Retail news

• Ted Baker's bankers call in experts to weigh prospects

  08-01-2020 20:12
  
  Financial review heightens fears ailing fashion chain will be forced to raise cashTed Baker’s bankers have appointed advisers to review the prospects for the business amid fears that the fashion chain will be forced to raise cash.A consortium of four major lenders to the company, understood to be Santander, HSBC, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland, have hired the advisory firm FTI Consulting, which has previously worked with lenders to troubled high street businesses Debenhams and New Loo
  
  Read more

• A bag for life that’s keeping its promise | Brief letters

  08-01-2020 18:59
  
  Patriotism | Geography | Longevity | WordsearchReading Gary Younge (Nationalism needn’t be negative – but it has to be honest, Journal, 3 January), I couldn’t help but view it all through the lens of the comment by Stephen Maturin, in Patrick O’Brian’s novel Master and Commander, that patriotism is a word “that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is always right, which is imbecile”.
  Tony Rimmer
  Lyth
  
  Read more

• Boots launches business review as sales slide

  08-01-2020 18:08
  High-street pharmacy chain seeks to cut costs and automate processes
  
  Read more

• Sainsbury’s helpful prices may yet hinder margin

  08-01-2020 17:15
  Upswing in profitability is starting to look increasingly challenged — particularly at Argos
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Boots sales & profits struck by decline in prescription numbers

  08-01-2020 16:31 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Walgreens Boots Alliance saw international sales slip on the back of a decline in the UK
  // Its international arm, of which Boots is a part, saw like-for-like pharmacy sales rise 0.6% in the 3 months to November 30
  // Boots’ overall like-for-like retail sales slipped 3% as Walgreens blamed weak performanceSales and profits have taken a hit at Boots after the pharmacy chain was struck by a fall in prescription numbers.
  The UK retailer’s parent company Walgreens Boots Alliance saw i
  
  Read more

• Springfields Outlet bucks national trends with 15th year of growth

  08-01-2020 16:23 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Springfields Outlet’s total revenue increased by 2%
  // It saw its busiest Boxing Day sale launch ever with 40% of retailers reporting double digit increases
  // Footfall also increased by 2% across the yearThe shopping and leisure destination Springfields Outlet, has bucked national trends achieving positive results across the Christmas trading period.
  The continuous growth from the Lincolnshire based outlet demonstrates its resilience achieving 15 years of consecutive turnover growth.
  T
  
  Read more

• Ted Baker’s lenders launch independent review amid business turmoil

  08-01-2020 15:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Ted Baker’s lenders reportedly draft in advisers to assess the retailer’s prospects
  // A syndicate of banks including Barclays & RBS hired FTI Consulting to carry out independent business review
  // It follows the sudden resignation of chairman David Bernstein & CEO Lindsay Page last month amid the 4th profit warningTed Baker’s banking syndicate have reportedly hired restructuring experts to carry out a review of the retailer’s prospects.
  According to Sky News,
  
  Read more

• Argos toys slump dents Sainsbury’s Christmas sales

  08-01-2020 15:20
  
  Poor performance at Sainsbury’s-owned chain offsets resilient grocery salesPoor sales of toys and video games dented Argos’s performance over Christmas as the chain’s owner, Sainsbury’s, said nervous shoppers were holding on to their cash.Sales of general merchandise at the group slid nearly 4% in the 15 weeks to 4 January.Continue reading...
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• PrettyLittleThing donates £157,000 to firefighters & charities in Aussie bushfires

  08-01-2020 14:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // PrettyLittleThing pledges $300,000 (£157,000) to support relief efforts in the Australian bushfire crisis
  // $100,000 pledged for Wires Wildlife Rescue, $100,000 for Red Cross Australia & $100,000 for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service
  // These are in addition to donations already made to the St Vincent de Paul charityPrettyLittleThing has joined a growing list of Australian retailers and shopping centres in making a AUD $300,000 (£157,000) donation to support relief effor
  
  Read more

• PrettyLittleThing donates £157,000 to help fight the Australia bushfires

  08-01-2020 14:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // PrettyLittleThing pledges $300,000 (£157,000) to support relief efforts in the Australian bushfire crisis
  // $100,000 pledged for Wires Wildlife Rescue, $100,000 for Red Cross Australia & $100,000 for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service
  // These are in addition to donations already made to the St Vincent de Paul charityPrettyLittleThing has joined a growing list of Australian retailers and shopping centres in making a AUD $300,000 (£157,000) donation to support relief effor
  
  Read more

• PrettyLittleThing donates £157,000 for Australian bushfire relief efforts

  08-01-2020 14:15 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // PrettyLittleThing pledges $300,000 (£157,000) to support relief efforts in the Australian bushfire crisis
  // $100,000 pledged for Wires Wildlife Rescue, $100,000 for Red Cross Australia & $100,000 for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service
  // These are in addition to donations already made to the St Vincent de Paul charityPrettyLittleThing has joined a growing list of Australian retailers and shopping centres in making a AUD $300,000 (£157,000) donation to support relief effor
  
  Read more

• Black Friday blamed for 7.2% December footfall drop

  08-01-2020 12:58 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // December footfall fell by 7.2% against the same month in 2018, according to Ispos Retail Performance
  // This is higher than the -6.1% forecast.
  // Black Friday blamed as the reason for this dropBlack Friday managed to “knock the stuffing out of the Christmas” when it came to footfall figures during the peak December month, new figures from Ipsos Retail Performance show.
  Footfall fell by 7.2 per cent in December against last the same month in 2018, slightly higher than the 6.1 per
  
  Read more

• Centre:MK reports footfall growth bucking national trend

  08-01-2020 12:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Centre:MK reports 2019 footfall is up 2.5% Y-o-Y
  // Changing footfall patterns & shopping behaviours saw significant growth on Mondays & Sundays as well as after 5pmOne of the top 10 shopping centres in the UK, Centre:MK, is bucking the nationwide trend of decline by reporting a 2.5 per cent increase in footfall year-on-year.
  The Milton Keynes shopping centre has been attracting high-spending shoppers, due to its the convenient layout and range of retailers available including John Le
  
  Read more

• Centre MK reports footfall growth bucking national trend

  08-01-2020 12:57 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Centre MK reports 2019 footfall is up 2.5% YOY
  // Changing footfall patterns and shopping behaviours saw significant growth on Monday’s & Sundays as well as after 5pmOne of the top 10 shopping centres in the UK, Centre MK is bucking the nationwide trend of declining footfall, reporting its footfall is up 2.5 per cent year-on-year.
  The shopping centre has been attracting high spending shoppers, due to its the convenient layout and range of retailers available including John Lewis and
  
  Read more

• Amazon selling politically sponsored products despite pledging ban

  08-01-2020 12:48 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Amazon has been found to be selling a range of politically sponsored products on its website despite prohibiting any sponsored content promoting 2020 campaigns or political parties.
  Currently Amazon says that “Content related to campaigns, elections, or political issues of public debate; that advocates for or against a politician or a political party; or that personally attacks a political figure” is not allowed.
  Despite this products supporting a range of candidates including Donald
  
  Read more

• PC Specialist advert banned by ASA for pushing gender stereotypes

  08-01-2020 11:07 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Bespoke computer retailer PC Specialist has had its advert banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for perpetuating gender stereotypes.
  PC Specialist, which had a turnover of £55 million last year, received eight complaints about an advert featuring three men performing different activities on computers, with a male voice over referring to “techies”, “coders”, “gamers”, “music makers” and “illustrators”.
  The complainan
  
  Read more

• Paul Smith bucks high street trend as sales reach £215m

  08-01-2020 11:04 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Paul Smith sales increase 9%
  // The retailer’s online sales climb 12%Paul Smith has posted an increase in sales and profits as it bucked the high street trend.
  In the year to June 30 2019, the fashion retailer saw a nine per cent increase in sales to £215 million.
  Despite a drop in footfall, which were also affected by the yellow vest protests in France, sales at Paul Smith shops which have been open for more than a year increased six per cent during the period.READ MORE: Paul Smi
  
  Read more

• Hobbs boasts “strong performance” thanks to new openings

  08-01-2020 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Hobbs back in profit as it ramps up expansion
  // It made a pre-tax profit of £6 million, compared with a loss of £4.7 millionHobbs has reported a “strong performance” within a “challenging retail environment” thanks to the number of new concessions opening.
  In the year to March 30, the upmarket retailer’s turnover edged up to £135.4 million from £132.6 million.
  It made a pre-tax profit of £6 million, compared with a loss of £4.
  
  Read more

• Hobbs boasts “strong performance” as it returns to profit

  08-01-2020 09:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Hobbs back in profit as it ramps up expansion
  // It made a pre-tax profit of £6mn, compared with a loss of £4.7mHobbs has reported a “strong performance” within a “challenging retail environment” after it revealed a return to profit.
  In the year to March 30, the upmarket retailer’s turnover edged up to £135.4 million from £132.6 million.
  It made a pre-tax profit of £6 million, compared with a loss of £4.7 million previously whe
  
  Read more

• Shoe Zone profits down due to “increased financial burden” CEO says

  08-01-2020 09:19 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Shoe Zone blames profit drop on the burden of increased business rates
  // Sales edged up 0.9% to £162 millionShoe Zone chief executive Anthony Smith has blamed the fall in its annual profits on “the increasing financial burden placed on retailers by successive governments”.
  In the year to October 5 2019, the shoe retailer’s underlying pre-tax earnings slid to £9.6 million versus £11.3 million the previous year.
  Sales edged up 0.9 per cent to £162
  
  Read more

• Topps Tiles Q1 sales drop 5.4% due to “political uncertainty”

  08-01-2020 09:03 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Topps Tiles sales in the 13 weeks to December 28 dropped due to uncertainty
  // Like-for-like sales fell 5.4%Topps Tiles first quarter sales have dropped thanks to political and economic uncertainty adversely affecting consumer confidence.
  In the 13 weeks to December 28, the tile specialist’s like-for-like sales fell by 5.4 per cent.
  However, the group saw a market improvement after the general election, with sales declines paring back to 1.4 per cent in the final five weeks of its
  
  Read more

• Greggs to pay £7m bonus to staff after ‘exceptional’ year

  08-01-2020 08:50
  Bakery group announces staff payout but warns costs to increase in 2020
  
  Read more

• Greggs to award £7m bonus to staff after ‘exceptional’ year

  08-01-2020 08:50
  Bakery group raises profit forecast but warns that costs would likely rise this year
  
  Read more

• Greggs boosts profit outlook after ‘exceptional’ year

  08-01-2020 08:50
  Bakery group announces staff payout but warns costs to increase in 2020
  
  Read more

• Sainsbury’s posts low Christmas figures, warns on “highly competitive” 2020

  08-01-2020 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Sainsbury’s like-for-like retail sales fell 0.7% in the 15 weeks to January 4
  // Grocery sales rose 0.4% while online groceries trading increased 7.3%Sainsbury’s has recorded lower sales over its Christmas quarter as a tough toy market counteracted grocery sales.
  In the 15 weeks to January 4, the Big 4 grocer’s overall like-for-like retail sales fell 0.7 per cent, excluding fuel.
  Grocery sales rose 0.4 per cent while online groceries trading increased 7.3 per cent.READ
  
  Read more

• Sainsbury’s posts low Christmas figures and warns on “highly competitive” 2020

  08-01-2020 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  
  // Sainsbury’s like-for-like retail sales fell 0.7% in the 15 weeks to January 4
  // Grocery sales rose 0.4% while online groceries trading increased 7.3%Sainsbury’s has recorded lower sales over its Christmas quarter as a tough toy market counteracted grocery sales.
  In the 15 weeks to January 4, the grocer’s like-for-like retail sales fell 0.7 per cent, excluding fuel.
  Grocery sales rose 0.4 per cent while online groceries trading increased 7.3 per cent.READ MORE: 3 millio
  
  Read more

• Sainsbury’s upbeat food sales offset Argos weakness

  08-01-2020 08:40
  Group sales rise after declining in same period last year
  
  Read more

• Sainsbury’s upbeat festive food sales offset by Argos weakness

  08-01-2020 08:40
  Growth in core grocery business let down by 4 per cent fall in general merchandise
  
  Read more

• Tesco Thai sale to face close regulatory scrutiny

  08-01-2020 06:00
  Country’s competition watchdog warns $9bn deal could be blocked if any laws are breached
  
  Read more

• Topps Tiles reports first quarter sales fall

  08-01-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Like-for-like sales at Topps Tiles fell by 5.4% in the retailer’s first quarter after trading was impacted by political and economic uncertainty in the lead up... View Article
  
  Read more

• Shoe Zone’s profit declines after ‘difficult’ year

  08-01-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Shoe Zone has seen its annual underlying pre-tax profit decline to £9.6 million from £11.3 million in what it described as a difficult year. In the... View Article
  
  Read more

• Sainsbury’s like-for-like sales slip in third quarter

  08-01-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Sainsbury’s has posted a 0.7% decline in third quarter like-for-like sales following a dip in sales of general merchandise. The 15 weeks to 4 January saw... View Article
  
  Read more

• Revlon hires Sergio Pedreiro as chief operating officer

  08-01-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Revlon has appointed Sergio Pedreiro as its chief operating officer. Due to join the company on 8 January, Pedreiro will be heavily involved in restructuring and... View Article
  
  Read more

• Greggs celebrates ‘exceptional’ year

  08-01-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Greggs has said its full year underlying pre-tax profit is expected to slightly higher than forecasts following strong sales growth throughout 2019. In the 52 weeks... View Article
  
  Read more

• Centre:mk reports 2019 footfall growth

  08-01-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  The Centre:mk shopping centre in Milton Keynes has reported a 2.5% increase in footfall for 2019. It also experienced changing footfall patterns and shopping behaviours with... View Article
  
  Read more

Follow @retailuknws on Twitter!