Highstreet
Microsoft to launch retail chain
Monday, February 16th, 2009Microsoft cut 1,400 jobs in January
Computer software giant Microsoft has announced plans to open its own stores, at a time when many other retailers are struggling in the economic downturn.
The company plans to sell computers installed with Microsoft software and other products, Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner said.
The stores will also […]
Adams bought by its former owner
Monday, February 16th, 2009Adams went into administration on 31 December
The Adams Childrenswear brand and the remaining 120 stores have been bought out of administration by one of its former managers, John Shannon.
It means that 1,900 jobs throughout the UK and Ireland should be saved.
Administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers have closed 147 stores and cut 1,100 jobs since taking […]
Retail outlet closures could hit 72,000 in 2009
Monday, January 12th, 2009
The High Streets of Britain could be unrecognisable this time next year, as consumers struggle with the recession and the retail sector takes the sort of pounding that is already making regular headlines.
Credit rating specialist, Experian, has predicted that 72,000 retails outlets could close during 2009, pushing up the number of empty units […]
Downturn boosts Poundland sales
Monday, January 12th, 2009Bargain firm Poundland posted a rise in sales in December, as consumers sought extra value on the high street.
Same-store sales during the five weeks to 4 January rose 3.9% year-on-year. Sales during the period including new store openings rose 24.3%.
Private equity company Advent International has owned it since 2002.
The chain, which has 200 outlets, plans […]
Iceland purchases 51 Woolworths stores
Friday, January 9th, 2009Frozen food retailer Iceland has bought 51 former Woolworths stores, and has announced it plans to create 2,500 new jobs.
The statement comes just three days after the final 200 Woolworths stores closed their doors for the last time.
“We are confident we can help to support the local community in these towns who have lost a […]
Retail sales fell in September
Monday, October 27th, 2008The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed that High Street sales fell by 0.4% last month, taking annual growth to 1.8%, from 3.3% the previous month.
However, the September fall was less than analysts expected who had predicted a 0.9% monthly fall.
The ONS said demand for new clothes and household goods had slowed as sales […]
Retail sales hit new low
Thursday, July 24th, 2008Retail sales volumes dropped 3.9 per cent in June compared with May, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), representing the sharpest decline since its records began in 1986.
Food stores suffered a 3.6 per cent fall in sales volumes – also the largest fall since records began – and non-food stores dropped 4.5 […]
Shopper Loyalty Hits New Low
Friday, July 11th, 2008UK consumers are more disloyal than ever, with 22 per cent saying they are dissatisfied with the store they shop most at and would prefer to shop somewhere else.
According to Verdict, 10.8 million people are disloyal to the stores they use. The report said that, while the credit crunch has led to customers shopping around […]
In these dark days retailers can’t even rely on shopper loyalty
Friday, July 11th, 2008During hard times the need to engender loyalty among consumers becomes ever more important, which is why it is very disconcerting for the sector that it has declined at its fastest rate for the past decade.Verdict research found that as many as 10.8 million shoppers are disloyal to the stores they use (which equates to […]