* You are viewing the archive for the ‘Financial’ Category

Superdry readies for 18 November opening in Durham

Graham Soult November 16, 2011 Fashion Stores, Financial, Online, Specialist Retailers, Supply Chain 3 Comments

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Soon-to-open Superdry, Durham (16 Nov 2011). Photograph by Graham Soult

Soon-to-open Superdry, Durham (16 Nov 2011)

Superdry – the SuperGroup-owned fashion chain of the moment – is gearing up to open its new store in Durham’s Silver Street at 9am this coming Friday (18 November), though the shop was still under wraps when I went past this morning.

By opening in the midst of the Durham Lumiere festival – which runs from 17-20 November, and attracts … Continue Reading

Has Britain fallen out of love with Tesco?

Graham Soult October 05, 2011 Brands, Campaigns, Economy, Financial, Overseas, Supermarkets 4 Comments

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Tesco in Eger, Hungary (15 Jul 2006). Photograph by Graham Soult

Tesco in Eger, Hungary (15 Jul 2006)

Today’s release of fairly weak UK trading figures from Tesco – where like-for-like sales, excluding petrol and VAT, fell by 0.5% in the first half of the year – has unsurprisingly prompted much media discussion, both about Tesco specifically and the state of the … Continue Reading

Newcastle’s Clas Ohlson on track for 24 August opening

Graham Soult June 07, 2011 Financial, Overseas, Property 2 Comments

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Clas Ohlson, Newcastle (6 Jun 2011). Photograph by Graham Soult

Clas Ohlson, Newcastle (6 Jun 2011)

Clas Ohlson, the Swedish hardware retailer, has confirmed that its new Newcastle store in Northumberland Street will open on Wednesday 24 August.

Recently erected hoardings around the 20,333 sq ft unit – formerly occupied by Collectables – … Continue Reading

Alworths’ future uncertain as bailiffs seize Llandudno store

Graham Soult March 07, 2011 Financial, Property, Variety Stores, Woolworths 7 Comments

Tags: , , , ,

'Notice of Peaceable Re-entry' at Alworths, Llandudno (7 Mar 2011). Photograph by Dave Roberts

'Notice of Peaceable Re-entry' at Alworths, Llandudno (7 Mar 2011). Photograph by Dave Roberts

Following a weekend of speculation about the future of ‘son of Woolworths’ chain Alworths, events have taken a further turn today with the news that bailiffs have seized the … Continue Reading

As Clas Ohlson pledges “long-term commitment” to UK, I check out the Leeds store

Graham Soult February 09, 2011 Financial, Home and DIY, Online, Overseas, Property, Specialist Retailers 2 Comments

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Clas Ohlson, Leeds (21 Jan 2011). Photograph by Graham Soult

Clas Ohlson, Leeds (21 Jan 2011)

Things have been pretty quiet on the Clas Ohlson front since the Swedish hardware retailer announced the latest stage of its UK expansion, back in August. Those new stores in Cardiff, Doncaster and Norwich have subsequently opened, just before Christmas, but there’s no news yet on where the next additions to Clas … Continue Reading

Putting today’s John Lewis sales drop in perspective

Graham Soult January 28, 2011 Department Stores, Financial No Comments

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John Lewis Oxford Street, London. Photograph by Graham Soult

John Lewis Oxford Street, London

Given how long it’s been since the weekly trading figures for John Lewis department stores last recorded a year-on-year fall in sales, it’s little wonder that the 2.2% sales drop announced today seems to be … Continue Reading

Unpacking Clas Ohlson’s 203% UK sales increase

Graham Soult July 16, 2010 Brands, Financial, Overseas 1 Comment

Tags: , , , , ,

Existing Kingston store. Photograph by Graham Soult

Existing Kingston store

The much-blogged-about Swedish hardware retailer Clas Ohlson published its sales figures for June yesterday.

What’s interesting is that sales for the UK are now being stripped out from those of Finland, giving us a much clearer idea of how the UK business is doing. Total sales were SEK 442m, of which the seven UK stores accounted for SEK 15m. A year ago, the UK business delivered sales … Continue Reading