More finance – Page 21
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Opinion
‘Tiers and fears may disrupt but won’t derail retail recovery’
Much of the country will emerge from lockdown this week facing more restrictions than when it began in November. However, as a new year approaches, retailers can afford to look forward with some optimism after a year of turmoil.
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Analysis
Why Kingfisher’s NeedHelp acquisition is ‘missing piece of the puzzle’
Home and DIY giant Kingfisher announced the acquisition of French start-up NeedHelp this week, marking its first foray into the services sector.
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Analysis
Smiling through tiers: Retailers pin hopes on ‘busier December’ as lockdown lifts
On Thursday, health secretary Matt Hancock rose to his feet in the House of Commons to update MPs and the country about the end of national lockdown on December 2 and a return to the tiered system of restrictions.
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Analysis
Analysis: Why would JD Sports want to buy Debenhams?
JD Sports has emerged as the frontrunner to acquire Debenhams and exclusive talks to buy the struggling department store business are underway.
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Analysis
Reality stars and social media – how In The Style reached a £100m valuation
Online fashion retailer In The Style is understood to be considering a stock market flotation valuing it at £100m just six years after founder Adam Frisby launched it from his Manchester bedroom.
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Analysis
The Big Question: Should retailers be paying big dividends during the pandemic?
Big-name retailers, most recently Sainsbury’s, have become embroiled in controversy for paying dividends while benefiting from pandemic assistance measures such as business rates relief. We ask industry experts whether retailers should be giving out dividends during the crisis
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Analysis
Analysis: The great Christmas stock shortage of 2020
While some retailers are concerned about store closures and reduced demand, others are more worried about having enough stock to get through the crucial Christmas period.
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Opinion
Suzy Ross: ‘Why the market is more forgiving of Farfetch’s losses than those of M&S’
Just a few months before Marks & Spencer reported its first loss as a public company, Farfetch disclosed a quarterly loss of a much greater magnitude than M&S’ £88m.
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Opinion
Julian Richer: ‘Questioning Sunak’s rates decision is not selling out retail’
Following Retail Week’s recent article about retailers squabbling like “cats in a bag”, I felt the need to write after some comments I made at the recent Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference may have been misunderstood.
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Analysis
As ‘for sale’ sign is raised over Homebase who might be potential buyers?
Homebase has revealed it is up for sale after returning to profitability. We take a look at who could be in the running to acquire the DIY specialist.
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Analysis
Analysis: Vaccine joy sparks share price snakes and ladders
Welcome news of a coronavirus vaccine has sparked a stock market shift as investors rushed to buy and sell shares. Big-name retail and other consumer stocks shunned during the pandemic were back in fashion, while lockdown stars took a hit.
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Opinion
‘Retailers’ cash is stronger than expected, but the outlook has weakened’
HSBC UK head of retail and leisure James Sawley takes the temperature of retail performance and finances as a new lockdown begins.
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Opinion
‘As lockdown bites, retailers can’t afford to squabble like cats in a bag’
As the retail industry labours under the restrictions of a second lockdown, some are adopting a beggar-thy-neighbour attitude that is in the interests of nobody.
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Analysis
Analysis: Simon Roberts’ new vision for Sainsbury’s future
Four months into his new role as Sainsbury’s chief executive, Simon Roberts has unveiled his strategic vision for the grocer and its stable of brands.
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Opinion
‘Why are auditors suddenly dumping retail clients?’
Boohoo, EG Group and Poundstretcher have all seen their auditors resign in recent weeks. Having originally fought for the engagement, why the about-turns?
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Opinion
‘Online isn’t enough to sustain retail – effective test and trace is needed’
“The more precisely we try to predict it, the less likely we are to be right.” That’s what Next chief executive Lord Wolfson told Retail Week about his Christmas scenario planning just a few days ago.
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Opinion
‘There has been a hardening of bank attitudes to the retail industry’
With the government loan schemes due to close at the end of November, it is important that businesses seeking to borrow funds to cover trading impacts from the pandemic get their applications submitted quickly – within the next week, ideally.
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Analysis
Analysis: Which Covid trends are here to stay?
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has upended almost every part of society and few sectors have been more challenged than retail. Retail Week looks at some of the Covid-driven changes that will outlast even the virus.
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Analysis
From AO to The Entertainer and Deliveroo: who have the big four grocers partnered with?
The list of retailers and brands joining forces with the big four supermarkets has only grown in the eight months since the pandemic struck, with the likes of Deliveroo and Uber Eats, in particular, leveraging the growth in online.
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Opinion
‘Alibaba’s $3.6bn splurge cements value of stores in retail’s future’
Alibaba, one of the world’s largest ecommerce players, this week splashed $3.6bn on its latest big-money acquisition.