House of Fraser
This coverage examines House of Fraser’s role and performance in the UK retail sector, featuring updates on store operations, financial results, leadership changes, and brand strategy. Reporting explores how the company navigates challenges in the department store segment, offering insights for retail managers and executives assessing market positioning and commercial opportunities.
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Jan- 2019 -3 JanuaryAnalysis
Why the profit warning from ASOS has added to the retail gloom
Retailers are hoping for a busy New Year period following a very tough year of trading. Much of the current market analysis and speculation has placed the blame for a host of high-street insolvencies on a rise in online shopping and skyrocketing rents for stores. However, the recent news that…
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Dec- 2018 -21 DecemberAdvice
Will retailers rise to the occasion this Christmas?
Retailers are entering their busiest and potentially most profitable period – but it is also their riskiest. Fail to hit the nail on the head, and retailers could struggle to make it through to next Christmas. House of Fraser, Debenhams and Marks & Spencers are just some of the stores…
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14 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Hobbs chief executive exits amid senior overhaul
Hobbs chief executive, Meg Lustman, is to step down from her role at the women’s fashion retailer as its parent company TFG London undergoes a reshuffling of its senior staff. Lustman, who joined the company in 2014, will depart her role in January. Following the seamless integration of the Hobbs…
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14 DecemberSupermarkets
Grocery market growth cools as Christmas nears
Grocery market share figures have cooled in the lead up the Christmas, growing only 2% for the 12 weeks to 2 December 2018, its slowest rate since March 2017. According to the Kantar Worldpanel consumers are benefiting from falling inflation, which now stands at 1.6%, and is less than half…
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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…
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4 DecemberDepartment Stores
‘Tax the internet for the good of the high street’, Mike Ashley tells MPs
Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley has said online businesses should be taxed 20% in as soon as six months to save the majority of high street retailers and avoid closures. Ashley appeared in front of MPs at the House of Commons yesterday (3 December) after demanding to meet them in…
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3 DecemberDepartment Stores
House of Fraser Manchester store saved from closure
The House of Fraser Kendal’s store in Manchester has been rescued from closure, saving roughly 570 jobs. New terms have been reached with the store’s landlord, allowing trading to continue, with the Manchester city council playing an “instrumental” role in discussions. The council leader, Sir Richard Leese, said: “Today’s announcement…
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Nov- 2018 -29 NovemberShopping Centres
Whittaker-led consortium abandons £2.8bn Intu offer
John Whittaker’s consortium has decided to scrap its bid to acquire Intu Properties following three extensions blaming the “uncertainty around current macroeconomic conditions” and the “potential near-term volatility across markets”. On 4 October 2018 a consortium comprising the Peel Group, the Olayan Group and Brookfield Property Group announced they were…
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26 NovemberShopping Centres
Mike Ashley vows to pull 17 stores from Intu Properties
Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley has vowed to close all his stores located in Intu shopping centres following a rent row over four House of Fraser stores. The move will see Ashley shut 17 stores — a mix of Sports Direct, House of Fraser, Flannels, USC and Evans Cycles…
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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…
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