Newspaper retail round-up
A roundup of retail stories in the papers… M&S, Wal-Mart, Peacocks, Blacks, JJB, London, High & Mighty
M&S rethinks branded foods
Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland is to rethink its strategy of selling well known British brands alongside its own-label foods.
Wal-Mart goes online in China
Wal-Mart is to launch a website for its Sam’s Club stores in China to take advantage of sales growth in the region.
Blacks back in sale talks
Blacks, the outdoor wear retailer has restarted talks about a possible sale of the company. It was in talks with Sports Direct and Lion Capital about a possible sale earlier this year.
Give to close stores
George Davies, the fashion entrepreneur, is preparing to close all branches of his Give fashion chain, only one year after launch.
Fraud probe into JJB and Sports Direct dropped
The Serious Fraud Office has dropped its investigation into sportswear chains JJB and Sports Direct after a 13-month process. A criminal investigation into individuals at both groups continues.
From The Financial Times
Peacocks up for sale again
Peacocks the budget fashion chain has been put up for sale again two weeks after management scrapped its planned auction. A £500m bid is understood to be on the table.
Foreign visitors boost London sales
Foreign shoppers boosted sales figures in London throughout September, as visitor numbers were up 62% on last year, according to tax-free shopping company Global Blue. Sales in the West End shopping district were up 8.5%.
From The Times
Theft costs retailers £4.4bn
Shoplifting costs UK retailers £4.4bn a year with over a third caused by employees, according to a report by the Centre for Retail Research.
High & Mighty looks for big staff
High & Mighty, the clothing chain for larger men, is looking to employ larger sales people in its stores as it expands in a bid to offer customers an “empathetic” service.
From The Guardian
Paying by cash keeps you healthy
Paying for groceries in cash could help shoppers maintain a healthier diet, according to a US study in the Journal of Consumer Research. Shoppers are more likely to restrict the number of junk food purchases when paying in cash than if they were paying by card.
From The Telegraph
