Author Archives: Zoe Wood
Argos, Mothercare and Halfords feel the pinch at Christmas
High street stalwarts report dire sales in weeks up to festive period as squeeze on consumers’ incomes tightens furtherCatalogue chain Argos has blamed the squeeze on living standards faced by low-income families for dire Christmas sales.The weeks lead… Continue reading
Tesco shake-up after £5bn battering
Supermarket giant vows to transform stores after dismal Christmas sales dent company’s stock market valueTesco is to launch a complete overhaul of its supermarkets, including radical curbs on the opening of giant out-of-town superstores, after sufferin… Continue reading
Bleak day for high street as Tesco slump spooks retail sector
Major chains including Argos, Mothercare, Halfords and Thorntons also reported sales declines over the crucial holiday seasonMore than £4bn was wiped off the stock market value of Tesco on Thursday after Britain’s biggest retailer delivered its worst … Continue reading
Game shares slump as Christmas sales fall 15%
Game Group shares dropped 26% to 5.1p after the retailer said UK like-for-like sales tumbled 15.2% in the 8 weeks to 7 JanuaryShares in video games specialist Game collapsed on Tuesday after it warned that a disastrous Christmas means it is danger of b… Continue reading
Christmas food boosts Marks & Spencer but clothes sales disappoint
M&S, Britain’s biggest clothing retailer, faced stiff competition from rival firms such as Debenhams and had to cut prices to match promotionsMarks & Spencer has reported better than expected Christmas food sales but said clothing profit margins had be… Continue reading
HMV insists it will survive despite Christmas sales fall
• Like-for-like sales down 8.1% in five weeks to 31 December• Technology sales show big jump after change in focus• Half-year losses near £46m, up from £27m in 2010• No update on sale of HMV LiveEntertainment group HMV insisted it would remai… Continue reading
Morrisons Christmas sales disappoint
• Like-for-like sales up 0.7% in six weeks to 1 January• Analysts had expected sales growth of 1.3%• Supermarket blames ‘challenging’ times for consumers• Suspicion Morrisons may have lost out to Asda• Christmas sales down at HMVSupermarket g… Continue reading
John Lewis is Christmas winner as Next loses out
Next blames weather and discount frenzy for weak sales, while both retailers are cautious on outlook for high street in 2012The fortunes of two of the UK’s biggest retailers diverged during the crucial Christmas trading weeks, with Next yesterday repor… Continue reading
John Lewis hails ‘outstanding’ Christmas sales
Department store says sales rose 6.2% in the five weeks to 31 December – but did not say how profits had been affectedJohn Lewis has hailed “outstanding” Christmas sales but did not spell out whether profits had been dented by rivals’ promotions.The … Continue reading
Next admits ‘disappointing’ Christmas on the high street
Next was one of a small number of fashion chains that did not cut prices before ChristmasClothing giant Next kicked off the Christmas retail reporting season by posting weaker-than-expected sales at its high street stores after rivals discounted heavil… Continue reading