Retail Week looks ahead to the next seven days with updates from Bonmarché, Kingfisher, AO.com and Mothercare preceding Black Friday.
Bonmarché
The embattled fashion chain posts its half year results on Monday, with the City seeking some positive signs after a turbulent period of trading.
Bonmarché issued a profit warning two months ago – its second this year – after an “extremely poor” September. It said full year profits were now likely to be between £5m and £7m as new boss Helen Connolly bids to turn the business around.
Kingfisher
The B&Q and Screwfix owner updates the market with its third quarter trading performance on Tuesday. Kingfisher’s sales and profits rose at the half year stage as boss Véronique Laury’s strategy for the business started to bear fruit.
In the UK and Ireland, total sales rose 3.1% to £2.6bn while like-for-likes advanced 6.7% – and the City will be seeking signs that Kingfisher can build momentum.
AO.com
The electricals etailer reveals its interims on Tuesday. AO.com’s UK sales jumped 25% between April 1 and June 30, while European sales rocketed 101%.
The business, which reported losses widening to £10.6m in its full-year results in June, attributed its strong first-quarter UK sales to “improving brand recognition”.
Autumn Statement
Boardrooms up and down the country will have their eyes on parliament on Wednesday when the chancellor Philip Hammond delivers the Autumn Statement.
Retailers in the West End in particular will be hoping for some news on business rates, after an alliance of London organisations joined forces to lobby the Tory party for more time to adjust to the hike in taxes, which will cost businesses in the capital an estimated £885m per year.
Mothercare
The nursery retailer unveils its half year results on Thursday. Mothercare blamed “unseasonable” weather for a drop in sales during its first quarter, although like-for-likes rose 1.2%.
The retailer said the decline reflected a 4.8% year-on-year reduction in space. Its online sales have been flourishing in the UK though, having grown 6.4% in its first quarter to account for more than a quarter of overall sales in its domestic market.
Black Friday
The week in retail is rounded off with the annual sales bonanza, which has become a regular feature in the UK shopping calendar.
Etail titan Amazon, Argos and Dixons Carphone are expected to be among the biggest participants in this year’s event, as shoppers clamour to get the best deals ahead of Christmas.
But after queues outside stores subsided on Black Friday last year, many analysts expect online sales to dominate again in 2016.
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