All International articles – Page 252

  • News

    Office Depot launches flagship store in Kuwait

    2009-08-21T00:00:00Z

    Office Depot has launched a flagship store at The Avenues Mall, its first in Kuwait. The store covers 9,690 sq ft and offers about 5,000 products and services, including a photocopy, print and ship centre.The store has been opened in partnership with local retailer MH Alshaya and is expected to ...

  • News

    Home Depot’s sales plummet

    2009-08-21T00:00:00Z

    DIY giant Home Depot’s sales plummeted 9.1% to $19.1bn (£11.7bn) during its second quarter. Like-for-like sales were down 8.5%.“Concerns about the housing market, rising unemployment and softness in the overall economy continue to pressure consumers,” said chairman and chief executive Frank Blake. “Our business performed well in a down market, ...

  • News

    Shopper’s Stop managing director moves to non-exec role

    2009-08-21T00:00:00Z

    BS Nagesh, managing director at K Raheja-owned multi-format retailer Shopper’s Stop, is leaving his role and moving into a non-executive position as vice-chairman of the company.As part of a company wide succession planning process Shopper’s Stop chief executive Govind Shrikhande will take over managing director duties from Nagesh and become ...

  • News

    Media-Saturn to enter Siberia

    2009-08-21T00:00:00Z

    Metro Group-owned consumer electronics retailer Media-Saturn, which has been operating in Russia since late 2006, will enter Siberia in the fourth quarter of this year.The retailer runs 15 Media Markt electronics superstores in Russia. At present, Metro Group operates only cash and carry stores in Siberia.

  • News

    Lidl slows expansion in Finland

    2009-08-21T00:00:00Z

    According to Lidl managing director Antti Tiitola, the Schwarz Group-owned discount grocer has slowed its pace of expansion in Finland due to its increasing saturation in the market.The retailer now plans to open just two to five stores each year.Lidl has more than 130 stores in Finland, with an overall ...

  • News

    US fashion retailers struggle in second quarter

    2009-08-21T00:00:00Z

    A number of clothing retailers have reported negative results in their second quarters, with only Urban Outfitters posting positive sales up against last year.Abercrombie & Fitch made a net loss of $26.7m (£16.3m) against a profit of $77.8m (£47.6m) during the same quarter last year, with total sales plummeting 23% ...

  • News

    First-half sales at Flamingo nosedive

    2009-08-21T00:00:00Z

    First-half sales at electronics retailer Flamingo nosedived 45% to ROL187m (£38m).Chief executive Stefan Treiber explained the drop had been the result of a decline in the local market, but believed problems would not continue in the second half as costs had been cut, including reducing the number of employees from ...

  • News

    ICA’s Scandinavian net sales jump

    2009-08-21T00:00:00Z

    Ahold-owned food retailer ICA’s Scandinavian net sales jumped 5.7% to Skr46.6bn (£3.7bn) for the first half of this year, although operating profit fell 7.7% to Skr484m (£67m). ICA is struggling in Norway, where despite increased sales, its operating loss widened.In the Baltics, net sales in local currency decreased 5.8%, mainly ...

  • hallhuber
    News

    Change Capital acquires German fashion retailer Hallhuber

    2009-08-20T09:39:00Z

    Private equity firm Change Capital Partners has acquired German womenswear retailer Hallhuber in a €29m (£25m) deal.

  • Ahold: second quarter profits slide
    News

    Ahold profits slump in second quarter on divestments

    2009-08-20T08:23:00Z

    Dutch giant Ahold, operator of US grocery chains Stop & Shop and Giant, has suffered a 42% fall in second-quarter net profit to €195m (£163m).

  • HomeDepot
    News

    Weak consumer confidence continues to hit US retail sales

    2009-08-19T09:04:00Z

    There was little sign of improvement in consumer confidence in the US as many retailers reported second quarter results yesterday.

  • Argos has been criticised over charging its Irish customers on average 24% more than British shoppers for its products.
    News

    Argos prices 24% more expensive in Republic of Ireland

    2009-08-18T08:49:00Z

    Argos has been criticised for charging its customers in the Republic of Ireland on average 24% more for its products than shoppers in the UK.

  • US retail sales fell unexpectedly in July
    News

    Surprise fall in US retail sales

    2009-08-14T09:10:00Z

    US retail sales suffered an unexpected slip in July, when they fell by 0.1 per cent.

  • News

    Finlay Enterprises has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

    2009-08-14T00:00:00Z

    Jeweller Finlay Enterprises has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and plans to auction its business and assets.The retailer operates 182 locations across the country, including the upmarket Bailey Banks & Biddle chain, as well as 77 concessions within Bon-Ton department stores.Meanwhile, the country’s leading specialist jeweller by store count, ...

  • News

    Retail Sales fall again in US

    2009-08-14T00:00:00Z

    Retail sales fell again in July marking the 11th consecutive month of sales declines in the country.According to Retail Metrics, which tracks US comparable store sales, they fell 4.7% in July. Only a handful of retailers reported comparable sales increases, including TK Maxx parent TJX and discount department stores Kohl’s. ...

  • News

    Williams-Sonoma signs franchise agreement with MH Alshaya Co

    2009-08-14T00:00:00Z

    San Francisco-based home furnishings and kitchen equipment retailer Williams-Sonoma has signed a franchise agreement with MH Alshaya Co covering the Middle East region. The partnership is expected to open its first four stores under the Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids banners in Dubai and Kuwait next year.The move marks ...

  • CVS
    Analysis

    CVS strategy pays off as it storms ahead of rivals

    2009-08-14T00:00:00Z

    “This is shaping up to be a very good year and we expect an even better 2010.” Such upbeat words have not been heard often in retail this year, but Tom Ryan, chief executive of US pharmacy retailer CVS, has every right to be on a high after turning in ...

  • News

    Yamada Denki and Kojima announce results

    2009-08-14T00:00:00Z

    Fortunes were mixed in Japan as consumer electronics giants Yamada Denki and Kojima announced their results for the first quarter ending June 30.Revenue at Yamada Denki rose by just over ¥6bn (£38m) to reach ¥430.68bn (£2.7bn) for the quarter. Despite the rise in revenue, the retailer reported a slide in ...

  • News

    Otto apologises for wrongly priced goods

    2009-08-14T00:00:00Z

    Mail order and online retailer Otto has apologised to customers after more than 6,500 orders were placed for laptops at massively discounted prices, owing to a pricing error on its website.A variety of laptops, including MacBooks, worth up to e2,000 (£1,714) were advertised at between e30 and e50 (£25.60 and ...

  • News

    Argentina: Retailers’ sales suffer

    2009-08-14T00:00:00Z

    Retailers suffered the worst sales month this year in July, according to the Argentine Confederation of Medium-sized Companies. July retail sales fell 16.1% on a year-on-year basis as shoppers, already downbeat from the recession, stayed away from stores and other public places due to concern about swine flu.Argentina has seen ...