Breakfast briefing: Retail news on JDSports, Sainsbury's, Holland & Barrett, Halfords and Selfridges

JD Sports Fashion takes controlling interest in Tiso

JD Sports Fashion has bought a controlling interest in Edinburgh-based outdoor clothing and equipment company Tiso Group for an undisclosed sum, BBC News reported. Tiso said the ‘strategic investment’ by JD will allow it to grow and develop existing businesses Alpine Bikes, George Fisher and Blues the ski shop.

They are to become part of the JD’s Outdoor division, which already includes Blacks and Millets. Tiso said it was pleased to have formed a relationship ‘with a strong partner’. The move will see JD executive chairman Peter Cowgill take over as chairman at Tiso. Chris Tiso will continue as chief executive of the group. The company will remain based in Edinburgh. The Tiso family is retaining a shareholding in the firm.

Sainsbury’s launches Christmas TV ad campaign

Sainsbury’s has launched a festive TV ad campaign of amateur home video to ‘reveal how Britain really celebrates Christmas’. The supermarket has selected to use trailers for the upcoming documentary film Christmas In A Day by Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald. Macdonald created the film in partnership with Sainsbury’s from over 360 hours of festive footage submitted by people from across the UK, who remain unpaid in an effort to maintain the documentary’s authenticity.

The first advert is a three-minute 30-second preview of the film that will take up an entire ad break during ITV1’s Coronation Street.

Holland & Barrett hires River to manage content strategy

Holland & Barrett has named UK-based content marketing agency River to handle its content strategy following a competitive pitch, The Drum reported. River will handle all content strategy and production for e-commerce, social media, mobile applications, magazines and in-store screens.

Selfridges’ marketing chief Richard Taylor leaves

Selfridges’ marketing director Richard Taylor has exited from the luxury department store, Marketing Week reported. Taylor, who was responsible for marketing, PR, communications, events and visual merchandising, left to pursue new opportunities. It is unknown if he has another job.

Taylor oversaw the company’s attempts to appeal to a broad array of customers domestically, in collaboration with agency 18 Feet and Rising. A spokeswoman for Selfridges said: “Having been with Selfridges since April 2012, Taylor has completed much of what he was brought in to achieve and has now decided to pursue a new venture elsewhere.”

Halfords told to remove ‘misleading pricing’ from website after overstating savings

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has asked Halfords to remove ‘misleading’ pricing from its website after overstating savings on certain products. The car and bike accessories retailer listed two car radios in July, claiming savings of £20 on each one. But a complainant noted that the radios had only just been released, and challenged whether the savings claims could therefore be substantiated. It had not intended to make any references to the higher prices in advertising because fewer than 28 days had passed before the sale price took effect, but said they had appeared in error.

The ASA ruled that the claims must not appear again in their current form.

Scottish retail sales value accelerates to 2.1% in October

Year-on-year increase in Scottish retail sales value accelerated from 1.8% in September to 2.1% in October, but remained well adrift of the pace enjoyed in the summer, according to an industry survey, The Herald Scotland reported.

Year-on-year growth in the value of Scottish retail sales in October was well adrift of respective rates of 4% and 3.5% recorded in July and August. The value of non-food sales in Scotland in October was up only 1.3% on the same month of last year, according to the SRC.