The survey, commissioned by private sales etailer BrandAlley, also found that 70% of consumers expect discounts to be available on the high street before the traditional January Sales period.

The results showed that only one in eight consumers now shop on the high street more regularly than purchasing online with convenience and saving money the biggest motivators for this shift in spending. 84% of shoppers said they preferred to go online to buy discounted goods rather than searching out bargains in store.

BrandAlley chief executive Rob Feldmann said: “As the retail space remains tough we feel it is more important than ever to look at why, how and where our customers are shopping. The shift in shopping habits for clothing has been the most significant and shoppers now prefer to
buy discounted clothing online rather than sift through sales racks struggling to find the right style or size.”

He added: “Online shopping also allows people to research what they want to buy first and this reinforces the new savvy shopper that we have seen emerge since the economic slowdown, who wants to make more considered purchases, and is always looking for the best deal.”

The survey also revealed that 90% of over 55s said they regularly shop online across all categories, despite the online sector traditionally being seen as a hub for the younger consumer.

Across all age groups the survey found that although total spending across retail has decreased, for 90% of consumers, only one in 25 has reduced their spending online since the downturn. 70% of the shoppers surveyed said that they expected their online spending to increase.

The 68-page catalogue featuring both branded and own-brand products is initially being mailed out to 195,000 of the retailer’s cardholders. It will also be available in selected stores and online.

Debenhams said the catalogue will help grow online sales by encouraging home customers to shop online and via its mobile apps.

Steve Lightfoot, Debenhams divisional trading director for Home said: “We have identified this opportunity to communicate with our customers, and I am confident the catalogue will encourage them to reappraise Debenhams as a homeware destination.

“The aim of the catalogue is to highlight the breadth of our offer. From cameras to cooking pots, sofas to steam irons, chandeliers to chopping boards, Debenhams ticks the box.

“Along with our kiosk roll out of Debenhams Extra, this will make every Debenhams home product available in all corners of the UK.”

Debenhams cardholders will receive exclusive launch offers, including discounts off big ticket purchases across electricals and furniture.

Lightfoot added: “We are hoping this will really drive these areas, and result in a boost to our home business.”

Operating expenses increased by 48% mainly due to a higher cost of sales.

The online retail giant invested heavily in its new Kindle tablet computer during the period which has affected profits.

Amazon said that Kindle Fire pre-orders had exceeded expectations and that the company was making “millions more” to meet demand. The new models start shipping in November.

Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, said in a statement: “September 28th was the biggest order day ever for Kindle, even bigger than previous holiday peak days.” In the three weeks since launch, orders for electronic ink Kindles are double the previous launch. And based on what we’re seeing with Kindle Fire pre-orders, we’re increasing capacity and building millions more than we’d already planned.”

Despite the demand for the new models, Amazon’s earnings for the quarter fell below expectations and as a result shares dropped almost 20% in late trading.

The company also forecast lower-than-expected sales for the upcoming quarter, which includes the Christmas holiday season, and said there could even be an operating loss due to continued investment in the Kindle Fire.

For the next quarter, the online retailer is expecting revenue of $16.5 billion to $18.7 billion which could be less than analysts’ expectations of $18.1 billion.

The high street retailer, which offers it customers weekly payment plans to buy branded household goods, is planning to treble its high street presence to 650 stores by opening a target 30 stores per year.

Brighthouse charges its customers an average annual percentage rate of 30% in its credit agreements.

Entertainment retail giant HMV has agreed a loan package with lenders worth £220 million.

The new agreement - which matures in September 2013 - replaces an existing £240 million facility. It comprises of two term loans of £70 million and £90 million, and a revolving credit facility of £60 million.

HMV - which is battling tough competition from supermarkets and the internet in its core markets of music, DVD and books - has issued four profit warnings this year. In January, it revealed that is to close 60 stores and cut costs, as well as shift its emphasis to the growth markets of new technology products, live music and event tickets.

“We are very pleased to have concluded the new bank facility, which represents another important milestone in securing the financial stability of the group,” said chief executive, Simon Fox.

HMV said that current trading trends remained in line with the 14 per cent drop in total sales reported on May 20th.

Earlier this year Next outlined the potential for £160 million of share buybacks in the current year and is now updating that guidance to £225 million.

The sale consideration is £65 million on a cash free, debt free basis, of which £63 million is payable in cash on completion.

For the year to date, Next has purchased and cancelled 7.9 million of its own shares at a total cost of £173 million, 4.36% of the shares in issue at the start of the year.

Ventura is the trading name of Club 24 Limited.  In the year to January 2011 Ventura reported turnover of £156 million and operating profit of £8 million. The company employs around 8,000 people, primarily in Yorkshire, Cardiff, Milton Keynes and India. Next said it intended to continue using Ventura’s services.

The sale does not include Next Directory’s customer and account management services which are provided through the Next UK call centres.

The deal with the online photo business could net Jenkins up to £100 million according to a report in the Mail on Sunday.

With a £40 million turnover, Moonpig is one of the fastest growing businesses in the UK. It currently sends 12 million online cards a year on behalf of its customers and employs 100 staff.

Owned by private equity firm Index Ventures, Photobox is undertaking a rapid programme of expansion. It currently operates in 15 countries and has 8.5 million members using its service.

His appointment is the third senior hire made by chief executive Mark Bolland this year, joining international boss Jan Heere and Laura Wade-Gery, who joined in February to oversee the retailer’s digital operations.

The departure of the former business development director will be a blow to Morission’s chief executive Dalton Phillips. Taylor had been in charge of developing Morission’s convenience store offering M Local, one of Phillips’ key strands in his plan to grow the supermarket.

Taylor replaces Neil Hyslop, who has moved to the role of space and planning director. He joins on 5 May.

The MG6 is the first large-scale production at the Birmingham plant since the demise of Rover in 2005 with the loss of 6,000 jobs.

A five-seater model will be available to buy from May and is expected to sell for between £15,495 and £18,995.

MG is owned by the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, the largest carmaker in China.

The 1.8l petrol, turbo-charged MG6 has a top speed of 120mph (193km/h) and takes 8.4 seconds to go from 0-60mph.

It has been designed in the UK but the parts are made in China ready for assembly in Longbridge.
‘Dark days’

Guy Jones, from MG, said a total of 400 people were now working at Longbridge, in design, engineering and assembly roles.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said the response locally had been good.

“It’s the start of a brand new business,” he said.

“It’s significant as the car drives off the production line in Longbridge.

“It’s a good time for the MG brand.”

Local MP Richard Burden said: “Today is a real milestone for Longbridge and for the automotive industry in the West Midlands.

“Longbridge has been through dark days. Nothing will bring back the days when thousands were employed on Longbridge production lines,” said the Labour MP for Birmingham Northfield.
‘Feel proud’

“But the greatest tribute we can pay to the heritage that made the name Longbridge synonymous with motor manufacturing throughout the 20th Century is to build a future in the 21st Century.

“Today is about that future. Longbridge is a huge site and we need to make sure that the redevelopment which is taking place beyond the MG factory itself adds real value to the potential which this area has.”

One of the casualties of MG Rover’s 2005 collapse was Andy Cartwright, who had worked in the paint shop for 15 years.

His house was repossessed and his wife Gemma had to support him and their four-children on her salary as a midwifery assistant at Birmingham Women’s Hospital.

Mr Cartwright said: “I’m just pleased there will be mass production there again, obviously not like before.

“When I first joined there were about 16,000 people working at the plant.

“But when I see the flags flying outside, the Union Jack, the Shanghai flag and the Rover flag, I’ll feel proud to know that the MG badge will always be associated with Longbridge.”

MG Rover went into administration in April 2005 when 6,000 jobs were axed.

Three months later the company’s assets, including the equipment at the Longbridge factory, were sold to Chinese carmaker Nanjing.

Nanjing was later incorporated into the Shanghai Automotive Industry

source: www.bbc.co.uk

It follows a three-year investigation by the European Commission following a tip-off by the German company, Henkel.

Unilever sells Omo and Surf, P&G makes Tide, and Henkel sells Persil in certain European countries.

The fines were discounted by 10% after the two admitted running a cartel.

Unilever was fined 104m euros and P&G was fined 211.2m euros.

Henkel was not fined in return for providing the tip-off.

The Commission called the investigation “Purity”.

The EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in a statement: “By acknowledging their participation in the cartel, the companies enabled the Commission to swiftly conclude its investigation.”

The cartel operated in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands between 2002 to 2005, the regulator said.

P&G, the world’s largest consumer products group, owns the Tide, Gain and Era brands of washing powder while the Anglo-Dutch group Unilever makes detergent products under the brand names Omo and Surf.

Henkel owns the Persil brand in most of Europe, while Unilever owns it in Britain, Ireland and France.

The EU watchdog raided the three companies in June 2008 on suspicion of price fixing, and also sought information from the US-based household products firm Sara Lee.

Unilever has already set aside an undisclosed sum to cover any fine.

source: www.bbc.co.uk