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Retail News
UK retail sales record surprising lift in January
17th February 2012
Retail sales volumes rose unexpectedly by 0.9% in January as customers were tempted to UK stores with discounts on furniture and household goods.
This compares to economists’ forecasts of a monthly fall of 0.4%.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed that retail sales in the month rose at their fastest rate since April 2011, to give an annual rise of 2%.
This is the second month in a row that sales rose unexpectedly. There was also a surprise lift in December of 0.6% driven by shoppers taking advantage of hefty pre-Christmas discounts.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/uk_retail_sales_record_surprising_lift_in_january_17-02-12/
Multiple retailers closed 14 stores a day in 2011
17th February 2012
New data released by PwC and the Local Data company has revealed that multiple retailers closed 14 stores a day on average across the UK in 2011.
From a net increase in 2009 of 1.2%, multiple retailers reduced their high street presence by 0.25% in 2011 - a reduction of 174 shops.
Bookshops, electrical, home furnishing, menswear, and off-licence stores were the hardest hit with all seeing falling numbers. In contrast, charity shops, pound shops, shoe shops, bakers, credit unions, supermarkets and convenience stores all bucked the trend by showing growth during the year.
For the full article, please click the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/multiple_retailers_closed_14_stores_a_day_in_2011_17-02-12/
Online trade drives January retail sales
17th February 2012
Online trade drove an increase in the value and volume of retail sales in January, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The overall value of retail sales rose 4.4%, while volumes increased by 2%, the ONS Retail Sales Index revealed. Sales volumes were driven primarily by food and online shopping.
An estimated £24.6bn was spent in the retail sector in January, compared to £23.6bn in January 2011 and £42.1bn in December 2011.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Domino's flags up virtues of low-cost digital marketing
15th February 2012
Domino's Pizza has reported a 14.6% uplift in full-year pre-tax profits to £43.6m, driven by a 43% leap in online sales aided by low-cost digital marketing.
Domino's opened 62 new outlets during the year, bringing the total to 726 in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Morrisons launches M Kitchen vegetarian range
14th February 2012
Morrisons is extending its own label M Kitchen convenience range to include vegetarian meals.
The selection, which includes a curry from two Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, launches in store this week and marks the first time that Morrisons has sold an own brand vegetarian range.
The supermarket said the products had been created in response to customer feedback that too much of the vegetarian food in supermarkets was ‘bland and uninteresting’.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/morrisons_launches_m_kitchen_vegetarian_range_14-02-12/
PepsiCo to cull 8,700 jobs and invest an extra $600m in advertising
10th February 2012
PepsiCo is slashing 8,700 jobs, about 3% of its workforce, and is to mirror rival Coca-Cola by announcing a major investment in advertising and marketing.
PepsiCo is to up investment in its core cola and crisps brands in North America, which some believe have been neglected as the company strives to promote and invest in healthier brands.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Marmite aims to spread love with Facebook e-cards
10th February 2012
Marmite, the Unilever-owned yeast spread brand, has teamed up with artist Pete Fowler to create a series of e-cards for Facebook users to send to their loved ones on Valentine's Day.
Available from today, the e-cards come with three different messages about love.
Visitors to the Marmite fan page who ‘like’ the brand will be able to send one of the e-cards to contacts within their network on Valentine's Day.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Groupon reins in marketing spend as it reports loss of $42.7m
9th February 2012
Groupon has cut its marketing spend by nearly $50m in the three months to 31st December 2011 and reports a net loss of $42.7m (£27m) in its first set of financial figures since it floated last year.
Groupon cut marketing spend from $200.9m (£126.3m) to $156.4m (£98.4m) in the quarter, compared to same period in the previous year.
The cut came despite the voucher company launching its first UK TV ad campaign in the period, as it moved to up the ante in the daily deals space.
The marketing spend reduction can be attributed to its decision to focus on encouraging existing customers to make repeat purchases, rather than attracting new customers.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Mothercare appoints new CEO
8th February 2012
Mothercare has appointed Simon Calver as its new CEO after a four month search. Calver, who is currently chief executive of LOVEFiLM, will join the mother and baby products retailer on 30th April.
Calver succeeds Ben Gordon who left Mothercare last October following a series of profit warnings.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/mothercare_appoints_new_ceo_08-02-12/
GAME cuts 46 jobs at Basingstoke HQ
8th February 2012
Video game and console retailer GAME has cut 46 jobs from its Basingstoke headquarters.
The move is part of a restructure designed to aid growth of GAME’s multi-channel offer and to allow the group to "better to respond to the current video games market."
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/game_cuts_46_jobs_at_basingstoke_hq_08-02-12/
Peacocks fall into administration
19th January 2012
10,000 jobs at risk as clothing firm Peacocks falls into administration and makes last ditch plea for buyer.
Thousands of shop workers tonight faced the prospect of losing their jobs after high street fashion chain Peacocks went into administration.
The news comes despite a last-ditch attempt by the company's chief executive Richard Kirk to save the business.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Mild weather affects sales at Halfords
12th January 2012
Halfords saw total group revenue fall by 2.1% in the thirteen weeks to 30th December.the automotive and leisure products retailer blamed the mild weather, saying it had changed the mix of retail sales and affected sales of products in its car maintenance range.
Halfords retail division saw a fall in revenue of 4.4% while Halfords Autocentres saw revenue climb by 18.7%.
for the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/mild_weather_affects_sales_at_halfords_12-01-12/
Sales fall at Argos and Homebase
12th January 2012
Home Retail Group, the owner of Argos and Homebase, has reported that sales fell at both companies over the Christmas period.
Like-for-like sales at the Argos catalogue chain declined 8.8% in the 18 weeks to the end of 2011 while gross margins fell by 50 basis points. Total sales at Argos decreased by 7.8% to £1.72 billion.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/sles_fall_at_argos_and_homebase_12-01-12/
Past Times closes 47 stores
12th January 2012
Struggling gift retailer Past Times, which were due to appoint administrators this week, has been granted a ten day extension to give the group additional time to close a deal with a potential rescuer.
The company has closed 47 of its 98 stores in the last two days resulting in around 400 job losses.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/past_times_closes_47_stores_12-01-12/
Little Chef to close 70 restaurants
11th January 2012
Motorway restaurant chain Little Chef is preparing to close 70 of its restaurants and cut 600 staff according to a report by the Sun newspaper.
The Little Chef management were said to be breaking the news to staff today. The move will result in a 40% cut in the number of Little Chef restaurants reducing the total to 91.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/littel_chef_to_close_70_restaurants_11-01-12/
Blacks Leisure to go into administration
6th January 2012
Blacks Leisure has announced that it will go into administration. The outdoor goods retailer, which is struggling with debts of £36m, is then expected to be sold in a pre-pack deal.
In a statement issued today, the group said: "The Board has now determined that any sale of the trade, assets and brands will be effected through an administration process."
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/blacks_leisure_to_go_into_administration_06-01-12/
Best Buy stores to close on 15 January
4th January 2012
Best Buy's 'big box' stores and website will close on 15 January less than two years after the company opened its first UK store in Thurrock.
All 11 stores in the UK, set up by the Best Buy Europe joint venture with Carphone Warehouse, will close with the majority of the 1,000 Best Buy staff expected to be offered roles within Carphone Warehouse.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/best_buy_stores_to_close_on_15_january_04-01-12/
Retail sales figures
15th December 2011
Figures published by the Office for National Statistics have revealed that retail sales values rose 4.6% year on year in November. Although retail sales volumes rose 0.7% in the month compared to the same month a year earlier, they fell 0.4% from October 2011.
Non-store retailing and automotive fuel sales volumes increased by 18.9% and 2.7% respectively compared to November 2010. The food and non-food sectors saw sales volumes decrease by 0.6% and 0.7% respectively.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Thomas Cook reports £398m loss and closes 200 stores
14th December 2011
Thomas Cook has confirmed it will close 200 underperforming outlets with the expected loss of more than 650 jobs as the holiday provider moves to turn around its ailing business after reporting a £398m loss.
Thomas Cook today (14 December) reported the dramatic loss in the year to end of 30 September 2011, compared to £42m profit the year before.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Carpetright reports loss in first half
13th December 2011
Flooring retailer Carpetright saw revenue fall 3.9% to £238.4 million in the six months to 29th October as the group said it continued to experience a "very challenging" trading environment.
The group made a loss of £800,000 compared to a pre-tax profit £9.8 million seen in the same period last year.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/carpetright_reports_loss_in_first_half_13-12-11/
Costa Coffee reports 3.8% increase in like-for-like sales
13th December 2011
Costa Coffee, the Whitbread owned coffee chain, saw like-for-like sales increase by 3.8% in the 13 weeks to 1st December.
Total system sales grew by 23.9% to £602 million in the period with franchise sales up 18.3% to £246 million. Like-for-like sales in UK equity stores were up 5.6% with transactions up 6.0%.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Peacocks to restructure its business
9th December 2011
Fashion retail group Peacocks is reported to be considering the closure of up to 200 stores as it seeks to restructure £240 million of debt.
The group, which operates 611 Peacocks stores and 394 Bon Marche shops, also has large rent bill coming up on 25 December.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/peacocks_to_restructure_its_business_09-12-11/
Blacks Leisure put up for sale
7th December 2011
Blacks Leisure, the campign and outdoor clothing retailer, put itself up for sale today after it failed to secure fresh investment to keep the business going.
The company said in a statement today: "The directors do not believe that the group will be able to complete a fundraising which would provide for the equity requirements of the group on the basis of its current capital structure and indebtedness.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/blacks_leisure_put_up_for_sale_07-12-11/
Record figures for Christmas shopping online
7th December 2011
Cyber Monday saw increased record online transactions for the third year running, with shoppers binging in during their lunch hour.
Sage Pay has reported record-breaking transaction volumes on Cyber Monday, the busiest online shopping day of the year for shoppers in the run-up to Christmas.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/record_figures_for_christmas_shopping_online_06-12-11/
November retail sales weakest since May
6th December 2011
Retailers saw the biggest fall in like-for-like sales for six months according to figures released by the British Retail Consortium.
The BRC Retail Sales Monitor survey revealed that the value of retail sales fell 1.6% from a year earlier.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/november_retail_sales_weakest_since_may_06-12-11/
Tesco rolls out free Wi-Fi at Extra stores
5th December 2011
Supermarket giant Tesco has rolled out its free Wi-Fi service nationwide following a successful in-store trial.
Customers with Clubcard numbers shopping in any of Tesco’s Extra stores now have free, unlimited access. Those without Clubcards are able to use the service for 15 minutes every 24 hours.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/tesco_rolls_out_free_wifi_at_extra_stores_05-12-11/
John Lewis celebrates 9.6% sales increase
5th December 2011
Tills are ringing with festive cheer at department store chain John Lewis as it reports that sales for the week ending 3rd December rose 9.6% year on year to reach £113.6m. This represents a 15.1% rise in sales on the previous week.
Whilst the figures for the same week last year were flattened because of the snow which caused disruption to trade, last week's sales were up 10.9% on the same week two years ago.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/john_lewis_celebrates_96_sales_increase_05-12-11/
Ann Harvey to shutter 20 stores in property review
2nd December 2011
Irisa, the retailer formerly known as Alexon, is to close almost a third of its stand alone stores over the next four months, replacing them with concessions as part of a store alignment strategy.
for the full article please click on the following link...
http://www.my-retailmedia.com/blog/5602/ann_harvey_to_shutter_20_stores_in_property_review.php
Diageo to sponsor free New Year's Eve travel for three years
2nd December 2011
Drinks company Diageo has signed a three-year deal to sponsor free travel on London transport on New Year's Eve, with a focus on responsible drinking messages.
The sponsorship deal, launched today by Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, will be promoted across tubes and buses from 9 December to New Year's Eve.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Starbucks to open 200 drive-thrus for roadside caffeine fix
1st December 2011
British consumers are becoming couch potatoes unwilling to even leave their car to grab their morning cup of coffee.
Or at least, that is the inference after Starbucks announce that it will open 200 "drive-thrus" in Britain over the next five years. Car drivers will order their triple-shot frappuccinos or skinny caramel lattes by speaking into a microphone and then drive forward to pick up their coffee from a hatch - all from the seat of their car.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Waitrose rolls out Christmas cooking 'how-to' videos
29th November 2011
Waitrose is launching 'how-to' videos starring brand ambassadors, such as Delia Smith, as it looks to better engage with consumers on social media.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
Arcadia to close 250 stores
24th November 2011
Arcadia, the retail group owned by billionaire Sir Philip Green, has reported that underlying pre-tax profits fell by more than a third to £133m in the year ending 27th August. This compares to a profit of £213m in the previous year.
As a result, the company plans to close up to 250 stores during the next 3 years.
The group which includes high street stores such as BHS, Topshop, Burton, Dorothy Perkins and Wallis, saw total sales fall by 3.4% to £2.6 billion in the year.
For the full article, please click on the following link...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/arcadia_to_close_260_stores_24-11-11/
Lynx ads banned for degrading women and reaching kids
23rd November 2011
Unilever's Lynx brand has been hit with a double ban for separate outdoor and internet campaigns after the advertising watchdog upheld complaints that they objectified women and were inappropriately located where they could be seen by children.
Click on the following link for the full article (registration required)...
Thomas Cook set to close 200 high-street shops
21st November 2011
Thomas Cook is set to shut 200 of its high street stores, in a move expected to be part of a wider review of the UK business and its brand portfolio
Click on the following link for the full article...
Tesco launches price-led Christmas campaign
18th November 2011
Tesco is launching its Christmas TV campaign today (18 November) focusing on the low prices it is offering consumers on festive goods.
Click on the following link for the full article.
Unexpected rise in retail sales
17th November 2011
UK retail sales rose 0.6% in October from the month before, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.
Click on the following link for the full article.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15771780
Sale of Northern Rock announced
17th November 2011
Northern Rock is being sold to Virgin Money for £747m, the government has announced.
Click on the following link for the full article...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15769886
Poundland to recruit 2,000 temporary staff during festive period
15th November 2011
Discount retailer Poundland has announced that it will be recruiting 2,000 temporary staff to work in its stores over the Christmas period.
Click on the following link for the full article...
Asda completes conversion of Netto stores
15th November 2011
Supermarket giant Asda has announced that it will complete the conversion of the netto stores it acquired from Dansk Supermarket within the next week.
Click on the following link for the full article...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/asda_completes_transformation_of_netto_stores_15-11-11/
Waitrose reports a 10.1% rise in Q3 sales
Waitrose has reported an 8.2% rise in sales year-on-year last week and a 10.1% increase in third quarter sales as it reaps the benefits of its biggest ever value campaign.
Click on the following link for the full article...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/waitrose_reports_a_101_rise_in_q3_sales_11-11-11/
Asda launches first transactional mobile app
18th November 2011
Asda has announced the launch of its first transactional mobile app to enable its customers to buy groceries and price check their shopping using their iPhones
click on the following link for the full article...
http://www.theretailbulletin.com/news/asda_launches_first_transactional_mobile_app_18-11-11/
Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, British Airways and Ryanair join forces against APD
17th November 2011
Virgin Atlantic, easyjet, British Airways and Ryanair have called on the Government to scrap Air Passenger Duty (APD), claiming it has a negative impact on the economy.
Click on the following link for the full article...
TalkTalk to begin YouView trial, ready for launch Spring 2012
15th November 2011
Broadband provider TalkTalk is to launch an in-house trial of YouView in early 2012, ready for launch in Spring.
Click on the following link for the full article...
One in ten consumers experience problems with deliveries when shopping online
17th November 2011
New research has revealed that almost one in ten people have been put off online shopping this year due to problems with past deliveries.
Click on the following link for the full article...
Shoppers to meet eBay for real in pop-up Christmas store
17th November 2011
The public will get their first encounter with eBay sales assistants in December when the brand opens a temporary London store to showcase the range of products that can be bought through its smartphone app.
Click on the following link for the full article...
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