All articles by George MacDonald – Page 164
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AnalysisAnalysis: The Government says pay is rising, but are consumers feeling better off?
Government numbers released today indicated that most employed people’s take-home pay increased in real terms in the past year.
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NewsCity opens door to retail IPOs as Poundland and Pets at Home head the queue
The City has given the green light to retail IPOs after poring over the industry’s Christmas performance.
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OpinionBlog: What The Great British Bake Off tells us about Poundland
Poundland’s sales growth of more than 12% in the third quarter was impressive enough. But some of the eye-catching numbers show, to an even greater extent, how Poundland has widened its appeal and how the retail landscape is changing.
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OpinionComment: Will there be appetite for a McColl’s float?
Now that the retail sector temperature can be measured in the wake of the bulk of the January trading statements, a variety of privately held retailers are considering whether to float.
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NewsB&Q appoints former Matalan boss Darren Blackhurst as commercial director
DIY giant B&Q has bolstered its top team with the appointment of former Matalan chief executive Darren Blackhurst as commercial director.
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AnalysisIn the news: Incoming Home Retail chief executive John Walden profiled
When John Walden arrived at Argos as managing director two years ago this month he was a complete unknown in British retail.
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OpinionComment: Halfords has shown what putting the customer first really means
Putting the customer first is a retail cliché, so often mouthed but less frequently put into practice.
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OpinionComment: Why has Mike Ashley's Sports Direct bought a stake in Debenhams?
Sports Direct’s raid on Debenhams to pick up a stake of almost 5% makes tycoon Mike Ashley’s business the fifth-biggest shareholder in the department store business.
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OpinionBlog: Marks & Spencer's tale of two Christmases
Marks & Spencer told a tale of two Christmases when it posted seasonal figures today.
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OpinionComment: Next makes money in the middle market
Next was very much in fashion with shoppers over Christmas, when it posted better than expected sales.
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OpinionComment: Retail lessons from Next's Christmas update
A standout Christmas performance from Next puts the retailer in line to rival Marks & Spencer’s profitability this year.
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OpinionComment: The Christmas retail story will be margin, not just sales
Christmas updates from Debenhams, House of Fraser and John Lewis told wildly differing stories about seasonal trading.
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NewsDebenhams warns on profits as Christmas shoppers stay away
Department store group Debenhams has issued a profit warning after Christmas shoppers shunned the retailer.
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NewsTesco gets green light for Indian chain
Tesco has been given approval by Indian regulators to go ahead with plans to open a chain of supermarkets in the country.
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NewsHarrods boss labels Chinese visa scheme 'smoke and mirrors'
Harrods managing director Michael Ward has warned that measures taken by the Government to make it easier for Chinese visitors to come to the UK are likely to have little effect.
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NewsKingfisher boss Ian Cheshire knighted in New Year's Honours list
Kingfisher chief executive Ian Cheshire has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours list.
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OpinionComment: Debenhams shares drop after supplier squeeze
Retail stocks across the board edged down over the week as the City suffered a case of nerves that Christmas trading has not fully taken off as hoped for.
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NewsRetailers weigh up implications of switch to plastic banknotes
The Bank of England is to print banknotes on polymer instead of paper from 2016, which is likely to have implications for retailers.
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NewsFootfall improvement lifts retail Christmas hopes
Consumer footfall rose sharply last week, indicating that the Christmas rush to stores hoped for by retailers may at last have kicked off.
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NewsComment: Sports Direct has a lot to play for
Soaring sales and a double-digit rise in profits might reasonably be expected to be cause for celebration.