All articles by George MacDonald
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Video
After Black Friday’s sales boost, has peak trading already peaked?
Black Friday beat expectations as sales and footfall surged. PwC head of consumer markets Lisa Hooker joins Retail Week executive editor George MacDonald to discuss the promotional extravaganza, how the final weeks of peak will play out and what’s in store for retail in the new year.
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News
Marks & Spencer rolls out urban farms to more shops
Marks Spencer has launched in-store farms to six branches after an enthusiastic customer reaction to the first.
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Opinion
Leader: Black Friday boost isn’t all it seems
It was a tale of two Novembers for retailers, the latest sales stats showed.
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News
Holland & Barrett owner urged to provide cash injection
The owner of health food specialist Holland Barrett has been urged by lenders to provide additional cash as tough high street conditions bite.
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News
Ted Baker discovers £25m stock overstatement
Ted Baker has revealed that the value of stock held on its balance sheet has been overstated by between £20m and £25m.
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News
Ocado launches £500m bond issue to fund tech commitments
Ocado has unveiled a £500m convertible bond issue following a string of deals with international retailers.
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News
Sports Direct boss Ashley settles US legal row
Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley has resolved a legal dispute in the USA a day after a court there demanded he gave evidence.
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News
Black Friday online sales and footfall beat forecasts
Black Friday shoppers have flocked online for deals while early footfall numbers surpassed expectations in a fillip for the retail industry.
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News
Black Friday transactions soar as shoppers bag bargains
Black Friday transactions have risen strongly year on year, early data showed.
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News
Iceland and New Look investor Brait eyes assets sale
Brait, a leading shareholder in retailers Iceland and New Look, aims to realise its investments within five years.
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News
Sosandar sales soar in first-half as investment pays off
Sosandar, the online womenswear specialist, has posted a rise in first-half sales and said investment was powering progress at the business.
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News
ScS weathers political uncertainty despite sales fall
Sofas specialist ScS has reported a fall in sales as political volatility continued to hit trading.
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Analysis
Analysis: Can Richard Price transform M&S’ fashion fortunes?
As Marks Spencer bids to put its apparel offer fully back in fashion with shoppers, it has wooed one of its former retail stars back to lead the offensive.
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News
M&S raids Tesco for new clothing boss
Marks Spencer has appointed Richard Price, chief executive of Tesco’s F F fashion division, as managing director of its clothing and home division.
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Video
Will John Lewis’ focus on in-store experience pay off?
After the opening of John Lewis’ revamped department store in Southampton , where services and experience are centre stage, Retail Week executive editor George MacDonald and stores editor John Ryan discuss whether it lives up to its ‘playground’ billing and how effectively the new approach has been executed.
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Photo gallery
First look: Inside John Lewis’ ‘experience playground’
Department store group John Lewis Partners and grocery stablemate Waitrose Partners have opened the doors to a new-model store designed to engage consumers more than ever by putting experience and services centre stage.
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Opinion
Leader: The more M&S can be like its Christmas jumper ad, the better
All the big retailers’ Christmas ads are out now and one big name that more than most will hope its seasonal marketing push results in a sack-full of spend is Marks Spencer.
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News
Moss Bros drafts in new finance chief from Ted Baker
Moss Bros has appointed Bill Adams as chief financial officer, replacing Tony Bennett who is leaving for personal reasons.
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News
Wilko appoints Musgrave boss to board
Variety store group Wilko has appointed Musgrave chief executive Chris Martin as a non-executive director.
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News
AO closes Netherlands business as it focuses on sustainable growth
Electricals retailer AO World is shutting its business in the Netherlands as it focuses on building its UK and German operations.