All Home & DIY articles – Page 298
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News
Nordstrom prepares to make New York debut
Upmarket US department store chain Nordstrom is reported to be in talks to open its first shop in New York. The Seattle-based retailer, which generated US$8.6 billion ( 4.3 billion) in sales last year and operates 155 stores in 27 states, is believed to be in negotiations for a unit ...
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Opinion
Northern Rock fiasco a bad sign
The sight of scared consumers queuing up in their thousands to withdraw their cash from troubled Northern Rock might turn out to be almost as bad news for retailers as it was for the bank.Savers have withdrawn about£2 billion, fearful of losing everything despite reassuring statements from the Government and ...
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News
Laura Ashley pushes button on new branding as profits rocket
Fashion-to-furnishings retailer Laura Ashley will roll out a new brand identity following a successful trial. The retailer piloted the branding, dubbed “spring green”, in eight stores nationwide, as revealed by Retail Week (July 13). It will also up marketing investment in fashion, which represents 19 per cent of the UK ...
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News
City fears Northern Rock fiasco will erode consumer confidence
Cold weather will be better news for fashion retailers that suffered during the wet summer, but fears mounted that the consumer climate may turn truly arctic. The Northern Rock crisis could be the catalyst for shoppers to snap their purses shut. That fear was reflected in the general retail sector’s ...
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News
B and Q launches gift cards as it shakes up brand
B&Q is to launch its first gift card next month, as it unveils the biggest brand makeover in its history. The DIY giant’s plastic gift cards will feature different designs, such as moving house or Christmas images and will retail for between£1 and£100. This month, B&Q also started a trial ...
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News
B and Q overhauls small stores and products
Smaller Supercentres and ranges under scrutiny at DIY giant
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News
Carphone strikes deal with Virgin
Retailer to sell Virgin Media products in stores as part of range expansion drive
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News
Primark and Mothercare launch factory inquiries
Factories in India to be investigated after allegations over low pay
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News
Hunter buys Sanders Garden World for £15m
Move reinforces Scottish entrepreneur’s position in sector
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Opinion
Christmas crunch here we come
Now that the August bank holiday is out of the way and a torrid summer, in business terms, is coming to an end, what is the outlook for the sector as the year winds down?The back-to-school offensive is in full swing and Halloween is still to come but, from here ...
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News
Dobbies unearths profit warning as sodden summer takes its toll
Garden centre group Dobbies issued a profit warning just days after Tesco triumphed in its battle with Sir Tom Hunter over ownership of the retailer. Dobbies reported that the wet summer months meant expected sales targets for the year to October 31 were unlikely to be met. Like-for-like sales edged ...
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News
Tesco outlines mission to up non-food estate
Tesco is gunning to more than double its number of Homeplus non-food stores in the UK. Tesco Homeplus operations director Alison Horner said the UK’s biggest supermarket will add 10 shops to its existing portfolio of seven Homeplus stores. She added that Tesco has identified six new sites, but a ...
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News
Habitat closes in on e-tail as it rejigs site
Habitat has overhauled its UK web site this week in a move thought to be its first step towards creating a fully transactional site. The furniture retailer is testing an e-commerce platform in France as it considers a similar package for other markets. Habitat has refreshed its UK site with ...
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News
MFI to sponsor new Hell's Kitchen series
MFI is to sponsor the next series of TV show Hell’s Kitchen in a package worth about£1 million. The retailer will use its MFI – Feel Right at Home ad campaign strategy for the series, which features new host chef Marco Pierre White. MFI chief executive Gary Favell said: “Title ...
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News
Bank holiday heatwave keeps shoppers off the high streets
The sunny bank holiday weekend delivered a boost to some food and general merchandise retailers, but fashion chains suffered as footfall tumbled on the high street. Garden centre Wyevale found the sunny weather a welcome relief after the deluges earlier in the summer. Chief executive Barry Stevenson said: “We were ...
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News
EC slammed for anti-dumping tax proposal
Trade body says duty extension on energy saving light bulbs from China would be 'against competitiveness'