Browse all articles

Maplin is expecting a 150% increase in sales this week compared to last years’ Black Friday. The electronics retailer is offering its customers a week of sales with some prices reduced by more than 70%. Maplin has increased its stock levels by 200% on popular product ranges to ensure high demands...

Tesco drivers and warehouse staff in Doncaster and Belfast has threaten to strike over a pay freeze this Christmas. The 700 workers were reportedly offered a 0% increase this year and a 1.5% lift in 2016, which has been called “pitiful” by the union representing the workers, Unite. The Big Four grocer...

Travel firm Thomas Cook has said that 2015 was a “year of real progress” despite "turbulence in some of our destinations". In the year to September, Thomas Cook reported a £50 million pre-tax profit, it’s first since 2010. During the year, the attacks in Tunisia, fears of the ‘Grexit” from the Eurozone...

Pet supplies group Pets at Home has reported an 11.8% jump in first-half pre-tax profits to £45.2 million, despite warning last month that sales for the second quarter had missed expectations. In the six months to October 8th, Pets at Home said that it saw strong growth in both mature and...

MatalanDirect.com has further expanded its product range by launching its fifth category, home furnishings. Customers can now go online to Matalan Direct to purchase home furnishings products including blinds, rugs and curtains. The range of blinds includes vertical, roller, venetian, wooden and roman styles with 350 different fabrics and finishes to choose...

IKEA has seen its total UK sales rise by 11.3% to £1.57 billion in the year to August 31st. The home furnishing giant said in a statement that it had also increased its market share by 0.5% to 7.7% as it looks to double its turnover and market share by 2020. Gillian...

B&Q owner Kingfisher has said that its third quarter results “followed a similar trend to the first half of the year”, reflecting the more encouraging macroeconomic backdrop in the UK offset by a softer market in France. The group also owns Screwfix as well as the French chains Castorama and Brico...

Department store Debenhams has angered suppliers by asking for discounts in return for early payments. The Federation of Small Business has criticised the chain for changing suppliers’ terms in the run-up to Christmas for the second time in three years. Debenhams is reported to be asking suppliers for a reduction of between...

The chief executive of Bonmarche, Beth Butterwick, has said that she is “pleased” with the company’s performance in the first half of the year, in which like-for-like sales grew 2%, which included like-for-like growth of 6.1% in the second quarter. Pre-tax profits were £6.4 million before exceptional items, flat on last...