All Retail Week articles in 21 December 2007 – Page 2

  • Opinion

    Time to batten down hatches

    2007-12-20T16:41:01Z

    Whether next year brings more retail woes or not, cost control and differentiation will be vital

  • Opinion

    Why Landmark is one to watch

    2007-12-20T16:32:34Z

    Debenhams’ shares may have hit a record low of 75.5p on Monday, but one party sees value in the department store group.

  • News

    Kingfisher exits B&Q Taiwan as growth opportunities abate

    2007-12-20T16:18:24Z

    Kingfisher, owner of DIY chain B&Q, has sold its 50 per cent stake in B&Q Taiwan to joint venture partner Test Rite International for 51.6 million.

  • Analysis

    September

    2007-12-20T15:41:27Z

    A colder end to September helped UK retail like-for-like sales climb 3 per cent for the month, compared with September 2006, when they were up 2.4 per cent. Sales were also bolstered by price promotions and discounts.

  • Analysis

    May

    2007-12-20T15:26:45Z

    An increase in like-for-like sales of a mere 1.8 per cent, compared with 3.6 per cent the previous year, was put down to interest rate increases and bad weather. Total sales rose 4 per cent

  • News

    Jessops ‘on track’ as like-for-likes edge up

    2007-12-20T15:10:11Z

    Camera specialist Jessops, which reported plunging sales and profits last week, has managed to increase like-for-like sales in recent weeks.

  • Analysis

    February

    2007-12-20T15:09:37Z

    Like-for-like sales rose 3.3 per cent, compared with 0.6 per cent the previous year. Food and drink sales remained strong, but clothing and footwear sales were largely flat. Total sales increased 5.6 per cent

  • News

    Debenhams makes up ground in fashion market

    2007-12-20T14:37:53Z

    Debenhams has clawed back fashion market share as its shares were buoyed by Dubai-based Landmark Group disclosing it had bought a 7 per cent stake in the department store group.

  • Analysis

    December

    2007-12-20T14:35:37Z

    Like-for-likes advanced only 1.2 per cent, representing the lowest month-on-month growth since November 2006. Food and fashion both suffered as a result of strong World Cup comparatives and bad weather. Total sales increased 3.1 per cent

  • Analysis

    January

    2007-12-20T14:32:28Z

    UK retail sales were the best for three years, as healthy foods helped to drive like-for-likes up 3.1 per cent, compared with just 0.2 per cent in January last year. Total sales rose 5.2 per cent

  • Analysis

    August

    2007-12-20T14:13:17Z

    As consumer spending was hit by interest rate rises, retail sales growth slowed. Total sales increased 3.7 per cent, with like-for-likes up 1.8 per cent, compared with a 2.5 per cent rise for the same month last year

  • News

    Stead & Simpson up for sale as fears mount over trading

    2007-12-20T14:11:56Z

    Footwear chain Stead & Simpson has raised a for-sale sign just six months after refinancing, as speculation mounted that it continues to struggle.

  • Analysis

    June

    2007-12-20T13:56:50Z

    Sales figures were surprisingly robust, given that it was the wettest June on record. Like-for-like sales growth was 3 per cent and total sales increased 5.1 per cent

  • News

    Ashley: Sports Direct will bounce back in new year

    2007-12-20T13:56:26Z

    Controversial entrepreneur Mike Ashley this week insisted that the Sports Direct model “is not broken” and that the sports retailer will improve its fortunes in 2008.

  • Store of the month:
    Analysis

    April

    2007-12-20T13:50:00Z

    A warm Easter prompted a strong sales month, with total sales up 4.7 per cent and like-for-likes up 2.4 per cent, driven largely by clothing, footwear and DIY equipment

  • News

    Matalan to overhaul stores as profits rise

    2007-12-20T12:06:16Z

    Matalan will revamp more than half of its store portfolio next year after pre-tax profits rose 8.5 per cent in the year to February 24.

  • Opinion

    Ashley has yet to redeem himself

    2007-12-20T11:46:16Z

    Analysts, exasperated by his flouting of corporate governance guidelines, and journalists, expecting another head-on collision with the truculent tycoon at the retailer’s EGM, were pleasantly surprised.

  • Analysis

    Review of the year 2007

    2007-12-20T11:22:00Z

    2007 was a year of farewells. Retail said goodbye to three of its big characters. The untimely deaths of Dame Anita Roddick, Richard Ratner and Alison Richards robbed the industry of three people who, in their own ways, epitomised the spirit which makes our industry unique.

  • Analysis

    Goodbye to all that

    2007-12-20T11:04:31Z

    As he prepares to step down, BRC frontman Kevin Hawkins talks candidly to Tim Danaher about fighting retail’s corner and why retailers need to start sticking up for themselves

  • News

    Aldi to stimulate growth in Ireland with €100m DC

    2007-12-20T11:00:35Z

    Aldi plans to open a €100 million ( 71.3 million) regional distribution centre in the south of the Republic of Ireland in an effort to drive growth in the country.