Industry looks for vote of confidence
So, this week we know one thing - we’re less than a month away from a general election. But that’s about all we know. At the time of writing neither the Labour Party nor the Conservative party or...
View ArticleSir Stuart paints rosy picture of M&S
Was Marks & Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose really looking back on his six-year tenure at the retailer with “rose-tinted” glasses, as was suggested by the national press at his final full-year results...
View ArticleStandards must not slip in the ‘final mile’
The news that Next has been criticised for failing to refund delivery charges after customers returned products highlights the challenge that multichannel retailers face as part of the ‘final mile’ of...
View ArticleM&S sub-brands face identity crisis
This week I attempted to count the number of sub-brands, special ranges and collaborations housed by the UK’s largest clothing retailer, Marks & Spencer
View ArticleWhiff of optimism hangs over 2011
Next week sees the official kick-off of the autumn 11 buying season with the opening of menswear show Pitti Uomo in Florence, swiftly followed by streetwear fair Bread & Butter in Berlin one week...
View ArticleBrands must take care over multiple choice
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you,’ is how the saying goes.
View ArticleNext’s product success lays down a marker for M&S
Three weeks ago we were in the midst of the media storm surrounding the poor results posted by Marks & Spencer within its general merchandising division (6.8% down in the three months to the end of...
View ArticleWhen is a 26% sales rise not good enough? In the overheated world of online
The dubious delights of being a quoted company were enjoyed by Asos this week.
View ArticleAnalysis: Angelides leaving Next is 'the end of an era'
In a world where the average staff turnover is reportedly on the increase, careers like Christos Angelides’ don’t come along often. For 28 years - from trainee buyer to one of the best remunerated...
View ArticleQuality is the Next best thing
With Next powering ahead of its competitors, the high street retailer has revealed plans to prioritise quality over quantity. Ruth Faulkner explains why this is the right approach.
View ArticleBangladesh: 'Ethics' is not a dirty word
It is impossible for the images coming out of Bangladesh in the past few weeks not to leave their impact and, in discussing the business response to the tragedy, we must not lose sight of the fact that...
View ArticleFRA Awards: Practical experience wins out
The annual Fashion Retail Academy Awards, where this year’s crop of talented graduates were congratulated by Arcadia boss Sir Philip Green and education secretary Michael Gove among others, proved you...
View ArticleIs high street turmoil beginning to end?
Today’s first-half results from John Lewis and Next highlighted the extent to which businesses have been hit by the drop in the value of sterling and downturn in consumer spending. However, there may...
View ArticleComment: Debenhams needs a Next-style turnaround
Debenhams’ Christmas trading update yesterday brought a sobering end to the festive season on the high street.
View ArticleNext fights back but early Sales are a worrying sign
The bellwether of the UK high street, Next, this week revealed a better-than-expected performance for its first half, despite what it described as a “volatile” trading environment.
View ArticleNext prepares to weather the storm
Next boss Simon Wolfson is nothing if not succinct, and his summation of the position his business is in at the retailer’s interim results was characteristically pithy. “We are in the eye of the...
View ArticleHigh Street Hit or Miss autumn 15: the final verdict
Boring product and bad customer service: as we unveil the final instalment of our comprehensive seasonal high street Hit or Miss series, analysing what the biggest womenswear, menswear and footwear...
View ArticleComment: Wolfson's business-continuity plan for Next
Next chief executive Lord Wolfson discusses the retailer’s “stress test” model, the importance of employee support and the need for continued innovation amid the coronavirus outbreak.
View ArticleWhat's behind Next's bold bet on beauty halls?
Next’s decision to launch beauty halls in struggling shopping centres across the UK is risky, but boss Lord Wolfson rarely makes the wrong call.
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