Opinion – Page 365
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Opinion
Grocers dominate 2007’s risers as all eyes are on January totals
Last year was a tale of two retail sectors. While grocers’ valuations – buoyed by bid speculation – raced ahead of the All Share index, general merchandisers’ stock sank by almost 26 per cent.
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Opinion
It’s not all just doom and gloom
Retailers must look for silver linings, or else they will talk themselves into a new year slump
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Opinion
2008 will be a tough year
Happy new year. While Christmas wasn’t as bad as feared, there’s no chance that anyone in retail will be resting on their laurels in what will be a challenging 2008.
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Opinion
iShop therefore I am
Apple hit the headlines in the US over the Christmas period, with the news that it has thought up an application to assist shoppers in stores.
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Opinion
The Retail Week - December 28, 2007
At 8am yesterday morning, the Next store at the western end of Oxford Street looked like Baghdad.
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Opinion
Competition Commission inquiry will dominate 2008
The great British public have not yet started tucking into their Christmas turkey and finished buying their booze for New Year's Eve, but most of the grocery sector is already peering over the horizon into 2008.
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Opinion
China’s boom is a double-edged sword
“Retail sales leap 18.8 per cent.” How many retailers in the UK would consider this headline the best Christmas present?
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Opinion
Time to batten down hatches
Whether next year brings more retail woes or not, cost control and differentiation will be vital
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Opinion
Why Landmark is one to watch
Debenhams’ shares may have hit a record low of 75.5p on Monday, but one party sees value in the department store group.
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Opinion
Ashley has yet to redeem himself
Analysts, exasperated by his flouting of corporate governance guidelines, and journalists, expecting another head-on collision with the truculent tycoon at the retailer’s EGM, were pleasantly surprised.
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Opinion
Ashley farce is great viewing
Following Sports Direct is like watching one of those 1970s air disaster movies that always form part of the Christmas TV schedules.
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Opinion
Will the property market be flooded in January?
While most of the UK tuck into their turkey on Christmas Day, retailers will be all too aware of another significance to the day – December 25 is the fourth and final rent day of the year.
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Opinion
IT and the economic downturn
When looking back over the past 12 months’ news to try to decide a common theme for the year, what has become apparent is how varied the technology deployed by retailers has been.
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Opinion
Deck the shops with boughs of holly
There is one Saturday to go before Christmas and, for those of a dilatory nature, it’s time to deck the halls with holly or at least to trim the artificial tree (it’s greener that way).
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Opinion
Cheesewright will leave a hole at Asda
Asda was rocked this week by the announcement that its second most senior executive is heading back to Canada to run Wal-Mart’s Canadian business.
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Opinion
The Retail Week – December 14, 2007
John Browett, who has just become chief executive of electricals group DSGi, has another problem to add to his list.
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OpinionClimate change can’t be ignored
Businesses and governments must unite to make climate change more consumer-friendly
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Opinion
Store manager’s diary – Christmas is a time for planning new year
When consumer confidence is down our sector often feels it first. But there is still a lot of money being spent and we’re not feeling the pinch yet.
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Opinion
Deals revival is still distant
The credit crunch is not over but, after a drought, deals or potential deals have come along like buses, three at a time.
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Opinion
Spending scares are Christmas tradition
In the sad absence of my old rival Ratty I felt it would be useful to provide a DIY guide to the peak Christmas trading period, especially since this year there is an understandable fear factor.