Retail Week
Janaury 6 2012

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Albemarle & Bond to open 25 shops next year

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.
Updated company profile: Boyes

North Yorkshire-based mixed goods retailer Boyes experienced a 4.4% increase in sales in 2010/11, bolstered by the addition of four new outlets during the year.
2012: Challenging times ahead

One of the challenges of writing an article is that you are given a theme and asked to write 350 words on that subject.
Ahold’s Dutch Albert Heijn operation plans online marketplace

Grocery retailer Ahold’s Dutch Albert Heijn operation intends to create an online marketplace.The retailer plans to add non-food items such as books, clothes and home entertainment products to its albert.nl online grocery assortment in order to follow its ‘six-pillar’ strategy presented last autumn.Ahold spokesman Jochem van de Laarschot said an acquisition would be a useful tool to achieve that aim. Recently, there was speculation that online non-food retailer Wehkamp would be
Aurora like-for-likes soar 13% over Christmas

Fashion group Aurora, which runs Oasis, Warehouse and Coast, like-for-like sales soared 13% over the festive period.
B&Q launches biggest ever online marketing campaign

DIY retailer B&Q has launched its biggest ever online marketing campaign to promote its winter kitchen and bathroom Sale.
B&Q Winter Sale

B&Q’s latest marketing campaign is a central part of its biggest and longest winter Sale.
Barratts Priceless administrators make 170 redundancies

The administrators of shoe specialist Barratts Priceless will shut 18 shops on Friday with the loss of 127 jobs.
Best Buy big-boxes to close on January 15

Best Buy’s 11 UK big-box stores and website will shut on January 15, marking the end of its attempt to transform the electricals market.
Beyond Retro: Back to the (retro) future

Vintage clothing retailer Beyond Retro is defying the gloom and growing fast. John Ryan travels to Dalston to see its latest store.
Blacks Leisure sale edges closer

The future of outdoors specialist Blacks Leisure could be secured as early as next week when second-round bids will be submitted.
Blacks moves closer to pre-pack administration

Blacks Leisure has moved a step closer to entering pre-pack administration.
Blacks to be put into administration

Outdoor gear specialist Blacks Leisure is to be put into administration ahead of the sale of its assets.
Blue Inc buys 20 D2 stores

Young fashion menswear retailer Blue Inc has bought 20 D2 stores out of administration saving in the region of 200 jobs on the high street.
Brand Alley sales surge 61% in fourth quarter

Private sales site Brand Alley has had an “excellent” year, posting a 61% sales surge in the final quarter of 2011.
Carrefour sells 97 supermarket properties

Carrefour has sold 97 supermarket properties to La Française AM, an investment fund majority-owned by Crédit Mutuel Nord for e365m (£305.5m).The properties were previously held by Carrefour’s real-estate branch, Carrefour Property. Carrefour will continue to operate the stores through 12-year leases under its Carrefour Market banner.
Christmas sales climb at Robert Dyas

Hardware retailer Robert Dyas has posted a leap in like-for-like sales in the run-up to Christmas.
Clintons Christmas like-for-likes edge up

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.
Competing with price comparisons

Unique products and great service will always be valued by shoppers, says Jacqueline Gold.
Consumer confidence falls to 'chilling' level

Consumer confidence fell in December to the lowest level in three years.
Consumer Rights Directive: what are the effects?

How will the new Consumer Rights Directive affect retailers?
Convenience store operator Lawson plans store increase

Japan-based convenience store operator Lawson plans to acquire Chinese retail chains to increase its stores in China to about 5,000 by 2015, president Takeshi Niinami said in an interview with Kyodo News. Lawson has so far opened about 340 convenience stores in Shanghai, Chongqing and Dalian.Niinami also said that although owners of small family-run shops in India were opposing the removal of restrictions on foreign investment, Lawson still aimed to expand into the country this year.
Co-op advertises to win more spend

The Co-operative Food has embarked on a new advertising campaign as it tries to counter a potential fall-off in January consumer spending.
Edinburgh Woollen Mill emerges as surprise Blacks bidder

Blacks has received strong interest from potential bidders ahead of today’s deadline for offers to buy the struggling retailer.
Esprit launches new concept store

Hong Kong-based clothing retailer Esprit has launched a new concept store in Cologne as part of a strategy to strengthen its brand image and profitability. The store, dubbed the ‘lighthouse’ shop, operates from an urban loft space where shoppers can unwind as well as buy clothing.Esprit project manager Mike Ross said: “The customer should feel like they are visiting their best friend at home. An urban, authentic but relaxed atmosphere is particularly important to us.”A collectio
Fashion retailer D2 collapses into administration

Fashion retailer D2 has collapsed into administration after falling victim to “extremely difficult” trading conditions.
Feelunique.com sales increase by 50% in December

Turnover at beauty etailer Feelunique.com grew by 50% over the Christmas period.
Festive season brings retail administrations

Many retailers are teetering on the brink of collapse including gifts specialist Past Times and toy chain Hawkins Bazaar as footwear chain Barratts’ concession business folded following an unsuccessful attempt to find a buyer.
Foyles reports third year of profitability

Foyles has reported a third year of profitability, although earnings fell because of ongoing works outside its flagship Charing Cross Road store.
GNC to expand outside the US

Nutritional specialist GNC is to expand outside the US, with plans for more than 200 new international stores, chief executive Joe Fortunato told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The openings include new market entries in Russia, Brazil and the EU.GNC, which already operates about 2,500 international stores, also plans 160 new stores in the US, where it has 5,000 shops. The retailer is picking up the pace of openings and plans to add 600 to 700 in the next four years compared with 120 in
Government urged to respond to Portas review

Labour MP Simon Danczuk has written to minister for housing Grant Shapps to ask him to speed up the Government’s response to Mary Portas’ high street review, which is due in the spring.
Grocery giants ramp up their pricing strategies

Asda is holding firm on its Price Guarantee initiative as competitors continue to ramp up their price promotions in the face of a traditional fall-off in spending in January.
Grocery space growth rockets

Supermarkets have added space at an exponential rate since the start of the credit crunch in 2007 and expansion continues unabated.
Harrods website offline during peak New Years Sale due to "technical difficulties"

Luxury department store Harrods website has been taken offline today during peak New Year Sales trading due to “technical difficulties”.
Harvey Norman launches Irish website offshore

Household and electronics goods retailer Harvey Norman has launched an Irish website offshore through which Australian consumers avoid paying the goods and service tax.Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey has expressed his concerns about the rise of international online shopping and its effect on the Australian retail market. He conceded the ‘direct import’ site, which sells only video games at present, would cannibalise the retailer’s bricks-and-mortar sales.
Hawkin's Bazaar owner faces administration

Tobar Group, owner of toy specialist Hawkin’s Bazaar, has become the latest victim of harsh trading conditions and filed notice of intention to appoint administrators.
HMV sales slump over Christmas

Entertainment retailer HMV suffered a sales slump over Christmas, although performance was better than when it last updated.
How can international returns be made easier?

How do I make the international returns process easier to manage?
Ikea to open South Korean store in 2014

Ikea has acquired a 841,715 sq ft plot in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Chosun Ilbo reports. The home furnishings retailer plans to open a store on the site in 2014.Ikea Korea said that, to cater for local consumer habits, delivery and assembly services would be provided through a subcontractor.
Irisa online and marketing boss Delafeld exits

Irisa director Giles Delafeld has left the group to head up online voucher specialist VoucherCodes.com.
Jacques Vert and Irisa to share back office

Jacques Vert’s back office operations are to be merged with those of retailer Irisa – formerly Alexon – under new owner Sun European Partners.
January shopper numbers fall

Footfall on the high street has fallen in recent days despite an initial flurry of spending on Boxing Day.
JD in "advanced discussions" to buy Blacks

JD Sports has confirmed it is in “advanced discussions” with Blacks Leisure over its offer to buy the outdoor retail group.
JD Sports frontrunner to buy Blacks

JD Sports is understood to be the frontrunner to buy struggling outdoors retailer Blacks with the deal likely to go-ahead on Monday.
JD squares up against Sports Direct to buy Blacks

JD Sports is close to making an offer for parts of up-for-sale outdoor specialist Blacks Leisure.
JJB shows improving performance over Christmas

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%

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”.
John Lewis has "solid but challenging" start to Sale

John Lewis had a “solid but challenging” start to its Sale.
John Lewis sales rise 21% as shoppers come out to spend

Hopes are rising that a long-awaited Christmas spending spree has at last got under way after sales rose strongly at John Lewis department stores.
Korky's Shoes vents anger at Irish Government

Not one to mince his words, John Corcoran, owner of Korky’s Shoes on Dublin’s Grafton Street, makes his feelings known about the recent u-turn by the Irish Government on banning upward-only rent reviews in existing leases.
Last chance to enter the PayPal Etail Awards

There are just two weeks left to enter the PayPal Etail Awards.
Lowe’s acquires online retailer ATG Stores

Home improvement retailer Lowe’s has acquired ATG Stores, an online retailer of home enhancement and lifestyle products based in Washington. Lowe’s said the deal allowed it to capitalise on complementary strengths and employees’ expertise by sharing best practices for online marketing and merchandising.“The addition of ATG Stores is a strategic fit, providing more opportunities for Lowe’s to be a relevant partner at every stage of the home improvement process and deliver better custome
Lucy Neville-Rolfe

The departure early next year of one of former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy’s key lieutenants will be the end of an era. Alex Lawson reports.
Lush reports strong Christmas trading

Christmas sales at beauty retailer Lush “exceeded expectations” as customers were pulled in by own-brand products and the “engaging” store experience.
Luxembourg VAT cut on e-books gives Amazon advantage

Pressure is likely to increase on the UK Treasury to cut VAT on e-books after a controversial rate cut on the category by Luxembourg.
M&A climate poised for improvement

Private equity needs to go shopping in 2012, and global M&A activity will continue despite market volatility.
Massmart receives approval from Competition Tribunal

Grocery retailer Massmart has received approval from the Competition Tribunal to acquire Fruitspot and Rhino Group via two of its subsidiaries. Massmart, which revealed plans to buy fresh fruit and vegetable wholesaler Fruitspot through its Makro cash-and-carry subsidiary in July 2011, was given conditional approval.The tribunal said: “In the merger involving Massmart and Fruitspot, we require that the obligation to continue supplying Fruitspot’s existing customers should apply to Mass
Microsoft launches piracy action against Comet

Software giant Microsoft has begun legal action against Comet, the Kesa-owned electricals retailer that is being sold to private investment firm OpCapita, over alleged counterfeiting of product.
Morrisons raids Sainsbury's for marketing director

Supermarket group Morrisons has poached a senior Sainsbury’s staffer to become marketing director.
Morrisons reports Christmas sales rise as it eyes Best Buy sites

Morrisons reported a 0.7% increase in like-for-likes over the Christmas period despite shoppers delaying their trips to the high street.
Mulberry appoints new chief executive

Luxury goods retailer Mulberry has appointed a new chief executive who will join in March.
New year grocery discounting begins

The big grocers are responding to a potential fall in January consumer spending with widespread discounting.
Next sales up as Directory outperforms stores

Next sales rose 3.1% between August 1 and December 24 as sales in its directory outperformed stores.
Next shows how to weather the new year

As far as retailers are concerned, Father Christmas seems to have got stuck in the chimney.
Nick Wheeler

Founder, Charles Tyrwhitt
Oakley Capital plots bid for HMV's live music arm

Oakley Capital founder Peter Dubens is assembling a bid for HMV’s live music arm.
Oasis mobile site turns discounting on its head

Visitors to Oasis’s mobile site this week didn’t get quite the bargain they were expecting in the January Sales.
Online Christmas sales soar at The Fragrance Shop

Online sales at The Fragrance Shop soared by over 100% over the Christmas period as like-for-likes also shot up.
Online shopping spree leads to delivery chaos

A seasonal online shopping spree resulted in delivery logjam after leading courier company Yodel failed to cope with demand, but the carrier has insisted it has addressed the issue.
Paul Smith full year profits leap

UK designer Paul Smith reported a sales rise of 12% to £196m in the year to June 30 while profits leapt 36% to £34m during the year.
Peacocks poised to sell Bonmarché

Value fashion retailer Peacocks is poised to sell its Bonmarché womenswear chain in the coming weeks.
Pets at Home posts "robust" half-year performance

Pets at Home remains confident of growth potential after it posted a like-for-like rise in the half-year to September 2011.
Potential buyers circle Hawkin’s Bazaar chain

The administrator to troubled toy and novelties retailer Hawkin’s Bazaar aims to receive all expressions of interest in the business by the end of this week, following the collapse of owner Tobar Group.
Primark to open its first store in Austria

Value fashion retailer Primark is to open its first store in Austria at the Sillpark Shopping Centre in the city of Innsbruck. The store is due to open in the later part of summer this year and is expected to have a sales area of about 43,055 sq ft.The Austrian store will stock Primark’s complete range of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, as well as accessories and home
QVC makes a pig’s ear of flogging an e-reader

Note of warning: when selling e-readers on live TV check what’s on the screen of the device.
Response to Portas will not be brought forward

The Government will not bring forward its response to Mary Portas’s high street review despite calls from an MP to speed up the process after a run of retail administrations in the past month.
Retail businesses in administration set to rise in coming months, warns BRC

The rise in business rates in April will fuel growth in the number of retail businesses going into administration, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has warned.
Retail resolutions for 2012

Retailers reveal the business resolutions that they will be sticking to during the good and bad of 2012. By Gemma Goldfingle and Alex Lawson.
Retail spending to rise only 1.2% in 2012

Retail spending in 2012 is likely only to rise by 1.2%, the third lowest rate in almost four decades.
Retailers benefit from post-Christmas sales frenzy

Shoppers flocked to post-Christmas Sales yesterday and analysts believe December 27 will have been the busiest shopping day of the year.
Retailers take longer to pay suppliers

Retailers including Marks & Spencer, Clinton Cards and Dixons have taken much longer to pay their suppliers over the last year.
Revenue flat as Games Workshop says its unaffected by high-street malaise

Revenue at Games Workshop’s UK operations edged up in the half-year to 27 November as it is unaffected by macroeconomic factors, the games manufacturer said.
Sainsbury's celebrates 11 years with Jamie Oliver

Sainsbury’s has released a new TV advert celebrating its 11-year partnership with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
Sears reveals up to 120 store closures in the US

Last week, US department store and general merchandise group Sears Holdings disclosed plans to close 100 to 120 Kmart and full-line Sears stores.
Selfridges womenswear team takes shape as it hires two buying directors

Department store Selfridges has put its new buying team in place by hiring two new directors of buying for its womenswear division.
Shop Direct reveals Christmas sales leap

Home shopping group Shop Direct’s sales jumped 9% over Christmas but it expects sales to deteriorate in 2012.
Shopper numbers rise as pre-Christmas discounts bear fruit

Shopper numbers rose over the last week as Christmas shopping reached its peak.
Sofa specialist CSL posts Christmas sales jump

Furniture retailer CSL like-for-likes jumped 3.3% in the four weeks to Boxing Day despite reduced footfall to its retail park stores.
Strong start to Boxing Day Sales for furniture retailers

Furniture retailers have reported strong starts to their critical Boxing Day Sales but remain cautious on the outlook for the big-ticket sector.
Sun European Partners

The bold acquisitions of Jacques Vert and American Golf prove that deals can be made during tough economic times.
Supermarkets "mislead" Irish customers over VAT hike

Supermarkets in Ireland have been accused of misleading customers over claims they will absorb the VAT hike, even though many foods are non-vatable.
Tesco non-food boss Per Bank to leave

Tesco UK non-food commercial director Per Bank is to leave the top grocer to become chief executive of Scandinavian food retailer Dansk Supermarked.
The ‘right mix’ puts a spring in Schuh’s step

Footwear retailer Schuh has revealed an 8.2% increase in pre-tax profit to £14.8m in the year to March 27, 2011 after benefiting from having the “right product mix”.
The end of shopping

Will 2012 be the year in which retailers finally stop opening stores, or will things be somewhat more complex?
The Garden Centre Group has "outstanding" Christmas

Sales at The Garden Centre Group jumped 17% over the Christmas period as transactions in plants and pet product categories soared.
The Kooples opens its first UK outlet store

Contemporary French retailer The Kooples is to launch its first outlet store in the UK.
The Locker Room, Brent Cross

Wander past the average branch of Foot Locker in this country and the impression may be of a store that has a lot of trainers, but not perhaps of a highly wrought interior.
Thorntons warns on profits

Thorntons has issued a profit warning after poor consumer spending and heavy high street promotions hit performance.
TJX Europe president Paul Sweetenham to depart

TK Maxx owner TJX Europe senior executive vice president Paul Sweetenham is to leave the company.
Tomorrow to be busiest shopping day of the year

Tomorrow is expected to be the busiest shopping day of the year as consumers stock up on last-minute Christmas gifts.
Triumph eyes La Senza stores

Lingerie manufacturer Triumph is in talks to acquire stores from troubled lingerie retailer La Senza, it is understood.
Two cheers for Christmas

Last-minute shopping rush lifts retailers’ seasonal performance but at what cost to margin?
Updated company profile: Abercrombie & Fitch

While UK sales reached £60m in 2010/11, operating profits have come under pressure.
Updated company profile: Aldi

Sales growth was in excess of 20% at Aldi for much of 2011.
Updated company profile: Apple

Newly added profile for the UK retail subsidiary of Apple shows that 2009/10 sales surpassed the £500m mark, although profitability is still much lower than that achieved by Apple’s global retail division.
Updated company profile: Austin Reed

Austin Reed has seen its losses widen in 2010/11 as a result of the rising costs of raw materials, but also exceptional charges relating to onerous lease provisions.
Updated company profile: Bargain Booze

Retail sales for franchised off-licence chain Bargain Booze are estimated to have risen to £885m in 2010/11, although still down from a peak of around £1bn during the mid-2000s.
Updated company profile: Bonmarché

New profile of Bonmarché following acquisition by Sun European Partners which has recently committed to keeping an additional 30 stores open.
Updated company profile: Booths

Upmarket Northern grocery chain Booths has seen its sales growth come under pressure in the difficult trading climate,
Updated company profile: Card Factory

The rapidly expanding Card Factory saw its sales rise close to 10% to £230m in 2010/11, while the operating margin reached a very high 24.3%, bolstered by its strategy of vertical integration.
Updated company profile: Carpetright

A restructured management team is focusing on reducing the cost base and implementing other operational efficiencies in a bid to restore margins which were reduced to marginal levels in the challenging 2010/11 year.
Updated company profile: Cath Kidston

With its particular brand of domestic nostalgia proving to be particularly appealing during the current economic uncertainty, total sales at Cath Kidston were just short of £70m in 2010/11, against not much more than £10m five years ago.
Updated company profile: Claire's

With market saturation having largely been reached in the UK, sales at Claire’s declined by a further 3.2% in 2010/11, the fourth consecutive year of decline.
Updated company profile: Clinton Cards

Clinton Cards has remained under pressure in 2010/11, with group like-for-like sales falling by 2.9% and the company reporting an operating loss of £10m.
Updated company profile: Debenhams

Operating margins declined once again in 2010/11.
Updated company profile: Dixons

With like-for-like sales declining within the UK division since 2008/09, updated profile examines progress in John Browett’s Renewal and Transformation Plan.
Updated company profile: Dune

The appointment of Mohamediqbal Yacoobali as the company’s new International Director in mid-2011 has prompted a renewed push on international development.
Updated company profile: Dunelm

Trading became much more difficult in 2010/11, with like-for-like sales declining by 0.6%.
Updated company profile: Dunnes Stores

Following an improved performance in 2009/10, sales resumed their downward trend in 2010/11, falling back by 9%.
Updated company profile: Edinburgh Woollen Mill

Including Duvetco (Ponden Home), EWM Group posted sales of £193.8m in 2010/11, on which elevated margins continue to be generated.
Updated company profile: Fenwick

After a challenging 2008/09 and 2009/10, sales growth was restored at Fenwick’s in 2010/11, the completion of the long-running redevelopment of the Bond Street store having provided significant momentum.
Updated company profile: Foot Locker

UK sales moved back above £80m in 2010 for the first time since 2005.
Updated company profile: Furniture Village

While sales growth stood at 6.3% at Furniture Village in 2010/11, profits came under pressure again as a result of rising costs and an increase in the level of price-led promotional activity by competitors.
Updated company profile: Gap

The recent upturn in Gap’s sales performance in the UK has been maintained in 2010/11, with sales rising by 5.7% to £335m, while the operating profit declines of recent years were stemmed.
Updated company profile: Hamleys

Like-for-like sales in the UK slowed to 1% in 2010/11 as a result of the tougher trading conditions.
Updated company profile: Harrods

After a difficult 2008/09 year, Harrods Ltd achieved double digit sales growth over 2009/10 and 2010/11 and solid improvements in operating margin, with both the Knightsbridge flagship and the UK airport shops posting strong performances.
Updated company profile: Harvey Nichols

Despite ongoing variation within the individual divisions, overall profitability across the Harvey Nichols group returned to pre-recession levels in 2010/11, reflecting its successful adaptation to shifting trends within the luxury sector.
Updated company profile: HobbyCraft

Sales growth was more muted at HobbyCraft in 2010/11 than in previous recent years, overall growth of 13% on the back of four new openings reflecting a period of falling like-for-likes at the beginning of the year.
Updated company profile: Hollister

Rapid expansion of Abercrombie & Fitch’s (relatively) lower priced format has taken the Hollister network to 26 stores across the UK by 2012.
Updated company profile: Homestyle

Including Cargo (still non-consolidated in 2012), Homestyle Group sales passed the £500m mark in 2009/10 but declined to £422.5m in 2010/11 following format rationalisation to focus on the core Harveys and Bensons Beds businesses.
Updated company profile: Jane Norman

EWM has underlined its commitment to its high fashion acquisition with the announcement of rapid expansion plans for the Jane Norman format.
Updated company profile: Kurt Geiger

Kurt Geiger turned in a stellar performance over 2010/11, with UK sales up by 22.4% driven by exceptional like-for-like sales growth of 16.0%.
Updated company profile: Lidl

While sales growth at Lidl was slightly behind that of Aldi in 2011, it was running in double figures throughout the year.
Updated company profile: Mackays

A welcome positive performance was posted by the M&Co network in 2010/11, with sales up 6.1% and a slight improvement in the operating margin to 7.2%.
Updated company profile: Mamas & Papas

2010/11 results show that sales increased by 8.6%, bolstered by the opening of seven stand-alone stores and a handful of concessions.
Updated company profile: Mothercare

The contrast in fortunes between the beleaguered domestic business and the buoyant international one is examined over 2010/11 and 2011/12 to date.
Updated company profile: Mountain Warehouse

Sales growth continued to be strong for Mountain Warehouse in 2010/11, bolstered by the opening programme, while profitability has remained elevated.
Updated company profile: Office

2010/11 results show that sales increased by 13.3% to £165m, while profitability has improved further, with the operating margin standing at an elevated 12.0%.
Updated company profile: Peacocks

The collapse of Peacocks under a mountain of debt has seen a core of 338 stores passing to Philip Day’s acquisitive EWM Group.
Updated company profile: Pets at Home

Pets at Home’s sales advanced to approaching £520m in 2010/11, bolstered by the ongoing expansion programme.
Updated company profile: Phase Eight

Phase Eight has maintained its momentum in 2010/11, with sales up by 27.8% and the operating margin increasing to 16.6% - a new high for the company and likely to be the envy of many in the fashion sector.
Updated company profile: Poundstretcher

While there remains much work to be done at Poundstretcher, a return to (albeit marginal) profitability in 2010/11 after five years of substantial losses would appear to be a positive sign.
Updated company profile: Republic

There was a slight deterioration in Republic’s performance in 2010/11, with sales growth slowing to 4.5% and profitability also coming under pressure - although its margins remain among the highest in the fashion sector.
Updated company profile: Richer Sounds

Richer Sounds saw sales fall by 5.4% in 2010/11 as a result of poorer market conditions, while margins have also continued to deteriorate.
Updated company profile: River Island

Sales in 2010 were slightly down on the previous year as a result of spending in the youth market having come under pressure, while profit margins were also reduced slightly, although they remain relatively high.
Updated company profile: Russell & Bromley

Despite trading conditions remaining challenging, Russell & Bromley reported an 8.5% increase in sales in 2010.
Updated company profile: Ryman

Sales at Ryman increased by 2.2% in 2010/11.
Updated company profile: Savers

Following a much improved sales performance in 2009, 2010 was more challenging for Savers with sales remaining broadly flat.
Updated company profile: Schuh

2010/11 was another successful year for Schuh, with overall sales rising by 11.7% and profitability broadly maintained.
Updated company profile: ScS

Having been rescued out of administration in 2008 by Sun Capital, sales growth was restored in 2009/10, with turnover reaching £195m, while the company also moved back into the black after two years of substantial losses.
Updated company profile: Selfridges

The launch of a spohisticated and extensive website in 2009/10 helped drive solid sales growth in 2010/11.
Updated company profile: Shop Direct

In the wake of the news that Mark Newton-Jones is planning to leave the business, the updated Shop Direct profile charts his achievements in transforming the staid catalogue business into a modern retail operation, with some 75% of sales now made online.
Updated company profile: Staples

Staples’ UK retail sales declined by 6.9% in 2010/11 due to difficult trading conditions, particularly within the corporate segment.
Updated company profile: Tates

As a result of the intense competition in the c-store sector, Tates has seen its sales growth slow in 2010/11, while margins remain low.
Updated company profile: The Body Shop

Trading remained difficult for The Body Shop in 2010, with Retail Week Knowledge Bank estimating that the company’s UK retail sales declined slightly to £150m.
Updated company profile: The White Company

The White Company put in a strong performance in 2010/11, with sales rising by 21.6% to £102m, while there was also an improvement in profitability.
Updated company profile: Topps Tiles

Trading has become much more difficult for Topps Tiles from 2010/11, with like-for-like sales down by 2.0% and further sharper declines over the opening period of 2011/12.
Updated company profile: White Stuff

White Stuff has maintained its momentum in 2010/11, with sales rising by 20% to just beyond the £100m mark.
Updated company profile: WHSmith

It remains to be seen how long Kate Swann’s team can continue to bolster profitability at WHSmith as like-for-like sales are now falling across both the High Street and hitherto more buoyant Travel divisions.
Updated company profile: Wickes

In a deteriorating DIY market, sales have been under pressure at Wickes since 2008, with like-for-like shortfalls worsening as 2011 progressed.
Waitrose enjoys "very strong" Christmas

Waitrose has capitalised on a strong online offer to deliver a positive Christmas performance.
Waitrose enjoys festive sales rise

Sales at Waitrose were up 3.3% on 2010 figures last week.
Which are the most exciting emerging markets?

So where will you head off to in 2012? To help plan your international forays this year, Rebecca Thomson considers some of the most exciting emerging international retail markets in the most unlikely of places.
Winners and losers

Who will be the winners of 2012?
Yeomans owner Granite buys outdoor brand Gelert

Dealmaker Jason Granite has bought camping brand Gelert and will merge it with his Yeomans outdoor goods retail chain.

Retail WeekJanaury 6 2012

Retail Week
Janaury 6 2012