Retail news

• M&S to air low-key Christmas ad in attempt to drive sales

  08-11-2018 21:27
  Cinematic ad ditched in favour of Holly Willoughby, Keith Lemon and focus on low pricesMarks & Spencer has eschewed a John Lewis-style blockbuster Christmas ad in favour of a TV and social media campaign starring Celebrity Juice duo Holly Willoughby and Keith Lemon with a sharper focus on its products and prices.Last year the struggling retailer’s ads featured Paddington, but while the ad attracted nearly 7m views on YouTube alone, its Christmas sales were a washout. Continue reading..
  
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• Burberry hails response to new designer Riccardo Tisci

  08-11-2018 19:50
  Fashion house offers upbeat message to investors despite falling first-half revenuesBritish fashion house Burberry has hailed an “exceptional” response to the designs introduced by new creative boss Riccardo Tisci, in spite of falling revenues in the first half of its financial year.Revenues fell by 3% to £1.22bn for the 26 weeks ending on 29 September compared with the same period last year, the company said. Related: Burberry’s new boss unveils serene LFW show – t
  
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• Chatty cafés to ease Britain’s loneliness epidemic

  08-11-2018 19:23 via ft.com
  As the high-street falters, retailers attempt to strengthen their community role
  
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• ‘Fast-fashion’ retailers called before parliament

  08-11-2018 19:19 via ft.com
  Environmental concerns and evidence of illegally low wages in parts of industry
  
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• Toshiba's failure shows private sector cannot deliver nuclear future for UK | Phillip Inman

  08-11-2018 15:30
  As Cumbria reactor plan stalls, it is clear that huge resources are needed for such projectsIf the government was keen to boost Britain’s nuclear industry, it was always clear that the private market would struggle to deliver.The decision by Toshiba to close down its UK operations is a case in point. After the deal to build new reactors at Hinkley Point with the French firm EDF, Toshiba was favoured by ministers to design and construct a smaller power station on the Cumbrian coast. Continu
  
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• Sainsbury's blames staff cuts and UK heatwave for stock shortages

  08-11-2018 14:52
  Supermarket admits the axing of thousands of management roles left it unready for unusually busy summerSainsbury’s has admitted staff cuts led to gaps on its shelves over the summer as it ran out of stock, but the supermarket’s boss has promised stores are now back to normal.“We were undoubtedly challenged on availability [over the summer],” Mike Coupe, the chief executive of the UK’s second largest supermarket said. Continue reading...
  
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• Sainsbury’s lifts sales but warns of ‘uncertain’ outlook

  08-11-2018 12:57 via ft.com
  UK supermarket group’s profits hit by restructuring and merger costs
  
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• Sainsbury's sales boosted by summer heatwave

  08-11-2018 12:30 via theretailbulletin.com
  Sainsbury’s saw its like-for-like sales edge up 0.6% in its first half after its food and general merchandise sales benefited from this year’s hot summer.
  
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• Sainsbury's says staff cuts led to stock shortages over summer

  08-11-2018 12:00
  Supermarket says it’s back on track after being caught out by heatwave as it cut management roles Sainsbury’s has admitted staff cuts led to gaps on its shelves over the summer as it ran out of stock, but the supermarket’s boss has promised stores are now back to normal.“We were undoubtedly challenged on availability [over the summer],” Mike Coupe, the chief executive of the UK’s second largest supermarket said. Continue reading...
  
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• Happy holidays for retailers but a loyal customer is the gift that keeps giving

  08-11-2018 12:00
  Two surveys are predicting a bumper season for sales but the wise merchant will also be looking beyond the short termFor many retailers, holiday sales can amount to as much as 30% of annual profits, which means that having a good holiday season can make or break a merchant’s year. So for all those merchants hoping for a profitable year, I’ve got some good news: whether you sell your goods from a brick-and-mortar store or online, it looks like this holiday season is going to be not ju
  
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• Amazon Booms, UK Retailers Respond with ‘No Big Changes’ – Reveals RELEX Survey

  08-11-2018 10:26 via theretailbulletin.com
  International research organization Martec’s annual State of The Retail Supply Chain Survey commissioned by RELEX nevertheless finds most retailers see competition as fiercer than ever
  
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• Superdry first half sales impacted by weather

  08-11-2018 09:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  Superdry has increased its first half global brand revenue by 6.4% to £831.8 million although trading in the period was affected by the summer heatwave.
  
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• Mulberry hit by tough trading and House of Fraser administration

  08-11-2018 09:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  Mulberry saw its sales decline by 8% to £68.3 million in the six months to 30 September as trading was hit by tough trading conditions and the impact of House of Fraser’s administration.
  
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• Burberry half year profit in line with forecasts

  08-11-2018 09:27 via theretailbulletin.com
  Burberry has reported first half results in line with expectations as the company works to reposition itself under a new designer.
  
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• Marks & Spencer boss: business overhaul will leave 'no stone unturned'

  08-11-2018 08:53
  Clothing and food sales fall but CEO Steve Rowe claims work is well under way to reverse chain’s fortunes
  Marks & Spencer boss Steve Rowe said it was leaving “no stone unturned” as a new management line-up overhauls “every aspect” of its struggling clothing and food stores in a bid to appeal to younger shoppers.After more than a decade of failed attempts to revive the high street giant, Rowe gave a stark assessment of the chain’s problems as it recorded a
  
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• Sainsbury’s sales bolstered by warm summer and lower prices

  08-11-2018 08:45 via ft.com
  UK supermarket chain’s profits hit by restructuring and merger costs
  
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• Burberry hails the Kingdom as profit meets forecasts

  08-11-2018 08:37 via ft.com
  Riccardo Tisci’s first collection for the fashion house arrives in stores in February
  
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• Burberry hails Kingdom as profits meet forecasts

  08-11-2018 08:37 via ft.com
  UK fashion house welcomes ‘exceptional’ response to Riccardo Tisci’s first collection
  
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• Damaged Goods: The Inside Story of Sir Philip Green by Oliver Shah – review

  08-11-2018 08:30
  All mouth and dodgy trousers … how the king of high street retail became the unacceptable face of capitalismAs Sir Philip Green climbed the steps of his private jet last week to fly to London from his Arizona weight-loss facility after completing his self-declared attempt to shed nine pounds, a particular detail troubled me.Forget for a moment the allegations of racism, sexual harassment and bullying the 66-year-old billionaire retail magnate this year tried to suppress with non‑dis
  
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