All General merchandise articles – Page 236
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Opinion
Act tough now and win later
As famed former Marks & Spencer boss Sir Richard Greenbury points out on page 23, retailers have had a good run. Such a good one, in fact, that many of today’s senior retailers won’t have worked through a recession. Not many of us here at Retail Week have either.
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News
Christmas in the balance
Sector braced for toughest season since the 1980s, with December like-for-like drop expected.
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Analysis
Is this really the worst of times?
As Alistair Darling’s sobering comments on the downturn hit home, George MacDonald asks industry experts what truth lies behind the figures and what the impact will be for retail.
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News
Sears should merge brands, say analysts as profits sink
Sears will have to merge its Sears and Kmart brands if it is to compete against rivals, say experts, after profits plunged at the US retailer.
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News
Charity shops boom as shoppers seek value
Charity shops are defying the downturn as consumers shun the high street for second-hand bargains, reporting a profit hike of 7.4 per cent to 106.7 million.
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News
Interest rate held at 5%
The Bank of England has held the interest rate at 5 per cent for the fifth month running despite increasing fears of an imminent recession.
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AnalysisMalcolm Walker’s magic touch
Malcolm Walker has defied critics with his turnaround of Iceland, but could he do the same with Woolworths? Jennifer Creevy meets him to discover what can be learnt from the chain’s recovery.
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News
Give us your feedback
Retail Week has launched a reader survey to find out what you think about both our print and online coverage of the industry.
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News
Delayed Newbury centre finally given green light
Standard Life and Shearer Property Group have given the Parkway scheme in Newbury the go-ahead after a string of delays following questions over the project’s viability.
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News
Out-of-town retail parks to ‘lead retail renaissance’
Out-of-town retail is set to bounce back from the economic gloom and will be more successful than town centres in instigating a retail resurgence, a Verdict survey has claimed.
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News
Charity shops post profit rises
Charity shops have recorded profits up 7.4 per cent this year as shoppers try to manage their budgets in the face of the economic downturn.
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NewsWoolworths shareholder backs Malcolm Walker bid rejection
Woolworths’ biggest shareholder is backing the variety store retailer in its rejection of Malcolm Walker’s £50 million bid, according to The Sunday Times.
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News
Carrefour posts robust performance
Carrefour has revealed better than expected results, delivering a rise in net income of 1.2 per cent to €750 million ( 603.4 million) for the first half of this year.
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News
Argos drives impulse purchases with queue displays
Catalogue store group Argos is promoting impulse purchases of its Value range to customers queuing at its tills.
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News
John Lewis Leicester unveiled
John Lewis is poised to unveil its new Leicester store when the city’s Highcross Quarter scheme opens on Thursday.
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News
Walker awaits Woolies talks as doubts emerge
Retail entrepreneur Malcolm Walker’s consortium is keen to start discussions with the Woolworths board about the possible acquisition of its retail arm, but doubts that a deal can be struck started to creep in.
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News
35 retailers back Green’s letter to landlords
Sir Philip Green has written to some of the UK’s biggest landlords on behalf of 35 retail groups in an attempt to bring key aspects of how retail property is leased into the modern era.
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News
Russia still on West’s retail map despite political chill
International retailers are likely to push on with expansion in Russia despite a return to icy relations between the Kremlin and the West.
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Analysis
Brits abroad
The Olympics have reminded us all how great it is to be British, but shoppers around the world love what we stand for. Charlotte Hardie discovers how we can capitalise on their enthusiasm for all things British.
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News
Worst retail figures in 25 years, CBI reports
Wet weather and difficult trading conditions have resulted in the worst retail performance for 25 years.