrea O'Donnell
Commercial director, John Lewis -
09 Matthew Moulding
Chief executive, The Hut Group -
10 Biggest risers
The ten biggest risers on the 2011 Retail Week Etail Power List -
10 Robin Terrell
Executive director, multichannel and international House of Fraser -
11 Mark Newton-Jones
Group chief executive, Shop Direct Group -
12 Alan White
Chief executive, N Brown Group -
13 James Hart
Ecommerce director, Asos -
14 Simon Wolfson
Chief executive, Next -
15 Peter Fitzgerald
Director of retail, Google UK -
16 Simon Thompson
Managing director for online food, Morrisons -
17 Hash Ladha
Group multichannel director, Aurora Fashions -
18 Jon Kamaluddin
International director, Asos -
19 Richard Pennycook
Group finance director, Morrisons and Chairman, Kiddicare -
20 Claire Gilmartin
EU marketplaces vice-president, EBay -
21 David Walmsley
Multichannel development director, Marks & Spencer -
22 Mark Sebba
Chief executive, Net-a-Porter -
23 Martin Lewis
Founder, Moneysavingexpert.com -
24 Sophie Cornish
Founder, Notonthehighstreet.com -
25 Doug Gurr
Vice-president, Amazon UK -
26 Martha Lane Fox
UK digital champion, and non-executive director Marks & Spencer and Mydeco.com -
27 Michael Ross
Co-founder, eCommera -
28 Angela Ahrendts
Chief executive, Burberry -
29 Jonathon Brown
Head of online, John Lewis -
30 Simon Pritchard
Ecommerce director, Arcadia Group -
31 Sarah Curran
Founder and chief executive, My-Wardrobe -
32 Tanya Lawler
Director, digital and cross channel, Sainsbury’s -
33 Dave Hughes
Chief marketing officer, Game -
34 Jamie Murray Wells
Founder and executive chairman, Glasses Direct -
35 Dom McBrien
Multichannel trading director, Marks & Spencer -
36 Miriam Lahage
European general manager of fashion, EBay -
37 David Smith
Chief marketing and communications officer, IMRG -
38 Robin Phillips
Ecommerce director, Waitrose -
39 Rob Feldmann
UK chief executive, BrandAlley -
40 Colin Temple
Managing director, Schuh -
41 Martin Newman
Chief executive, Practicology -
42 David Worby
Director of Harrods Direct, Harrods -
43 Simon Forster
Director, Debenhams.com -
44 Hiroshi Mikitani
Chairman and chief executive, Rakuten -
45 Dan Lumb
Ecommerce director, Reiss -
46 Mark Hodgkinson
Marketing and ecommerce director, HMV Group -
47 Humphrey Cobbold
Chief executive, Wiggle -
48 Alison Lancaster
Cross channel director, White Stuff -
49 Nick Lansley
Head of research and development, Tesco.com -
50 Carrie Longton and Justine Roberts
Founders, Mumsnet -
99p Stores launches discount bra
Single-price retailer 99p Stores is offering ‘smalls’ at small prices with the launch of a bra. -
All Saints full year profits plunge
All Saints profits plunged 9% to £21.5m despite soaring sales for the year ending January 2011, according to figures filed at Companies House. -
Alshaya to revamp La Senza stores and product as it hires CBRE
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. -
Amazon profits tumble as it continues to invest
Etail giant Amazon said further investment in the business led to a 73% slump in net income in its third quarter. -
Amazon’s profits hit as it focuses on long-term gains
Last week Amazon recorded a 73% fall in net profit to $63m (£39.1m) during its third quarter ended September 30 compared with the same period last year, despite sales jumping 44% to $10.88bn (£6.75bn). -
Anders Holch Povlsen
Chief executive, Bestseller -
Andrew Wade
Retail equities analyst, Numis Securities -
Ann Summers overhauls its website
Lingerie and sex toy chain Ann Summers is overhauling its website to improve functionality. -
Argos continues to drag down Home Retail as profits slump
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. -
Argos launches TV shopping on Freesat
Multichannel retailer Argos’s TV shopping operation has extended its reach through a tie-up with satellite TV firm Freesat. -
Arnu Misra
New business director, Asda -
Asda £5 'thank you' offer hailed a success as Morrisons enters Christmas price war fray
Asda’s £5 ‘thank you’ offer that it launched two weeks ago has driven 1 million customers to its Asda Price Guarantee (APG) website. -
Asda partners with cookery school Leiths
Asda has partnered with Leiths School of Food and Wine to create and develop its entire Extra Special food range. -
Asda teams up with Farmfoods for Iceland bid
Asda has teamed up with the Scottish frozen supermarket chain Farmfoods in its £1.4bn bid for Iceland, it is understood. -
Aurora-backed Bastyan brand to open pop-up store
Contemporary womenswear label Bastyan, which is backed by Coast, Warehouse and Oasis owner Aurora Fashions, is to open a pop-up store. -
B&Q's oldest employee retires
We’re all going to have to work for longer in years to come, but hopefully not as long as B&Q’s oldest employee Syd Prior who has decided to finally hang up his apron at the age of 96. -
Behind the story: September's official retail stats
They may have been less bad than they could have been but no-one will be popping champagne corks following the release of the official September sales figures by the ONS this morning. -
Best Buy UK big box stores to shut
Electricals group Best Buy is to close its big boxes in the UK and partner Carphone Warehouse’s will instead focus on developing its ‘connected world’ store model. -
Blacks made to look a gift horse in the mouth
Will nobody give poor Blacks a break? -
Booths reveals flat sales as trading conditions remain tough
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. -
Boots to launch more premium own brand products
Health and beauty retail giant Boots is to introduce new premium ranges of own-brand products to compete with established brands in the market. -
BRC calls on Chancellor to tackle 2012 business rates in pre-Budget statement
Chancellor George Osborne must address significant business rate increases, retail jobs and improving access to overseas markets in his Autumn statement, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has urged. -
BrightHouse profits up 22% in first half
Rent-to-own electricals and furniture retailer BrightHouse has revealed EBITDA rocketed 21.8% to £20.7m in its first half. -
Burberry bolsters senior management team
Luxury retailer and brand Burberry has bolstered its senior management team with the creation of the roles of senior role vice-president, customer insight, and chief technology officer. -
Carrefour-Marinopoulos appoints Jerome Loubere as managing director
Carrefour-Marinopoulos has appointed Jerome Loubere as its managing director to succeed Patrice Lespagnol, who was appointed last May.Loubere held the position between 2004 and 2008 but was then made general manager of the Marinopoulos Group in the Balkan region.The retailer believes Loubere’s experience and knowledge will help it to “better understand the consumers in Greece and thus to strengthen its leading position in the Greek market”. -
Cheshire: Kingfisher wants 100 stores in Turkey
Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire has said the company plans to open 100 stores in Turkey, saying the country is “one of our big growth opportunities for the future.” -
Christmas spending set to slump
Christmas is unlikely to bring much relief to hard-pressed retailer with spending set to slump this year. -
Consumer confidence falls in October
Consumer confidence slipped in October to one of its lowest ever levels. -
Consumer slowdown is accelerating change
Sitting in a top fashion retailer’s office on Tuesday with the air-conditioning turned up to full blast, it wasn’t hard to see why selling clothes is hard at the moment. -
Countrywide ‘For the Country Wise’
Rural specialist Countrywide launched its first TV ad last week to run throughout November. -
Crate & Barrel puts UK store plans on hold
American homewares retailer Crate & Barrel has frozen plans to expand into the UK due to concern about current European economic climate, it is understood. -
David Beckham appointed Sainsbury's ambassador
David Beckham has been appointed as an ambassador for Sainsbury’s, with the aim of helping to inspire children to be healthier and more active. -
Debenhams launches home catalogue to boost online sales
Debenhams has published a catalogue featuring homewares and furnishings for the first time to help drive online sales. -
Debenhams updates the military look
Trafalgar Square’s famous landmarks got a makeover thanks to Debenhams last week at the launch of its virtual pop-up store. -
Decrease in revenue at DIY retailer Praktiker
DIY retailer Praktiker has revealed revenues dropped 7% to E844m (£735m) for the third quarter ended September 30.Like-for-like sales were also down 7%, while revenues of the Praktiker banner in Germany fell 9%. However, its domestic Max Bahr banner reported revenues increased by 3%. International revenues continued to decline, particularly in Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey by 17%, 15% and 21% respectively.Praktiker also suffered negative third-quarter EBIT of E10m (£8.7m) resulti -
DFS profits rise 11.4% as sales slip
Sofas giant DFS has revealed full-year EBITDA growth of 11.4% to £80m in a “very challenging” big ticket environment. -
Directory sales power third quarter sales growth at Next
A strong third quarter performance from Next’s Directory business helped compensate for weak store sales and full-year profits are expected to be up. -
Do pure-play etailers need stores?
Traditional retailers have long grappled with multichannel strategies, but now it is etailers considering whether they need a bricks-and-mortar presence to compete. Rebecca Thomson reports. -
Ecommerce faces rapid change and rising challenges
It takes extraordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things, and the successful individuals profiled in this year’s Retail Week Etail Power List, have all achieved outstanding results. I’m delighted to congratulate them all. -
Edwin Booth
The fifth generation of his family to run the eponymous business, the Booths chairman is looking to future expansion. Gemma Goldfingle reports. -
Etail gets bigger and better in 2011
Congratulations to everyone who has made it into our second Retail Week Etail Power List. -
First M&S Food on the Move store to be trialled in London
Standalone shop will sell hot and cold food from the retailer’s existing ranges targeted at commuters. -
First-half sales edge up at Boots
Health and beauty powerhouse Alliance Boots is on track to meet its financial targets this year despite tough trading conditions. -
Flying Brands completes refinancing as sales plunge
Home shopping retailer Flying Brands has completed a refinancing as its sales plunge. -
Former Marks and Spencer man Sheen to head up Gatwick Airport retail team
Former Marks and Spencer head of retail operations and property Spencer Sheen has flown to Gatwick Airport to take on its newly created head of retail role. -
Game launches new payment system to capture digital spend
Game has launched a new way of paying for its products as it aims to capture share in the digital games market. -
Gavin Sathianathan
Strategic partner manager, Facebook -
Go Outdoors CFO David Hanney to exit
Go Outdoors has suffered another high profile departure as chief financial officer David Hanney prepares to exit next year. -
Going for glamour
The department store has repositioned its beauty hall at Manchester Exchange Square, upping the glamour stakes. John Ryan visits. -
Government launches consumer information initiative
A number of retailers are in talks to sign up to a Government-backed initiative designed to stimulate innovation and growth by sharing information with consumers about their buying and spending habits. -
Grocers eye Iceland as first round bids deadline passes
Grocers Morrisons and Asda have expressed interest in acquiring frozen foods chain Iceland as the deadline for first-round bids passes. -
Hard times for Frozen Value
Back in May we noted that the four leading frozen food specialists had collectively been outperforming the wider supermarket sector. -
Harriet Williams
Head of digital development, Debenhams -
HMV launches first TV ad dedicated to tech products
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. -
Hobbs profits soar on record sales
Upmarket womenswear retailer Hobbs’ pre-tax profits soared 137% on record sales in the year to January 29. -
How can I plan for point of sale problems?
I need to better plan for possible problems with our points of sale. What can I do to safeguard against it being down? -
Iceland bids fall short of asking price
First round bids for Iceland are thought to have fallen short of the £1.5bn asking price. -
In focus: Frozen Value
The northern-based frozen food specialist has struggled to capitalise on customers trading down. -
In for a pound
Poundland’s popularity has continued to grow thanks to the appeal of its single-price point and broad product range, and now boss Jim McCarthy plans to attract web customers too. By Tiffany Holland. -
In pictures: Darth Vader to star in Dixons ads
Electricals group Dixons is to reprise its Star Wars-themed TV advertising , this time featuring arch-villain Darth Vader. -
In pictures: First look at Austin Reed's Regent Street flagship
Menswear retailer Austin Reed has opened its new flagship store on Regent Street, which chief executive Nick Hollingworth described as a “stake in the ground” and representative of the future of the fashion retailer. -
In pictures: Foyles opens Westfield Stratford City store
Bookseller Foyles has opened the doors of its Westfield Stratford City store, showcasing a design which celebrates books by using them within its structure. -
In Pictures: House of Fraser.com, Aberdeen, opens today
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. -
In pictures: Retail Week Etail Power List 2011
Retail Week was at the ICA in London to launch the Etail Power List 2011, to annouce the 50 most powerful people in online retail. -
Is my trademark protected online?
What are my rights when it comes to internet sites selling counterfeit goods bearing my trademark? -
It’s hard to imagine a time when we didn’t shop online
Congratulations to all the members of the Retail Week Etail Power List 2011 who, collectively, are making history and redefining the future of online retail. -
Jeremy Fennell
Ecommerce director, Dixons Retail -
Jessica Brown
Head of fashion, Amazon -
JJB targets women with new ranges and fitness classes as losses widen
Struggling sportswear retailer JJB is aiming to target women as part of its turnaround plan as its losses widen further. -
Joanna Robb
Head of multichannel development and strategy, B&Q -
Job changes
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John Lewis in "Made in UK" product push
John Lewis is to push British-sourced products in its stores to support UK manufacturing. -
John Lewis sales up as shoppers feel festive
John Lewis sales rose 9.9% to £62.6m last week as it clocked up the best performance of the half. -
John Lewis to open smaller format store in York
John Lewis has revealed plans to open another smaller format department store, in York. -
John Lovering board appointment sparks speculation over Peacocks
Serial dealmaker John Lovering has joined the board of Peacocks owner Henson No 1, sparking speculation that he will exert a powerful influence over the embattled value retailer. -
Justin Farrington Smith
Justin Farrington Smith Managing director, QD Stores Group -
Kesko appoints Arja Talma
Grocery and general merchandise retailer Kesko has appointed Arja Talma as president of Rautakesko and corporate management board member responsible for Kesko’s building and home improvement trade. Talma has been Kesko’s chief financial officer since 2005 after joining the company in 2004.Minna Kurunsaari has been named corporate management board member for the home and speciality goods trade from December 1. -
Laying the retail foundations
Oxford Summer School’s new course is set to be the starting point for tomorrow’s retail leaders. -
London Olympics will 'keep tourists away'
London could see a dramatic fall in the number of tourists visiting the City during the 2012 Olympics, shattering any hopes retailers may have had for a boost in the lead up to the event. -
Losses widen at Austin Reed
Losses have widened at menswear retailer Austin Reed despite sales growing. -
M&S steady in rough seas
Amid renewed economic gloom and relentlessly downbeat consumer sentiment, next week brings a chance to gauge the sector’s temperature as some of retail’s biggest beasts report. -
Marks & Spencer on the Move
News that M&S is to open a food on the move outlet this week is interesting but what are its chance of success? -
Matalan's credit rating downgraded
Matalan’s credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor on Tuesday, with one debt facility cut to ‘junk’ status, it is understood. -
M-commerce sales to reach £2.5bn by 2016
Mobile retail is expected to grow by 42% per year for the next five years to be worth £2.5bn by 2016. -
Metro (Canada) enters into partnership agreement with Marché Adonis
Metro (Canada) has entered into a partnership agreement with Montreal ethnic food retailer Marché Adonis. Metro now holds a 55% stake in both Marché Adonis, which specialises in fresh and Mediterranean products and prepared meals, and its distributor sister company Phoenicia Products.Marché Adonis’ founders have retained a 45% interest and will continue to manage both companies. The transaction includes all four Adonis stores, three of which are located in Montreal and one in Laval, al -
Mohamed al-Fayed
Owner, Cocosa -
Monsoon hit by another management departure
Womenswear retailer Monsoon Accessorize is to suffer another management departure. -
More bad news from Carpetright as sales continue to fall
Carpetright has announced a 5.2% fall in second quarter sales, and warned that full-year profits will come in at “the lower end of current expectations.” -
Mydeco.com to launch transactional site
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. -
My-Wardrobe hunts for chief executive as it looks to global markets
Premium etailer My-Wardrobe.com is looking for a chief executive to take the company to international markets, according to reports. -
Netflix to launch in UK next year
Netflix, the on-demand film specialist, is to launch a streaming service in the UK and Republic of Ireland in 2012. -
New chief at Clintons reveals recovery plan
Greetings card retailer Clintons is leading a four-pronged strategy to turn the struggling business around, including a property review that could include closing underperforming stores. -
New entries
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New flagship store for Hallmark
Greetings card retailer Hallmark unveiled its new flagship store in Leeds last week, showcasing its “less formal” brand positioning. -
Ocado hit by delivery "blips"
Warehouse “blips” have affected deliveries by online grocer Ocado today, but the retailer insisted only a comparatively small number of shoppers have been affected. -
Potential to operate stores in existing countries, says TJX
Off-price retailer TJX has said that it believes there is potential to operate 4,200 to 4,500 stores in its existing countries versus the 2,913 estimated to be in operation by the end of this financial year.The company is looking to have between 300 and 325 stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland against 263 currently, 100 to 150 HomeSense stores in the UK versus 24 projected for the end of 2011 and 100 -
Primark in Selfridges: Selmark?
Selfridges’ decision to allow Primark into some of its stores is a win win for both retailers. -
Profits plunge at JJB
Sports retailer JJB has suffered a slump in interim profits and poor second half trading has forced a re-budgeting. -
Property and retail
Over the past seven years the relationship between property and retail has improved and some stunning schemes have been built. But there remains much more to do. -
Property pipeline
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 -
Q&A: Alliance Boots' Alex Gourlay
Retail Week speaks to Alliance Boots chief executive of health and beauty Alex Gourlay about how Boots’ retail strategy has ensured it is well-positioned to meet its targets. -
Q&A: Philip Clarke, Tesco
Tesco group finance director Laurie McIlwee and group chief executive Philip Clarke faced a grilling from the press after the grocer reported its worst Christmas trading for decades today. Clarke talks the Big Price Drop, a move away from large superstores and why the retailer is not crisis. Alex Lawson reports -
Republic poised for cash injection
TPG, the private equity house that owns Republic is poised to inject new cash into the fashion retailer, it is understood. -
Retail sales down year-on-year, CBI reports
Retail sales fell in the year to October, the CBI Monthly Distributive Trades Survey showed, and sales volume was the lowest since May 2009. -
Retail sales rise in September, but hot weather hits fashion
Retail sales rose in September, with value growth being driven by food inflation, but fashion sales volumes experienced their biggest fall for three-and-a-half years, the ONS said this morning. -
Richard Houlton
Director of channels, Clarks UK & Ireland -
River Island launches international shipping
Young fashion retailer River Island has introduced international shipping from its website from today (November 1). -
Rob Templeman gives first speech as BRC chair
Retail could be the “engine growth for the economy” if the Government helps reduce burdensome business rate increases next year, chairman of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Rob Templeman said in his debut speech. -
Rose mobile commerce venture goes live
An innovative mobile payment system fronted by Sir Stuart Rose that launches tomorrow will play a pivotal role in the development of m-commerce, the former Marks & Spencer boss has claimed. -
Ruby Victor
Associate director marketing and ecommerce, Liberty -
Ruth Spencer
Director of insights, loyalty and multichannel Boots UK -
Sales rise at John Lewis as Christmas buying begins
Signs of early Christmas shopping were evident last week at John Lewis department stores and sister supermarket business Waitrose. -
Schlecker to close inefficient stores
Drugstore operator Schlecker plans to complete the closure of inefficient stores within the next five to six months as part of its strategy to return to profit by 2012.The retailer believes the move will cut out a 7% to 9% chunk of sales revenue that it regards as unprofitable. Schlecker said it has already remodelled 200 stores. -
Scottish government to bring in alcohol pricing bill
The Scottish government is preparing to introduce minimum pricing on alcohol in a bid to improve the nation’s health – a policy that some retailers believe is misguided. -
Scottish Government urged to conduct impact assessment on supermarket levy
Scotland’s finance secretary John Swinney must be pushed towards a full impact assessment on proposals for a new levy on retailers selling alcohol and tobacco, the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has urged. -
Sears announces launch of new digital local ad programme
Sears has announced the launch of its new digital local advert programme at Sightssearslocalad.com and Kmartlocalad.com.The sites offer shoppers current pricing and promotions as well as real-time stock checks for their local Sears or Kmart store. They also allow customers to shop by category and create item lists that can be shared via email, sent to a mobile device or printed.Members of the Shop Your Way Reward scheme will be able to view upcoming promotions, collect rewards, -
Selfridges broadens its brands and appeal
Last week’s news that Primark was to open menswear concessions in Selfridges will no doubt have raised a few eyebrows. -
Sharp sets out strategy as Debenhams records 10% profit increase
New Debenhams chief executive Michael Sharp has revealed his growth strategy for the department store, as he revealed full year pre-tax profit jumped 10% to £166.1m.. -
Sharpest fall in retail employment since 2009
Retail employment dropped by 0.8% in the third quarter of 2011, representing the steepest decline since the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Bond Pearce Retail Employment Monitor began in 2009. -
Shop Direct invests £12m in Christmas marketing campaign
Shop Direct Group has invested £12m in Christmas marketing campaigns for its flagship brands. -
Shop Direct to launch Very overseas as it cuts group losses
Shop Direct is to launch Very overseas as it cuts group losses to £7.8m over the past year. -
Slower but not steady
The growth rate of online sales is slowing in the UK, but there are still plenty of interesting dynamics at play that are likely to revitalise many businesses, finds Joanna Perry. -
Sports Direct profits jump 13.3% as sales grow
Sports Direct retail gross profit advanced 13.3% to £119m as sales thrive. -
Still deals to be done despite volatility
It is no great surprise that the mergers and acquisitions environment has been getting much tougher over recent months with increasingly volatile trading conditions and darker consumer outlook – but more about that later, what has happened so far this year? -
Store Twenty One launches label with Katie Price
Value retailer Store Twenty One has teamed up with model Katie Price to create a new label called Katie’s Boutique. -
Store Twenty One to push trend-led fashion
Value clothing and homewares retailer Store Twenty One is to further increase its fashionability after its trendier lines helped it bounce back into the black. -
Struggling Clintons suffers profit plunge
Greetings card retailer Clinton Cards has suffered a slide in full-year profits but is embarking on a turnaround programme and has agreed a credit extension with lenders. -
Surrey Quays Shopping Centre 100,000 sqft extension plans
The owners of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre in south east London have submitted an application to extend the centre by 100,000 sq ft. -
Tesco sets up emergency hubs in wake of Thai floods
Supermarket group Tesco has had to shut some of its stores in Thailand because of flooding affecting the country, and the retailer is helping with the relief effort. -
Tesco to make redundancies in fashion department
Tesco is set to make redundancies within its fashion merchandising team following a recent drop in general merchandise sales. -
The Hut FD quits after float scrapped
The Hut’s finance director has exited the online retailer after it scrapped plans for a flotation this year. -
The Range revamps website
Furniture and homewares retailer The Range has revamped its website to simplify the buying process. -
Tim Bunting, Mark Evans and Dharmash Mistry
Partners, Balderton Capital -
Time for a guild of retailers
We must unite to create a professional association to raise retail’s status, says Ian Cheshire. -
Tom Allason
Founder, Shutl -
Top Toys for Christmas revealed
A boardgame called Doggie Doo and a tablet computer for kids are among the top toy picks predicted by toys retailer The Entertainer. -
Topshop to launch mobile site as mobile sales climb
Topshop is to launch an app and mobile optimised site in the coming months as mobile becomes an increasingly important channel for retailers. -
Topshop, Santiago, Chile
There’s been a lot of news recently about Topshop beaming down in Chicago, but putting the US to one side for a moment, what about Chile? -
Tough Christmas ahead for retailers as consumer confidence remains low
Retailers are “braced for a difficult Christmas” after a marginal increase in consumer confidence in the third quarter. -
Toys R Us suffers year-end profit slump
Specialist retailer Toys R Us suffered a profit plunge of 27.1% last year. -
UK families £15 a week worse off in September
UK families were £15 a week worse off in September according to the Asda Income Tracker, representing the biggest drop since records began. -
Uncertain outlook knocks retailers hard
General retailers had a bad week as their stocks declined by twice as much as the wider market, which took a knock as the eurozone crisis dragged on and pundits argued over the UK’s economic prospects. -
Uncharitable me
Saying there should be fewer charity shops is viewed a bit like taking sweets from children or not giving up your seat to an old lady on the bus. But Mary Portas is right that too many of them can be a bad thing. -
Urban Outfitters removes 'Navajo' name following Native American tribe complaints
US lifestyle retailer Urban Outfitters has removed the word ‘Navajo’ from product names on its website following complaints. -
Video: Arsenal reveals Generation Game-inspired Christmas online ad
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. -
Video: Boots celebrates 'super hero' women with 'Here come the girls' ad campaign
Here come the ‘super hero’ girls in Boots’ latest Christmas TV ad campaign, celebrating women’s ability to multi-task over the festive period. -
Waitrose launches loyalty card
Waitrose has launched a loyalty card to reward customers and get a greater insight into their shopping habits. -
Walmart to shut apparel office in New York
Walmart is to shut its apparel office in New York to reduce costs and concentrate on more basic clothing.The office has about 275 workers in areas including product development and buying. These functions will be transferred to Walmart’s home town of Bentonville, Arkansas by February next year.Walmart US chief executive Bill Simon announced the retailer would go back to basics following improved sales of socks, jeans and underwear and its failed attempts to attract more fashion- -
Warm weather hits John Lewis half-term sales
Sales at John Lewis fell in the week to 29 October, with takings down in all but one store and much slower growth from the website. -
Warren Bennett and David Hathiramani
Co-founders, A Suit That Fits -
Watch this space
Kiddicare’s bold plans for 12 superstores are a blueprint for the future of multichannel retail. -
Woolworths reports overall sales increase
Woolworths’ overall sales for the first quarter of 2011 were up 4.9% to AUD14.6bn (£9.6bn). Net sales at its supermarket division including fuel grew 5.8% to AUD12.56bn (£8.27bn), bolstered by a 17% rise in revenue from fuel.Its Australian food and liquor sales increased 4.4% compared with the same period last year.








