Online-only retailers outpace their bricks and mortar rivals as fresh evidence of high street troubles emerge September 26, 2018 Online-only retailers’ sales have grown 24 times faster than those of bricks and mortar firms in the last five years, according to new data which underlines the current woes facing high street shops. A report out today from data specialist GBG Loqate shows that pure-play online retailers have grown their sales by 281 per [...]
Mike Ashley hits out at landlords as three House of Fraser stores set to close September 23, 2018 House of Fraser boss Mike Ashley has hit out at "greedy" landlords as he announced the closure of three department stores. At least 15 stores that were previously earmarked for closure have been saved, House of Fraser announced, however branches in Edinburgh, Hull and Swindon face being shut down. Sports Direct owner Ashley, who [...]
Sports Direct denies reports Mike Ashley may block sale of Debenhams’ Danish arm Magasin du Nord September 16, 2018 Sports Direct have this evening denied reports its boss Mike Ashley is attempting to block a sale of Debenhams' Danish business Magasin du Nord. Reports suggested Ashley had threatened to halt the £200m of the business by Debenhams, in which he already has a 30 per cent stake, in the hopes of forcing the business into [...]
House of Fraser to ‘axe brands’ in Sports Direct strategy rethink September 14, 2018 A number of House of Fraser brands are to be axed as part of a strategy rethink by new owners Sports Direct, it has been reported. Sources told fashion publication Drapers that brands such as Linea, Biba, Issa, Label Lab and Criminal Denim will removed, in line with Mike Ashley's strategy of turning the troubled department store into [...]
Mike Ashley accuses Sports Direct shareholders of ‘stabbing him in the back’ September 14, 2018 Mike Ashley has accused Sports Direct shareholders of stabbing him in the back after the resignation of long-serving chair Keith Hellawell. In a strongly-worded statement, the founder and chief executive officer of the sports retailing giant today criticised shareholders for turning last week's annual general meeting (AGM) into a “media circus”. He said that shareholders had ceded [...]
Debenhams share price falls as House of Fraser merger talk is dampened September 13, 2018 Shares in Debenhams fell by five per cent this morning, wiping out most of the gains made yesterday amid speculation that Sports Direct could merge the struggling retailer with House of Fraser. Read more: Sports Direct board 'mulled Debenhams and House of Fraser merger' The comments were made by an outgoing board member at the [...]
Mike Ashley must end the Sports Direct clowning if he is to be the high street’s hero September 13, 2018 Emptying his pockets of wads of £50 notes at a security check, telling a select committee about vomiting in a fireplace at board meetings – Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley is clearly not afraid of theatre. Against type, he has now chosen to play the part of white knight of the high street, but yesterday’s [...]
Mike Ashley is the least popular director among Sports Direct shareholders September 9, 2015 Mike Ashley is the least popular director at Sports Direct among shareholders, according to votes taken at the retailer's AGM held yesterday. The multi-billion-pound business, which Ashley set up in 1982, comfortably passed all the requisite resolutions including the re-election of all its directors. But the numbers revealed by Sports Direct showed proportionately [...]
Watch out Mike Ashley: Unite the union protesters to target Sports Direct AGM dressed as Dickensian workers over “Victorian” zero-hours contracts September 8, 2015 Sports Direct's AGM tomorrow is set to be an even more lively affair than usual. Unite the union has revealed plans for a protest outside the AGM with members dressed as Dickensian workers. They will be demanding "an end to ‘Victorian’ work practices at the retailer’s nearby Shirebrook warehouse and that the company pays [...]
Investors urged to vote against Mike Ashley and Keith Hellawell at Sports Direct AGM as USC, zero-hour contracts issues rage on September 1, 2015 Sports Direct investors are being advised to vote against both founder Mike Ashley and chairman Keith Hellawell retaining their seats on the board ahead of next week's AGM. Investor group Pirc is recommending six of the 15 resolutions be opposed, and three abstained. Its biggest concern was the large number of staff employed on [...]