All General merchandise articles – Page 212
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NewsApril's fashion and gift sales up while homewares continues to suffer
Fashion and gift retailers enjoyed a lift to sales in April while homewares continued to suffer.The BDO Stoy Hayward High Street Sales Tracker of medium-sized retailers revealed that across all sectors retail like-for-likes increased 1.7 per cent in April.The report said the Easter calendar shift increased demand for gifts and ...
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NewsArgos gears up for July launch of Chad Valley
Argos will launch Chad Valley, the toy brand bought from Woolworths’ administrators, this July and will consider similar opportunistic acquisitions to bolster its range.
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New boss for Woolworths online shop
Shop Direct Group has brought in a new boss for its online Woolworths store which launches this summer.
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NewsHome Retail Group posts 24 per cent fall in preliminary profits
Home Retail Group, owner of the Argos and Homebase chains, has warned of continued tough trading conditions ahead after posting a 24 per cent fall in preliminary profits.
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NewsRetail insolvencies rise 60 per cent
Retail collapses soared in the first quarter as companies fell victim to falling consumer confidence and a deteriorating financing environment.On average, more than seven retailers hit the wall a day in the three months to March. The number of insolvencies jumped 24 per cent on the previous quarter, according to ...
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NewsRetail sales bounce back in March
Retail sales volumes returned to positive territory in March, driven by a strong performance from food and fashion retailers.
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NewsWHSmith opens doors to chuggers
WHSmith is allowing the unpopular practice of face-to-face charity fundraising to be carried out in its stores as part of a trial that observers are calling risky.
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New chief named for Warehouse Stationery
Discount retailer The Warehouse has appointed Mark Powell as chief executive of its subsidiary Warehouse Stationery, following the resignation of Gary Rohloff.Powell has worked at The Warehouse for six years in senior executive roles. Previously he worked at global giants Wal-Mart Canada and Tesco UK. He is general manager of ...
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NewsHalfords to overhaul supply chain as it strives to cut costs
Bicycle and car maintenance specialist Halfords is rethinking its supply chain and distribution centre network in an effort to save costs and drive efficiencies.
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NewsHawkin’s Bazaar tries outdoor ads
Toy and gift retailer Hawkin’s Bazaar is aiming to increase brand awareness in shopping centres via an outdoor ad campaign that takes advantage of what it claims is a new medium.
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NewsKiddicare adds cash payment to site
Kiddicare has added a cash payment option to its website to help drive sales among customers who won’t, or can’t, pay for goods online with credit or debit cards.
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NewsWHSmith profits fall, but margins firm
WHSmith has posted a 5 per cent fall in first-half profits but said it is confident about the full-year outlook.
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NewsCarphone Warehouse to demerge its retail and telecoms operations
Carphone Warehouse has confirmed that it will split its retail and telecoms divisions in to two separately listed companies.
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NewsBRC demands credit insurance redress at Budget
Half of large retailers say the reduction or withdrawal of trade credit insurance has undermined their ability to trade.According to the British Retail Consortium’s Credit Conditions Survey, 40 per cent of small and medium-sized retailers also say the reduction or withdrawal has undermined their position.Two thirds of larger retailers believe ...
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NewsLakeland unveils a new-look store design
Homewares retailer Lakeland has unveiled a new-look store design with the opening of its Durham shop.The 5,000 sq ft shop, which opened last week, features a demonstration kitchen to promote the retailer’s recently-launched own-brand electricals range, alongside an area to showcase kitchen essentials.The centrepiece of ...
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AnalysisDavid Wild
Halfords hasn’t escaped the recession but former Tesco and Wal-Mart man David Wild says he’s confident of light at the end of the tunnel
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NewsOriginal Factory Shop plans its ‘biggest year ever’ for new stores
Value retailer Original Factory Shop revealed customer numbers were up 12 per cent in the 14 weeks to March 29 as it prepares for its “biggest year ever” for store openings.The 105-store retailer’s like-for-like sales rose 12 per cent over the period, while total sales went up 29 per cent.Original ...
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NewsHalfords to axe standalone bike fascias
Halfords is to close its standalone Bikehut and Cycle Republic stores as it revealed a group sales drop of 1.7 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
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NewsOriginal Factory Shop like-for-likes soar
Discount retailer Original Factory Shop has revealed a like-for-like sales hike of 12 per cent in the 14 weeks to March 29 as it attracts cash-strapped consumers.