Retail news round-up on October 17, 2014: Shop Direct promotes areth Jones to deputy chief executive; John Lewis sales increase 12.9% as cooler weather sets in; MK One founder Mark Brafman jailed
Shop Direct promotes retail and strategy director Gareth Jones to deputy chief executive
Very and Littlewoods owner Shop Direct has promoted retail and strategy director Gareth Jones to deputy chief executive.
Jones, who joined Shop Direct in 2009 as brand director for Very, will retain his existing responsibilities, where he is responsible for ecommerce, customer intelligence, marketing, trading and creative across the group.
Jones, who is chief executive Alex Baldock’s right hand man, is currently overseeing the development of Shop Direct’s new luxury brand Very Exclusive, which launches during London Fashion Week in February next year.
John Lewis sales increase 12.9% as cooler weather sets in
John Lewis sales were up 12.9% to £80.59m last week as the cooler weather sparked demand for winter goods. Home products were up 15%, fashion up 12.5% and electricals up 11.9% in the week to October 11.
At sister retailer Waitrose sales increased 5% to £120.6m as the final of the Great British Bake Off resulted in home baking sales surging 25% last week.
MK One founder Mark Brafman jailed for acting as company director while disqualified
MK One founder Mark Brafman has been jailed for acting as company director while disqualified.
Brafman was sentenced to eight months in prison. His former business partner Bulbinder Singh Sandhu was also sentenced at Southwark Crown Court. He must serve five months, according to Retail Week sister magazine Drapers.
Both have been disqualified from being company directors for 12 years.
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