Company Results
– Asda have reported a 4.5% decrease in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to 30 September 2015.
– B&M have reported a 25.8% increase in sales to £930.3m for the 26 weeks to 26 September 2015. UK like-for-like sales increased by 1.2% while pre-tax profit increased by 25.4% to £66.4m for the same period.
– Dune have reported 7.2% increase in turnover to £149m for 52 weeks to 31 January 2015. Pre-tax profit stood at £6.6m for the same period. (Source: Verdict)
– John Lewis have reported a 1.5% increase in sales for the week to 14 November 2015. Fashion, Home and Electricals & Home Technology sales increased by 0.8%, 2.8% and 1.6%, respectively. Sales at johnlewis.com increased by 16.8%.
– Majestic Wine have reported a 36% increase in total sales to £181.6m for the 26 weeks to 28 September 2015. Like-for-like retail sales increased by 2.3% while group profit before interest and tax was reported at £4.3m for the same period.
– Mothercare have reported a 0.4% increase in total UK sales to £236.6m for the 28 weeks to 10 October 2015. Worldwide sales decreased by 3.1% to £613.3m while UK like-for-like sales increased by 3.8% for the same period. Pre-tax profit was reported at £7m for the same period.
– Poundland have reported a 6.2% increase in sales to £561.1m for the six months to 27 September 2015. Like-for-like sales decreased by 2.8% while underlying pre-tax profits decreased by 26.3% to £9.3m for the same period.
– Range have reported 20% increase in sales to £565m for the year to 25 January 2015. Pre-tax profits stood at £57.3m. (Source: Retail Week)
– Ted Baker have reported a 20.5% increase in group revenue for the 13 weeks to 14 November 2015. Retail sales increased by 18.1% while wholesale sales increased by 27% for the same period.
– Waitrose have reported a 4.7% increase in sales (including petrol) for the week to 14 November 2015.
A poor week on the high street for lifestyle, with like-for-likes falling by -4.5% compared to the same week last year. This week last year saw many of the major retail locations switch on their Christmas lights prompting a sharp increase in spending on gift items, whereas this year the light switch-on falls a week later. Many provincial town high streets suffered with a weekend of poor weather, which also pushed down sales of outdoor related goods.
Fashion was the worst performer this week, with sales slumping by -7.1% compared to the same week last year. The weather largely kept consumers away from the high streets – particularly within provincial areas – and some retailers reported a drying up of consumer spending in possible anticipation of Black Friday. Just 23% of fashion retailers reported positive like-for-likes this week (a figure this low is rarely seen), and it was specialist and designer retailers which saw the best results within a poor mix. Some mainstream fashion retailers reported an uplift from stores within retail parks in Greater London as these areas are more weather immune.
Homeware sales increased by 5.3% this week off an already strong base in 2014. The boost was primarily down to increased footfall within retail parks and there was strong demand for soft furnishings this week.
Non-store sales were disappointing this week at 13.8% showing that the apathy in consumer spending this week was not purely due to the remnants of Hurricane Abigail. Like-for-likes for non-store rose by just 13.8% and, whilst an improvement on figures from the previous week, is significantly below the long term average. The enticement of Black Friday discounting is likely to be delaying consumer spending, particularly for larger items, with many retailers launching Black Friday promotions already.
Clothing, Footwear & Accessories
– Accent Clothing have opened their new store at Broadway Shopping Centre in Bradford. (Source: Company Press Release)
– Bond Street in London’s West End, which is home to retailer like Fenwick, Hugo Boss and Coach, is the world’s fourth most expensive shopping street with rents of $1,321 (£868) per square foot, according to research released today by commercial property agency Cushman & Wakefield. (Source: Drapers)
– Deichmann have announced plans to move their UK headquarters to Compass Point Development, Harborough, by April 2016. The retailer also announced plans to open eight new stores in the UK in 2016. (Source: Retail Bulletin)
Electrical & Entertainment
– Amazon have launched ‘Amazon Launchpad’, a new service that enables UK start-ups to launch, market and distribute their products to Amazon customers. (Source: Retail Week)
Retailers suffered sluggish sales in October as shoppers held out on spending ahead of Black Friday on November 27.
Food & Drink
– Amazon have launched ‘Amazon Pantry’ service in the UK that enables Amazon Prime members to order a range of grocery essentials out of 4,000 everyday items for home delivery. (Source: The Telegraph)
– John Lewis have agreed terms to anchor the revamped St James shopping centre in Edinburgh where the retailer will operate a fully refurbished department store. (Source: Company Press Release)
– The UK arm of Irish company Babco has lined up the release of its Tofka toffee-flavoured vodka in the country. (Source: Just Drinks)
– Lidl have signed three-year sponsorship deal as a lead grassroots partner with the Football Association. (Source: The Guardian)
-UK soft drinks maker Multiple Marketing has launched its first smoothie range under its Sunmagic brand (Source: Just Drinks)
– Sainsbury’s have opened their 600th UK supermarket at the Crescent Hinckely. (Source: Company Press Release)
– Tesco have announced plans to open larger stores at 5 AM instead of midnight on Black Friday this year, to allow staff more time to prepare for sales frenzy. (Source: Retail Week)
– Champagne house Laurent-Perrier is to highlight its long-standing partnerships with some of London’s top restaurants and hotels in a new European marketing campaign for Cuvée Rosé. (Source: Just Drinks)
– Tesco have announced plans to discontinue their Hudl tablet, as a part of their strategy to focus on core operations. (Source: Verdict)
Household
– Amara Living, luxury interior online retailer, have appointed Stefan Cassar as their new Chairman, replacing Andrew Curran. (Source: Retail Week)
– Poundland have announced plans to trial a new multi-price store format using some of the
– Family Bargains shops that the retailer acquired in September 2015. (Source: Retail Week)
– Waitrose and John Lewis have opened a combined co-located store at Basingstoke, which includes retailer’s 12th ‘At home’ shop. (Source: Retail Bulletin)
Courtesy of ‘Barclays‘
Tagged: Asda, Bond Street, Dune, Majestic Wine, Ted Baker, Waitrose