All Series: City Insider articles – Page 14
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OpinionComment: Clarke may face a tough road ahead
The fact that Tesco has announced a drop in profits this morning hasn’t come as a surprise to many – and yet that doesn’t make the news any more comforting to investors.
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OpinionComment: Moss Bros set for growth
The Olympics effect on retail has been felt in some unexpected ways. At Moss Bros, the Games – along with the Jubilee celebrations and the Euro 2012 tournament – led to the deferral of weddings and an impact on its hire business in the first half.
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OpinionNick Bubb's Verdict: HMV expects Christmas sales pick-up. Is this credible?
The new senior management team at HMV have only been in place for a couple of weeks, but already they are blaming poor recent trading on “a lack of new releases”…and predicting a strong pick-up at Christmas. Is this credible?
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OpinionComment: Hamleys deal opens the door to overseas growth
This week’s acquisition of Hamleys, which famously describes itself as the “finest toy shop in the world”, paves the way for the retailer to test that claim on a truly global scale.
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OpinionComment: Uphill slog to get Blacks in shape
The 80% plunge in first-half profits at JD Sports, mainly attributable to recently acquired outdoor specialist Blacks, looks pretty awful at face value.
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OpinionComment: Should we be doing more to fight crippling business rates?
It’s September again. A notable month, not just because of my birthday (all gifts gratefully accepted) but because it’s when the powers that be set the figure by which business rates will be increased next year.
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OpinionComment: Debenhams sets the standard for retail
Department store group Debenhams took analysts on a tour of its Milton Keynes shop last week.
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OpinionComment: Morrisons - playing the right cards?
It was interesting to hear Dixons’ chief executive Seb James say today that successful multichannel electrical retailing is like playing a three-card-trick.
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OpinionComment: Light at end of tunnel for Argos
Structural issues are often blamed for Argos’ declining sales.
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OpinionComment: Morrisons must reassure City
After the summer lull, the flow of trading statements begins again and the runes will be read ahead of the fast-approaching golden quarter.
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OpinionComment: Competition hots up for Amazon
The launch of US bookseller Barnes & Noble’s Nook ereader in the UK this autumn will bring a welcome increase in competition in the ebooks market.
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OpinionComment: Opportunity knocks at SuperGroup
Just as SuperGroup looked to be getting a stable management in place, the fashion retailer has suffered the sudden loss of its co-founder and chief executive for wholesale and international.
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OpinionComment: July BRC figures show signs of life
The July sales figures reported by the BRC hardly represented a ‘wish you were here’ postcard from the industry, but behind the monthly figures there were reasons for optimism.
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OpinionComment: Reducing store portfolio may challenge retailers
Many retailers have recognised the power of ecommerce to drive sales and offer a compelling and convenient way for their customers to shop.
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OpinionComment: Halfords gears up for the future
It is a cruel irony that the week that Bradley Wiggins became the first Brit to win the Tour de France, the boss of the biggest bike seller in the country was handed his P45.
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OpinionComment: Halfords - Are the wheels coming off?
The Aztecs used to indulge in a bit of human sacrifice to appease the gods and it has become customary for companies to imitate the process when it comes to issuing repeated profit warnings.
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OpinionComment: City cautious of Marks & Spencer appointments
The fall in Marks & Spencer’s share price following last week’s update and AGM shows that the retailer has some way to go to convince the City that it is on track.
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OpinionSuperGroup: Light at the end of the tunnel?
Just as speculation starts about a potential IPO in the retail sector in the form of Poundland, it is ironic that today has seen the last major flotation in the sector, SuperGroup, try to pick up the pieces after a disastrous year when the share price slumped well below after the debut level after a material shortfall in profits.
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OpinionComment: Asos connects with success
The fortunes of online fashion group Asos were in stark contrast to those of Marks & Spencer over the same period.
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OpinionA good merger’s like a good marriage
Transatlantic miles of column inches have been inspired by the recently announced merger of Alliance Boots and Walgreens.