Drapers
Marino Donati

Marino Donati is assistant news editor and has been with Drapers for four and a half years. He writes news, features and interviews for the magazine and Drapersonline.com, specialising in department stores, international retailers, menswear, sportswear and retail property. Marino also edits the Drapers magazine business pages.

Take off overseas

14 January 2011
With the experience of UK professionals now much sought after in emerging retail markets abroad, those bold enough to make the move will find more opportunities to quickly progress their career.
Divisions as law on country of origin labels gets closer

5 November 2010
Legislation that could force brands, manufacturers and retailers to badge their product with country of origin labelling moved a step closer last week.
From value to luxury, there’s no escaping Osborne’s axe

29 October 2010
Every sector of the industry will feel the knock-on effects of the Chancellor’s Spending Review.
LVMH could buy more Hermès shares

28 October 2010
LVMH, the luxury group behind Louis Vuitton, said that it could continue to buy more shares in Hermès after buying a 17.1% stake in the luxury business this week.
Retail employment rises 2.1%

28 October 2010
Retail employment was up 2.1% in the third quarter of the year, compared to the same period last year.
Hells Angels takes legal action against McQueen

28 October 2010
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation has launched legal action against three fashion businesses for using its logo without permission.
Rigby & Peller sales dip

27 October 2010
Lingerie business Rigby & Peller has reported a loss before tax of £214,142 for the 12 months to the end of January.
Ann Summers Halloween radio ad banned

25 October 2010
Ann Summers’ radio advert for Halloween has been banned for being too racy.
Forever 21 signs Amber Le Bon for UK launch

22 October 2010
US fast fashion retailer Forever 21 has signed up model Amber Le Bon to be the face of its UK launch.
Public sector spending cuts threaten sales in the regions

22 October 2010
The North-South divide in UK fashion retail is set to accelerate as public sector cuts hit consumer income and confidence - but there will be “pain” across the country.
Indies fear lost sales following theft of 8,000 Barbour jackets

22 October 2010
Barbour stockists stand to lose hundreds of thousands of pounds in potential sales because 8,000 of the brand’s quilted jackets have been stolen and there is no other brand to replace it.
US retailer Max Studio to take on Reiss and Whistles

22 October 2010
Upmarket US womenswear retail group Max Studio is set to compete with the likes of Reiss and Whistles by opening its first standalone stores in the UK.
VF Corporation ups forecast after record quarter

22 October 2010
VF Corporation, which owns brands including Lee and The North Face, increased its forecasts after record revenues for the third quarter of the year.
October House to open first store

21 October 2010
Bespoke tailoring business October House is to open its first bricks and mortar retail operation in central London by the end of the year.
Retailers slam green "stealth tax"

21 October 2010
Retailers have hit out at the government’s £1bn “business stealth tax” that emerged in yesterday’s spending review.
Schuh launches new store concept at Meadowhall

20 October 2010
Footwear retail chain Schuh has launched a new store concept at Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre.
Burberry appoints marketing chief

19 October 2010
Luxury British heritage brand Burberry has promoted Sarah Manley to chief marketing officer.
Luxury sector boosted by Chinese shoppers

19 October 2010
Global sales of luxury goods are set to grow by 10% this year prompting hope of a recovery in the sector.
Retailers call for a cap on minimum wage increases

8 October 2010
Last week the trade body for independent retailers, BHF-BSSA, called for a rethink on the national mini-mum wage after a survey it conduc-ted showed there were large discrepancies in its impact across the UK.
Public cuts to hit North the hardest

1 October 2010
Research into empty shop space has exposed a severe North-South divide and planned Government spending cuts are set to make it worse.
House of Fraser launches two day Sale

30 September 2010
House of Fraser has launched a two day event with 25% off brands.
Forever 21 to make UK debut in November

30 September 2010
US fashion giant Forever 21 is to open its first UK store in Birmingham’s Bull Ring on November 12.
House of Fraser revives Dickins & Jones name

29 September 2010
House of Fraser has revived the Dickins & Jones name for a new fashion label this autumn.
H&M UK sales rise

29 September 2010
H&M’s UK sales rose 13% to SEK 2.07bn (£194m) for the third quarter of the year.
Pepe hits out at "unviable" rents in Ireland

29 September 2010
Pepe Jeans London has blamed “disastrous” trading and “unviable” rents for forcing the brand’s franchisee in the Republic of Ireland to close its six stores.
Autumn fashion drives high street sales rise

28 September 2010
Sales on the high street have risen above retailer expectations this month driven by fashion and footwear sales, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Axe falls on Pepe's Irish standalones

28 September 2010
Denim brand Pepe’s Irish franchisee is to close its six stores, according to reports.
Jacques Vert sales rise 3.6%

28 September 2010
Jacques Vert’s like-for-like sales rose 3.6% for the first 22 weeks of the financial year.
Donna Karan relaunches website

28 September 2010
Donna Karan International is to relaunch its website selling its Collection and DKNY ranges.
Pop Up shop experts join London Fashion Network event

27 September 2010
The London Fashion Network is holding a talk on Pop Up shops in London tomorrow with a panel of retail, property and legal experts.
Asos links up with rising stars to create exclusive collections

24 September 2010
Etailer Asos has kicked off plans to collaborate with emerging designers as part of an initiative called Asos Inc.
M&S launches Limited Collection kidswear

22 September 2010
Marks & Spencer has launched its first boyswear range under the Limited Collection name, and relaunched the brand’s girlswear range.
Cotton prices reach 15 year high

21 September 2010
Fashion retailers are facing more pressure to increase prices after the cost of cotton rose past the $1 (64p) per pound mark for the first time in 15 years.
Wool awareness campaign to launch next month

20 September 2010
A global campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of wool will launch in the UK next month.
Shopping heaven

3 September 2010
Oxford Street fans, from international buyers and fashion editors to designers, share what makes the area so special, while retailers explain its importance to business.
Fashioning Manchester

19 June 2010
Home to some of the UK’s most iconic brands, indies and multiples, as well as fashion personalities, Manchester has a unique place in the industry.
Bernadette West and Louise Garner

22 August 2009
The collaborative ethic of the Associated Independent Stores buying group, which negotiates discounts from suppliers on behalf of its members, is more important now than ever, say its two womenswear bosses.
David Reiss and Andy Rogers

7 August 2009
Reiss launches its first sub-brand this week, aimed at a younger, edgier customer. Founder David Reiss (pictured left) and brand director Andy Rogers share their vision for the premium chain’s global future
Stuarts London

1 August 2009
The menswear indie has grown into a destination store thanks to its 1980s mod and football heritage
JD revives Open fascia to replace Scotts

31 July 2009
JD Sports Fashion has relaunched Open, its branded fashion concept, amid speculation it is considering rebranding its 38-store Scotts business to the fascia.
Be a high street champion

31 July 2009
Businesses should take the initiative and work in partnership to give their local town centres a boost
M&S relaunches Sartorial collection

30 July 2009
Marks & Spencer is relaunching its Sartorial suiting collection this September after a redesign by the retailer’s tailoring collaborator Timothy Everest.
M&S to create "Lewis Hamilton" boyswear range

29 July 2009
Marks & Spencer is launching a boyswear range in collaboration with Formula One team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and the reining F1 champion Lewis Hamilton.
Weekend newspaper round-up: July 25-26

27 July 2009
The top fashion business-related headlines from the weekend’s newspapers…
Liberty appoints advisers to review the business

27 July 2009
Liberty has confirmed it is set to appoint advisers to lead a review of the business, which could lead to a sale of the iconic London department store.
Businesses pull together in recession

25 July 2009
The tough trading climate is forcing branded suppliers to dream up new ways to support their stockists and ensure their own survival
Businesses told to work together to save high streets

25 July 2009
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the British Shops and Stores Association (BSSA) are urging retailers to work together to put pressure on local authorities to save declining high streets.
Blacks extends banking facility

24 July 2009
Blacks Leisure, which runs the Blacks and Millets chains, has had its banking facilities extended for another 12 months but warned that its performance this year would be below market expectations.
JJB Sports AGM: Drapers live feed

24 July 2009
Drapersonline.com is reporting live from JJB Sports’ agm in Wigan, which kicked off a short time ago.
Born by Ted Baker eyes younger market

24 July 2009
Ted Baker is aiming to take a slice of the younger market with a new directional, lower-priced casualwear sub-brand called Born by Ted Baker.
Gant to launch designer tie up with Michael Bastian

23 July 2009
Gant has teamed up with designer Michael Bastian to launch a collection for autumn 2010.
Retailers say no recovery expected for two years

20 July 2009
Retailers are not expecting any economic recovery for the next two years, according to a survey published today.
London retail sales boosted by good weather

20 July 2009
Like-for-like retail sales in London rose 4.7% in June thanks to the warm weather.
Weekend newspaper round-up: July 18-19

20 July 2009
The best of the fashion business-related headlines from the weekend’s papers…
JJB Sports and Ashley row intensifies over loan timing

20 July 2009
The row over JJB Sports’ chairman Sir David Jones’ loan from rival sports boss Mike Ashley has intensified as more details about the timing of the loan emerged.
Boss Orange

18 July 2009
New creative director Eyan Allen has aimed for a more high-fashion image in his overhaul of Hugo Boss’s casualwear label
Etail boom spurs store hunt at John Anthony

18 July 2009
A surge in online sales has boosted trade at premium menswear independent John Anthony, which is looking to add another store to its five-strong portfolio.
Ted Baker sees improvement in wholesale

17 July 2009
Premium brand Ted Baker is understood to be considering resupplying some of its wholesale stockists after it saw evidence that the wholesale market was turning the corner.
Households' disposable income falls at slower rate

17 July 2009
Households’ disposable income declined at a slower rate in July than previous months, but spending remained broadly unchanged.
John Lewis fashion sales up 4%

17 July 2009
Fashion sales at John Lewis rose 4% for the week to July 11, bucking the overall trend at the department store chain.
H&M sales drop 5% in June

15 July 2009
H&M’s like-for-like sales fell 5% in June.
Blacks Leisure sales drop 1.8%

15 July 2009
Like-for-like sales at Blacks Leisure dropped 1.8% for the 19 weeks to July 11, as the group continues talks with its lender over renewing its facilities.
Michelle Mone's lingerie beats Tesco targets

14 July 2009
Diamond Boutique, Tesco’s premium lingerie range by MJM International, has beaten its sales targets since it launched in March.
Retail sales rise 1.4% in June

14 July 2009
Like-for-like retail sales rose 1.4% in June when fashion sales were boosted by the hot sunny weather and high street discounting.
Canterbury Europe in administration

13 July 2009
The European arm of casualwear brand Canterbury has gone into administration, hit by the weak sterling and its expansion into new sports categories.
Seven out of 10 Woolworths stores are still empty

13 July 2009
Seven out of 10 Woolworths stores are still empty six months after the chain collapsed, as landlords struggle to fill the space.
French Connection founder backs new women's magazine

13 July 2009
French Connection founder and chairman and chief executive Stephen Marks is one of the backers of a new free women’s magazine set to take on the likes of Grazia and Marie Claire.
Weekend newspaper round-up: July 11-12

13 July 2009
The best of the fashion business-related headlines from the weekend newspapers…
JJB Sports' Jones pays back controversial loan

13 July 2009
JJB Sports chairman Sir David Jones has repaid the controversial £1.5 million loan he took from Sports Direct deputy chairman Mike Ashley, in an attempt to end the row over the deal.
Agent Innocenza signs up new labels for UK launch

11 July 2009
Fashion agency Innocenza, which represents Danish contemporary label Gestuz in the UK and Republic of Ireland, has taken on a raft of new forward and short-order labels for spring 10 and autumn 09.
Women’s indies play it safe

11 July 2009
Caution reigns among buyers for spring 10, according to a survey of 30 independent mainstream womenswear retailers undertaken by Drapers ahead of the key womenswear trade show calendar.
M&S "whistleblower" loses case

10 July 2009
The former Marks & Spencer employee who was sacked for leaking the retailer’s plans to cut redundancy payouts has lost an employment tribunal case alleging his human rights were breached.
M&S lines up Simon Carter for Autograph

10 July 2009
Marks & Spencer is in talks to add British accessories designer Simon Carter to its Autograph stable this September.
M&S accused of hypocrisy over attack on discount fashion

10 July 2009
Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose has been accused of hypocrisy over his attack on discount fashion after it emerged the high street giant shared suppliers with value chain Primark.
JJB Sports lawyers demand retraction from Ashley

10 July 2009
JJB Sports’ lawyers have threatened legal action against Sports Direct deputy chairman Mike Ashley as the row over his £1.5 million loan to JJB Sports chairman Sir David Jones intensifies.
HoF and Maxeda to take GIVe to next level

10 July 2009
Serial brand creator George Davies is on the brink of inking a deal with department store giants House of Fraser and Dutch retail group Maxeda to catapult his GIVe womenswear venture to the next level for spring 10, following its launch this autumn.
M&S's Rose gets backing from shareholders

8 July 2009
Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose has won backing from shareholders who voted against a resolution to split his dual role at the retailer, at the company’s Annual General Meeting this afternoon.
Sir Stuart Rose prepares for M&S shareholder vote

8 July 2009
Marks & Spencer is bracing itself for up to half of its shareholders to call for Sir Stuart Rose to step down early as executive chairman, at the retailer’s annual general meeting today.
JJB's Jones agreed loan after he joined, Ashley claims

8 July 2009
Sports Direct deputy chairman Mike Ashley has rejected JJB Sports’ version of events surrounding the controversial £1.5m loan he made in 2007 to its chairman Sir David Jones.
Jacques Vert makes pre-tax loss of £2.9m

7 July 2009
Jacques Vert has swung to a loss-before-tax of £2.9 million for the year to April 25, down from a £4.3m profit last year, after incurring exceptional charges.
JJB Sports supports Jones over loan controversy

7 July 2009
JJB Sports has pledged its support for chairman Sir David Jones, after controversy erupted over a £1.5m loan made to Jones by rival Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley.
Weekend newspaper round-up: July 4-5

6 July 2009
The best of the fashion business-related headlines from the weekend’s newspapers…
M&S shareholder tension grows ahead of AGM

6 July 2009
Marks & Spencer is heading for a battle with investors at its AGM on Wednesday over its corporate governance.
JJB considers rights issue as loan controversy erupts

6 July 2009
JJB Sports has confirmed it will look to raise £50 million to help support its turnaround plans, after it emerged that chairman Sir David Jones borrowed £1.5m from Mike Ashley, the deputy chairman of rival Sports Direct.
H&M to avoid price rises at all costs

4 July 2009
H&M said it would do its best to avoid raising prices this autumn as it prepared to take advantage of opportunities to open more stores in the wake of the recession.
M&S appoints property boss to head international expansion

3 July 2009
Marks & Spencer’s director of property and store design Clem Constantine has been given the extra responsibility of heading the retailer’s international division.
Moss Bros moots hire tie-up with indies

3 July 2009
Moss Bros has laid down the gauntlet to other high street chains to collaborate with independent retailers with plans to launch Moss Bros Hire departments in menswear indies across the country.
Multiples and indies create a magic mix

3 July 2009
On the back of Mary Portas’s rallying cry for multiples and indies to unite to save local high streets, one Dorset town bucking the trend for decline can offer a few tips
M&S forecasts 3% rise in clothing prices

3 July 2009
Marks & Spencer is likely to increase prices on its clothing by an average of 3% this autumn because of currency fluctuations.
George Davies eyes sites for first GIVe stand alone stores

3 July 2009
George Davies, the man behind Next, Per Una and George at Asda, is set to secure sites for the first stores for his new GIVe brand, to open in October.
Fashion sales down 1.1% in June

3 July 2009
Like-for-like fashion sales in June were down 1.1%, a little more than the average retail drop across all retail sectors of 0.9%.
John Lewis sales hit by hot weather

3 July 2009
John Lewis’ fashion sales dropped 1.3% for the week to June 27, as hot weather kept some shoppers away from the first day of Clearance on Saturday.
Camper set to open Regent Street flagship

2 July 2009
Camper will open a flagship store on London’s Regent Street in the autumn.
Woolworths sold brands for £12 million

2 July 2009
Collapsed retailer Woolworths sold its brands, including the Ladybird kidswear brand, for £12 million, it has emerged.
Protest’s march gathers pace with UK subsidiary

2 July 2009
Dutch boardsports brand Protest plans to expand its UK presence after setting up a subsidiary to be run by former members of surfwear brand O’Neill’s sales team.
Consumer confidence grows in June

30 June 2009
Consumer confidence improved in June after slumping to an all time low last July.
Weekend newspaper round-up: June 27-28

29 June 2009
The best of the fashion business-related headlines from the weekend newspapers…
M&S shareholder tension mounts

29 June 2009
M&S is predicted to show a better than expected peformance at its trading update on Wednesday, as the retailer faces mounting unrest from shareholders.
Beales sees profits drop

29 June 2009
Pre-tax profit at department store chain Beales dropped to £543,000 for the 26 weeks to May 2, down from £881,000 the previous year. Sales were also knocked by the collapse of several key concession partners.
Arnotts Project, Dublin

27 June 2009
Arnotts’ new Project store in Dublin’s Jervis Shopping Centre, aimed at a younger shopper than its nearby flagship, is an inspired example of how to deal with an extra 80,000sq ft of unexpected retail space.
Marlboro Classics looks to expand under rebrand

27 June 2009
Lifestyle brand Marlboro Classics is rebranding to MCS Marlboro Classics as it aims to broaden its appeal and expand its offer.
M&S lifts lid on new Indigo line

26 June 2009
Marks & Spencer is combining stylish casualwear basics for outfit building with statement pieces and splashes of bold print and colour via its new Indigo range this autumn.
Michael Jackson: tribute to a style icon

26 June 2009
Michael Jackson, the legendary King of Pop, will be remembered as much for his outlandish taste in clothes as for his music.
Portas: indies and multiples must unite

26 June 2009
Retail guru Mary Portas has urged the high street and independent retailers to come together to share shops and training skills and promote shopping areas to beat the recession and halt the ghost town phenomenon.
Nike profits drop after restructuring

25 June 2009
Net profits at Nike dropped 30% to $341 million (£209m) in the fourth quarter ended May 31 after corporate restructuring costs of $195m (£119m) at the sportswear giant.
M&S boardroom tensions rise as deputy chairman eyes top job

24 June 2009
Marks & Spencer deputy chairman Sir David Michels has told investors he wants to become chairman of the retailer.
Debenhams share offer gets muted response

23 June 2009
Just a third of the open offer shares placed by Debenhams earlier this month have been taken up by shareholders.
Sir Stuart Rose waives share entitlement

22 June 2009
Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose and executive director Steve Sharp have waived their entitlement to a chunk of shares in the company to maintain shareholder relations.
Weekend newspaper round up: June 20-21

22 June 2009
The best of the fashion-business related headlines from the weekend newspapers…
Primark signs up to supplier payment code

22 June 2009
Primark has signed up to a government initiative which aims to name and shame retailers into paying their suppliers on time.
Liberty to sell Sloane Street standalone

22 June 2009
Iconic department store Liberty has closed its standalone Liberty of London shop on Sloane Street 12 months after it opened, after receiving an offer for the lease.
Beales plugs concession gap with Crimson

20 June 2009
Department store Beales has launched a new womenswear label called Crimson to help fill the void left by the high-profile collapses of retailers and concessionaires Principles, Bay Trading and Viyella.
Karen Millen director joins property firm

19 June 2009
Aurora Fashions’ international director for Karen Millen, Sanjay Sharma, is leaving the fashion group to head up a new venture for property group Land Securities, which aims to help international retailers open stores in the UK.
Shoppers still cautious despite being better off

19 June 2009
Shoppers in the UK are reluctant to spend despite having an average of 25% more disposable income each month.
John Lewis sales rise

19 June 2009
Sales at John Lewis edged back into positive territory for the week to June 13, up 0.4% to £45.92m.
Retail rents to drop 20% by end of next year

19 June 2009
Retail rents are expected to drop by almost a fifth by the end of next year, as struggling retailers demand cheaper leasing deals in the recession.
Davies to share profits in new GIVe venture

19 June 2009
George Davies, the serial brand creator, has been hailed as the saviour of struggling independent department stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland with the launch of his womenswear concept GIVe, which will operate as an innovative profit and cost-sharing venture.
Fashion sales shrink 8% in May

18 June 2009
The value of retail sales in May fell 1.1% compared with last May, and textiles, clothing and footwear was the worst performing category, down 8.4%, according to the Office of National Statistics.
Mulberry warns of shrinking wholesale sales

18 June 2009
Mulberry said wholesale sales were likely to fall back 15% for autumn 09 and shrink by a further 4% for spring 10, after its customers slashed their buying budgets.
Dawson International to offload Todd & Duncan

17 June 2009
Dawson International has agreed to sell its Todd & Duncan cashmere division to one of its Chinese suppliers, Ningxia Zhongyin Cashmere Company.
Interest in Aquascutum gathers pace

16 June 2009
David Hewitt, the former managing director of Daks, is preparing a potential bid for Aquascutum as the race to buy the British brand hots up.
Marks & Spencer expands global online offer

16 June 2009
Marks & Spencer is extending its online delivery service to a further 70 countries in Europe, Asia and the Far East.
House of Fraser responds to Debenhams deal speculation

16 June 2009
UPDATED: House of Fraser chairman Don McCarthy said he has not received any approach from Debenhams despite reports the rival department store was considering an acquisition of some or all of the department store chain.
Fashion heavyweights in Queen's birthday honours list

15 June 2009
Designer Jeff Banks, Burberry creative director Christopher Bailey, Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet and former British Fashion Council chairman Nicholas Coleridge have been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
George Davies revives GIVe plans

15 June 2009
Retail veteran George Davies has revived his plans to launch GIVe, a womenswear venture he first talked about in 2005.
Fashion sales see first growth in a month

12 June 2009
Like-for-like fashion sales rose 4.2% for the week to June 7, the first increase in four weeks, as promotions helped drive trade.
Tesco hits back in school uniform war

12 June 2009
Tesco is wading into the schoolwear price war, undercutting rival George at Asda with the launch of the cheapest ever school uniform at £3.75.
Court action over "TK Maxx" Piccadilly site called off

12 June 2009
Legal action over the Crown Estate’s decision to veto the letting of a site on Piccadilly Circus to TK Maxx has been called off.
LK Bennett to launch new store concept at Bluewater

12 June 2009
LK Bennett will launch a new store concept in the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent in August.
John Lewis fashion sales rise 3.7%

12 June 2009
Fashion sales at John Lewis bucked the retailer’s overall trend, rising 3.7% for the week to June 6.
Cos to open on Kensington High Street

11 June 2009
Cos, the sister chain of Swedish fast fashion business H&M, will open its fifth UK store in London’s Kensington High Street in September.
Gap to drive outlet and online business in the UK

11 June 2009
Gap will drive its outlet and online business in the UK as part of its strategy for international expansion.
Quiksilver refinances as profits drop

9 June 2009
Quiksilver has restructured its financing to pay down debts as profits fell at the boardsports business.
The weekend newspaper round-up: June 6-7

8 June 2009
The best of the fashion business-related headlines from the weekend’s newspapers…
JD Sports Fashion sees sales improve

8 June 2009
Like-for-like sales at JD Sports Fashion rose 1.7% for the eight weeks to May 30, with the group’s fashion division leading the increase.
Eaden Lilley in St Ives is bought by Townrow

6 June 2009
Independent department store business Townrow is to snap up retailer Eaden Lilley’s store in St Ives in Cambridgeshire, after the company went into administration.
Four Marketing sees profits grow 8%

6 June 2009
Four Marketing, which distributes brands including Stone Island and CP Company, has seen operating profits climb 8% in the first quarter of the year despite being hit by customer administrations and the weak sterling.
Indie department stores target takeovers

6 June 2009
Independent department stores are looking for opportunities to expand in the recession by buying up struggling businesses.
Surf Shop summer show cancelled

5 June 2009
UK boardsports trade show Surf Shop will not take place this summer but will return with a new format in 2010.
M&S bosses miss out on bonuses

5 June 2009
Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose and other senior management at the business missed out on pay rises and bonuses last year, after pre-tax profits at the retailer dived 40%.
Fashion sales drop 3.4% in May

5 June 2009
Like-for-like fashion sales dropped 3.4% in May as retailers held fewer promotions and faced tough comparisons with last year.
Inditex appoints new UK managing director

5 June 2009
Inditex UK and Republic of Ireland (RoI) managing director Stefano Sutter is leaving the role at the fast fashion business which runs Zara and Massimo Dutti.
John Lewis sales hit by warm weather

5 June 2009
John Lewis’ sales dropped 8.2% to £44.48 million for the week to May 30 as warm weather hit footfall.
Debenhams' new shares priced at 80p

4 June 2009
The new shares to be placed by Debenhams as part of plans to raise £323 million announced this morning, have been priced at 80p.
M&S to create permanent archive

4 June 2009
Marks & Spencer will create a permanent archive from its 125 year history in a dedicated site at Leeds University, and will launch an M&S vintage roadshow to encourage its customers to bring in historical items bought at the retailer.
House of Fraser boss urges retailers to support retail diploma

2 June 2009
House of Fraser chief executive John King has called for more retailers to support Skillsmart Retail’s new retail diploma, which will launch next year.
The weekend newspaper round up: May 30-31

1 June 2009
The best of the fashion business-related headlines from the weekend newspapers…
Simon Berwin joins Moss Bros board

1 June 2009
Menswear supplier and leading Moss Bros shareholder Simon Berwin has been appointed non-executive director of the menswear chain.
Aitor Throup

30 May 2009
The CP Company and Stone Island designer and Umbro creative consultant reveals football’s tailoring influences to Marino Donati
Chinese put Aquascutum on the menu

30 May 2009
The departure of chief executive Kim Winser and rumours of a potential takeover bid point to an uncertain future for the luxury brand
Supermarket bosses remain favourites for top M&S job

30 May 2009
Asda chief executive Andy Bond and Sainsbury’s boss Justin King remain industry first choices to become the next Marks & Spencer chief executive, despite both seemingly ruling themselves out of the running.
Chairman rejects House of Fraser refinance rumours

29 May 2009
House of Fraser has denied speculation that it is considering refinancing the business.
Blacks warns of uncertainty as losses increase

29 May 2009
Losses before tax at Blacks Leisure surged by more than 50% to £14.4 million for the year to February 28, as the group said there were “material uncertainties” about its future.
Retail sales fall in May

28 May 2009
Retail sales fell in early May after a brief boost in April, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Sports Direct sells stake in JJB Sports

28 May 2009
Sports Direct has offloaded its 5% directly-owned stake in rival retailer JJB Sports.
Mango signs Scarlett Johansson

28 May 2009
Mango has signed actress Scarlett Johansson as the face of the young fashion chain.
Aquascutum appoints managing director

27 May 2009
Renown has parachuted Yukio Ueda in to Aquascutum as managing director, while its Chinese distributor YGM Trading confirmed it had not entered a formal agreement to buy the brand.
Record numbers turn out for Oxford Street's traffic free day

26 May 2009
Shoppers spent around £50 million in the West End as more than 500,000 visitors headed to London Oxford Street’s traffic free day on Saturday.
Sir Stuart Rose could leave M&S early

26 May 2009
Speculation that Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose could leave the retailer early has mounted.
Forever 21 ready for assault on UK market

23 May 2009
US fast-fashion retailer Forever 21 has decided now is the time to make a grab for a slice of the high street
Kim Winser exits Aquascutum

22 May 2009
Aquascutum chief executive Kim Winser has left the luxury brand.
Clothing and footwear sales rise 11.9% in April

21 May 2009
Clothing, footwear and textile retail sales outperformed the rest of retail sector in April, with sales volumes up 11.9%.
JJB Sports warns "no quick fix"

21 May 2009
Like-for-like sales at JJB Sports dropped 23.3% for the 16 weeks to May 17 and total sales fell 42.1% over the period, after the retailer was struck by severe stock shortages.
M&S Penny Bazaars bring in 130,000 shoppers

20 May 2009
More than 130,000 shoppers turned out at Marks & Spencer stores up and down the country yesterday morning to snap up products for 1p at the retailer’s Penny Bazaar concept, which was launched to celebrate its 125th year anniversary.
First look at M&S' new Twiggy TV ad

18 May 2009
Marks & Spencer will launch its latest television advertising campaign featuring Twiggy to celebrate its 125-year history tonight.
Weekend newspaper round-up: May 16-17

18 May 2009
The best of the fashion-business related headlines from the weekend’s newspapers…
M&S to slash dividend + autumn 09 womenswear preview

18 May 2009
Marks & Spencer is expected to slash its dividend when it announces its preliminary full year results tomorrow, upsetting small but loyal private shareholders.
Sportswear shake-up looms as JD eyes JJB

15 May 2009
The UK sportswear sector could be set for a significant shake-up amid reports that JD Sports Fashion is considering making a bid for rival JJB Sports.
M&S management and strategy slammed by broker

15 May 2009
Marks & Spencer’s discounting and cost cutting is threatening the long term health of the business, according to analysts at broker Investec.
Richemont profits fall

14 May 2009
Sales at luxury group Richemont in April were 19% lower than last year, and profit before tax fell 24% to €844 million (£757.6m) for the year to March 31.
M&S to sell products for 1p to celebrate birthday

14 May 2009
Marks & Spencer will celebrate its 125th birthday by offering a range of products for one penny next week.
Debenhams launches Summer Spectacular

13 May 2009
Debenhams has launched its third Sale in less than three months with a four-day Summer Spectacular offering shoppers discounts of up to 25%.
M&S whistleblower "despaired" of retailer's direction

12 May 2009
The former Marks & Spencer employee sacked for leaking a memo to the press about plans to cut redundancy pay, said he did it because he “despaired” of the direction of the business was taking.
Weekend newspaper round-up: May 9-10

11 May 2009
The best of the fashion business-related headlines from the weekend’s newspapers…
JD Sports Fashion mulls JJB takeover

11 May 2009
JD Sports Fashion is eyeing a potential bid for rival JJB Sports, according to The Sunday Times newspaper.
IMC sets out a survival strategy for menswear

9 May 2009
The classic menswear indie market is sure that if brands and retailers stick together, it can beat the recession
Portas rings bell for retail class

9 May 2009
Mary Portas, star of the BBC2 fashion retail makeover show Mary Queen of Shops, is to run a raft of retail courses in association with sector skills council Skillsmart Retail.
Bank of England holds interest rate at 0.5%

7 May 2009
The interest rate has been maintained at 0.5% by the Bank of England.
Armani Group sales rise

7 May 2009
Revenue at Armani Group rose 1.5% to €1.6 billion (£1.4bn) in 2008 compared to the previous year, however EBITDA dropped 14.6%.
Mary Portas launches retail workshops

5 May 2009
Independent retailers will be able to apply for grants to attend workshops run by fashion business guru Mary Portas, under a scheme being developed by training body Skillsmart Retail.
Budget fails to loosen credit cover squeeze

2 May 2009
Suppliers and retailers have suffered from the reduction or withdrawal of credit insurance, but the government’s answer to the problem, a top-up scheme, fails to convince
Rip Curl, Newquay

2 May 2009
A wave-shaped roof and natural materials flag up the brands’ eco credentials to the surfer crowd
Swine flu threat to UK’s overseas visitor sales

2 May 2009
The boost in retail sales from the influx of international shoppers taking advantage of the weak pound could be curbed by the threat of swine flu.
John Lewis fashion sales rise

1 May 2009
Fashion sales at John Lewis rose 3% for the week to April 25 compared to last year, bucking the overall trend at the department store chain.
Fashion like-for-like sales up 2.7% in April

1 May 2009
Like-for-like fashion sales across the high street rose 2.7% in April, the strongest monthly performance since last July.
Austin Reed updates Viyella menswear

30 April 2009
Austin Reed will launch a Viyella menswear collection into selected stores this autumn, its first since buying the business out of administration in February.
Retailers pledge support for retail skills academy

30 April 2009
A raft of retail bosses have pledged support for a network of retail training centres around the UK as part of the launch of the National Skills Academy for Retail.
Jaeger expands online offer to US and Europe

30 April 2009
Jaeger has expanded its online operation to deliver to the US and a raft of European countries.
JJB Sports shareholders approve CVA

29 April 2009
JJB Sports’ shareholders have approved the sportswear group’s CVA proposals, following the green light for the plans from the group’s creditors on Monday.
Independent retailer sales improve

29 April 2009
Sales at independent retailers were down 3.1% for the first quarter of 2009, compared to the same period last year. However, this was an improvement on the 5.2% fall in the final quarter of last year.
Prada profits drop 22%

29 April 2009
Prada’s net profits fell 22% to €98.8 million (£88.5m) sales for the year to January 31, after investment in store openings.
Shop Direct appoints boss for Woolworths

29 April 2009
Shop Direct Group has appointed Matthew Hardcastle as head of the Woolworths brand which the home shopping group bought in February.
N Brown profits rise

28 April 2009
N Brown’s underlying profit-before-tax rose 11.3% to £82.7m for the year to February 28, as like-for-like sales rose 10.7% to £662.5m over the period.
Radley appoints new chief executive

27 April 2009
Radley has apointed former Net-a-Porter chief executive Sven Gaede as chief executive of the handbag and accessories brand.
Creditors approve JJB Sports CVA

27 April 2009
Creditors have voted in favour of JJB Sports’ Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) to safeguard the future of the sportswear chain.
JJB Sports faces vote to determine retailer's future

27 April 2009
The future of JJB Sports should be determined today as creditors vote on whether to approve the Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) proposed by the retailer.
The weekend newspaper round-up: April 25-26

27 April 2009
The best of the fashion business-related headline from weekend’s newspapers…
Hot Tuna chief executive exits

27 April 2009
Hot Tuna chief executive Niels Juul has stepped down from his role at the surfwear brand.
Americana pulls plug on Hooch brand

24 April 2009
Americana International has closed its Hooch brand after sales collapsed in the tough economic climate.
BUDGET 2009: Trade bodies criticise Chancellor's credit insurance scheme

22 April 2009
UPDATED: Chancellor Alistair Darling has confirmed plans to support suppliers struggling with a reduction in credit insurance but key trade bodies have criticised the scheme for not going far enough.
PPR like-for-like sales fall 4.9% in first quarter

21 April 2009
PPR, the luxury goods group which owns the Gucci brand, saw sales drop 4.9% on a comparable basis for the first quarter of 2009.
Radley restructures sales and marketing roles

21 April 2009
Radley has promoted Nick Vance to sales and marketing director as part of a restructuring at the handbag and accessories brand.
Chancellor set to announce credit insurance scheme

21 April 2009
The Chancellor Alistair Darling is expected to announce a temporary credit insurance guarantee scheme worth £5 billion in tomorrow’s Budget after the government struck a deal with insurers Atradius, Euler Hermes and Coface.
Valentino Group predicts tough year as profits dip

20 April 2009
Valentino Fashion Group, which owns and operates the Hugo Boss, Marlboro Classics and M Missoni brands, predicted a difficult year ahead after profits fell 3% last year.
The weekend newspaper round-up: April 18-19

20 April 2009
The best of the fashion business-related headlines from the weekend’s newspapers…
Multi-brand Mego concept to expand across Ireland

18 April 2009
Irish multi-brand womenswear retailer Mego is looking for more locations after opening its first flagship store near Dublin.
Notting Hill aims to lure boutiques with revamp

18 April 2009
The Notting Hill Gate area of London will be revamped to encourage independent retailers and boutiques to the area under proposals unveiled by Kensington and Chelsea council last week.
Bally chief executive exits

17 April 2009
Bally chief executive Marco Franchini has left the luxury footwear and accessories company after seven years in the role.
BRC urges government action on credit insurance

17 April 2009
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is demanding that the government act on credit insurance, after half of retailers say its withdrawal is undermining their business.
John Lewis fashion sales rise 6.6%

17 April 2009
John Lewis’ fashion sales rose 6.6% on a like-for-like basis for the week to April 11.
Flannels unveils Spinningfields move

17 April 2009
Premium department store Flannels is to go back to its roots at a new Manchester flagship as it battles through the economic downturn.
Irish retailers bemoan tax rises

17 April 2009
Retailers in the Republic of Ireland have been left disappointed by the Irish government’s emergency budget last week, which concentrated on raising taxes and cutting public spending.
Net-a-Porter launches off price website

16 April 2009
Net-a-Porter has launched its off price designer fashion website theOutnet.com
Zandra Rhodes designs collection for M&S

16 April 2009
Marks & Spencer has teamed up with designer Zandra Rhodes who will launch a collection for the high street chain in May.
UK Fashion Export finalists revealed

16 April 2009
Finalists have been announced for the UK Fashion Export Awards 2009 which will take place in June.
Moschino appoints managing director

16 April 2009
Moschino has appointed Alessandro Varisco as managing director to head up the Italian designer brand.
Debenhams set to sign Henry Holland

15 April 2009
Debenhams is in talks to sign up London Fashion Week designer Henry Holland to join its Designers at Debenhams roster.
Peter Mandelson to speak at BRC dinner

14 April 2009
Lord Peter Mandelson, secretary of state for business enterprise and regulatory reform, is to be the keynote speaker at the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) annual retail industry dinner.
The Easter weekend newspaper round up: April 10-13

14 April 2009
Your guide to the fashion business-related headlines from the Easter weekend newspapers…
Gap sales drop in March

9 April 2009
Gap’s international sales, which includes its UK stores, fell 5% on a like-for-like basis in March.
Brown Thomas launches Easter Sale

9 April 2009
Irish premium department store business Brown Thomas has slashed prices on most products by 20% to drum up sales over the Easter break.
John Lewis fashion sales rise

9 April 2009
Fashion sales rose 1% at John Lewis for the week to April 4, bucking the overall trend at the department store which saw total sales drop 6.7% to £45.4 million.
High street price war kicks off with Easter Sales

8 April 2009
An Easter price war is set to kick off as Debenhams and House of Fraser launch Sales to grab shopper spend over the holiday period.
Tax increases to hammer RoI retailers

8 April 2009
Retail Ireland, the trade body that represents retailers in the Republic of Ireland, has expressed disappointment that the Irish government chose to raise taxes in its emergency budget yesterday.
Profits up at JD Sports Fashion + interview with Barry Bown

8 April 2009
Profit-before-tax excluding exceptional items at JD Sports Fashion rose 24% to £53.6 million for the year to January 31, with like-for-like sales up 3.9% over the period.
JD Sports Fashion launches "Get the label" discount site

6 April 2009
JD Sports Fashion has gone head to head with M and M Direct and launched a website Getthelabel.com selling sports and fashion brands at up to 65% off.
Moda to launch new area for contemporary womenswear

6 April 2009
The mainstream Moda Woman tradeshow in Birmingham will launch an area dedicated to new and niche womenswear labels called Moda Platform at its next edition in August.
Retail business diploma gets green light

6 April 2009
A new retail business diploma developed by Skillsmart Retail will be taught in schools and colleges across England from September next year after the government gave the go-ahead for the new course.
Birthday discount at KJ’s Laundry

4 April 2009
London womenswear boutique KJ’s Laundry celebrated its third birthday last week with a special shopping party offering 25% off all stock.
It’s a whole new ball game for JJB Sports

4 April 2009
JJB Sports is getting to grips with its financial and management difficulties, but can it carve out a new position in the sportswear market?
M&S ‘still has work to do’

4 April 2009
Marks & Spencer conceded that it still had work to do on its clothing offer this week, as it reported a 4.8% drop in like-for-like sales of general merchandise for the quarter ended March 28.
Moss Bros aims to grab market share from indies

4 April 2009
Menswear retailer Moss Bros is hoping to pick up market share from competitors hit by the recessionas its new chief executive takes the helm.
Demonstration planned outside Primark's Oxford Street store

3 April 2009
Anti-slave labour campaigners are set to demonstrate outside Primark’s Oxford Street shop in London tomorrow.
Sixty UK rescued via CVA

3 April 2009
Sixty UK, which trades the Miss Sixty and Energie stores and brands in the UK, has been rescued from administration via a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA).
Topman New York: first look inside

3 April 2009
Topman’s New York store has opened its doors as part of the opening of its sister chain Topshop.
Egomark gets funding under government scheme to help small businesses

3 April 2009
Egomark, which distributes brands including Féraud, Marlboro Classics and Kenzo, has received funding under a government scheme to help small businesses through the recession.
Good weather boosts John Lewis fashion sales

3 April 2009
Fashion sales at John Lewis rose 13.1% boosted by good weather, Easter, and a marketing campaign.
Selfridges makes redundancies

1 April 2009
Selfridges has made 12 head office staff redundant after a consultation period with 31 employees.
London City retailers prepare for protests

1 April 2009
Fashion retailers in the city of London are on standby to close their doors if protests around the G20 summit this week turn violent.
High street retailers to raise money for cancer charity

31 March 2009
Marks & Spencer, River Island and Topshop are among retailers aiming to help raise £1 million for charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer next month by selling special fashion lines.
Laura Ashley profits dive but fashion sales rise

31 March 2009
Laura Ashley’s like-for-like fashion sales rose 3.6% for the 53 weeks to January 31, although group pre-tax profits dropped to £9.6 million from £15.8m the previous year.
M&S sales fall but beat expectations

31 March 2009
Marks & Spencer’s UK like-for-like sales dropped 4.2% for the 13 weeks to March 28, a smaller drop than expected.
What do you think of Umbro's new England football kit?

30 March 2009
Umbro unveiled a retro-inspired new England football strip at the team’s match with Slovakia on Saturday and it seemed to prove lucky, helping the team to a 4-0 victory.
The weekend newspaper round up: March 28-29

30 March 2009
The best of the fashion business headlines from the weekend’s newspapers…
London mall is on target, says Westfield

28 March 2009
Property developer Westfield has hit back at claims that its Westfield London shopping centre is underperforming, and says it is on track to hit 10 million visitors by the end of the month.
Non-profit Fashion Enter in business rate dispute

28 March 2009
Croydon independent Enter, which sells product from 20 up-and-coming designers, is refusing to pay its full business rate charges on its shop after the local council refused to give it rate relief.
John Lewis scouts for designer tie-ups

27 March 2009
John Lewis is scouting for more designer tie ups after signing a deal with Ghost founder Tanya Sarne to launch an exclusive range for the department store.
Gap banks on its autumn range to rejuvenate sales

27 March 2009
Gap previewed its autumn 09 collection in London this week, featuring a collection of classics with a twist which it hopes will reinvigorate falling sales.
M and M Direct launches online discount site for Ted Baker

27 March 2009
M and M Direct has launched a clearance website for Ted Baker in a collaboration with the premium brand.
Chris Ronnie disputes JJB Sports "misconduct" claim

26 March 2009
JJB Sports’ former chief executive Chris Ronnie has issued a statement disputing claims that he was dismissed from the sportswear retailer for misconduct, and insisting that he resigned last month.
Sales rise but profits fall at Hugo Boss

26 March 2009
Sales at Hugo Boss rose 3% to €1.68 billion (£1.56bn) in 2008. However profits fell 27% to €112m (£104.4m) after one-off costs from changes in the management board.
JJB Sports outlines plans for CVA

26 March 2009
JJB Sports has confirmed the sale of its fitness club business to Dave Whelan for £83.4 million and outlined proposals for a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) for 140 of its stores.
Whelan confirms JJB Sports fitness club deal

25 March 2009
Dave Whelan has confirmed the acquisition of JJB Sports’ fitness club operation today.
Blacks Leisure offer talks end

25 March 2009
Blacks Leisure’s talks over a potential offer the business have ended without a deal.
House of Fraser to launch two-day Sale tomorrow

25 March 2009
House of Fraser will join the high street discounting war when it launches a two-day Sale tomorrow with discounts of up 25%.
Debenhams to launch half price Sale

24 March 2009
Debenhams is launching a Sale tomorrow with discounts of up to 50% as mid-season discounting ramps up on the high street.
John Lewis unveils face of menswear campaign

24 March 2009
John Lewis has signed up model Matthew Avedon, grandson of photographer Richard Avedon, to front its menswear advertising campaign.
Pension funds raise concerns over Rose's power at M&S

24 March 2009
Some of the UK’s largest pension funds are putting pressure on Marks & Spencer to curb the power of executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose.
M&S to launch Sale tomorrow

23 March 2009
Marks & Spencer will launch its mid-season Sale tomorrow with discounts of up to 50%.
Closure of multiples boosts Quest’s trade

21 March 2009
Trade at Falkirk-based fashion indie Quest has boomed since the recent closure of some of its multiple competitors.
Debenhams to revamp its offer

21 March 2009
Debenhams will launch new brands and expand its Designers at Debenhams ranges in the autumn to boost its own-label business.
Geoffroy de La Bourdonnaye

21 March 2009
Liberty’s chief executive is charged with leading its renaissance, which kicked off with a revamp of its flagship store
Pressure on to push up prices

21 March 2009
After years of deflation, prices on the high street are creeping up as the financial crisis bites
Prices are hiked on the high street

21 March 2009
Value fashion chains Primark and New Look have put prices up by about 4% this season, according to an exclusive survey carried out for Drapers by market research firm Compability.
Fashion sales drop 2.9% for the week to March 15

20 March 2009
Fashion like-for-like sales dropped 2.9% for the week ending March 15 week on week, according to figures from BDO Stoy Hayward.
Rose says stick to core values in the recession

20 March 2009
Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose warned retailers not to panic and abandon their core brand values in the recession.
John Lewis fashion sales boosted by good weather

20 March 2009
Fashion sales at John Lewis rose 1.5% for the week to March 14 despite an overall sales drop of 4.1%.
Gap boss takes pay cut

19 March 2009
Gap’s chairman and chief executive Glenn Murphy will take a 15% salary cut as part of plans to cut costs.
SRG to restructure

19 March 2009
Speciality Retail Group (SRG), which operates the Suits You menswear chain, is restructuring as part of plans to combine functions with stablemate BMB Group.
More Original Shoe Company and Qube stores close

18 March 2009
KPMG, administrators of Original Shoe Company and Qube, have closed a further 10 stores resulting in 121 more redundancies at JJB Sports’s lifestyle division.
Adding value is key to beating recession says John Lovering

18 March 2009
Retailers must focus on pushing their value credentials and building market share to ride through the economic downturn, according to Debenhams chairman John Lovering and New Look chairman Phil Wrigley.
Weekend newspaper round-up: March 14-15

16 March 2009
The best of the fashion business headlines from the weekend’s newspapers…
Kilgour creative director leaves

16 March 2009
Savile Row tailor Kilgour’s creative director Carlo Brandelli is understood to have left the company.
John Lewis bids for a larger slice of fashion etail market

14 March 2009
Department store business John Lewis will bid to grab more online market share with a relaunch of its internet fashion operation in the autumn.
Principles stock sold to Debenhams

14 March 2009
Debenhams has bought a significant proportion of the stock of Principles, which went into administration last week, and will continue to sell it temporarily in its stores.
Viola adds another string to Connaught Village’s bow

14 March 2009
A former buyer for London designer independent The Cross is to launch a womenswear boutique called Viola at central London indie hotspot Connaught Village.
American Apparel to sell stake to private equity firm

13 March 2009
American Apparel is set to sell a 20% stake in the business to private equity firm Lion Capital, according to reports.
JJB Sports set to sell fitness clubs to Dave Whelan

13 March 2009
JJB Sports is understood to be in exclusive talks with Dave Whelan, the group’s founder, about a sale of its fitness club operation, according to reports.
John Lewis fashion sales rise 5.7%

13 March 2009
Fashion sales at John Lewis rose 5.7% for the week to March 7 despite an overall fall of 2.1% for period, following uncertainty in the financial markets.
Next refuses to pay Westfield's increased service charge

13 March 2009
Next is among retailers at the Westfield London shopping centre refusing to pay part of their service charges after the developer increased them.
Discounts help lift trade

13 March 2009
Department store chains reported buoyant trading last week, boosted by discounting events and price cuts.
Retailers see bright side of empty shops

13 March 2009
Landlords are having to be more flexible with rents and leasing terms in a bid to stem the tide of empty shops blighting the UK high street
Smythson considers sale

10 March 2009
Luxury handbag and leather goods firm Smythson has appointed advisers with a view to a potential sale of the business.
Retail sales slide in February

10 March 2009
Retail like-for-like sales fell 1.8% in February and fashion sales recorded their worst performance since last April as the end of the Sales and bad weather hit trade.
Entry deadline extended for Drapers Footwear Awards

10 March 2009
The deadline for entries for The Drapers Footwear Awards 2009 has been extended by one week to March 18.
Weekend newspaper round-up: March 7-8

9 March 2009
The best of the fashion business headlines from the weekend’s newspapers…
Net-a-Porter profits rocket

9 March 2009
Net-a-Porter saw pre-tax profit rocket by 300% to more than £9 million thanks to improved margins at the designer etailer.
BRC demands rates freeze and VAT cut extension

9 March 2009
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is calling on the government to freeze business rates and delay returning VAT to 17.5% to assist under-pressure retailers through the recession.
JJB Sports confirms offers for fitness clubs

9 March 2009
JJB Sports has confirmed that it has received offers for its fitness club business in a second round of bids and there are reports that the retailers’ lenders have held talks with restructuring firm Gordon Brothers about offloading stock and stores.
M&S strategy is blasted by City analyst

7 March 2009
Marks & Spencer has been slammed for failing to attract younger customers by analysts at Credit Suisse, who said it was in need of a strategy overhaul.
Retailers wage Sales war

7 March 2009
High street retailers including department stores Debenhams and House of Fraser launched discount promotions this week, while John Lewis cut its prices to match.
Shorter lengths boost skirts

7 March 2009
Sales of shorter skirts are helping reinvigorate the category, as the rise of dress sales slows, according to research.
Retail embarks on a learning curve

6 March 2009
A new skills academy aims to provide tailored retail training and make the sector a more attractive career option
Gap's international sales drop 6%

6 March 2009
Gap’s international like-for-like sales, which includes its UK sales, fell 6% for the four weeks to February 28. Total group sales were down 12% to $795 million (£559m).
Tough comps knock John Lewis sales

6 March 2009
Fashion sales at John Lewis dived 8.9% for the week to February 28, although the retailer said it was “no surprise” due to the tough comparisons with last year.
Weak pound could trigger a rise in sales to tourists

6 March 2009
Retailers are set to gain from an influx of foreign shoppers coming to the UK, particularly London, to take advantage of the weak pound, according to research.
Aurora Fashions asks landlords to cut rents

5 March 2009
Aurora Fashions, the new company which rescued Oasis, Karen Millen, Coast and Warehouse this week, is asking landlords to reduce rents on some of its stores to keep them trading.
House of Fraser launches 5-day discount event

4 March 2009
House of Fraser has launched a five-day Sale event with discounts of up to 25% on selected lines, as the price war on the high street hots up.
Aurora Fashions appoints property agents to advise on stores

3 March 2009
Aurora Fashions, the new company which has rescued the Oasis, Karen Millen, Warehouse and Coast brands, has appointed property consultants Harper Dennis Hobbs to help manage the store portfolio.
Empty shops open up rent opportunities

28 February 2009
Retailers looking to expand could land good deals on a swathe of retail properties in prime locations, as administrators try to offload stores from collapsed businesses.
Half-term lifts fashion sales

27 February 2009
Like-for-like fashion sales rose 0.4% for the week to February 22, boosted by the half-term holiday.
Reiss plans young, cheaper sub-brand

27 February 2009
Premium high street chain Reiss is launching a younger, lower-priced sub-brand for autumn to widen its customer base.
Paphitis blasts culture of highly leveraged retail

26 February 2009
Retail entrepreneur and La Senza director Theo Paphitis has blasted the profit-hungry retail models of debt-laden businesses for damaging the retail sector.
JJB Sports says Ronnie resignation "not effective"

26 February 2009
JJB Sports has denied that an agreement has been reached with suspended chief executive Chris Ronnie over his resignation, and said that it was “not effective”.
House of Fraser jobs at risk

26 February 2009
House of Fraser is in consultation with staff over potential jobs cuts as it aims to cut costs at the business.
Tesco teams up with Michelle Mone for lingerie range

26 February 2009
Tesco will launch a lingerie range designed by Michelle Mone, founder of the Ultimo lingerie brand.
Ted Baker appoints non-executive director

26 February 2009
Ted Baker has appointed Ron Stewart as independent non-executive director. Stewart was previously deputy managing director of corporate banking at the Royal Bank of Scotland before he retired in 2003.
Half term shoppers boost West End footfall

24 February 2009
Footfall in London’s West End was up 3% year on year during the school half term holidays last week as the capital proved popular for UK shoppers over the holiday period.
The weekend newspaper roundup: February 21-22

23 February 2009
The best of the fashion business related headlines from the weekend’s newpapers…
Mosaic Fashions gets three month refinancing deadline

23 February 2009
Mosaic Fashions has told auditors KPMG that the business has three months to refinance the group, which runs the Karen Millen, Oasis and Principles chains.
JJB Sports suspends second director

23 February 2009
JJB Sports has suspended its operations director Phil Swaine, less than a month after chief executive Chris Ronnie was also suspended.
LFW confirms new venue

20 February 2009
London Fashion Week will move to a new venue, at London’s Somerset House, in September.
Non-food sales rise 1.6% in January

20 February 2009
Sales volumes for non-food retailers rose by 1.6% in January compared to the previous month.
Sales of summer styles rise at George at Asda

20 February 2009
Sales of summer product including linen and swimwear have rocketed at George at Asda as shoppers prepare for the holiday season.
Kaupthing asks for longer protection from creditors

19 February 2009
Icelandic bank Kaupthing, which is in restructuring talks with Mosaic Fashions, has asked to extend its period of protection from creditors.
Norton Barrie to close its Warrington shop in March

19 February 2009
Cheshire-based premium menswear independent Norton Barrie will close its Warrington store next month after trade dropped off following a revamp of the nearby f the nearby Golden Square shopping centre in Old Market Place.
Moda buyers cut budgets despite strong start to year

19 February 2009
Buyers and exhibitors at mainstream trade show Moda at Birmingham’s NEC this week were in a tentative mood, despite reporting that trade had got off to a robust start this year.
McArthurglen sees January sales boost

19 February 2009
Like-for-like sales at McArthurglen’s seven UK designer outlet centres rose 10% in January compared to the same period last year.
Sasha goes into liquidation

18 February 2009
Irish fashion chain Sasha has gone into liquidation which will result in the closure of its 42 stores and the loss of 300 jobs.
Benetton sales growth slows

18 February 2009
Benetton’s sales growth slowed in the fourth quarter, rising just 2.9%, prompting the Italian fashion chain to warn of a tough year ahead.
No charges for Al Fayed over sexual assault claims

17 February 2009
Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed will not be charged over allegations that he sexually assaulted a 15 year-old girl.
M&S to squeeze suppliers

16 February 2009
Marks & Spencer is understood to have asked suppliers to cut costs as the retailer tries to stem the impact of the slump in the value of the pound and offset the fall in consumer spending.
Liberty unveils revamped store

16 February 2009
Liberty department store unveiled its revamped flagship store on London’s Great Marlborough Street on Sunday.
Henri-Lloyd, Manchester

14 February 2009
Henri-Lloyd’s new Manchester store, which is a relocation from the Triangle Shopping Centre to St Anne’s Square, follows the concept of the brand’s international stores.
Microzine to focus on web after shop closure

12 February 2009
The owner of branded fashion to footwear indie Microzine, which went into administration last week, plans to use its online operation to keep the Liverpool business alive.
Ted Baker launches babywear in Debenhams

12 February 2009
Ted Baker is launching a babywear range in 40 Debenhams stores next week to capitalise on the success of its older kidswear brand Baker by Ted Baker.
Ittierre owner courts buyers for brands

12 February 2009
Ittierre parent company IT Holding is understood to have sent out a sale memorandum document to potential buyers of its Gianfranco Ferré, Malo and Exte brands, after it filed for bankruptcy protection for the Ittierre subsidiary earlier this week.
John Lewis to close Stevenage distribution centre

10 February 2009
John Lewis will close its Stevenage distribution centre next year after it opens a new £45 million centre in Milton Keynes.
Blacks Leisure in talks with potential buyers

10 February 2009
Blacks Leisure, which owns the Blacks, Millets and Freespirit chains, is in discussions over a possible sale of the group.
Original Shoe Co and Qube head for administration

10 February 2009
JJB Sports is set to appoint administrators for its Original Shoe Company and Qube chains
H&M pushes on in UK

9 February 2009
H&M said its UK sales were better than expected last year, and that the UK outperformed its other key European markets.
What the weekend newspapers said: Baugur special

9 February 2009
The best of the news headlines and commentary about the collapse of Baugur from the weekend newspapers…
Anthropologie applies its theory to UK market

7 February 2009
There may be a recession in the UK, but Urban Outfitters is confident that its sister chain Anthropologie’s two London stores will win over shoppers
Henri-Lloyd signs deal to open shops in Middle East

6 February 2009
Lifestyle brand Henri-Lloyd is launching its first stores in the Middle East after signing a deal with a franchise partner to boost its international presence.
TK Maxx in talks to open West End store

6 February 2009
TK Maxx is in talks to open its first store in London’s West End, on Piccadilly Circus.
Pringle sales drop but losses stable

6 February 2009
Sales at Pringle, the luxury knitwear brand, dropped 8.8% last year, although losses at the business remained stable..
Baugur boss slams Landsbanki

5 February 2009
Baugur founder Jon Asgeir Johannesson has attacked Icelandic bank Landsbanki after it petitioned for the investment firm, which has stakes in a host of high street retailers, to be put into administration.
JD's profits to exceed expectations after strong January

4 February 2009
JD Sports Fashion expects profit before tax and exceptional items to exceed market expectations for the year, after strong January trading.
Weekend newspaper round-up: Jan 31- Feb 1

2 February 2009
The best of the fashion business related headlines from the weekend’s newspapers…
Customer takes over Upstairs Downstairs

31 January 2009
North Yorkshire womenswear indie Upstairs Downstairs has relaunched after being bought by a former customer who is hoping to expand the business.
Euro safety net offered by Parkers

31 January 2009
Parkers Fashion Group, which distributes womenswear brands including Airfield, Nice Connection and Sonja Marohn, is drawing up plans to offer retailers a safety net against volatile currencies when paying for autumn 09 stock.
M&S unveils Portfolio for older women

31 January 2009
Marks & Spencer unveils its new sub-brand Portfolio, aimed at women aged 45 and above, this week.
Beales' losses increase

29 January 2009
Beales’ like-for-like sales, excluding VAT, fell 3.3% for the 11 weeks to January 17.
No Sports Direct and JJB Sports merger on cards, OFT says

28 January 2009
The Office of Fair Trading has ruled that Sports Direct’s stakebuilding in rival JJB Sports does not represent a merger situation.
Drapers Awards 2008 - best dressed

27 January 2009
Drapers reporter Laura Jackson checks out the best dressed from the 2008 Drapers Awards.
Retail Trust Ball raises more than £1 million

27 January 2009
The Retail Trust smashed all of its fundraising records with retailers donating just under £1.1 million at the charity’s ball last night.
Primark overtakes George at Asda

26 January 2009
Primark has overtaken George at Asda to become the biggest value fashion retailer.
The weekend newspaper round-up: January 24-25, 2009

26 January 2009
The best of the fashion business headlines from the weekend’s papers…
Lateral Corp to open London showroom

26 January 2009
Lateral Corp, which distributes niche fashion brands WESC, RVCA, Keep and Sabre, is opening a showroom in London to help expand its wholesale business.
New Look owner buys back discounted debt

26 January 2009
New Look co-owner Apax is buying up millions of pounds of discounted debt in the retailer.
Hackett at Pitti Uomo

26 January 2009
Drapers’ Marino Donati talks key looks and buying confidence with Hackett at menswear show Pitti Uomo.
Aquascutum at Pitti Uomo

26 January 2009
Drapers’ Marino Donati talks business and trends with Aquascutum at menswear show Pitti Uomo.
Matalan plans to expand

24 January 2009
Matalan is planning to restart its store opening programme after the value chain bucked the retail gloom with a strong Christmas trading performance.
Moss Bros appoints Brick as interim chief

24 January 2009
Moss Bros shareholders and leading menswear figures have welcomed the appointment of Brian Brick as interim chief executive of the menswear chain this week, following Philip Mountford’s resignation.
UK numbers fall at Pitti Uomo

24 January 2009
The number of UK visitors dropped by 20% compared with last year at the autumn 09 edition of menswear show Pitti Uomo.
McArthurGlen lures bargain hunters

24 January 2009
Bargain-hunting shoppers helped designer outlet business McArthurGlen buck the high street trend this Christmas, with sales up 4% on a like-for-like basis.
Debenhams appoints financial adviser

23 January 2009
Debenhams has appointed financial adviser Lazard to reorganise its debt and capital structure.
Harrods chief executive exits

23 January 2009
Harrods chief executive James McArthur has left the luxury department store business less than a year after taking on the role.
Stylo explores options as margins are hit

23 January 2009
Stylo has warned of challenging trading as margins at the footwear business are impacted by the tough economic environment.
Chinese retailer set to buy Greenwoods as it prepares to appoint administrators

22 January 2009
Greenwoods Menswear has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, but it is understood that the company is in talks to sell the business to Chinese stakeholder Bosideng International.
Retail stock is favourite with short sellers

22 January 2009
Investors in retail shares are betting on further gloom in the sector, as short selling positions in retail shares have doubled since November.
Bread & Butter brands play it safe with trends

22 January 2009
Trends at the Bread & Butter exhibition in Barcelona have been on the safe side so far, with denim collections to cover all bases, industrial-look influences and only some 80s inspired styles.
Hugo Boss could cut up to 150 jobs

22 January 2009
Hugo Boss could axe head office jobs in Germany as part of a management restructuring, according to reports.
JJB Sports to pay £8.3m to postpone loan repayment

20 January 2009
JJB Sports will have to pay £8.3 million to postpone repayment of its debts under the terms of agreement with lenders.
More retailers on critical list

20 January 2009
The rate of retail failures is expected to rise sharply in 2009, as the number of businesses in distress soared at the end of last year.
Weekend Roundup: January 17-18, 2009

19 January 2009
The top fashion stories from the weekend’s newspapers…
Boardsports brands deny claims sector has dived

17 January 2009
Boardsports brands and retailers have hit back at claims from Blacks Leisure chief executive Neil Gillis that the sector has “had its time”.
Young fashion defies downturn

17 January 2009
Young fashion retailers were among the winners over the Christmas period, with several posting like-for-like sales rises as their core customers were less impacted by the economic downturn.
Pitti Uomo wraps up

16 January 2009
UK visitors were few and far between at the autumn 09 edition of Pitti Uomo, the Florence-based menswear show which comes to a close today.
JJB Sports - share scandal and trading update

13 January 2009
JJB Sports is investigating why its chief executive Chris Ronnie failed to inform the company until yesterday that his stake in the business had been transferred to the administrators of Icelandic bank Kaupthing at some point last year. Separately JJB warned it would rack up losses of between £5 million and £10m for the year ended January 25.
Weekend Newspaper Round up: January 10-11

12 January 2009
The best of the fashion business related headlines from the weekend newspapers…
BRC calls for business rate freeze as retailers face £7bn bill

12 January 2009
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is calling for a freeze on business rate increases as firms face a potential £7 billion bill under government proposals to increase levies.
East to target new markets after Fabindia buys 25% stake

9 January 2009
East will target emerging markets after Indian retailer Fabindia bought a 25% stake in the womenswear business.
Barry Bown on JD Sports Fashion's strong Xmas performance

9 January 2009
JD Sports Fashion chief executive Barry Bown talks to Drapers about beating expectations, differentiating your offer and brand relationships.
Debenhams non-executive director to leave board

9 January 2009
Debenhams non-executive director Richard Gillingwater will step down from the board.
John Lewis sales soar 27.4%

9 January 2009
John Lewis had a bumper start to its Clearance as sales soared 27.4% for the week to January 3.
Bargain hunting web shoppers boost Christmas sales

9 January 2009
Bargain hunting shoppers spent £102 million online on Christmas Day, an increase of 21% on last year.
Ray Kelvin on Xmas trading and the coming year

8 January 2009
Ted Baker chief executive Ray Kelvin tells Drapers about Sales promotions, shoppers trading up and international expansion.
Non-food growth good as Sainsbury's reports best Christmas ever

8 January 2009
Sainsbury's non-food offer showed 'good growth' as like-for-like sales at the chain rose 3.9% for the 13 weeks to January 3.
Neil Gillis on the Blacks Leisure 2009 turnaround

7 January 2009
Blacks Leisure chief executive Neil Gillis talks to Drapers about premium outdoorwear, own label clothing and the future of the boardsports market in 2009.
Peter Williams: JJB Sports must redefine its positioning

7 January 2009
JJB Sports will fight to create a clear focus and positioning for the business in 2009, according to newly appointed strategic development director Peter Williams.
Buying and merchandising bosses first casualties of M&S cuts

7 January 2009
Senior buying and merchandising roles are some of the first to be hit in Marks & Spencer’s plans to cut 450 head office jobs.
Blacks Leisure issues profit warning

7 January 2009
Like-for-like sales at Blacks Leisure dropped 3.9% for the six weeks to January 3, as the group’s boardsports division performance dived.
Chester Barrie to launch wholesale collection

6 January 2009
Savile Row tailoring business Chester Barrie is returning to the wholesale market, with a ready-to-wear premium tailoring collection.
Rob Templeman on Debenhams in 2009

6 January 2009
Debenhams chief executive Rob Templeman and deputy chief executive Michael Sharp talk consumer confidence, promotional activity and currency issues.
Bruce Montgomery to leave Daks

6 January 2009
Daks menswear design director Bruce Montgomery is leaving the company after more than 12 years.
Record smashing Xmas for Republic

6 January 2009
Republic is on track to post record profits after like-for-like sales soared 6.8% over the Christmas period.
One in 10 high street stores will be empty by February

6 January 2009
One in 10 shops on the high street will be empty by the end of next month, as retailers go into administration or dispose of stores in the economic downturn according to Experian.
Debenhams posts robust Xmas performance

6 January 2009
Like-for-like sales at Debenhams dropped 3.3% for the 12 weeks since October 21, as the department store reported a robust performance over over the Christmas trading period.
Viyella in talks over future of the business

5 January 2009
Classic womenswear business Viyella is in talks with shareholders and investors about the future of the company.
Negative trading statements hit three-year high

5 January 2009
The number of negative trading statements from listed retailers at the end of last year is the highest in three years.
John Lewis sales rise 2.4%

5 January 2009
Sales at John Lewis were up 2.4%, excluding VAT, with flat like-for-likes for the five weeks to January 3.
Weekend news roundup: January 3-4

5 January 2009
The best fashion news stories from the weekend’s papers…
Retail rents fall for first time in 15 years

5 January 2009
Retail rents fell last year, for the first time in 15 years and are unlikely to pick up for the next five years.
Marks & Spener expected to report worst Christmas in a decade

5 January 2009
Marks & Spencer is expected to report its worst Christmas trading in a decade and one of its worst performances in 80 years on Wednesday, according to reports.
Christmas trade better than expected at Liberty

5 January 2009
Sales at upmarket department store Liberty for the first ten months of 2008 were ahead of the same period the previous year, as Christmas trade exceeded expectations.
Oxfam donations hit by recession

23 December 2008
Donations to Oxfam have slumped as people opt to hang on to clothes in the recession.
JJB Sports shuts Qube stores

22 December 2008
JJB Sports has closed a raft of its Qube stores this morning - just three days before Christmas - fuelling speculation about the long term future of the footwear chain.
Marks & Spencer signs Marie Helvin as face of sub-brand

22 December 2008
Marks & Spencer has signed up model Marie Helvin to be the face of its new Portfolio sub-brand.
The Officers Club put up for sale

22 December 2008
Discount menswear chain The Officers Club has appointed KPMG to find a buyer for the business.
John Lewis sales boosted by last-minute shoppers

22 December 2008
John Lewis is expecting a bumper trading day today, after week-on-week sales rose 1.3% to Saturday December 20. Against last year, sales were down 1.8%.
Stocks plummet in year of turmoil

19 December 2008
In a tumultuous year for the UK economy, fashion stocks took the brunt of a major downturn in consumer confidence, while City confidence in the sector’s stocks also hit rock bottom.
OFT to probe JJB Sports' sale of stores to Sports Direct

19 December 2008
The Office of Fair trading (OFT) is inviting representations relating to Sports Direct's acquisition of a number of stores from rival JJB Sports.
Insolvency rules set to change

19 December 2008
New insolvency regulations to come into force next year are aiming to tackle controversial 'pre-pack' sales of businesses in administration.
Suits You owner injects cash into Pal Zileri label

19 December 2008
Luxury menswear label Pal Zileri is to open flagship stores in Europe and the US, after Arafa Holding, owner of menswear chain Suits You, pumped €25.3 million (£22.6m) into the Italian business.
Pentland takes slice of Gio-Goi

19 December 2008
Brand house Pentland Brands has bought a 20% stake in streetwear label Gio-Goi in a deal that has provided a much-needed confidence boost to the sector.
Kidswear helps fashion sales at John Lewis

19 December 2008
John Lewis sales were down 6% for the week to December 13 compared to the same week last year. The business said that after allowing for the VAT reduction, the fall was 4%.
John Lewis makes senior appointments

18 December 2008
John Lewis Partnership has appointed Patrick Lewis to the board as he becomes Partners’ Counsellor, and Gareth Thomas has been appointed retail director.
Non-food retail sales drop 0.3%

18 December 2008
Sales at non-food stores decreased by 0.3% in the three months from September to November, compared to the previous three months, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Sports Direct to cut back on stakebuilding

18 December 2008
Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley has said that the sportswear group will 'do less strategic stakes' in other companies.
Retailers must adapt to survive, says Mandelson

18 December 2008
Retailers cannot rely on government bail outs and must expect an increasingly competitive market, business minister Peter Mandelson has warned.
Xmas Sales watch: Nearly half of retailers discounting

18 December 2008
Almost half of high street retailers are now on Sale or discounting in the run up to Christmas.
Don McCarthy steps down from Moss Bros board

18 December 2008
Moss Bros non-executive director Don McCarthy has stepped down from his role at the menswear business.
BRC gives retailers documents to help switch to monthly rents

17 December 2008
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is providing retailers with a draft letter and deed to ask landlords to switch from paying rents quarterly to monthly.
M&S profit forecast cut on sales slump fears

17 December 2008
Marks & Spencer's profit-before-tax forecast has been cut by 7% by retail analyst Pali International after speculation that sales had slumped by as much as 25% last week.
Zara sets sights on UK expansion

17 December 2008
Fast-fashion chain Zara plans to open more stores and increase profitability in the UK after sales rose almost 18% for the year to January 31 2008.
Sports Direct boosted by international sales

17 December 2008
Sports Direct sales rose 2.9% to £687.7m for the 26 weeks to October 26, boosted by international sales. UK retail sales dropped 1.6% to £510.1m.
Debenhams to launch 5-day 50% off Sale tomorrow

16 December 2008
Debenhams will launch a 5-day Sale with up to 50% off tomorrow, in the final run up to Christmas.
West End shoppers spent £50 million last weekend

16 December 2008
Shoppers spent around £50 million in London's West End last weekend, as high street retailers ramped up pre-Christmas discounting.
Indies told time is right to push for better leases

16 December 2008
Independent retailers are being urged to push for better tenant leases as the amount of empty retail space in shopping centres and high streets is set to increase with the economic downturn.
House of Fraser wins monthly rent battle

15 December 2008
House of Fraser has struck a deal with landlords to pay rent on a monthly rather than quarterly basis.
John Lewis boosted by Mega Monday

15 December 2008
Sales at John Lewis rose 6% week-on-week for the week ended December 13 but fell 4% on last year.
Envy bought out of administration

12 December 2008
Envy has been bought out of administration by new company Envy Retail.
Footfall up at Bluewater

12 December 2008
Footfall at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent was up by 6.2% last month, compared to November last year.
Marks & Spencer's director of communications and CSR to leave

12 December 2008
Marks & Spencer's director of communications and CSR Flic Howard-Allen, is leaving the retailer.
London Fashion Week line up announced

12 December 2008
London Fashion Week has announced its provisional schedule for the the next event in February, which will include Twenty8Twelve, Sienna and Savannah Miller's brand, for the first time.
Analysts cut price targets for JJB Sports

12 December 2008
Analysts have cut price targets for JJB Sports and recommended that investors sell shares, in the wake of deteriorating trade.
Women’s refit at John Lewis

12 December 2008
John Lewis will launch the blueprint for a more “fashion-centric” womenswear floor next autumn.
Xmas Sale watch: House of Fraser slashes prices by 50%

11 December 2008
House of Fraser has slashed selected prices by up to 50% in its pre-Christmas Sale which launched today.
Blacks agrees deal to exit O'Neill wholesale

10 December 2008
Blacks Leisure has agreed a deal to transfer its UK O'Neill wholesale business to O'Neill Europe.
Xmas Sale watch: Marks & Spencer slashes 30% off clothing

9 December 2008
Marks & Spencer will slash up to 30% off some clothing from Thursday as part of a range of promotions in the run up to Christmas.
Urban Outfitters appoints European chief operating officer

8 December 2008
Urban Outfitters has appointed a new chief operating officer for the the group's European business.
JD Sports Fashion sales take a hit

8 December 2008
Sales growth at JD Sports Fashion has been hit by the economic downturn over the past two months, with the group reporting a 1% drop in like-for-like sales for the 11 weeks to November 9, compared with a 12.9% increase for the same period last year.
Jobs axed as Moss Bros cuts costs in downturn

8 December 2008
Moss Bros will have made 20% of its head office staff redundant by the end of year as the retailer looks to cut costs to beat the economic downturn.
Republic vows to focus on product

8 December 2008
Branded young fashion chain Republic said improved product value, customer service and burgeoning online sales would help it gain market share, after like-for-like sales stalled.
Reiss ponders entry price cut to tempt customers

8 December 2008
Premium business Reiss will look to broaden its customer base next year to beat the economic downturn.
Shopper numbers dip despite weekend discounting

8 December 2008
Shopper numbers dropped 1.7% over the weekend compared with last year, despite big price cuts across the high street.
Musto, Brighton

8 December 2008
The 35-year-old sailing brand makes the most of its rugged reputation with an in-store revamp.
The weekend newspaper round up - December 6-7

8 December 2008
The best of the fashion business related headlines from the weekend's papers...
1.5 million shoppers hit London's West End

8 December 2008
More than 1.5 million shoppers visited London's West End on Saturday, when Oxford Street and Regent Street were closed to traffic.
John Lewis online sees record sales

8 December 2008
Sales at John Lewis stores rose 20% last week, compared to the previous week, and online sales hit record levels.
Hugo Boss appoints new UK managing director

4 December 2008
Hugo Boss has promoted UK managing director Hans Schmitt to senior vice president of Hugo Boss Europe and the Middle East, and appointed a new UK boss.
Gap sales drop in November

4 December 2008
International like-for-like sales at Gap, which includes its UK stores, dropped 6% in November, compared to a 1% uplift the previous year.
John Lewis trade picks up

4 December 2008
Sales at John Lewis saw a uplift for the first half of this week, boosted by Christmas gifts.
Drapers Etail Awards 2009 shortlist revealed

4 December 2008
The shortlist of entries for the inaugural Drapers Etail Awards 2009 in January has been unveiled.
Primark and Ted Baker scoop property awards

4 December 2008
Primark, Ted Baker and Bristol’s Cabot Circus shopping centre picked up prizes at last night’s British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) Gold Awards.
Marks & Spencer to repeat one-day Sale tomorrow

3 December 2008
Marks & Spencer has confirmed it plans to hold a second one-day Sale tomorrow.
Uniqlo considers UK acquisitions

3 December 2008
Japanese chain Uniqlo is understood to be scouting for potential UK acquisitions.
Canali to exit Pitti Uomo

3 December 2008
Long-term Pitti Uomo exhibitor Canali is pulling out of the Florence menswear trade show.
Republic profits and sales rise

2 December 2008
EBITDA at young branded fashion chain Republic rose 30.3% to £17.2 million for the 52 weeks to January 27. However the business said that Christmas and next year would be 'challenging'.
What the weekend newspapers said... (November 28-29)

1 December 2008
The best of the fashion business related headlines from the weekend newspapers...
Retailers confirm first victory in monthly rent battle

1 December 2008
Landlords have agreed details of plans to allow smaller chains and independent retailers to pay their rents on a monthly basis.
Early VAT price cuts lifts John Lewis sales

1 December 2008
Sales at John Lewis rose 10% for the week to November 29, compared with the previous week but sales were down 13% against the same week the previous year.
Julia Calabrese

27 November 2008
Designer discount outlet company McArthurGlen’s UK chief executive is hoping to cash in on the recession by offering customers a fix of top-end labels at bargain prices
Designers join forces with The Greenwich Boutique

25 November 2008
A collective of London-based designers has opened The Greenwich Boutique in south-east London from which to showcase their labels.
US chains’ profits dip

24 November 2008
US department stores experienced a drop in sales over the past few months as consumer confidence dipped.
Shop around for a deal

24 November 2008
Retailers could gain the upper hand in terms of rent negotiations if developers struggle to fill new shopping centres.
Selfridges appoints finance director

20 November 2008
Selfridges has appointed John Edgar as finance director.
Drapers Fashion Summit: New Look chairman calls for goverment incentives to boost ethical trading

19 November 2008
New Look executive chairman Phil Wrigley has called on the government to give retailers more incentives to improve ethical trading practices.
Drapers Fashion Summit: Developer calls for retailer and landlord partnership

19 November 2008
Major retail property company Land Securities called for retailers and landlords to work together to promote turnover-based rent deals to help both groups get through the economic downturn.
Drapers Fashion Summit: M&S will fight for shopper spend this Christmas

19 November 2008
Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose said that the retailer would have to fight for limited shopper spend this Christmas as the company prepared for its first pre-Christmas Sale promotion in four years tomorrow.
Drapers Fashion Summit: Karen Millen aims to double international sales

18 November 2008
Karen Millen plans to double the size of its international business in the next 5 years, following a strong year of growth.
John Lewis sales drop 14%

18 November 2008
Sales at John Lewis dropped 14% for the week to November 15, with fashion sales also taking a downturn following comparatively mild weather.
West End October footfall defies national drop

18 November 2008
Footfall in London's West End was down 0.8% in October, compared to the previous year. However, the figures defied the national average fall of 6.6%, according to The New West End Company.
London sales drop biggest for three years

17 November 2008
Like-for-like retail sales in central London dropped 1.8% in October, the biggest fall in three years, according to the London Retail Consortium.
M&S to reshuffle womenswear team

17 November 2008
Marks & Spencer is planning a reorganisation of its womenswear division, according to reports.
Claire's appoints European president

14 November 2008
Claire's has appointed a former Levi Strauss vice president, Kenny Wilson, as European president of the accessories business.
JJB Sports determined to roll out new store concept

14 November 2008
JJB Sports plans to roll out its “new era” storefit despite its recent financial difficulties, after recording an average sales uplift of 7% at revamped stores.
Arev management in shock exit

14 November 2008
Four key partners at investment firm Arev, which has stakes in Cruise, Jones Bootmaker, Mountain Warehouse and Blooming Marvellous, have resigned, but are expected to remain as board directors of its related retail investments to support the management teams.
Moss Hire tempts Green in downturn

14 November 2008
Sir Philip Green is likely to put Moss Bros Hire into his Burton chain if he goes ahead with a full bid for the menswear retailer.
What’s in a name?

13 November 2008
Despite arguments over their effectiveness, celebrity and designer tie-ups continue to generate sales for multiples.
What the weekend newspapers said November 8-9

10 November 2008
The best of the fashion business related headlines from the weekend's newspapers...
Westfield London hits West End visitor numbers

10 November 2008
Shopper numbers in the West End have been hit by the opening of the Westfield London shopping centre in White City.
Beales director leaves

10 November 2008
Beales sales director Neil Jones has left the department store group.
Debenhams MD exits in reshuffle

7 November 2008
Debenhams managing director Angela Spindler will leave the company as the department store group revamps its management team to fight the economic downturn.
Westfield stores hail success of first week

7 November 2008
The first week of trading at the new Westfield London scheme in London’s White City has been labelled a success by retailers, after half a million shoppers went through its doors in the first four days.
Profits and sales up at Peacocks

7 November 2008
Gross profit at Peacocks rose 11.4% for the past five weeks, as like-for-like sales rose 7.3%.
Christmas sales growth predicted to be flat

7 November 2008
Sales growth will stall this Christmas, according to research from Mintel.
M&S cashes in on Sex and the City

7 November 2008
Marks & Spencer's tie-up with Sex and the City stylist Patricia Field is understood to have netted the retailer about £1 million in sales in its first five days – one of the few bright spots for the high street retailer after it reported a 34% slide in profits this week.
Gap sales dip in October

6 November 2008
Like-for-like sales at Gap Inc dropped 16% in October, with international like-for-like sales, mostly in the UK, down 5%.
Bank of England cuts interest rate to 3 percent

6 November 2008
The Bank of England has cut interest rates by 1.5 percentage points to 3%, giving retailers a boost in the run up to Christmas.
Intersport UK appoints general manager

6 November 2008
Intersport UK has appointed Barry Mellis as general manager.
Moss launches credit crunch suit

5 November 2008
Moss is launching a 'credit crunch' suit, shirt and tie package for £49.
Liberty appoints buying director

5 November 2008
Liberty has appointed Edwin Burstell as buying director from luxury US department store Bergdorf Goodman.
Cos to open in London's Covent Garden

5 November 2008
Cos will open its third UK store in London's Covent Garden next spring.
Retail bosses promote West End traffic free day

5 November 2008
M&S chairman Sir Stuart Rose, Jaeger owner Harold Tillman and John lewis chairman Charlie Mayfield were among the retail bosses who joined London Mayor Boris Johnson at London’s Oxford Circus this morning to promote the West End’s traffic-free day on December 6.
Marchpole shares suspended

4 November 2008
Share trading in fashion supply group Marchpole has been suspended.
Forecast hits M&S shares

4 November 2008
Shares at Marks & Spencer fell to below 217p this week after an analyst downgrade ahead of the retailer’s interim results next week.
Margins threatened by volatile currencies

4 November 2008
Retailers are facing massive hits on margins after the value of the pound plummeted further against the dollar and euro.
John Lewis Bluewater to get £20m revamp

4 November 2008
John Lewis will spend £20 million to refurbish its store at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent.
Primark profits to rise as M&S profits slump

3 November 2008
Primark is expected to reveal an 18% increase in profits tomorrow while Marks & Spencer is expected to announce a 35% slump in its profits.
Suits You launches website

3 November 2008
Suits You has launched a transactional website and opened a new store in Westfield London.
Moss Bros appoints buying director

31 October 2008
Moss Bros has appointed Paul Sheldon from Burton as buying director.
Westfield London gets 160,000 visitors on opening day

31 October 2008
Around 160,000 people visited the Westfield London shopping centre in White City on its opening day yesterday.
Blacks Leisure in talks to ditch O'Neill wholesale

31 October 2008
Pre-tax losses at Blacks Leisure more than doubled to £6.7 million for the 26 weeks to August 30 and the retailer said it was in talks to terminate its O'Neill wholesale licence early.
Westfield London's Luxury Village disappoints retailers

30 October 2008
Ted Baker and House of Fraser bosses have expressed disappointment at the launch of The Luxury Village area at the new Westfield London development today after only a handful of retailers opened.
House of Fraser openings boost sales

30 October 2008
Sales at House of Fraser rose 2.7% for the 39 weeks to October 25, boosted by new stores in Belfast and High Wycombe.
House of Fraser openings boost sales

30 October 2008
Sales at House of Fraser rose 2.7% for the 39 weeks to October 25, boosted by new stores in Belfast and High Wycombe.
Westfield - London's retail showdown

29 October 2008
The scrap for the capital’s retail spend will intensify when the massive Westfield London scheme opens.
Marks & Spencer shares plummet on trading fears

29 October 2008
Marks & Spencer's share price took a drop yesterday after Pali International downgraded the retailer's shares to sell.
Gap turns off TV ads

28 October 2008
Gap is dropping TV advertising as part of a number of initiatives it is implementing to manage costs and improve profitability at the group’s brands.
Kidswear drive at Debenhams

28 October 2008
Debenhams is aiming to take market share from mid-market kidswear retailers such as Next with a new own-label kidswear brand in autumn next year.
Arcadia cashes in on younger customers

28 October 2008
Young fashion chains Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge were star performers for Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group, posting record sales and profits for the year. However, operating profit dropped 6.1% to £275.3 million for the year ended August 30.
Selfridges cheaper than European rivals

28 October 2008
London offers the best deals for European shoppers as the pound dives against the Euro, according to department store Selfridges.
Louis Vuitton to miss Westfield London launch

27 October 2008
Louis Vuitton is among a raft of luxury retailers that will miss the opening of Westfield London, the new shopping centre in White City, on Thursday.
Credit squeeze spooks suppliers

24 October 2008
Brands and suppliers are facing a credit insurance crisis due to the banking meltdown. Will a supplier shake-out follow?
Landlords give indies monthly rents

23 October 2008
Major landlords are preparing plans to allow smaller retailers to pay rent on a monthly basis.
George Davies predicts more high street casualties

22 October 2008
George Davies, founder of George at Asda and Marks & Spencer's Per Una collection, has predicted more casualties on the high street.
Hurley opens pair of Liverpool franchises

22 October 2008
North west-based young fashion independent Hurley will open two franchise stores for Henri-Lloyd and Lacoste at the Liverpool One shopping centre next month.
JD set to double fashion stores in JJB Sports deal

20 October 2008
JD Sports Fashion could double the size of its fashion division if talks with JJB Sports to buy its Original Shoe Company (OSC) and Qube chains result in a deal.
The big energy switch off

20 October 2008
Retailers are under increasing pressure to rethink their energy strategies as costs soar.
Tommy Hilfiger sales rise

20 October 2008
Tommy Hilfiger's sales rose 30.5% to €755 million (£582.5m) for the six months to September 30.
Marks & Spencer to cut jobs

20 October 2008
Marks & Spencer will cut head office jobs after scaling back its expansion plans.
Sports Direct buys 4.7% stake in JJB Sports

20 October 2008
Sports Direct has splashed out £3.4m for a 4.7% stake in its struggling rival JJB Sports.
Liverpool One moves into 'premier league' in retail ranking

17 October 2008
The Liverpool One shopping development has overtaken Nottingham in Experian's retail ranking, a league table of the UK's top retail locations.
Marks & Spencer makes board appointment

16 October 2008
Marks & Spencer has appointed Jan du Plessis as non-executive director from November 1.
JJB makes board changes

15 October 2008
JJB Sports has appointed non-executive director David Jones into the new role of deputy chairman, which will see him focus on the company's retail operations.
JD Sports Fashion in talks to buy JJB lifestyle chains

14 October 2008
JD Sports Fashion is understood to be close to buying JJB’s Original Shoe Company and Qube chains.
Sunnucks adds European expansion to Gap remit

14 October 2008
Gap's European president Stephen Sunnucks been appointed to the new role of president of Europe and international strategic alliances.
JJB Sports could offload OSC and Qube

14 October 2008
JJB Sports could sell off some of its non-core assets including its Original Shoe Company and Qube chains as part of a review at the sportswear group.
House of Fraser reiterates Icelandic crisis will have no impact

13 October 2008
House of Fraser chairman Don McCarthy has said for a second time that the Icelandic economic crisis will have no impact on the strength of the UK department store business.
Weekend newspaper round up - Oct 11-12

13 October 2008
The best fashion business related headlines from the weekend's newspapers...
Baugur chairman admits Green deal would lose him control of group

13 October 2008
Baugur founder Jon Asgeir Johannesson appeared on Icelandic television yesterday and admitted he would lose control of the retail investment group, which owns Mosaic Fashions and House of Fraser, if Sir Philip Green goes ahead with a deal to buy the retail group’s Icelandic debt.
Hardy Amies appoints administrators

10 October 2008
Hardy Amies has gone into administration.
Sale talk at Karstadt

10 October 2008
The future of German department store business Karstadt looks uncertain after parent company Arcandor said it was considering selling off some of its assets.
Ted Baker cooks up a sales rise

10 October 2008
Sales at Ted Baker stores rose 17.5% to £53.3 millon in the first half of the year as shoppers traded up in the credit crunch.
Greenwoods agrees deal to roll out Bosideng in UK

10 October 2008
Classic menswear chain Greenwoods plans to open up to 100 UK stores under the Bosideng fascia after Chinese clothing giant Bosideng International agreed to buy a 50% stake in the company.
British Council launches competition for young fashion entrepreneurs

10 October 2008
The British Council is launching a competition for young fashion entrepreneurs to win funding to develop a project in collaboration with Indian fashion partners.
Coface pulls insurance for Baugur suppliers

10 October 2008
Credit insurance company Coface has withdrawn cover for suppliers to several Baugur-owned companies following the banking crisis in Iceland.
Concessions hit by energy bill demands

10 October 2008
Department stores House of Fraser and Debenhams have written to suppliers asking them to help pay their soaring utility costs.
Alexon non-executive director retires

10 October 2008
Alexon Group non-executive director John Herbert has retired from the board.
Baugur insists UK interests will are safe

10 October 2008
Baugur, which has interests in major high street retailers including House of Fraser and Mosaic, has said that its UK portfolio will not be affected by the Icelandic banking crisis.
International sales rise at Gap in September

10 October 2008
Like-for-like sales at Gap dropped 11% for the five weeks to October 4, but international like-for-like sales rose 3%.
Icelandic government takes control of Kaupthing

9 October 2008
Icelandic bank Kaupthing, which is connected to a raft of UK high street retailers, has been taken over by the Icelandic government.
Bank of England cuts interest rate to 4.5 percent

8 October 2008
The Bank of England has cut interest rates by 0.5 percentage points to 4.5 per cent.
Animal appoints new chief executive

7 October 2008
Boardsports business Animal has appointed Kevin Keaney as chief executive.
BSSA calls for retailer input on sales monitor

7 October 2008
The British Shops and Stores Association (BSSA) is calling for input from independent non-food retailers for its quarterly sales monitor.
Publisher to launch members-only designer website

6 October 2008
Luxury private-sale website Cocosa will launch later this month selling premium brands at discounted prices.
Baugur says Icelandic crisis will have no impact

6 October 2008
Baugur has rejected speculation for the second time in a week that the banking crisis in Iceland will affect its UK investments.
Weekend roundup for Oct 4 and 5

6 October 2008
The best news stories from the weekend's papers...
Baugur fears grow after turmoil in Iceland

6 October 2008
Concerns have grown about Baugur's investments in the UK retail sector as the economic turmoil in Iceland mounts.
JJB Sports suppliers' credit insurance pulled

6 October 2008
Credit insurance company Coface has withdrawn cover for suppliers to JJB Sports.
Flying start for Bristol’s Cabot Circus

3 October 2008
With the UK economy on a tightrope, the 150 stores in Bristol’s new mall are confident the scheme is on a surer footing.
Drapers launches e-tail awards 2009 website

3 October 2008
Drapers, in association with Venda and PayPal, is proud to announce the launch of our new awards scheme dedicated to the fastest-growing sector of the fashion retail market - etail.
Own-label push for JJB Sports

3 October 2008
JJB Sports has appointed former JD Sports design head Darran Medley as head of product development as part of a bid to double own-brand sales.
Credit crisis hits home on high street

3 October 2008
The UK high street is bracing itself for a collapse in consumer confidence and more retail casualties due to the impact of the global financial crisis.
Blacks expects losses to increase

3 October 2008
Blacks Leisure says it expects losses to increase to £4.5m for the first half of the year.
Greenwoods menswear to roll out Bosideng stores in UK in Chinese joint venture

2 October 2008
Menswear chain Greenwoods plans to open up to 100 UK stores under the Bosideng fascia after the Chinese retailer and manufacturer Bosideng International bought a 50% stake in the company.
Ted Baker profits rise 5.4%

2 October 2008
Ted Baker’s profit before tax rose 5.4% to £7.4 million for the 28 weeks to August 9.
M&S cuts costs as like-for-like sales fall 6.1%

2 October 2008
UK like-for-like sales at Marks & Spencer dropped 6.1% for the 13 weeks to September 27, and the retailer has cut back spending.
Baugur boss rejects speculation over UK retail assets

1 October 2008
Baugur has rejected speculation that it will be impacted by the nationalisation of Icelandic bank Glitnir, and the administration of Stodir, controlled by Baugur chairman Jon Asgeir Johanesson.
Hardy Amies plans to appoint administrator

1 October 2008
Hardy Amies has filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator after failing to agree a rescue deal for the business.
Shop Direct to axe jobs

1 October 2008
Mail order business Shop Direct Group is to axe around 100 roles at its head office in Speke, Liverpool as part of a management restructure.
H&M like-for-likes are flat as sales slow in August

30 September 2008
Total sales at H&M rose 12% for first nine months of the year, but like for like sales over the period were flat.
Baugur investor files for administration

29 September 2008
Icelandic investment firm Stodir, controlled by Baugur executive chairman Jon Asgeir Johanesson, has filed for administration.
Weekend news roundup September 27 to 28

29 September 2008
The top news stories from the weekend's papers from the weekend of September 27-28, 2008.
Hugo Boss launches UK website

29 September 2008
Hugo Boss has launched its first transactional UK website.
Weekend news roundup September 27 to 28

29 September 2008
The best fashion retail stories from the weekend's papers...
Liberty of London appoints new sales director

29 September 2008
Liberty has appointed Fabio Guidetti as director of sales and international business for its standalone Liberty of London store and brand.
JJB rejects claims of breached banking covenants

26 September 2008
JJB Sports has denied claims that it breached banking covenants.
Fashion boosts Laura Ashley sales

26 September 2008
UK fashion sales helped to boost overall performance at Laura Ashley, rising 6.7% like-for-like, and by 23.9% in total for the 26 weeks to July 26.
Hardy Amies' future uncertain

26 September 2008
The future of Hardy Amies is uncertain after its major stakeholder failed to supply further funding.
Pamela Scott lauches a new flagship in Limerick

26 September 2008
Irish branded womenswear chain Pamela Scott has launched a new flagship store concept in Limerick City as it looks to push its own-label product.
Weird Fish to land new MD

26 September 2008
Former Animal chief executive John Stockton has been appointed managing director of lifestyle brand Weird Fish.
JJB plots an indie-style OSC revamp

26 September 2008
Chris Lee, the managing director of JJB Sports’ lifestyle division, has kicked off a charm offensive with brands and suppliers outlining his vision to revamp Original Shoe Company into a ‘premium’ and ‘independent-style’ chain.
Harvey Nichols opens Bristol store

24 September 2008
Harvey Nichols opened its Bristol store in the new Cabot Circus shopping centre this afternoon.
Fashion sales rise at Laura Ashley

24 September 2008
Sales at Laura Ashley rose 5.5% to £120.2m for the 26 weeks to July 26. Profit before tax and exceptional items was up 13% to £4.5m.
The weekend newspaper round up (September 20-21)

22 September 2008
The best of the fashion business related headlines from the weekend's newspapers...
Early success at Highcross mall

12 September 2008
About 400,000 shoppers descended on Leicester’s new Highcross shopping centre over its opening weekend.
House of Fraser’s premium menswear concept lands in Glasgow

12 September 2008
House of Fraser this week unveiled the blueprint for its menswear departments with the launch of an entire floor dedicated to premium men’s brands in its Glasgow store.
Attic Clothing, Aberdeen

11 September 2008
The popular Scottish young fashion indie’s complex puzzle of a revamp has won both plaudits and sales.
George at Asda shuns celebrities for real women

8 September 2008
George at Asda has revamped its image with a new logo and a 'real people' marketing campaign.
Profits soar at Esprit

5 September 2008
Profits at young fashion brand and retailer Esprit rose 24.5% to HK$6.5 billion (£460m) for the year to June 30.
Out-of-town retailers to cash in on trading boom

5 September 2008
Fashion retailers such as Next, New Look, TK Maxx and Matalan are set to benefit from a predicted sales boom at out-of-town shopping centres over the next five years.
Cecil Gee put up for sale by Moss Bros

5 September 2008
Moss Bros has put its designer branded men’s casualwear chain Cecil Gee up for sale. It is understood that the 13-store chain is being touted around as the menswear group looks to refocus on its core Moss chain and franchise operations.
New owners to give Monkey a makeover nownership

2 September 2008
Young fashion independent Monkey has been bought by two former customers who plan to give the store an overhaul and new website.
Irish retail sales fall in June

2 September 2008
Retail sales volumes in the Republic of Ireland dropped 5.2% in June compared with the same month last year, as the credit crunch took hold.
Moss Bros rolls out store refits

2 September 2008
Moss Bros will put its London Oxford Street store concept into 30 more of its Moss shops next year, after revamped stores averaged a 20% sales uplift.
Designer labels clamber to open on Mount Street

2 September 2008
French luxury label Lanvin and German designer brand Wunderkind are the latest names to sign up for stores on Mount Street in London’s Mayfair.
White Stuff heads overseas

2 September 2008
Lifestyle retailer White Stuff will launch its wholesale offer into Denmark, Norway and Germany this spring, which will be its first markets outside the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Jil Sander sold to Japanese clothing group

1 September 2008
Jil Sander's private equity owner Change Capital is to sell the brand to Japanese clothing group Onward Holdings for €167 million (£135.4m). Onward's European subsidiary Gibo, will take over the business.
What the weekend newspapers said (August 30-31)

1 September 2008
The best of the fashion business headlines from the weekend newspapers...
Profits rise at PPR

29 August 2008
Luxury group PPR reported sales growth of 11.8% to €9.58 billion (£7.7bn) for the half year to June 30.
Profits rise at PPR

29 August 2008
Luxury group PPR reported sales growth of 11.8% to €9.58 billion (£7.7bn) for the half year to June 30.
Marks & Spencer revises cut in redundancy pay

29 August 2008
Marks & Spencer has revised its plans to cut redundancy payments after feedback from staff.
Marks & Spencer revises cut in redundancy pay

29 August 2008
Marks & Spencer has revised its plans to cut redundancy payments after feedback from staff.
Bank holiday disappoints high street

28 August 2008
Bank holiday sales in the UK were hit by a combination of poor weather, the credit crunch and the Olympics last weekend.
Bank holiday disappoints high street

28 August 2008
Bank holiday sales in the UK were hit by a combination of poor weather, the credit crunch and the Olympics last weekend.
Retail sales weakest in 25 years says CBI

28 August 2008
Retail sales volumes in August saw a sharp decline, with a similar drop expected next month, according to the CBI.
Retail sales weakest in 25 years says CBI

28 August 2008
Retail sales volumes in August saw a sharp decline, with a similar drop expected next month, according to the CBI.
Shoppers queue for Kensington TK Maxx

28 August 2008
Dozens of shoppers queued up for the opening of TK Maxx's first central London store in Kensington this morning.
Shoppers queue for Kensington TK Maxx

28 August 2008
Dozens of shoppers queued up for the opening of TK Maxx's first central London store in Kensington this morning.
Liberty losses increase

28 August 2008
Liberty reported an increase in losses before tax to £4.2 million for the six months to June 30, up from £2.2m the previous year.
Liberty losses increase

28 August 2008
Liberty reported an increase in losses before tax to £4.2 million for the six months to June 30, up from £2.2m the previous year.
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, London

27 August 2008
With its bright colours, neon lighting and eccentric design, the designer label’s store is hard to ignore.
Team Europe fails to close the sales Gap

27 August 2008
After scrapping its European design team after just two years, Gap’s strategy is back in the spotlight as it returns to classic US product in a bid to turnaround its fortunes.
Blacks appoints former Hobbs boss to board

27 August 2008
Blacks Leisure has appointed former Hobbs chief executive Nick Samuel as a non-executive director as part of a raft of new appointments at the outdoor business.
Blacks appoints former Hobbs boss to board

27 August 2008
Blacks Leisure has appointed former Hobbs chief executive Nick Samuel as a non-executive director as part of a raft of new appointments at the outdoor business.
House of Fraser to launch magazine next month

26 August 2008
House of Fraser is launching a magazine to showcase its fashion offer next month.
House of Fraser to launch magazine next month

26 August 2008
House of Fraser is launching a magazine to showcase its fashion offer next month.
Weekend news roundup

26 August 2008
The best fashion retail stories from the weekend's papers.
Weekend news roundup

26 August 2008
The best fashion retail stories from the weekend's papers.
Erin O'Connor to raise money for British Fashion Council

26 August 2008
One of the faces of Marks & Spencer, supermodel Erin O'Connor, hopes to raise £10,000 for the British Fashion Council by auctioning off items from her wardrobe.
Erin O'Connor to raise money for British Fashion Council

26 August 2008
One of the faces of Marks & Spencer, supermodel Erin O'Connor, hopes to raise £10,000 for the British Fashion Council by auctioning off items from her wardrobe.
Debenhams management pay is frozen

26 August 2008
Debenhams bosses have agreed to have their pay frozen to bear the brunt of the credit crunch.
Debenhams management pay is frozen

26 August 2008
Debenhams bosses have agreed to have their pay frozen to bear the brunt of the credit crunch.
Indie menswear stalwart Barrie Norton dies at 61

21 August 2008
Barrie Norton, founder and owner of Manchester designer menswear store Norton Barrie, has died aged 61.
Saks losses mount as slump worsens in US

21 August 2008
Department store business Saks was among a swathe of chains to suffer a drop in second quarter sales, as the credit crunch tightens its grip on the US retail market.
Ted Baker plans retail expansion

21 August 2008
Ted Baker is understood to be targeting dozens more sites in the US for new stores, with European openings also in the company’s sights.
Selfridges plans revamp of men’s formalwear area

21 August 2008
Selfridges will increase its luxury menswear offer and create a raft of branded shop-in-shops as part of a revamp of its formalwear at the London flagship store.
House of Fraser puts its concessions under review

21 August 2008
House of Fraser will review its entire womenswear offer next year and rethink its concession mix as it looks to boost its premium credentials.
A-Wear to debut in Leicester and Bristol

21 August 2008
Irish young fashion chain A-Wear will open its first UK standalone stores next month in Leicester and Bristol.
House of Fraser sales rise 2.9%

20 August 2008
Sales at House of Fraser rose 2.9% for the 26 weeks to July 26.
Harrods signs up West End musical stars for marketing push

18 August 2008
Luxury department store Harrods will launch a marketing campaign featuring stars from West End musicals.
Moda Spring 09

16 August 2008
Following the lack of new trends already noted by their absence at both Pure and in Dusseldorf, the proliferation of floral prints and bright shades seen instead at the aforementioned shows were in evidence again in Mod’s spring 09 collections last week.
Collinsons up for sale as its owners retire

14 August 2008
Collinsons, the 65-year-old family-run department store in Consett, Durham, has been put up for sale as its owners plan to retire.
US department stores suffer in slowdown

14 August 2008
US retailers experienced mixed fortunes last month, with discount retailers faring better than department stores.
Mixed mood at Moda

14 August 2008
A lack of new trends at the Moda exhibitions in Birmingham last week meant buyers spent their spring 09 budgets cautiously.
Harrods to revamp menswear offer

14 August 2008
Luxury department store Harrods will introduce a swathe of new brands when it revamps its menswear department in the autumn.
Retail and womenswear heads exit in Daks rejig

14 August 2008
Premium tailoring brand Daks has restructured its UK operations after the departure of its head of retail and head of women’s design.
New director at Selfridges

14 August 2008
Selfridges has promoted Anita Barr to the role of director of womenswear and childrenswear following the departure of Anna Garner earlier this year.
London rents must be affordable, says BSSA

11 August 2008
The British Shops and Stores Association has called for guarantees that premises earmarked for small businesses in new developments in London will have affordable rents.
Hugo Boss profits dip

11 August 2008
Profits at German designer business Hugo Boss dropped 5% to €88 million (£69.8m) for the half year to July 31.
Marchpole signs DKNY deal

11 August 2008
Brand house Marchpole has signed a joint venture deal with Donna Karan International to produce a DKNY menswear range for spring 09.
Beales directors shun share offer

11 August 2008
Beales’ new chief executive Tony Brown said there was more value in the group’s 11-store chain than was reflected in this week’s offer to buy 21.9% of the company’s stock.
Mixed mood at opening of Moda show

11 August 2008
The mood at the first day of the Moda exhibition in Birmingham yesterday was mixed with few surprises in the way of trends.
AIS Menswear Spring 09

9 August 2008
The AIS buying group’s menswear show in Solihull last week saw the middle market ease into a relaxed look.
George Davies' daughter to leave Per Una

6 August 2008
George Davies' daughter is to leave Marks & Spencer's Per Una business.
S&K wields jobs axe

6 August 2008
S&K Famous Brands, which owns the S&K Menswear chain in the US, has axed head office jobs as it appoints turnaround specialists to get the business back on track with its strategic plan.
Tributes paid by industry to Gieves & Hawkes chairman

6 August 2008
Gieves & Hawkes chairman Mike Nicholson has died suddenly aged 56.
Store revamp to boost men’s area at Jenners

6 August 2008
Jenners, the Edinburgh department store owned by House of Fraser, has kicked off a £3 million facelift of its 116-year-old building.
Harold Tillman eyes Austin Reed

4 August 2008
Harold Tillman, the owner of Jaeger, is eyeing the Austin Reed chain, following speculation that it could be put up for sale by its owners Guy Naggar and Peter Klimt.
Beales directors reject offer for stake

4 August 2008
Beales, the department store, has rejected an offer from property firm Wenhedge to buy a 28% stake in the business.
Surfwear is beached by credit crunch

2 August 2008
Brands and retailers are paddling extra hard to stay afloat in the surf market, even though the look has gone mainstream.
Dockers to launch European website

31 July 2008
Dockers will launch a transactional website for Europe by the end of the year.
Consumer confidence at lowest level

31 July 2008
Consumer confidence has dropped to an all time low, according to market research.
Geox sales rise

31 July 2008
Geox, the Italian comfort footwear brand, saw sales rise 21% to €464.1 million (£363.4m) for the first half of the year.
Next cautious as sales drop 6%

30 July 2008
Next’s retail sales dropped 6% for the first half of the year as the retailer predicted no end to the economic slowdown.
Arnotts gets green light for revised plans

29 July 2008
Revised plans for Dublin's Northern Quarter regeneration project, headed by department store Arnotts, have been approved by planners.
Weekend newspaper round up (July 26-27)

28 July 2008
The best of the fashion business stories from the weekend's newspapers...
Harrods faces strike action over pay

28 July 2008
Harrods, the upmarket London department store,is facing strike action in a row with some of its staff over pay.
Milletre gives Italian brands their UK debut

24 July 2008
A number of designer womenswear brands made their UK debut with the opening of London boutique Milletrè last week.
Rejig at The Lab as founder sells up

22 July 2008
Michael Guest, the co-founder and managing director of the branded sports fashion concept The Lab, is leaving the business after a management buyout.
Lee in JJB lifestyle hotseat

22 July 2008
JJB Sports will overhaul its Original Shoe Co and Qube fascias after appointing Microzine founder and sportswear guru Chris Lee as managing director of the group’s lifestyle division.
US chains fear stock drops after downturn

22 July 2008
Listed retailers in the US are bracing themselves for further declines in share price as a swathe of businesses posted sales dips in June.
BRC backs retailer demands for monthly rent payments

21 July 2008
The British Retail Consortium has welcomed retailers' renewed calls for monthly rent payments.
Austin Reed boss could lead buyout

21 July 2008
Austin Reed chief executive Nick Hollingworth will lead a management buyout of the company if the menswear retailer is put up for sale by struggling Dawnay Day.
Canali

19 July 2008
More than a quarter of a century after entering the UK market, the Italian tailoring brand is shaking up its business.
Men step out of the uniform

19 July 2008
Mid-market menswear chains are trying to differentiate themselves from their rivals as customers seek investment pieces in the economic downturn.
M&S Sale slashes suits to £24

18 July 2008
Marks & Spencer slashed the price of some suits to as little as £24 as the high street price war heated up yesterday.
Urban Outfitters rides out slump

18 July 2008
US branded young fashion chain Urban Outfitters saw UK sales rise 23% to £42.2 million, but pre-tax profits fell 22% to £2.37m for the year to January 31.
Geox to open more UK stores

18 July 2008
Geox, the Italian comfort footwear brand, will open three more standalone stores in the UK.
Crocs appoints finance director for Europe

18 July 2008
Crocs has appointed Kirk Graham as finance director for Europe.
Irish sales show sharpest decline in a decade

16 July 2008
Retail sales in the Republic of Ireland dropped 4.8% in May, the fastest retail decline in a decade.
H&M sales down in June

15 July 2008
Like-for-like sales at Swedish fashion giant H&M were down 2% in June.
The weekend newspaper round up (July 12-13)

14 July 2008
A round up of the best fashion business stories from the weekend's newspapers...
Gap sales drop 7% in June

11 July 2008
Gap's international sales dropped 7% last month, compared to June the previous year.
Oxford Circus to get pedestrian-friendly makeover

10 July 2008
Proposals for a £4 million redesign to allow pedestrians to walk across Oxford Circus in London have been launched for consultation.
Sports Direct profits dive in 'hardest year in history'

10 July 2008
Profits at Sports Direct dropped by more than half to £85m for the year to April 28 in the company's hardest ever year.
Rose gets M&S shareholder backing despite investor protest

9 July 2008
Marks & Spencer chairman and chief executive Sir Stuart Rose was re-elected to the board by shareholders at the company’s AGM.
M&S to pull out of Taiwan

8 July 2008
Marks & Spencer will close all of its stores in Taiwan after only 14 months.
BBC launches ethical Style Search competition

8 July 2008
An ethical style competition has been launched by the BBC via its dedicated eco-fashion website BBC Threads.
M&S faces shareholder revolt at AGM

7 July 2008
Marks & Spencer shareholders are expected to protest at chief executive Stuart Rose's appointment as executive chairman of the business, at the company's AGM on Wednesday.
Kickers

5 July 2008
The iconic footwear brand is plugging in to current trends and playing on its music scene heritage.
Redundancies on the cards at HoF

5 July 2008
Department store business House of Fraser has entered into consultation with staff over redundancies as part of a review to improve efficiency.
Ralph Lauren in luxury push

5 July 2008
Ralph Lauren is launching its luxury menswear lines Purple Label and Black Label at wholesale after showcasing them on the Paris menswear catwalks last week.
Buoyant fashion fails to rescue sales at John Lewis

4 July 2008
A buoyant fashion performance failed to stop John Lewis sales dropping 8.3% for the week to June 28.
Chris Lee in JJB lifestyle hotseat

3 July 2008
JJB Sports will overhaul its Original Shoe Co and Qube fascias after appointing Microzine founder and sportswear guru Chris Lee as managing director of the group’s lifestyle division.
Bread & Butter to slash exhibitor numbers

3 July 2008
Young fashion tradeshow Bread & Butter is to cull almost 100 exhibitors for the January edition.
Instore says bid undervalues company

3 July 2008
Instore, which runs the Poundstretcher chain, has recommended that shareholders reject a £11.4 million bid for the company by cash-and-carry business Crown Crest.
Instore receives £11.4m bid

3 July 2008
Instore, which runs the poundstretcher chain, has confirmed a bid for the company from cash-and-carry business Crown Crest.
Gérard Darel sold to Advent International

30 June 2008
French womenswear label Gérard Darel plans to double its turnover after private equity firm Advent International bought a majority stake in the brand for an undisclosed sum.
Beales predicts tough year as sales drop

30 June 2008
Like-for-like sales at department store group Beales dropped 6.4% for the 26 weeks to May 3.
Berwin snaps up Moss Bros stake

28 June 2008
Simon Berwin, boss of menswear supplier Berwin & Berwin, has bought a 4.28% stake in menswear group Moss Bros from members of the Gee family, who co-founded the company.
Debenhams acts to reassure suppliers

28 June 2008
Debenhams has reassured suppliers that there are no plans to alter terms and ask for extended payment periods.
Pitti Uomo fails to excite buyers

28 June 2008
UK visitors to the Pitti Uomo menswear show in Florence were denied any new trends to help lift them out of the trading slump, with the majority of brands’ key looks moving on little from last year.
Facis to open debut UK store

26 June 2008
Italian tailoring brand Facis will open its first UK store this summer.
Moss Bros hire boosted by last minute Ascot sales

25 June 2008
Moss Bros saw sales at its hire department rise 30% in the run up to Ascot.
Simon Berwin buys Moss Bros stake from founding family

24 June 2008
Simon Berwin, boss of menswear supplier Berwin & Berwin, has bought a 4.28% stake in the Moss Bros chain from members of the Gee family.
Boudiche opens Glasgow store

23 June 2008
Scottish lingerie independent Boudiche opened its second store in Glasgow this weekend.
Trigger a production line of talent

21 June 2008
Some of the UK’s top retailers highlighted the importance of staff recruitment and retention at last week’s BRC conference.
Corneliani takes sales in-house

21 June 2008
Premium Italian tailoring brand Corneliani is taking its UK sales operation in-house from spring 09, ending its decade-long relationship with UK agency Fashion Marketing.
Saks takeover talk gains pace

21 June 2008
Shares in US department store business Saks got a boost this week amid renewed takeover speculation.
Moss Bros plots trend-led future

21 June 2008
Moss Bros will target younger, more fashion-conscious shoppers as the menswear group looks to re-energise following an aborted bid for the business.
White Stuff’s sales boom as suitors prepare to bid

21 June 2008
White Stuff’s like-for-like retail sales were up 20% for the first six weeks of the financial year, while private equity bidders are lining up to take a stake in the boardsports-inspired business.
Low turnout at Pitti as indie's feel the strain

20 June 2008
UK visitors numbers to the Pitti Uomo show in Florence this week appear to be down, especially if the turnout at the menswear retailers' favourite haunt, the Gilli bar last night was anything to go by.
More UK buyers attend second day Pitti Uomo

19 June 2008
The second morning of Florence-based menswear show Pitti Uomo was more buzzing than yesterday according to buyers and exhibitors.
H&M sales recover in May

18 June 2008
H&M's like-for-like sales rose 14% in May, while total sales rose 25% over the month.
Ballantyne appoints creative director from Prada

17 June 2008
Luxury knitwear brand Ballantyne has appointed Dawidh di Firmo as creative director.
Nicole Farhi wins First Woman Award

16 June 2008
Fashion designer Nicole Farhi has been honoured with a lifetime achievement prize in the First Women Awards.
French Eye on expansion trail

16 June 2008
Branded menswear retailer French Eye is planning to expand in the capital after a successful trial of three temporary London stores.
Two more designer indies join Cavern Walks line-up

14 June 2008
Liverpool indie hotspot Cavern Walks has added two new businesses to its designer offer.
Gap merges concepts to cut costs

14 June 2008
US casualwear giant Gap will ditch its standalone concepts for kidswear and lingerie ranges and merge them with adult stores to cut costs.
New stores pep up Inditex sales

14 June 2008
Sales at Spanish fast-fashion group Inditex, which runs the Zara, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Pull and Bear chains, rose 12% to £2.2 billion (£1.74bn) for the first quarter of the year.
Hot Tuna hooks UK flagship

14 June 2008
Surfwear brand Hot Tuna will open a flagship store in London this summer as it relaunches with a more trend-driven offer.
John David Group head hits out at landlords

14 June 2008
John David Group chairman Peter Cowgill has blasted landlords for failing to support growth of the group’s newly acquired Bank chain.
Buyers cautious ahead of Pitti Uomo

14 June 2008
Tough trading and unfavourable exchange rates could hit UK visitor numbers at the Pitti Uomo menswear show in Florence next week.
Moss Bros like-for-likes dip

13 June 2008
Like-for-like sales at Moss Bros dropped 1.5% for the 19 weeks to June 7.
Fashion sales help boost John Lewis

13 June 2008
A strong fashion performance helped push John Lewis sales up 2.1% for the week to June 7.
Weekend newspaper round up

9 June 2008
The top fashion business news from the weekend's newspapers...
Sole Solution sizes up sites for expansion

7 June 2008
Footwear mini chain Sole Solution is scouring the south for sites as it plans to double the size of its five-store business over the coming 12 months.
Brazil is hot retail tip

7 June 2008
Brazil is the most attractive emerging market for clothing retailers, according to a study released this week.
Liverpool One launch given mixed reaction

7 June 2008
Liverpool One attracted 200,000 shoppers on its first day of trading last week, but only 38 shops out of the 80 in phase one were open on the launch day.
Early Sales ruin indies’ summer

7 June 2008
Department stores are set to deal a killer blow to independent retailers this summer as they count down to start Sales in less than a fortnight.
Pull and Bear ready for UK push

7 June 2008
As its third young fashion fascia finally lands in the UK, Inditex is promising to give it plenty of time in which to carve its niche.
M&S cuts targets for bonus payout

6 June 2008
Marks & Spencer directors will need to boost earnings per share by 8% to get their full bonus next year, according to the retailer's annual report published today.
Jean Charles de Castelbajac opens debut UK store

6 June 2008
Brand house and supplier Marchpole opened the first UK store for its Jean Charles de Castelbajac brand in London today.
Hermes wins counterfeit case against ebay

5 June 2008
Luxury brand Hermes has won a court case against ebay, over counterfeit products sold on the website.
Interest rates held at 5%

5 June 2008
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 5%.
Jansport appoints country manager

4 June 2008
VF Corporation has appointed Nathan Hill as country manager for the UK and Republic of Ireland for its Jansport brand.
Brazil top emerging market for fashion retailers

2 June 2008
Brazil is the most attractive emerging market for clothing retailers, according to a study released today.
Upmarket revamp for Aberdeen’s Signature

1 June 2008
Aberdeen menswear independent Signature is transforming its mainstream branded store Attitude into an upmarket causalwear store, while fellow Aberdeen indie 6972 has closed.
Gap vows to cut costs

1 June 2008
Casualwear chain Gap is to focus on cost cutting after predicting a tough retail climate for the remainder of 2008.
JJB recruits for lifestyle team

1 June 2008
JJB Sports chief executive Chris Ronnie has ruled out discounting at the group’s Qube and Original Shoe Co chains, while the business lines up candidates to run both businesses under a new lifestyle division.
Spurling sacked from Blacks Leisure

30 May 2008
Blacks Leisure has sacked Darren Spurling, the managing director of the group's Sandcity subsidiary, following accounting irregularities at the boardsports company.
Young fashion bucks trading slump in US

24 May 2008
Young fashion chain Urban Outfitters and Abercrombie & Fitch bucked the US downward retail trend this week by posting surging profits.
Kookaï brings kidswear to the UK

24 May 2008
French womenswear chain Kookaï is launching its kidswear collection in the UK. The range will be trialled at a selection of Kookaï’s nine UK stores this autumn.
Exeter city centre evacuated after Princesshay explosion

22 May 2008
Exeter city centre has been evacuated following an explosion at the Princesshay shopping centre.
Princess Anne to launch Silverburn

22 May 2008
HRH Princess Anne will perform the official opening of Silverburn shopping centre near Glasgow in Scotland on June 2.
Retail sales drop in April

22 May 2008
Retail sales in April dropped 0.2% compared to March, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Mothercare posts record sales and profits

22 May 2008
Sales and profits at Mothercare have risen to record levels for the year to March 29.
Laura Ashley raises stake in Moss Bros again

22 May 2008
Laura Ashley has raised its stake in menswear business Moss Bros to just below 10%.
Weekend newspaper round up: May 17-18

19 May 2008
The best of the fashion and retail stories from the weekend's newspapers...
Former MK One boss buys Ethel Austin

19 May 2008
Former MK One chief executive Elaine McPherson has bought value fashion chain Ethel Austin out of administration.
Tillman and Yamamoto honoured by University of Arts

19 May 2008
Retail entrepreneur Harold Tillman and designer Yohji Yamamoto have received awards from the University of Arts in London in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the fashion industry.
Web relaunch for Bespoke Boutique as sales rocket

17 May 2008
Designer young fashion retailer Bespoke Boutique is relaunching its website this summer, and expects internet sales to outstrip those at its Norwich bricks and mortar store.
US fears sales slump

17 May 2008
US retailers are bracing themselves for a difficult year after sales dipped in April and first quarter revenue was hit.
White Stuff hunts for growth cash

17 May 2008
White Stuff is looking for private equity investment to expand after like-for-likes at the business rose 7% for the year to April 26.
Graduate Fashion Week ads new sponsors

16 May 2008
The British Fashion Council is among a raft of new sponsors of Graduate Fashion Week next month.
Benetton Q1 profits rise

15 May 2008
Italian fashion chain Benetton saw net profits rise 8.6% for the first quarter of the year.
Debenhams named best department store

14 May 2008
Debenhams has been voted the UK’s best department store at the GMTV high street fashion awards for the third time in a row.
White Stuff sales rise as founders look to sell stake

13 May 2008
White Stuff saw like-for-like sales rise 7% for the year to April 26, with operating profits hitting £6.9m.
April sales set to show drop

12 May 2008
High street fashion sales are expected to show another slide when the British Retail Consortium releases its sales monitor figures for April tomorrow.
Suits You to revamp offer under new management

10 May 2008
Speciality Retail Group will revamp its Suits You store concept and brand portfolio after appointing a new managing director in a management reshuffle.
Perry Ellis Europe MD retires

8 May 2008
Peter Abbiss, managing director of Farah distributor Perry Ellis Europe, has retired after nine years in the role.
Bluewater has buoyant bank holiday

7 May 2008
Footfall at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent rose 5.3% last week and over the bank holiday, compared to the same period last year.
SRG appoints MD

6 May 2008
Speciality Retail Group, which runs the Suits You menswear chain, has promoted Nick Keyte to the role of managing director.
Blacks cuts jobs in boardsports merger

6 May 2008
Blacks Leisure is to cut 50 jobs at its subsidiary Sandcity, after the group decided to merge operations of its Freespirit chain and O'Neill brand.
SRG owner boosts stake in BMB Group

6 May 2008
Egyptian manufacturer Arafa Holdings has splashed out £3.7 million to increase its stake in menswear supply group BMB to 60%.
Remus Uomo, Belfast

3 May 2008
Marrying tradition with a slick edge, Remus Uomo’s design DNA translates smoothly to a store environment.
Talbots revises supplier terms

26 April 2008
US classic womenswear chain Talbots has struck a new payment deal with suppliers as part of a strategy to reverse its declining performance.
London rents blamed for Microzine closure

26 April 2008
Microzine owner Chris Lee has slammed the cost of retailing in London for small businesses after he was forced to close his directional boutique in the capital’s Carnaby Street area.
White City lures overseas chains

26 April 2008
Italian menswear brand David Mayer and Turkish womens-wear brand Ipekyol are lining up to lead a charge of international entrants to the UK at the Westfield London scheme this autumn.
White City lures overseas chains

25 April 2008
Italian menswear brand David Mayer and Turkish womenswear brand Ipekyol are lining up to lead a charge of international entrants to the UK at the Westfield London scheme this autumn.
Van Dal appoints MD from Hi-Tec

22 April 2008
Footwear brand Van Dal has appointed a new managing director Tony Linford, who joins from sports brand Hi-Tec.
West End footfall growth slows in March

22 April 2008
Footfall increases in London's West End slowed last month as exchange rates hit US tourists.
Suppliers consider legal action against MK One

21 April 2008
Suppliers of MK One are considering legal action against value fashion chain MK One after it cancelled payments.
Berwin & Berwin eyes Moss Bros

21 April 2008
Menswear supplier Berwin & Berwin is understood to be eyeing Icelandic investor Baugur's stake in the Moss Bros chain.
Clockwork Orange to unveil The Jeanery

19 April 2008
Northern Irish young fashion retailer Clockwork Orange is to launch a new venture to be based in retail parks, called The Jeanery.
Sales hit an eight-year low

19 April 2008
Clothing sales in March were the worst for eight years, according to the British Retail Consortium. Its sales monitor showed total retail sales fell 1.6% like-for-like during the month.
Debs to bank on Designer ranges

19 April 2008
Debenhams will focus on its “power” Designers at Deben-hams ranges to help it beat the tough trading environment.
Animal opens flagship as sales rise

19 April 2008
Boardsports brand Animal has opened a flagship store in Newquay in Cornwall, after like-for-like sales at its own store retail division have rose 36%.
JD eyes Red or Dead clothing deal for Bank

19 April 2008
The John David Group is in talks with Red or Dead about a clothing licensing deal for its young fashion chain Bank after the sportswear company was boosted by sales of own label product.
Footfall and sales rise at Bluewater

18 April 2008
Footfall at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent rose 11.1% last month helping to boost sales by 3% compared to the previous year.
M&S signs Indian joint venture deal

18 April 2008
Marks & Spencer has signed a joint venture deal with Reliance Retail to open up to 50 stores in India over the next five years.
Sports brands slammed over factory worker conditions

18 April 2008
Sports brands including Adidas and Umbro have been slammed in a report on pay for factory workers in the Far East and India.
SRG chief to exit in shake-up

18 April 2008
Menswear retailer Speciality Retail Group, which operates the Suits You chain, is on the hunt for a new chief executive as part of a management shake-up under its new owners.
H&M sales dive in March

15 April 2008
Swedish fashion giant H&M saw like-for-like sales drop 8% last month, compared to a 10% increase the previous month.
Cotswolds hosts second branch of Sassy & Boo

12 April 2008
Womenswear boutique Sassy & Boo will open its second store this Saturday, in Tetbury in Gloucestershire.
Etail to buck the downturn in US

12 April 2008
Online retail spend is set to grow in the US, while lower footfall and tough comparisons are expected to hit sales in bricks and mortar stores, according to reports released this week.
Corgi snapped up by Dents

12 April 2008
Luxury accessories supplier Dewhurst Dent has bought knitwear manufacturer Corgi Hosiery.
Liberty operator says sale is 'less likely'

11 April 2008
Liberty department store operator MWB Group has postponed plans for a sale of its businesses due to the poor economic climate.
Guardian's McCall resigns from Tesco board

11 April 2008
Guardian Media Group chief executive Carolyn McCall has resigned from the board of Tesco, following the legal dispute between the Guardian newspaper and the supermarket giant.
Jigsaw lifts John Lewis's fashion

11 April 2008
Department store John Lewis has boosted its fashion credentials by bringing in a raft of new womenswear brands, including Jigsaw.
Sam Morrison

10 April 2008
After adding another string to his bow with a gaggle of franchise stores, the future looks bright for Sam Morrison, owner of Northern Ireland-based indie Clockwork Orange.
Metquarter footfall and sales rise

10 April 2008
Retailers at Liverpool's upmarket Metquarter shopping centre had a 26% increase in like-for-like sales in February, with further sales growth predicted in the next few months.
Metquarter footfall and sales up

10 April 2008
Retailers at Liverpool's upmarket Metquarter shopping centre had a 26% increase in like-for-like sales in February, with further sales growth predicted in the next few months.
Harrods appoints former Gucci VP as chief executive

9 April 2008
Harrods has appointed former Gucci vice president James McArthur as chief executive of the upmarket department store business.
Dewhurst Dent snaps up Corgi

9 April 2008
Luxury accessories supplier Dewhurst Dent has bought a majority stake in knitwear manufacturer Corgi Hosiery.
Jigsaw lifts John Lewis’s fashion

5 April 2008
Department store John Lewis has boosted its fashion credentials by bringing in a raft of new womenswear brands, including Jigsaw.
Profits fuel Inditex’s accessories concept

5 April 2008
Spanish fast fashion group Inditex will launch a stand-alone accessories and footwear concept called Uterqüe this year, after its profits soared by 25%.
Top jobs up for grabs at Blacks

5 April 2008
Blacks Leisure is scouting to fill new senior roles after shaking up its management structure.
Mixed trading at T5

5 April 2008
Retailers at Heathrow’s new Terminal 5 have reported mixed trading amid the chaos of baggage problems and cancelled flights.
New retail director appointed at Bhs

4 April 2008
Bhs has appointed a Marks & Spencer area manager as its new retail director.
Green appoints retail director for Bhs

4 April 2008
Bhs has appointed a Marks & Spencer area manager as its new retail director.
Green appoints retail director for Bhs

4 April 2008
Bhs has appointed a Marks & Spencer area manager as its new retail director.
Tesco takes legal action against newspaper over tax allegations

4 April 2008
Tesco has begun legal proceedings against the publishers of The Guardian over allegations about the supermarket giant's tax affairs.
H&M teams up with Comme des Garcons designer

4 April 2008
Swedish fashion giant H&M is teaming up with Comme des Garcons founder Rei Kawakubo for its designer collaboration this autumn.
Laura Ashley ups Moss Bros stake again

4 April 2008
Fashion and homeware retailer Laura Ashley has increased its stake in menswear chain Moss Bros for the fourth time since the beginning of the year.
John Lewis Easter sales rise

4 April 2008
Sales at John Lewis department stores were up 1.3% for the week to March 29.
M&S lists concessions to shareholders

3 April 2008
Marks & Spencer has drawn up a list of concessions to help appease shareholders who are angry about Sir Stuart Rose's promotion to the dual role of executive chairman and chief executive.
Banana Republic, London

3 April 2008
After debuting on Regent Street, Gap’s sister chain is determined to live up to the hype surrounding its UK launch.
BSSA opens March quarterly sales survey

1 April 2008
The British Shops and Stores Association is calling on independent retailers to take part in its quarterly sales monitor for the period ended March 2008.
The weekend newspaper round up

31 March 2008
The top fashion business stories from the weekend newspapers…
Inditex to launch footwear chain as profits soar

31 March 2008
Spanish fashion group Inditex, which operates the Zara chain, will launch a standalone footwear and accessories concept called Uterque this year, as profits soar 25%.
Microzine boss joins The Lab

28 March 2008
Microzine founder and sportswear guru Chris Lee has been appointed creative director of The Lab, a sports and fashion retail concept launched by sportswear veteran Michael Guest.
H&M Q1 sales flat in UK

27 March 2008
UK sales at Swedish fashion chain H&M were flat for the first three months of the financial year, while group sales rose 18%.
Debenhams share price dives as investor sells stake

27 March 2008
Debenhams share price dived by 17% yesterday as a major investor sold its remaining stake in the department store business.
John Lewis appoints womenswear buying head

26 March 2008
John Lewis has appointed former East and Debenhams director Jo Hooper as head of buying for womenswear.
Easter footfall plummets

26 March 2008
Footfall over the Easter weekend sunk by 19.7% against last Easter according to data trackers Springboard.
The best of the headlines from the Easter weekend newspapers

25 March 2008
A round up of the key fashion news stories over the Easter weekend.
Banana Republic launches on Regent Street

19 March 2008
Gap opens its first Banana Republic store in Europe in London's Regent Street today.
JJB mulls 70 store closures

19 March 2008
Sportswear retailer JJB Sports could close up 70 of its 400-plus stores as part of a property portfolio review, according to The Daily Telegraph
What the weekend newspapers reported...

17 March 2008
The top fashion news stories from the weekend's newspapers...
Losses grow as Liberty invests in its own label

15 March 2008
Losses at London department store Liberty rose to £3.6 million for the year to December 31 2007, blamed on increased investment in its Liberty of London own brand.
New M&S jobs for Bostock and Rose

15 March 2008
Sir Stuart Rose will step down from Marks & Spencer in July 2011. Confirmation of Rose’s planned retirement date came as part of a rejig of the management team prompted by the resignation of M&S chairman Lord Burns, who will leave the retailer in June.
Victoria Square lifts Belfast’s retail offer

15 March 2008
Victoria Square, the £400 million shopping centre scheme in Belfast, attracted 70,000 visitors on its opening day last week.
Sports Direct ups stake in JD

14 March 2008
Sports Direct has increased its stake in the John David Group, which runs the JD sports chain, to more than 12%.
John Lewis hires new online boss from Figleaves

14 March 2008
John Lewis has appointed Figleaves chief operating officer Robin Terrell to head up its mail order business.
White City scheme fills up

14 March 2008
Westfield London has signed a raft of stores for the launch of the White City development in west London on October 30.
House of Fraser raises the stakes in Belfast

14 March 2008
House of Fraser opened its first premium concept store in Belfast last week, as part of its new upmarket positioning.
Premier Kids and Spring Fair to share dateline

13 March 2008
Exhibitions Premier Kids and Spring Fair will take place alongside each other from February.
Franco Miroglio dies

13 March 2008
Franco Miroglio, who was at the helm of the Miroglio Group for more than 50 years, has died.
Joseph Abboud plots UK launch

13 March 2008
US menswear brand Joseph Abboud will debut in the UK next year, to take on premium brands such as Hugo Boss and Polo Ralph Lauren.
Suit Supply, London

9 March 2008
The Dutch menswear chain’s quirky new London store provides a modern showcase for its classic formalwear.
Warming to global expansion

8 March 2008
After turbulent times in the UK market, many high street retailers are looking overseas for growth opportunities. But international success is by no means guaranteed.
Cost cuts boost Gap

8 March 2008
Profits at Gap rose 21% for the fourth quarter, after a drop in sales was offset by cost cuts.
M&S targets overseas growth in Greek tie-up

8 March 2008
Marks & Spencer will open 50 more international stores after forming a joint venture with its franchise partner in Greece.
Blacks to roll out new store concept

8 March 2008
Outdoorwear retailer Blacks Leisure is planning to roll out a more fashion-driven format for its Blacks chain as part of plans to boost sales growth.
BMB picks up Crowther labels

6 March 2008
Menswear supplier and brand house BMB Group has added a raft of new brands to its portfolio, after buying menswear supplier John Langford.
Austin Reed signs franchisee for Middle East stores

3 March 2008
Austin Reed will open at least 10 stores in the Middle East in the next five years, after signing a franchise agreement with Kuwait-based Speciality Fashion Group.
Greenwoods' owner mulls Moss Bros bid

3 March 2008
The owner of menswear chain Greenwoods is planning a counter bid for the Moss Bros business, according to reports.
The Weekend Newspaper Round-up

3 March 2008
The best fashion-related news stories from the weekend's newspapers...
Baugur to give Moss a HoF-style overhaul

1 March 2008
Baugur will ramp up capital spending and lead a complete review of Moss’s supply base if it manages to wrestle control of the menswear chain from family shareholders.
UK sales hit £50m at Abercrombie & Fitch

29 February 2008
Abercrombie & Fitch’s first-year UK sales are set to storm in at about £50 million, equal to more established retail chains such as Reiss.
Gap international sales slump slows

29 February 2008
Gap's international sales slump slowed in the fourth quarter of the year, down 1% like-for-like, compared to a 6% drop for the same period last year.
M&S to expand in Greece and Balkan states

29 February 2008
Marks & Spencer will open 50 more international stores after forming a joint venture with its franchise partner in Greece.
Bloomingdale's appoints president

28 February 2008
US department store business Macy's has appointed Tony Spring has president of its Bloomingdale's division.
Matches unveils Marylebone shop

28 February 2008
Designer independent Matches is unveiling its latest store design at a new standalone shop which opens in London's Marylebone today.
Base Menswear to go upmarket after rescue

27 February 2008
Young branded fashion chain Base Menswear will go more upmarket after being rescued from administration by its previous owners.
Puma predicts strong 2008 as Q4 earnings rise

26 February 2008
Puma earning were up 21% to €52.4m (£39.54m) in the fourth quarter of 2007 and sales rose 10.3% during the period.
Baugur offers 42p per share for Moss Bros

25 February 2008
Menswear business Moss Bros has received an indicative offer for the business from Icelandic investor Baugur.
Weekend newspaper round up

25 February 2008
The best of the stories from the weekend newspaper...
Liberty team to be restructured

23 February 2008
Luxury department store Liberty is restructuring its buying and merchandising teams in an effort to boost sales.
Job cuts loom at Moss Bros

22 February 2008
Menswear chain Moss Bros is planning redundancies and could introduce tougher supplier terms as part of a cost-cutting strategy to aid its recovery in a difficult trading climate.
Benetton predicts performance boost in 2008

22 February 2008
Italian fashion group Benetton is predicting a 7% rise in profits this year, after sales rose 9% to €2.08 billion (£1.56bn) for the year end 2007.
John Lewis has 'toughest week in recent memory'

22 February 2008
Sales at John Lewis were down 3.4% for the week to February 16 as good weather slowed trading.
Roger Best

21 February 2008
British handbag brand Radley has ambitious growth plans up its sleeve as it approaches its 10th birthday
Whistles - Plays a new tune

21 February 2008
The chain with the boutique attitude is given a makeover that mixes a luxury boudoir with antiques and minimalism
Kilgour sold to JMH Group

15 February 2008
Savile Row tailor Kilgour has been bought by Dubai-based JMH Group.
Mango plans Adam Lippes design collaboration

14 February 2008
Spanish young fashion chain Mango has signed up US designer Adam Lippes to create a collection for the business.
Wildlife Works launches RSPCA dress

13 February 2008
Ethical fashion business Wildlife Works has launched an animal-friendly RSPCA dress at London Fashion Week.
Ichi

12 February 2008
High margins and trend-led designs have helped to establish Ichi as a key player on the UK young fashion scene.
Weekend newspaper round-up

11 February 2008
The best of the weekend newspapers business headlines...
Elvi in administration

11 February 2008
Plus size fashion chain Elvi has gone into administration.
Roderick Charles to expand

9 February 2008
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
John Lewis sales growth disappoints

8 February 2008
Sales at John Lewis rose 2.2% for the week to February 2, slower growth than expected.
Profits surge at H&M

8 February 2008
Profits at Swedish fashion giant H&M rose 26% for the year to November 30 as the business continued its expansion drive.
UK and US slump puts Marchpole in the red

8 February 2008
Brand house Marchpole expects to make a loss for the year to March 31 after tough UK and US trading hit sales.
Base Menswear in administration

8 February 2008
The future of 100-year old fashion retailer Base Menswear is uncertain after the business went into administration.
Interest rates cut to 5.25%

7 February 2008
The Bank of England has cut interest rates by 0.25% to 5.25%, giving retailers a boost after poor Christmas sales and fears of an economic downturn this year.
Jagtiani fuels Debenhams speculation

7 February 2008
Speculation over a bid for department store business Debenhams has increased, after Landmark group chairman Micky Jagtiani denied press reports he had ruled out an offer.
Hugo Boss sales rise

7 February 2008
Sales at Hugo Boss rose 9% to €1.6 billion for the year ending 2007, with the business predicting further increases this year.
Apax ditches Tommy Hilfiger float scheme

5 February 2008
Private equity firm Apax has halted plans for a US$4billion (£2 million) float of the US designer brand Tommy Hilfiger this week.
Baugur makes offer for Moss Bros

5 February 2008
Baugur has made on offer to buy menswear business Moss Bros after months of circling the company.
Marchpole predicts loss for year end

4 February 2008
Brand house Marchpole expects to make a loss for the year to March 31 after tough UK and US trading hit sales.
Roderick Charles to expand

2 February 2008
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
John Lewis sales rise

1 February 2008
Sales at John Lewis rose 5.4% for the week to January 26.
JJB supports Nike's bid for Umbro

29 January 2008
JJB Sports has given its support to US footwear giant Nike's plans to buy Umbro.
Shepherdson completes Whistles MBI

28 January 2008
Former Topshop brand director Jane Shepherdson has sealed a deal to buy fashion chain Whistles from Mosaic Fashions.
Roderick Charles to expand

26 January 2008
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Tillman appointed BFC chairman

24 January 2008
Jaeger owner Harold Tillman has been appointed chairman of the British Fashion Council, as predicted by Drapers last month.
Retail gloom set to worsen

24 January 2008
Trading conditions are set to worsen this year, according to a retail think tank.
JD Sports voted worst retailer on customer service

24 January 2008
JD Sports has been voted the UK retailer with the worst customer service.
Sports Direct buys stake in Amer Sports

23 January 2008
Sports Direct has bought a 4.96% stake in Amer Sports Corporation.
Men’s fight moves to hire ground

22 January 2008
With H&M selling a £14.99 tuxedo jacket, what are mainstream menswear retailers and hire businesses doing to compete?
Henri-Lloyd range to target younger shoppers

22 January 2008
Casualwear brand Henri-Lloyd is launching a more trend-led collection for autumn 08, called HL Jeans Co.
Canali hires new UK sales leader

22 January 2008
Italian tailoring giant Canali has appointed Burberry sales manager Julian Manning to head up its UK operations.
Roderick Charles to expand

19 January 2008
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
US sales growth slows

18 January 2008
US retail sales growth is set to be the lowest in six years this year after retailers suffered their worst Christmas trading period since 2002.
Blacks cuts jobs to aid recovery

18 January 2008
Blacks Leisure will trial new storefits, review its brand portfolio and cut jobs in a bid to aid a recovery of the business over the next year.
Harrods to overhaul its menswear

18 January 2008
Harrods plans to revamp its menswear department to bring all its premium brands onto the same floor and drive footfall.
John Lewis clearance boosts sales

18 January 2008
Sales at John Lewis rose 4.9% for the week to January 12 compared to the same period last year.
Dolcis early staff payment sparks speculation over future

17 January 2008
Footwear chain Dolcis has unexpectedly paid its staff to the end of the week, according to The Independent newspaper.
Internet growth boosts Mothercare sales

16 January 2008
Online sales helped boost like-for-like sales at Mothercare in the UK by 3.4% for the 13 weeks to January 11.
Bid sparks Gant battle

15 January 2008
Lacoste owner Maus Frères will consider a joint venture with Gant if its bid to take over the Swedish fashion brand fails, but Gant chairman Lennart Björk is seeking a “white knight” to help him thwart any proposed deal.
Retailers suffer poor Xmas sales

15 January 2008
Christmas trading statements have separated the winners from the losers, but the majority of fashion retailers suffered a shocking December with like-for-like clothing and footwear sales down on 2006.
Blacks Leisure warns on profits as boardsport sales crash

15 January 2008
Full year profits at Blacks Leisure are likely to be below market expectations as sales at its boardwear division plummeted.
Mango launches menswear for spring

14 January 2008
Mango will launch its first menswear collection for more than a decade this spring.
Roderick Charles to expand

12 January 2008
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Pitti Uomo in full swing: Day Two

11 January 2008
The second of day of the Pitti Uomo menswear show in Florence yesterday saw the usual mix of bleary eyed buyers emerging after the late night revelling in the Piazzas the night before.
Pitti Uomo in full swing: Day Two

11 January 2008
The second of day of the Pitti Uomo menswear show in Florence yesterday saw the usual mix of bleary eyed buyers emerging after the late night revelling in the Piazzas the night before.
Pitti Uomo in full swing: Day Two

11 January 2008
The second of day of the Pitti Uomo menswear show in Florence yesterday saw the usual mix of bleary eyed buyers emerging after the late night revelling in the Piazzas the night before.
Pitti Uomo in full swing: Day Two

11 January 2008
The second of day of the Pitti Uomo menswear show in Florence yesterday saw the usual mix of bleary eyed buyers emerging after the late night revelling in the Piazzas the night before.
Pitti Uomo in full swing: Day Two

11 January 2008
The second of day of the Pitti Uomo menswear show in Florence yesterday saw the usual mix of bleary eyed buyers emerging after the late night revelling in the Piazzas the night before.
Pitti Uomo in full swing: Day Two

11 January 2008
The second of day of the Pitti Uomo menswear show in Florence yesterday saw the usual mix of bleary eyed buyers emerging after the late night revelling in the Piazzas the night before.
Pitti Uomo in full swing: Day Two

11 January 2008
The second of day of the Pitti Uomo menswear show in Florence yesterday saw the usual mix of bleary eyed buyers emerging after the late night revelling in the Piazzas the night before.
Palmers revamps to fend off Debenhams

11 January 2008
East Anglia-based department store business Palmers is revamping two of its stores in the face of competition from incoming Debenhams.
UK buyers fail to show up at opening of Pitti Uomo

9 January 2008
The turnout of UK buyers and visitors was disappointing at the opening of the Pitti Uomo menswear show in Florence today.
Roderick Charles to expand

5 January 2008
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
John Smedley managing director dies

4 January 2008
Drew Walker, managing director of knitwear business John Smedley, has died.
John Lewis has record clearance period

4 January 2008
John Lewis had a record start to its clearance with sales up 4.6% between December 27 and January 2.
Stocks plummet after tough 2007

3 January 2008
Publicly-owned fashion retailers are facing a torrid 2008 on top of a shocking 2007, when 24 of the 32 companies monitored by Drapers' Sharewatch ended the year well below last January's share price.
Crew Clothing plans new stores as sales increase

3 January 2008
Like-for-like retail sales at Crew Clothing rose 11% for the year to October 31, with total sales up 27% to £17 million.
Roderick Charles to expand

29 December 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Roderick Charles to expand

22 December 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Mosaic wins lawsuit against Dunnes

21 December 2007
Mosaic Fashions has won a legal case against Irish department store chain Dunnes Stores which it accused of copying its designs.
Sports Direct agrees to Umbro sale

21 December 2007
Sports Direct has agreed to Nike's planned acquisition of Umbro. Sports Direct today sold 29,069,977 Umbro shares to Nike Vapor, a subsidiary of Nike Inc.
M&S kicks off Sale with 70% off

21 December 2007
Marks & Spencer will cut prices by up to 70% and open more than 100 stores at 6am to kick off its Sale on December 27.
Umbro battles Sports Direct over replica shirt stock mountain

21 December 2007
Umbro is locked in negotiations with Sports Direct after the sportswear retailer refused to take ownership of some of its order of England replica football shirts for 2008.
Original Shoe Co 'to return to full price'

21 December 2007
JJB Sports chief executive Chris Ronnie has promised suppliers that Original Shoe Company will be converted back to a fullprice business, after he bought the branded fashion chain for £5 million in a shock deal this week.
John Lewis sales up 5.6%

20 December 2007
Year-on-year sales at John Lewis are up 5.6% from Sunday to Wednesday, as cold weather boosted fashion sales.
H&M promotes AIDS awareness with new range

20 December 2007
Swedish fashion chain H&M is teaming up with designers and musicians to launch a collection to raise awareness of AIDS and HIV.
Timothy Everest

18 December 2007
The eclectic tailor is as happy dressing David Beckham as he is designing suits for Marks & Spencer. But which mountain does Timothy Everest plan to climb next?
JD buys SergioTacchini licence

18 December 2007
John David Group has bought the UK licence for Italian sports label Sergio Tacchini and acquired a 49% stake in design and sourcing firm Focus Group.
SRG banks on 2008 recovery

18 December 2007
Menswear company Speciality Retail Group will open five new stores next year under the Suits You fascia as it battles through its recovery plan.
Product tops Spindler’s list at Debs

18 December 2007
Angela Spindler has put product at the top of her priority listafter being appointed managing director of department store chain Debenhams this week.
Ted Baker rolls out women’s concept

18 December 2007
Ted Baker is to roll out its standalone womenswear con-cept after sales at the premium fashion brand soared 14.3% for the third quarter.
Cassar eyes deals after leaving House of Fraser

18 December 2007
House of Fraser chief finance officer Stefan Cassar will scout for new retail investments next year after stepping down from the department store group this week.
New Look tests branded areas

18 December 2007
New Look has introduced young fashion brands including Blend, Golddigga and Ax Paris into 25 of its stores via a concession model.
Roderick Charles to expand

15 December 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Blog: Sale away

14 December 2007
It seems that Marks & Spencer boss Stuart Rose’s advice to retailers to hold fire on pre-Christmas Sales at the Drapers Summit last month has fallen on deaf ears.
John Lewis sales still on the up

14 December 2007
Sales at John Lewis rose 7.4% year-on-year for the period between Sunday and Wednesday this week.
Roderick Charles to expand

8 December 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
John Lewis sales rise

6 December 2007
Sales at John Lewis stores for the four days to Wednesday December 5 are up 6% on last year and 15% on the same four days last week.
JJB Sports appoints commercial director

6 December 2007
JJB Sports has appointed David Madeley as commercial director.
Debenhams appoints Angela Spindler as managing director

4 December 2007
Angela Spindler has been appointed managing director of Debenhams, starting the role in the new year.
JJB sales rise

1 December 2007
Like-for-like sales at JJB Sports rose 1.6% for the 17 weeks to November 25 2007.
John Lewis gets Christmas boost

1 December 2007
Sales at John Lewis this week are up 8.5% on the previous week, and 4.6% up on last year, as cold weather and Christmas gift shopping boost trade.
John Lewis sales up 10%

1 December 2007
Sales at John Lewis stores rose 10% for the week to Saturday 24, as the retailer brushed aside fears of a Christmas slowdown.
Roderick Charles to expand

1 December 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Which stores are wearing the trousers?

27 November 2007
The menswear market is booming, but competition is as fierce as ever. So what are retail’s big names doing to stay in the race?
Buy Nothing Day

24 November 2007
Tomorrow is apparently 'Buy Nothing Day'. Just as retailers are gearing up for Christmas and hoping that shoppers will shrug off the economic gloom, campaign groups are hoping to have their most successful anti-consumerism day yet.
John Lewis sales get pre-Christmas boost

24 November 2007
Sales at John Lewis rose 7% last week as the department store bounced back from a slump in high street spending ahead of the crucial Christmas trading period.
John Lewis sales up 11%

24 November 2007
Sales at John Lewis have risen 11% so far this week as cold weather kicked in and shoppers prepared for Christmas.
Profits up at Gap

24 November 2007
Profits at US casualwear business Gap Inc grew by 26% to $238 million (£115.3m) for the three months to November 3.
Roderick Charles to expand

24 November 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Sports Direct issues profit warning as England exit Euro competition

24 November 2007
Sports Direct's share price has dropped below £1, its lowest since it floated last year, after it issued profit warning this morning.
Stuart Rose warns retailers to steady their nerve

24 November 2007
Marks and Spencer chief executive Stuart Rose warned retailers to steady their nerve in the run up to Christmas as he predicted a tough year ahead.
Retailers to ask: Deal or no deal?

20 November 2007
With retail space oversupply a real threat in some UK areas, businesses might never be better placed to negotiate deals.
Guy Critchlow

20 November 2007
On the ropes in the UK just a year and a half ago, Kooka?s now back in fighting shape and talking of expansion under its managing director.
3i buys Agent Provocateur

17 November 2007
Private equity firm 3i is to buy luxury lingerie brand Agent Provocateur.
Bonita eyes UK sites

17 November 2007
German chain Bonita is to shake up the classic womens-wear market with a UK launch next year.
Roderick Charles to expand

17 November 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Elle Macpherson leaves Hot Tuna board

10 November 2007
Hot Tuna executive director Elle Macpherson has left the board of the boardsports brand.
John Lewis store sales slow as mail order booms

10 November 2007
Sales growth at John Lewis stores slowed last week, up just 0.5% for the week to November 3.
Profits up at Russell & Bromley

10 November 2007
Profits at footwear chain Russell & Bromley jumped 6.5% to £9.87m for the year to December 31 2006, as sales rose.
Roderick Charles to expand

10 November 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
BAA Retail boss to leave

3 November 2007
Colin Hargrave, managing director of UK airport retail at BAA will leave next April.
M and M signs Tesco Direct boss as chief exec

3 November 2007
Discount sports and fashion firm M and M Direct has drafted in former Tesco Direct boss Steve Robinson as chief executive, after it was bought by US private equity firm TA Associates.
Menswear is star performer at John Lewis

3 November 2007
Sales at John Lewis stores were up 0.3% for the week to October 27, compared to the same week last year.
New branded boardsports concept boasts raft of shop-in-shop debuts

3 November 2007
Rip Curl franchise partner Ridel has unveiled a branded boardsports concept called Extreme Central.
Retailers open for business at £350m Silverburn mall

3 November 2007
Scotland’s largest purpose-built shopping mall opened near Glasgow last week, bringing new retailers to the area.
Roderick Charles to expand

3 November 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Backing the BID

2 November 2007
As retailers prepare to vote on the future of London’s business improvement district, has it convinced stores in the West End, and the rest of the UK, that it is a worthy investment?
Blacks dumps plan to sell Freespirit

27 October 2007
Blacks Leisure has dumped plans to sell boardsports chain Freespirit following a review of the business' future.
Blog: Mixed business

27 October 2007
“Joy and pain is like sunshine and rain,” as someone once sang. And this week it seemed to ring true for at least two big retailers announcing trading figures.
Debenhams gets profits boost

27 October 2007
Profits at Debenhams rose 11.5% to £131.4m for the 52 weeks to September 1, as sales rose to £2.3 billion thanks to new store openings.
Drop in weddings could hit bridal market

27 October 2007
A decline in the number of weddings could threaten the bridalwear market, according to a report.
Hardy Amies signs Asia deals

27 October 2007
Hardy Amies has signed new licensing deals with Japanese companies for the next three years.
Profits and sales up at Arcadia

27 October 2007
Profits at Topshop owner Arcadia grew 1.6% to £293.3 million for the year to September 1, as sales rose 5.2%
Retail sales up in September

27 October 2007
The volume of clothing and footwear sales rose by 0.6% last September, compared to the previous month, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Roderick Charles to expand

27 October 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Third Tesco director exits

27 October 2007
Tesco’s commercial finance director Keith Down has left the company to become finance director at pub chain JD Wetherspoon.
M and M Direct sold to US private equity firm

25 October 2007
Sports and fashion etailer M and M Direct has been bought by US private equity firm TA Associates.
Harrods’ menswear duo in shock exit

20 October 2007
Harrods has promoted its womenswear concession boss to lead its menswear offer, following the sudden departure of two senior menswear figures last week.
Westfield is a big bet in Derby

20 October 2007
Westfield Derby is the largest shopping centre to open in the UK this year and, with more than 100 new retailers being lured to the city, the scheme is set to transform Derby into a retail hotspot
Former Americana boss joins Blue Wahoo

20 October 2007
Former Americana International managing director Kelvin Vidler has joined surfwear brand Blue Wahoo as chairman.
JJB buys 10% stake in bid target Umbro

20 October 2007
JJB Sports has bought a 10.12% stake in replica football shirt business Umbro following a potential takeover bid for the brand.
Louis Vuitton to open new London flagship

20 October 2007
Luxury accessories brand Louis Vuitton is to open a new flagship store in Bond Street, after acquiring the unit next door to its existing store.
Roderick Charles to expand

20 October 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Tommy Hilfiger mulls £2bn European float

20 October 2007
Tommy Hilfiger is mulling a float on the European stock markets which could the value the US brand at up to €3 billion (£2bn).
New-look stores in spotlight as Derby mall opens

13 October 2007
About 150,000 shoppers flocked to see retailers unveil new store concepts this week at the launch of Westfield Derby, the biggest shopping centre opening in the UK this year.
Beales hires Bhs director as chief executive

13 October 2007
Department store Beales has appointed Bhs retail director Tony Brown as chief executive.
Brian Brick resigns at SRG

13 October 2007
Brian Brick has left his role as non-executive director of menswear business Speciality Retail Group, which owns the Suits You chain.
John Lewis sales hit by rugby and warm weather

13 October 2007
John Lewis suffered a sales dip in the week to October 6, as the combination of rugby, warm weather and tough comparisons hit the retailer.
Roderick Charles to expand

13 October 2007
Classic menswear retailer Roderick Charles will open three more stores including a flagship in the City of London.
Tom Tailor to debut in UK

13 October 2007
German chain Tom Tailor is set to make its debut in the UK, with its first shop in Belfast next year.
Column: Does the Westfield Derby shopping centre herald the shape of things to come?

12 October 2007
This week's opening of the new Westfield Derby shopping centre drew the kind of excitement usually reserved for visiting royalty or celebrities.
Peter Ruis

8 October 2007
John Lewis is not renowned as a destination store for clothing, but fashion buying chief Peter Ruis is determined to put it on the map
Putting the house in order

6 October 2007
House of Fraser’s tough new supply terms have sparked outrage from its suppliers and partners. But what potential long-term impact could the changes have on the industry?
John Lewis trials external staff in brand concessions

6 October 2007
John Lewis is trialling the use of external staff to run some fashion concessions.The business, which is renowned for its unbiasedcustomer service, is understood to have allowed selected suppliers to bring in a handful of their own staff to man their departments.
HoF chairman defends new terms after suppliers threaten to pull out

6 October 2007
House of Fraser chairman Don McCarthy has hit back at suppliers threatening to pull out of the department store chain because of its new terms.
Moss Bros adds suits to revamped website

6 October 2007
Moss Bros will relaunch its Moss website to offer a full range of suiting and casualwear online from next month.
Blog: Marks and Spencer's green streak

6 October 2007
Marks & Spencer, the high street’s environmentally-friendly champion, has opened the first of its ‘eco-stores’ this week.
Ted Baker posts healthy sales

6 October 2007
Ted Baker's sales rose 8.3% to £66.2m for the first half of the year, boosted by strong performances from the stores and licensing operations. However wholesale sales continued to fall.
Timberland launches first UK e-commerce site

6 October 2007
Timberland has launched its first transactional website in the UK, ahead of TV ad campaign scheduled for later this year.
HoF rejigs its womenswear team for the second time

29 September 2007
House of Fraser has hired Bentalls womenswear boss Judy Cimdins as part of a second restructure of its womenswear team.
JJB profits slump

29 September 2007
Profits at JJB Sports tumbled 38.3% to £11.2 million against last year's football World Cup figures.
Sports 'rivals' in mystery meeting

29 September 2007
Sportswear rivals Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley and JJB boss Chris Ronnie have created a flurry of rumours after holding a mysterious meeting this week.
Genex Brands makes technical leap with new sportswear label

22 September 2007
UK manufacturer and brand house Genex Brands is launching a sports and lifestyle brand called Field to Podium.
Department stores up the ante in the battle for fashion spend

8 September 2007
As House of Fraser spells out its vision for the future, rival department stores are also making moves to grab a bigger slice of the fashion market. But which is most likely to succeed?
House of Fraser boosts own-label roster with Episode licensing deal

8 September 2007
House of Fraser has bought the rights to the Episode brand to bump up its own-label offer.
Retailers pin hopes on school gear after dismal bank holiday trading

1 September 2007
High street retailers suffered a bleak bank holiday weekend as footfall dropped nearly 13% over the period.
Gap appoints new UK retail director

25 August 2007
Gap has recruited former Timberland retail director Michael Stanier as vice president and managing director of its UK retail and European franchise operations.
Retail's chain gang

25 August 2007
Drapers and supply chain solutions provider Holistica brought together fashion and retail logistics bosses to discuss the issues they face. Marino Donati reports
Mosaic goes east

4 August 2007
After overcoming SARS and EU import quotas, Mosaic Fashions' Asian sourcing office, led by Richard Thomas, faces another tough task. Marino Donati finds out how it plans to keep pace with the group's expansion strategy
Moss Bros and Simon Carter team up for standalone franchise deal

4 August 2007
Menswear business Moss Bros is collaborating with tailoring and accessories brand Simon Carter to roll out standalone stores for the brand.
Gloves come off in fight for sports market

28 July 2007
As Sports Direct unveils its first post-float trading results after a rocky ride with the City, its battle with rivals JD and JJB Sports is causing major upheavals in the sportswear sector
£350k swindle fails to dent Hardy Amies' growth plans

7 July 2007
Savile Row tailor Hardy Amies is forging ahead with plans to open up to 10 stand-alone stores, following the news that an employee stole more than £350,000 from the business.
Sale rumour at Scotts as two directors quit

7 July 2007
Young fashion chain Scotts has been hit by the shock exit of two senior managers, sparking rumours that Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley could be eyeing it.
John Lewis appoints Ruis as fashion boss in buying rejig

30 June 2007
John Lewis head of menswear Peter Ruis has been given the new overarching role of buying director for fashion, as part of a major buying restructure.
Mall Talk

30 June 2007
Developers are trying to tempt more independents into taking space within their shopping centres. Marino Donati asks what steps a retailer needs to consider before taking the plunge
Russian malls target UK retailers

30 June 2007
John Lewis is among several UK retailers understood to be in talks with Ikea to open shops in Russia, as part of the furniture giant's plan to expand its Mega Mall shopping centre concept.
Base Menswear ramps up with four new stores as firm marks centenary

23 June 2007
Independent retailer Base Menswear will open another four stores this year as the family-owned retailer celebrates its 100th birthday.
McArthurGlen ready for airport take-off

23 June 2007
Discount designer outlet operator McArthurGlen is planning to open a full-price format in UK airports.
JD quizzes shoppers on most-wanted brands

23 June 2007
JD Sports is asking customers to choose from a wish list of labels they want to see in its stores in a move that has surprised brand owners.
Ulster Stores' £4m facelift kicks off with De Gruchy

9 June 2007
Department store group Ulster Stores, which owns De Gruchy in Jersey and Moores of Coleraine in Northern Ireland, is revamping the clothing offer in its stores as part of a £4 million refurbishment.
One vision

19 May 2007
The £900m Liverpool One development aims to restore the city's retail fame
Blacks drops prices to pep up its sales

12 May 2007
Blacks Leisure Group has cut prices on core items at its Millets chain by up to a third, to help boost sales after a slump in profits.
Reiss broadens its pricing as overseas expansion hots up

5 May 2007
Reiss is overhauling its price architecture to broaden its appeal, as annual operating profits look set to hit almost £10 million.
Cheshire Bespoke to step up tailoring production

28 April 2007
Tailoring manufacturer Cheshire Bespoke is planning to expand its factory in Crewe and double production, a year after the company was founded.
Allders set for a new lease of life

28 April 2007
Two years ago, 45-store Allders collapsed. But now the refocused business is ready to grow again
BMB to build Melka's UK base

21 April 2007
Brand house and supplier BMB Group plans to bump up the distribution of menswear brand Melka after buying the Swedish business last week.
Debenhams hopes menswear rejig will lift it from doldrums

21 April 2007
Debenhams is to revamp its 'underperforming' menswear offer and increase the marketing spend on its premium lines by 50%, following its third profit warning in five months.
JJB Sports peps up its stores

21 April 2007
JJB Sports is to update its store design to keep pace with the roll-out of its Nike and Adidas shop-in-shops.
Puma to sharpen its claws after PPR bid

21 April 2007
Puma will launch a retail offensive and additional designer collaborations as part of plans to become 'the most desirable sports lifestyle brand in the world', as luxury group Pinault-Printemps-Redoute (PPR) prepared to bid for the sportswear label.
Fat Face to trial kids' store as new owners eye growth

31 March 2007
Lifestyle retailer Fat Face is planning its first kidswear standalone store as it expands the category under new owner Bridgepoint.
Debenhams' healthy start fails to woo City

24 March 2007
Debenhams' claim that reaction to its spring collection had been encouraging was met with caution by analysts this week.
Eton ups its fashion credentials

24 March 2007
Eton Shirts is moving away from its classic offer towards more fashion-led and slim-fit styles to cater for changing consumer tastes.
No easy street for John Lewis boss

17 March 2007
Record results put the department store chain's new chief under pressure to sustain its success
Anger among suppliers as Blacks tightens terms

10 March 2007
Blacks Leisure Group is facing a backlash from suppliers after it announced tough new terms and called on them to contribute towards its marketing costs.
Kookai gears up for UK growth

3 March 2007
Kookai is on the expansion trail with plans to take the business more upmarket, a year after its UK operation was bought out of administration.
Berghaus unveils Ator collection in bid to boost its fashionability

24 February 2007
Outdoorwear brand Berghaus is bumping up its fashion credentials with a new trend-led collection for autumn 07.
Debenhams comes under fire from City

24 February 2007
Debenhams' growth plans and its acquisition of Irish department store chain Roches are likely to hit profits in the next few years, according to retail analysts.
Michelsons to expand its product range after management buyout

24 February 2007
Michelsons is ramping up its accessories supply business and developing an own brand portfolio, following a management buyout.
Show visitors cheer later AIS deliveries

24 February 2007
Visitors at AIS Womenswear welcomed the later phasing of the association's own-label deliveries, as cautious buyers sought more transitional product for autumn 07.
All grown up

17 February 2007
Heavy knits and leather jackets proved popular at TBC and The Park in London last week, as streetwear trends followed a more mature trajectory for autumn 07
Glanville to close after forced move

17 February 2007
Harlow-based menswear independent Glanville is to close its final two stores after 35 years of trading, after high rent made its flagship store unprofitable.
Harvey Nichols' sales to top £200m as luxury market continues to grow

17 February 2007
Profits at Harvey Nichols will rise more than 35% to £15 million this year as the department store group has benefited from growth in the luxury market, chief executive Joseph Wan told Drapers this week.
Sports World vows to retain cut-price stance after float

17 February 2007
Sports World owner Mike Ashley has promised to grow the group's discount operation to 600 stores in the UK and maintain its aggressive pricing as it expands overseas, following its float later this month.
Time to step out of the shadows

10 February 2007
With a float rumoured at Sports World, secretive owner Mike Ashley must now face City scrutiny
H&M comes of age with COS fascia

3 February 2007
The Swedish fashion giant hopes to tempt a more mature customer with its new upmarket chain
Kingdom of men

3 February 2007
Selfridges is confident its revamped menswear floor will put the London Oxford Street store at the forefront of men's fashion
Peak performance at Mountain Warehouse as profits reach £2m

13 January 2007
Discount outdoor chain Mountain Warehouse is considering the sale of the majority stake in the business after predicting that profits will rise four-fold to £2 million this year.

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