Laura Ashley
This coverage explores Laura Ashley, the heritage British lifestyle brand known for its home furnishings, fashion, and interior design collections. Retail Sector reports on the company’s brand strategy, retail partnerships, licensing developments, and digital transformation following its administration and subsequent relaunch. Coverage includes insights into Laura Ashley’s evolving retail presence, collaborations, and consumer engagement within the UK and international markets. For retail professionals, this category provides analysis of how legacy brands like Laura Ashley leverage design heritage, brand equity, and modern retail models to re-establish growth in a competitive sector.
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Jan- 2020 -31 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Laura Ashley CEO steps down
Laura Ashley has announced that Kwan Cheong Ng will retire as the executive director and chief executive officer of the company on 30 April 2020. Ng, who joined as CEO in January 2012, will remain on the board as a non-executive director after his retirement. Katharine Poulter, who is currently…
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Apr- 2019 -26 AprilClothing & Shoes
Laura Ashley shares tumble 20% amid fresh profit warning
Laura Ashley has seen its shares tumble 20% in early trading after it issued a profit warning indicating figures will fall “significantly below market expectations”. While at the time of writing shares have recovered slightly and now sit at 9.6% down from opening, the news follows the release of its…
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1 AprilClothing & Shoes
Colin Porter to retire as Joules CEO
Joules CEO Colin Porter is to retire before the end of 2020 after eight years working with the fashion retailer. The exact date of Porter’s retirement is yet to be announced, however a process to appoint his successor has begun with the Joules board set to make an announcement in…
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Mar- 2019 -18 MarchAdvice
How retailers can keep up with the pace of change
Has the future of retail ever looked so bleak? From crumbling giants like HMV and Hammerson to headline-grabbing losses at Laura Ashley and Paperchase, it’s fair to wonder what the future holds for the high street. Factors like cold weather and inflation haven’t helped the recent slump, but it’s the…
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Feb- 2019 -26 FebruaryClothing & Shoes
Laura Ashley faces £20m takeover bid
Struggling retail company Laura Ashley could be bought out by investment firm Flacks Group, it has been confirmed. The investment company released a statement in response to speculative media reports, which suggested there would be a possible buyout of the retailer. Laura Ashley denied the claims on Monday 25 February…
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21 FebruaryHigh Street
Laura Ashley issues fresh profit warning amid sales slump
Fashion and homeware retailer Laura Ashley has said its performance for the 2018 will “fall short of market expectations”, after posting an 8.7% sales slump for the 26 weeks to 31 December. The group announced that it broke-even in profit before tax and exceptional items for the last six months…
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Dec- 2018 -17 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Laura Ashley to close 40 UK stores as it expands to China
Homeware and clothing retailer, Laura Ashley has announced it is to close 40 UK stores as it expands its Chinese business. Laura Ashley has already closed 40 UK stores since 2015 with owners Malayan United Industries (MUI) planning to reduce its UK presence to 120 stores. The group then wants…
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Oct- 2018 -17 OctoberClothing & Shoes
ASA warns Laura Ashley over ‘misleading advertising’
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has warned Laura Ashley that its “misleading” advertising emails which offered specific savings “must not appear again in their current form” unless it was able to prove the claims. The ASA also said the retailer must “ensure that their future advertising did not make savings…
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Sep- 2018 -13 SeptemberAnalysis
How Wesfarmers’ takeover strategy almost sent Homebase ‘down under’
There are few home comforts for Homebase right now. The DIY chain confirmed on August 31 that it will close a further 42 stores later this year, resulting in 1,500 job losses. The home improvement and garden retailer has already shut 16 stores this year, following its acquisition by restructuring…
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Aug- 2018 -23 AugustHigh Street
Laura Ashley full year profits plummet to £100,000
Homeware retailer Laura Ashley has announced its annual profit before tax reached a low of £100,000 in 2018, due to “difficult trading conditions”. In the group’s full year results, total like-for-like retail sales were down 0.4% and total group sales declined to £257.2m, a fall of £19.8m compared with 2017.…
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