Breakfast briefing: Retail news on Waitrose, Phones 4U, House of Fraser and SuperGroup

Phones 4U sells mobile phone insurance business for £107m

Phones 4U divests its mobile phone insurance business, Lifestyle Services Group (LSG) to Assurant for £107m to focus on its core business, Mobile News reported.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Waitrose brings back Delia to host online cookery school

Waitrose has reunited with Delia Smith to bring her recently launched online cookery school to Waitrose TV.

The Delia Online Cookery School with Waitrose, which went live yesterday on the Waitrose TV site and on Deliaonline.com, offers a range of tutorials free of charge.

Waitrose and Smith parted ways in February this year.

DFS launches new multichannel platforms

DFS launched its new multi-channel platform and websites, www.dfs.co.uk and www.dfs.ie, which will offer the furniture retailer’s customers a seamless way to purchase, whichever channels and devices they use.

DFS collaborated with ForeSee, a customer experience analytics firm to carry out research to understand how consumers wanted to use the online environment to help them find their perfect sofa.

The research revealed that customers seek inspiration, gather research and compare designs, colours and value online, before they visit a DFS store.

House of Fraser trials virtual queue solution for its Buy & Collect service

House of Fraser trials a new virtual queuing solution at its London City store for customers waiting to collect from its Buy & Collect service.

Using the system, customers, who enter the virtual queue, will receive a text message with information on estimated wait time and a link, where they can check progress of their order.

SuperGroup to expand UK presence by 80-to-100,000 sq ft next year

SuperGroup is looking expand its UK retail footprint by 80-to-100,000 sq. ft. in the next year, which will be an increase of around a quarter on its current UK estate of 493,000 sq. ft.

The retailer is eyeing opportunities to expand into new areas in which it does not already have a store.

John Lewis expands in South Korea

John Lewis is increasing its international presence with a new outlet in South Korea this month.

The retailer is building on its tie-up with the Shinsegae department chain, which already has John Lewis sections in four of its Seoul shops, reports The Daily Express.

John Lewis is likely to target Hong Kong and Singapore in the next few years, according to retail analysts.