All articles by Howard Lake
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OpinionOpinion: Can new boss lead Walmart to victory in battle with Amazon?
As it enters a crucial period in its ongoing domestic battle with Amazon, Walmart US has announced a change in its top leadership, with the business now to be helmed by an avowed technophile with a strong run of success on his CV.
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AnalysisAnalysis: Facebook's plan to rip up the retail rulebook
It may only have been an application to the US Patent Office, but it is one that indicates Facebook has big plans to revolutionise ecommerce.
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OpinionPrime Day is Amazon's key to long-term sales growth
Amazon promises its Prime Day 2018 will be its most “epic”, but it is also crucial to its long-term growth, writes Howard Lake.
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AnalysisAnalysis: Alibaba sets sights on European expansion
China’s biggest etailer has designs on global expansion, and the UK and Europe are very much on its radar.
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NewsB&Q sales slump as big freeze forces store closures
Kingfisher blamed “unusually adverse weather” for a dramatic drop in B&Q sales during its first quarter.
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NewsTopshop swings to full-year loss as sales suffer
Arcadia-owned Topshop has swung to a full-year loss following a sharp drop in sales and impairment charges on its property.
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NewsBurberry profits rise in 'year of transition'
Burberry has posted an increase in full-year profitability as boss Marco Gobbetti hailed “promising early signs” in its transformation plan.
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AnalysisAnalysis: What’s behind Walmart’s pounce on Flipkart?
Only a week after lining up a deal for Asda with Sainsbury’s, US titan Walmart has made the biggest acquisition in its history with the capture of India’s Flipkart.com.
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NewsJohn Lewis scotches rumours of Amazon Waitrose approach
John Lewis Partnership has poured cold water on suggestions that it received a takeover bid from online giant Amazon for its Waitrose chain last year.
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NewsSports Direct in legal action over House of Fraser CVA
Sports Direct is to sue House of Fraser, claiming stakeholders were “denied information” regarding its proposed CVA.
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NewsSainsbury’s 'abandons' food waste reduction project
Sainsbury’s has reportedly called time on a £10m scheme to reduce food waste after trials produced poor results.
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AnalysisAnalysis: Why Walmart is scaling back its stake in Asda
Walmart’s decision to scale back its stake in Asda – by selling a chunk of its stake to Sainsbury’s – is representative of a wider change in the US giant’s strategy.
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AnalysisAnalysis: How JD.com will open 1,000 stores a day
Chinese online retail giant JD.com is plotting the biggest store expansion in retail history. Retail Week looks into why and how.
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NewsWHSmith profits slip despite solid travel showing
WHSmith’s interim profits edged down as gains from its travel arm were offset by its underperforming high street business.
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NewsQuiz full-year sales surge, driven by online
Womenswear retailer Quiz has posted a leap in sales and expects continued strong growth in the future.
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NewsDunelm sales climb despite 'challenging' quarter
Dunelm recorded robust online growth but lower store sales in its third quarter despite a “challenging consumer backdrop”.
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NewsMothercare sales dented by footfall slowdown
Mothercare has suffered a drop in sales during a “muted” fourth quarter as a slowdown in customer traffic to its high street stores impacted performance.
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NewsH&M launches value-focused online bridal range
H&M has debuted a value wedding range in a bid to take a share of the booming bridal market.
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NewsTopps Tiles sales edge ahead in ‘challenging’ market
Topps Tiles sales inched up in its first half, but the business warned it was taking a “cautious view” of the remainder of the year.
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AnalysisAnalysis: Walmart vs Amazon – clash of the titans
Walmart last week unveiled a same-day online grocery delivery service that will cover about 40% of US households by the end of the year.