Harrods
This coverage examines Harrods’ role and performance within the UK retail sector, focusing on its luxury positioning, store operations, and strategic initiatives. Explore reporting on flagship store developments, seasonal campaigns, brand partnerships, executive changes, and financial performance — all with an emphasis on commercial impact and relevance to professionals managing retail operations, brand strategy, and high-end customer experiences.
-
Feb- 2019 -22 FebruaryM&A
Martin Newman announces DownYourHighStreet.com investment
Retail expert, Martin Newman has announced he has invested in e-commerce platform, DownYourHighStreet.com, bringing its told investment raised this funding round to £272,060, 81% more than its target. The platform, created specifically for independent bricks and mortar retailers to grow their e-commerce business, will officially launch in June and currently…
Read More » -
Dec- 2018 -13 DecemberHigh Street
HoF acquisition dents Sports Direct profits
Sports Direct has reported a 27% fall in profits for the half-year period ending 28 October as it counts the cost of its acquisition of embattled department store chain House of Fraser. During the period, the company that also owns USC, Flannels, and Evans Cycles reported underlying profit before tax…
Read More » -
Nov- 2018 -19 NovemberHigh Street
Evans Cycles to close stores despite ‘almost all profitable’
Evans Cycles is set for store closures despite a recent administrators proposals document by accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) claiming “almost all the stores were profitable”. In the document, PwC found that the company’s financial woes mainly stemmed from being “burdened” by costs at its head office. Last month it was…
Read More » -
12 NovemberAdvice
How high street retailers can make it as ‘bricks and clicks’ companies
Next year Amazon is set to celebrate its 25th birthday, although much of the high street won’t be joining the party, with an estimated 38,900 UK retail jobs being lost or affected this year alone. The roll call of businesses that have entered administration, from House of Fraser to Poundworld…
Read More » -
Oct- 2018 -12 OctoberDepartment Stores
Sports Direct acquires HoF Glasgow store in ‘Harrods of the North’ ambition
House of Fraser today (Friday 12 October) vowed to create the “Harrods of the North” – after announcing a £95m deal to acquire the freehold of the Frasers building in Glasgow. The flagship store already has a strong luxury brand presence which includes Hermes, Christian Louboutin, Prada and Gucci giving…
Read More » -
4 OctoberAdvice
What is an administration pre-pack, and how might it affect retail suppliers?
2018 has been a difficult year for retailers: East, Maplin, New Look, Carpetright, Carphone Warehouse, Poundworld, Mothercare, Toys ‘R’ Us, House of Fraser, and Homebase have all stumbled to varying degrees. For House of Fraser, Mike Ashley (via his SportsDirect group) arrived as a ‘white knight’, using an administration pre-pack…
Read More » -
2 OctoberDepartment Stores
Sports Direct ousts entire House of Fraser management team
Sports Direct has announced it has dismissed the entire management and executive team of House of Fraser following the department store’s collapse and subsequent takeover by Mike Ashley. In a short statement released to the London Stock Exchange, the company said this was due to “calls for an investigation” regarding…
Read More » -
Sep- 2018 -14 SeptemberDepartment Stores
John Lewis Oxford Street flagship sees business rates rise 57% in a year
John Lewis’ flagship on Oxford Street, London is expected to see its business rates tax rise from £12.68m to £19.91m up 57% compared with last year’s revaluation. According to real estate advisor, Altus Group, the Oxford Street store alone will pay £41.04m in business rates over the four years of…
Read More » -
14 SeptemberDepartment Stores
London department stores smash own windows
London department stores including Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum & Mason have smashed their own windows to commemorate the centenary of women’s voting rights. The move is the result of a partnership between the British Fashion Council (BFC) and the Mayor of London’s ‘Behind Every Great City’ campaign. The mayoral…
Read More » -
Aug- 2018 -14 AugustDepartment Stores
Mike Ashley plans to keep 80% of House of Fraser stores open
Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley has vowed to keep 80% of House of Fraser’s stores open, after he saved the department store chain from administration in a £90m buyout last week (Friday 10 August). When the department store entered a CVA in June, it planned to shut 31 of its…
Read More »
