All General merchandise articles – Page 216
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InterviewAn interview with Pets at Home boss Matt Davies
As top dog at Pets at Home, Matt Davies’ passion for the business has helped slash staff turnover and drive profits in the past year. Nicola Harrison meets him
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News
Wal-Mart to end monthly sales reporting
Wal-Mart is to end its monthly sales reporting, which the retailer has been doing since 1979, to “better align investors with the retailer’s business plan and cut volatility caused by holiday shifts”, said Wal-Mart chief financial officer Tom Schoewe.Separately, Easter’s April timing helped improve US retailers’ same-store sales growth for ...
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NewsM&S to put 2 million products on sale for 1p each for 125th birthday
Marks & Spencer will celebrate its 125th birthday next week by returning to its origins as a penny bazaar and putting 2 million products on sale for 1p each.
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NewsMarks & Spencer launches Premium Club
Marks & Spencer is tomorrow launching a membership club for customers with an M&S Money credit card.
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NewsConsumer confidence falls as unemployment concerns grow
Consumer confidence has fallen nine points since last October, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium and Nielsen.
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NewsOxfam suffers first drop in donations in eight years
Oxfam has felt the effects of the recession as it reports its first drop in donations for eight years.The charity shop’s donations are down 12 per cent so far this year, which it fears could mean a total of 1.2 million fewer donations in 2009.Demand for Oxfam’s goods remains high, ...
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NewsCarpetright targets high street as property prices plummet
Carpetright, the UK’s largest flooring retailer, is shifting its focus from out-of-town back to the high street to take advantage of falling rents, which have plunged by as much as 50 per cent.
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NewsRecession ‘will change retail for good’
The recession will fundamentally change retail for good, according to a report from Verdict Research.The report said the retail sector is in the mid-point of a lengthy reform. It said last year will be remembered as the beginning of a substantial contraction of the sector that had become bloated with ...
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NewsWilkinson adopts space planning system
General merchandise retailer Wilkinson is to introduce a space planning system to improve availability and reduce excess inventory.
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NewsPets at Home profits rocket 29 per cent
Pets at Home has revealed a profit hike of 29 per cent in the 52 weeks to March 26, 2009 but said it is cautious about the year ahead.Pre-tax profit before exceptional items and goodwill amortisation rocketed 29.3 per cent to £40m.Like for like sales jumped 7.5 while total sales ...
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NewsApril's fashion and gift sales up while homewares continues to suffer
Fashion and gift retailers enjoyed a lift to sales in April while homewares continued to suffer.The BDO Stoy Hayward High Street Sales Tracker of medium-sized retailers revealed that across all sectors retail like-for-likes increased 1.7 per cent in April.The report said the Easter calendar shift increased demand for gifts and ...
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NewsArgos gears up for July launch of Chad Valley
Argos will launch Chad Valley, the toy brand bought from Woolworths’ administrators, this July and will consider similar opportunistic acquisitions to bolster its range.
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News
New boss for Woolworths online shop
Shop Direct Group has brought in a new boss for its online Woolworths store which launches this summer.
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NewsHome Retail Group posts 24 per cent fall in preliminary profits
Home Retail Group, owner of the Argos and Homebase chains, has warned of continued tough trading conditions ahead after posting a 24 per cent fall in preliminary profits.
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NewsRetail insolvencies rise 60 per cent
Retail collapses soared in the first quarter as companies fell victim to falling consumer confidence and a deteriorating financing environment.On average, more than seven retailers hit the wall a day in the three months to March. The number of insolvencies jumped 24 per cent on the previous quarter, according to ...
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NewsRetail sales bounce back in March
Retail sales volumes returned to positive territory in March, driven by a strong performance from food and fashion retailers.
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NewsWHSmith opens doors to chuggers
WHSmith is allowing the unpopular practice of face-to-face charity fundraising to be carried out in its stores as part of a trial that observers are calling risky.
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NewsHawkin’s Bazaar tries outdoor ads
Toy and gift retailer Hawkin’s Bazaar is aiming to increase brand awareness in shopping centres via an outdoor ad campaign that takes advantage of what it claims is a new medium.
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NewsHalfords to overhaul supply chain as it strives to cut costs
Bicycle and car maintenance specialist Halfords is rethinking its supply chain and distribution centre network in an effort to save costs and drive efficiencies.