More finance – Page 167
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Opinion
Jessops needs to snap to it
Few were more surprised than the City when Jessops posted robust Christmas trading figures. For many, the sight of the specialist camera retailer edging towards the top of the festive performance league table and sitting happily near Somerfield and Waitrose was nothing short of a miracle.
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Opinion
Troubled Stylo acts with honour
“This is not about the mass closure of Barratts, it’s quite the opposite. What’s been put out for creditors to vote on is the rescue of the company.”
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Analysis
OC&C Christmas Trading Index: Christmas wrapped up
The frantic festive season is over and many retailers are breathing a sigh of relief. Charlotte Hardie examines the key themes in what has been a nerve-wracking few weeks with the help of OC&C’s Christmas Trading Index
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Opinion
John Richards: Think it's bad? You've seen nothing yet
Plan for lower sales in 2009 and 2010 and you won’t suffer too many unpleasant shocks. The severity of the financial crunch and the excesses that led to it mean that the adjustment process must not only be painful but protracted.
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Opinion
Electricals war is yet to be won
There’s little sign of a surge for electricals retailers this year.
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Opinion
VAT cut is not optional
It’s been a good week to bury bad news. So retailers ought to be grateful that on the day Barack Obama was inaugurated, a curious statistic was tucked away at the back of the ONS’s inflation report.
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Opinion
Don’t discount Tesco’s success
Tesco has posted its worst Christmas performance since the recession of the early 1990s – evidence that as the downturn bites the UK’s top grocer is losing its touch and has been knocked by rivals.
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Opinion
Economies are always cyclical
Retailers are finally learning that a long-term view is still important in times of recession.
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AnalysisPre-pack administrations: The last resort?
A sign of the times, pre-pack administrations have become a popular solution for failing businesses. But are they ‘legalised robbery’, as some in the industry claim? Amy Shields reports.
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Opinion
Accounts an ongoing concern for retailers
For listed companies, the combination of scrutiny and disclosure obligations potentially makes life very difficult
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Opinion
M&S was right to spend on stores
There was a time, not very long ago, when Marks & Spencer store interiors were frequently described as “Stalinist”. The inference was that while the stock might have been OK, the store design department had been virtually non-existent and the shops had been preserved in aspic from some point in ...
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Opinion
A poor Yuletide but no wipeout
A week into the new year but - at least by the time Retail Week went to press - few formal profit warnings so far.
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Opinion
HMV whistles a happy tune
“Over the last two weeks there have been unprecedented changes to the competitive landscape of the entertainment sector.”
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Opinion
Wake up and smell the turkey
Things may be tough, but there’s plenty for retailers and consumers alike to be positive about.
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Opinion
Westfield holding its own
Back in Westfield, probably for the last time this year, the retail thrill-seekers are gone and in their place are shoppers and a lot of hungry people.
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Opinion
David Ross row won’t hurt Carphone Warehouse
Carphone Warehouse shares hit a five and a half year low on Monday as controversy raged over co-founder David Ross’s treatment of shares.
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Opinion
Discount today, pay tomorrow
It feels like January on the high street – and not just because it’s been much colder than the typical December.
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Opinion
Credit insurers are too powerful
Ever heard of a home insurer that pulled cover if a storm was forecast? Didn’t think so. But that’s the way credit insurers work.
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Opinion
Questions over Woolies remain
Woolies’ descent into administration poses the classic chicken and egg question.