Music retailer HMV on the verge of second administration since 2013, reports December 28, 2018 HMV is set to go into administration for the second time in six years, putting 2,200 jobs at risk, according to reports. The company reportedly filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators last week as it held last minute talks with suppliers, Sky News reported this morning. The company was bailed out in a [...]
Superdry up as board faces potential battle with founder Dunkerton December 27, 2018 Superdry gained eight per cent today as a battle is brewing for the future of the company. The shares rose by 34p to 460p by early afternoon, making the company the fastest riser on the London Stock Exchange today. The rise on the markets comes after it was reported at the weekend that Julian Dunkerton [...]
Snap lunchtime statistics suggest Boxing Day footfall down 4.2 per cent December 26, 2018 Footfall on the morning of the Boxing Day sales dropped 4.2 per cent on last year, according to initial figures, in yet another portentous signal for high street retailers. In snap statistics from the morning’s trading, footfall dropped for the third consecutive year on 26 December, a traditional shopping day as shops reopen offering post-Christmas [...]
Local councils to bid for share of £675m funding boost to Britain’s high streets December 26, 2018 Local councils are being urged to bid for a share of a £675m fund in a bid to give Britain’s hard-pressed high streets a shot in the arm. The so-called Future High Streets fund, announced in Philip Hammond’s October budget, opened on Boxing Day, and is aimed at helping councils improve transport and access to [...]
High street hopes for Boxing Day boost as spending expected to hit £4.75bn December 26, 2018 High street retailers will have their fingers crossed for a festive boost as shoppers take to the streets for the Boxing Day sales, while online sales are expected to rise 20 per cent year-on-year. British consumers are set to spend £4.75bn today, with £3.71bn of that expected to come from physical sales, according to research [...]
Japan confirms it will quit international agreement to resume commercial whaling December 26, 2018 Japan has sparked international criticism by announcing it will resume commercial whaling in July, after decades of trying to persuade governing body the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to allow it to do so. The government – which usually stresses multilateralism in diplomacy – said on Tuesday it would pull out of the commission so it could restart [...]
Altria gets Juul for Yule as Marlboro maker bets big on vaping December 20, 2018 The maker of Marlboro cigarettes is bringing in yuletide with a $12.8bn (£10.1bn) deal for vape startup Juul. But the early Christmas present is more than a stocking filler Altria as it tries to tap into a rapidly growing market for e-cigarettes. The company’s 35 per cent stake is a major vote of confidence in [...]
Boots blames ‘weak’ retail conditions for fall in UK sales December 20, 2018 Boots has recorded a fall in sales in the first quarter as it becomes the latest UK retailer to be hit by tough high street conditions. The pharmacy and health chain's US owner, Walgreens Boots Alliance, said comparable pharmacy and retail sales fell 3.5 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. It said the company’s [...]
Boxing Day footfall set to tumble as Christmas spending levels off December 20, 2018 Footfall is set to plummet on Boxing Day as Christmas trading takes a hit from low consumer confidence and the rise of Black Friday sales. Boxing Day footfall will decline 5.2 per cent year, its largest drop in recent years, according to forecasts from retail data firm Springboard. Footfall on Boxing Day has declined in [...]
Black Friday promotions drive unexpected retail boost in November December 20, 2018 Retail sales enjoyed stronger-than-expected growth in November as shoppers cashed in on Black Friday promotions. Sales over the month increased by 1.4 per cent compared to the same period last year, far higher than the 0.3 per cent forecast in a Reuters poll of economists. But over the three months to November sales rose by [...]