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IKEA fires French managers in wake of spying probe Saturday, 19th May 2012
Photo credit: IKEA
IKEA, the world’s largest furniture retailer, has sacked four current and former managers at its French operations after allegations emerged that illegal police files had been used to spy on staff and customers.
According to a report by the Telegraph, the firings follow a criminal probe launched by French prosecutors in April. Investigations began after allegations that IKEA had paid for illegal access to secret police files to gain information about employees and clients.
"A former managing director of IKEA France, a former human resources director, a former financial director and the current risk management director of IKEA France will leave their jobs and IKEA," a statement reported by the Telegraph said.
Although IKEA has not named the sacked employees, it reiterated its “complete support of the judiciary”.
Posted in Home & DIY News Tagged ikea, france, sack, manager, legal, probe, spy
Hugo Boss will add 60 stores to China Friday, 18th May 2012
Photo credit: Hugo Boss Spring Summer 2012 campaign
Instead of shying away from pressure in the troubled euro-zone markets, Hugo Boss will go on the offence, adding 60 new stores to its Chinese operations.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the German fashion brand is looking to expand its Chinese market from 15 per cent of total sales to 20 per cent by 2015.
Hugo Boss chief executive Claus-Dietrich told the WSJ: "We are finding that if you don't bring yourself into a relevant position in China, you may have problems back home."
The 60 stores will be in addition to the label’s 86 shops already in operation in the country.
Posted in fashion, Franchise & Expansion Tagged hugo boss, expansion, china, stores, retailer, accessories, menswear
Burberry wins $100m in counterfeiting case Friday, 18th May 2012
Photo credit: Burberry campaign Spring/Summer 2008
British heritage brand Burberry has been granted a USD 100 million default judgment against counterfeiters selling knock-off versions of the label’s iconic pieces.
According to WWD, a Manhattan Federal court on Thursday ruled that a network on Chinese internet counterfeiters had infringed on Burberry’s trademarked goods, including its iconic check pattern.
Tagged burberry, manhattan, federal, court, counterfeit, british, heritage, iconic, labels, trench, coat, internet, fake, china, fraud
Jubilee sets the tills ringing at John Lewis Friday, 18th May 2012
Photo credit: John Lewis plc
There may be three weeks to go until Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee, but John Lewis is already seeing the positive impact of the approaching festivities.
The department store group on Friday said sales increased 16.6 per cent year-on-year to £62.2 million in the week to 12 May.
Fashion sales rose a steady 6.9 per cent, while sales in electricals and home technology were up an impressive 39.0 per cent on the back of the digital switchover in the south east of England. Homewares sales also rose a sturdy 11.9 per cent during the seven day period.
"With three weeks to go, the Jubilee celebrations are driving fantastic gift sales," operations director Dino Rocos said on Friday
"The varying national weather influenced sales with the appearance of the sun over the weekend in the south serving to dampen sales while the north of the country benefited from the additional footfall drive the poor weather provided," said Rocos.
It’s important to note that the sales results also include the additions John Lewis made to its store portfolio in the past year, and the higher prices introduced by inflation.
Posted in Department Stores
Apple goes green at main data center Friday, 18th May 2012
Photo credit: Apple press office
Apple is planning to power its primary US-based data center with renewable energy by the end of 2012.
The company has bought equipment from SunPower Corp and Bloom Energy to build two solar array installations in and around its core data centre in North Carolina.
Posted in Electricals Tagged Apple, Electricals, my, retail, media, news
Gap raises profit forecast after bumper quarter Friday, 18th May 2012
Gap has raised its yearly profit forecast after first-quarter earnings smashed analysts’ expectations and shares rose 8 per cent after hours.
For the year, Gap’s estimated earnings amounted to USD 1.78 to USD 1.83 per share, above the USD 1.75 to USD 1.80 it forecast in February.
For the first quarter ended 28 April the owner of the Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic chains earned USD 233 million compared with USD 233 million a year ago.
Posted in fashion, Fashion News Tagged Gap, Fashion, Fashion News, Old Navy, Banana Republic, my, retail, media, news
UK e-commerce spending up 10% for April Friday, 18th May 2012
Online shoppers in the UK spent a whopping £5.7 billion in April, up 10 per cent against tough comparables a year before.
The latest figures released by the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) and Capgemini found purchases in the gift category were the strongest, with sales up 45 per cent year-on-year, compared to a 1 per cent rise in clothing, accessories and footwear spending. According to the IMRG this was the weakest rise for the category in 11 years, with April’s wash-out weather leaving consumers with little motivation to stock up their spring/summer wardrobes.
Speaking in light of the results, IMRG chief information officer Tina Spooner said:
“While the 10% annual growth recorded in April is lower than the 13% uplift seen in the first quarter, it should be noted that this is on the back of a strong performance in April last year when online retail sales were up 19% year on year.”
Posted in E-Commerce, Online retail Tagged e-commerce, internet, retail, group, online, shoppers, imrg, capgemini, tina spooner
Asda sales continue to rise Friday, 18th May 2012
Photo credit: Asda
Asda, the UK’s second largest supermarket group, has reported a strong sales growth for its first quarter after winning market share with its low-price product focus.
According to Reuters, sales at Asda stores open a year more, excluding fuel and VAT sales tax, rose 2.2 per cent in the 12 weeks to 31 March.
This came on the back of a strong 14 weeks to 7 January, with a 1 per cent rise for the period.
"Customers really valued our price leadership, the ongoing improvements in quality and our commitment to warm and friendly service," Chief Executive Andy Clarke said.
Total sales grew 7.1 per cent, with operating income rising faster than sales, excluding fuel.
Posted in Food Tagged asda, supermarket, andy clarke, largest, chief, retail
Asos goes supersize with new HQ Thursday, 17th May 2012
Photo credit: Asos campaign AW 2009-2010
Online fashion retailer Asos is set to take Emap’s 90,000 sq ft of office space at NW1’s Greater London House, in a deal that will more than double the floorspace it occupies in London.
CoStar reported that Asos will now occupy 130,00 sq ft of the Lazari-owned building on Hampstead Road.
The move comes as Asos revealed plans to reach £1 billion turnover by 2015.
Posted in E-Commerce, fashion Tagged asos, fashion, e-commerce, head, quarters, property
Kesa reports sales decline amid euro zone fears Thursday, 17th May 2012
Kesa has reported declining fourth-quarter sales as consumers are rocked by the euro zone debt crisis.
Shares in the electricals retailer fell 8 per cent on Thursday after sales at stores open for a year or more fell 5.9 per cent in the 16 weeks to 30 April. Gross margin fell by 100 basis points.
Analysts originally estimated a 5.3 per cent like-for-like sales decline and a fall of 1.3 per cent in the 10 weeks to 10 January.
Kesa has said the group would make an underlying pretax profit for 2011/12 within the analysts’ range of EUR 53-64 million.
Posted in Electricals Tagged Kesa, Comet, electricals, my, retail, media, news
