All articles by Chris Brook-Carter – Page 10
-
OpinionBlog: Mason's departure may leave Tesco boss exposed
News that Tesco is to review the future of its loss-making US business Fresh & Easy, and part ways with his highly-regarded deputy CEO Tim Mason, once more demonstrate boss Philip Clarke’s ability to take the tough decisions, but the move will ask as many questions as it will answer.
-
OpinionComment: Only the best retailers pique private equity interest
Private equity loomed large on the retail landscape this week as it emerged Clayton Dubilier & Rice has taken a 60% stake in value retailer B&M Bargains.
-
OpinionComment: Christmas will be the real multichannel test
The sceptics remain in the ascendancy when it comes to whether the UK can replicate the consumer feeding frenzy witnessed around Black Friday in the US.
-
AnalysisRetail Week Live 2013: Retail’s big event
From omnichannel to international to property, Retail Week Live 2013 will cover the key issues in retail, with contributions from some of the industry’s biggest names.
-
OpinionComment: Matt Davies is the man to drive Halfords’ future
Of course, it is too early to expect the arrival of new Halfords boss Matt Davies to have had a material impact on the retailer’s interim results, so he bore little responsibility for its 23% slump in first-half profits this week.
-
OpinionComment: The real tax villains aren’t overseas retailers
Immoral, manipulative, pathetic. These were only a handful of the insults and accusations thrown by British MPs at some of the largest and (until now) most-respected international businesses operating in this country.
-
OpinionComment: OpCapita has questions to answer over Comet's demise
Halloween was an unfortunate but fit setting for the grim tidings that Comet has fallen into administration.
-
OpinionComment: Retailers must change to master multichannel
Multichannel retailing has been in the spotlight this week. The glare fell most prominently on Apple following news it has parted company with its retail boss John Browett.
-
NewsMary Portas backs call to freeze business rates
High street campaigner Mary Portas has lent her support to the Fair Rates for Retail campaign calling for a freeze in business rates next year.
-
OpinionComment: Argos bids farewell to past in digital shift
The much anticipated strategic review of Argos by its managing director John Walden was delivered this week from the relative comfort of a first-half performance that registered like-for-like sales growth of 0.6%.
-
OpinionComment: Time to say enough is enough on rates burden
Retailers faced up to a grim reality this week. They now know the financial blow they will take as a consequence of the Government’s policy to link business rates to September’s RPI.
-
OpinionComment: Davies should shift Halfords up a gear
A second-quarter rally at car and cycles specialist Halfords was given an extra shine last week with the news Matt Davies has filled the driving seat left vacant by David Wild in July.
-
OpinionComment: Tesco UK recovery likely to accelerate
Tesco boss Philip Clarke will not have thanked the way the financial stars aligned this week to bring Tesco and Sainsbury’s results on the same day, albeit for different reporting periods.
-
OpinionComment: Fair rates for retail will allow focus on growth
As Britain bids to restore national financial self-confidence and goes for economic growth, few industries contribute on the scale of retail.
-
OpinionComment: Technology needs to be at the heart of retail business
As the Retail Week Technology Summit 2012 takes place in London this week, Chris Brook-Carter shares his thoughts on the importance of the sector.
-
OpinionComment: Hamleys deal opens the door to overseas growth
This week’s acquisition of Hamleys, which famously describes itself as the “finest toy shop in the world”, paves the way for the retailer to test that claim on a truly global scale.
-
OpinionComment: Farewell to Allders as closure looms
That the demise of one shop can command such attention in a retail landscape scarred by CVAs and large administrations is a reflection of the place Allders holds in British retailing history.
-
InterviewQ&A: Next chief executive Simon Wolfson
Next boss Simon Wolfson gives his views on the current economy after the home and fashion retailer reported a rise in profit but decline in like-for-like sales in its first half.
-
OpinionComment: M&S multichannel store is last hurrah of space race
Renewed speculation of a takeover bid for Marks & Spencer has been inevitable since it reported its worst trading performance in three years last month.
-
OpinionComment: New appointments at BRC should make a strong team
The news today that KPMG’s Helen Dickinson has been appointed as the BRC’s new director-general will be met with surprise in some quarters – many had expected a retailer to fill the shoes of incumbent Stephen Robertson.