Year: 2019

JD Sports named among businesses ‘failing’ on gender diversity

The Investment Association and the Hampton-Alexander Review have written to 69 of the FTSE 350 companies, including fashion retailer JD Sports, outlining concerns about the lack of gender diversity on its boards. The letter, which has been sent to companies who have no women or just one woman on their…

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The future of advertising creativity in retail

One of the questions that I get asked time and again is: What is the future for advertising creativity in a retail world that is more and more being driven by data? It’s a tough one to answer but a guy called John Wanamaker – who was a US merchant…

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John Lyttle joins Boohoo as CEO

Boohoo has announced that former Primark COO John Lyttle has officially joined the online retailer as its new CEO with immediate effect. Lyttle joins boohoo following an eight-year tenure at Primark Stores Limited, a division of Associated British Foods plc. Boohoo said his appointment is a “key constituent” of the…

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Mild February fails to significantly boost UK retail spending

The total retail spend index in February rose only 3.4 percentage points (ppts) versus a poor performance in January, according to data and analytics company GlobalData. Analysts said this subdued growth was “especially disappointing” in light of the UK experiencing the hottest February on record, which should have driven sales.…

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Inditex to merge Zara with Zara Home

Inditex is to merge Zara and Zara Home, despite growing the Zara Home brand since 2003. Integration plans have already been implemented in some locations, including St Petersburg, London and Madrid while the brands’ websites will continue to trade separately. For the meantime Zara Home will continue to trade as…

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B&Q to stop selling wildlife-harming pesticide

B&Q owner, Kingfisher has announced it will become the first retailer to stop selling wildlife-harming pesticides ahead of a government ban next year. The DIY retailer will remove the products from its 1,200 stores and from its online retail arm. The move comes following a government decision last December which…

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The click-and-collect phenomenon

The UK retail landscape is facing unprecedented pressures as British shopping habits continue to undergo a radical transformation. With consumers crying out for a more interactive, seamless and personalised experience in-store, it can be difficult for retailers to know how to keep footfall. Through merging the best of digital and…

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DFS revenues jump 29.1% in H1 results

Furniture retailer DFS has reported a 29.1% increase in group revenue to £422.3m for the 22 weeks ending 30 December 2018. Reported profit before tax more than doubled to £14.1m during the period from £6.2m last year, and underlying pro-forma EBITDA increased by 23.8% to £32.8m. The retailer also opened…

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Mamas & Papas signs wholesale deal with John Lewis

Mamas and Papas, the leading nursery brand, is partnering with John Lewis and Partners to supply a curated range of products on Johnlewis.com and in-store. The initial range will include best-selling travel items, including its award-winning Ocarro and Armadillo pushchairs and its new Flip XT3 design. In addition to offering…

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Sports Direct offers Debenhams £150m loan

Debenhams has confirmed it is considering an offer made by Sports Direct for a £150m unsecured 12 month loan. The news comes after the department store announced it was in discussions with its lenders to obtain the funding, a move which seemed to counter shareholder Mike Ashley’s attempt to appoint…

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