Mr Price store at the Junction in Nairobi. file PHOTO | NMG South Africa-based Mr Price Group has taken direct control of its Kenya business after reclaiming its franchise from fashion apparel retailer Deacons East Africa. The two firms on Thursday announced that Mr Price will from April 1 assume the operations of its 11... Continue Reading →
Morrisons to axe 1,500 jobs in huge supermarket shake-up
The supermarket giant said the shake-up is part of a restructure which would see more customer service staff and fewer managers Morrisons is to axe 1,500 shop floor workers as it becomes the latest supermarket to announce large-scale job cuts. The supermarket giant said the shake-up is part of a restructure which would see more... Continue Reading →
Top Italian beauty brand Korff Milano enters UAE
Top Italian beauty brand Korff Milano enters UAE UAE Business • • • • Korff Milano, a leading Italian company known for its upmarket beauty solutions in the pharmaceutical industry, has announced its foray into the UAE market in partnership with BinSina Pharmacies. The premier European make-up brand marked its UAE debut with an exclusive... Continue Reading →
Dubai launches world’s first floating drive-thru
Revealed: Dubai launches world's first floating drive-thru Aqua Pod allows sea-goers to enjoy food and beverages as they would from a traditional food truck Dubai has revealed the Aqua Pod concept, the world's first sustainable floating drive-thru, serving a range of burgers. Sea-goers will be able to satisfy their hunger while at sea and pull... Continue Reading →
M&S plans closure of 14 more UK stores
M&S plans closure of 14 more UK stores British retailer Marks & Spencer said on Wednesday six UK stores would close by the end of April, while a further eight had been identified for closure. M&S said in November 2016 it would reposition about 25 percent of its clothing and home space through a combination... Continue Reading →
Bargain retail chain has eyes on Northern Ireland expansion
Discount retailer B&M will open two new stores in Northern Ireland in the coming months as part of its UK expansion plans. The retailer is set to take over a former JJB Store at Drumkeen Retail Park in south Belfast as well as a opening a new unit in Ballynahinch. The Drumkeen store will open... Continue Reading →
Spar International to open 40 stores in Saudi by 2020
Foot retail giant to open eight stores in Riyadh this year Foot retail chain Spar International has unveiled plans to open 40 stores in Saudi Arabia by 2020, as part of a partnership with Riyadh-based Al Sadhan Group to bring the brand to the kingdom. The firm opened three Spar stores in Riyadh over the... Continue Reading →
Top franchising trends for 2018
©Ian Allenden via 123RF The franchising industry has steadily shown adaptability to the tough economy by growing the sector 3,6% over the past four years – from contributing an estimated 9,7% to the country’s GDP in 2014 to its recent figure of 13,3%. This trend is expected to continue on the same trajectory in the... Continue Reading →
Superdry Sport to design Invictus UK team kit for next year’s Games as agreed a deal to design and provide free bespoke technical sports kit and team clothing for UK Team competitors and supporters at next year’s Invictus Games. Invictus Games Toronto 2017, UK Team supported by Help for Heroes Under the deal, Superdry Sport’s... Continue Reading →
Nyden: H&M’s new affordable luxury brand
Introducing Nyden: H&M’s new affordable luxury brand H&M has announced it will be adding another brand to its portfolio in early 2018 aimed at millennials and co-created with “influencers”. The first /Nyden influencers will include Instagram-famous tattoo artist Doctor Woo and Swedish actress Noomi Rapace. The aim of working with influencers is to ensure the... Continue Reading →
Al-Futtaim buys M&S retail business in Hong Kong & Macau
United Kingdom : Al-Futtaim buys M&S retail business in Hong Kong & Macau - Apparel News United Kingdom Al-Futtaim has acquired the retail business of Marks and Spencer (M&S) in Hong Kong and Macau. The sale completed on December 30, 2017 after several discussions, now sees Al-Futtaim become the new sole franchisee for M&S in... Continue Reading →
Co-op to open 100 new stores in 2018
Co-op to open 100 new stores in 2018 as it continues expansion The Co-op has confirmed plans to open 100 new stores across the UK this year, creating an estimated 1,600 jobs, as part of a continued drive to expand its footprint across the country. The retailer is spending more than £160m on new store launches, with more than... Continue Reading →
Hamleys opens biggest store
Hamleys opens biggest store on the planet British toy giant Hamleys has opened its largest worldwide flagship store in Beijing spanning over 115,000sq ft. The 257-year-old store opened the doors its new location just two days before Christmas, accompanied by an exclusive parade to mark the occasion. The British ambassador Barbara Woodward and Sanpower chairman... Continue Reading →
Apple to open first Saudi stores
US giant Apple said to be in talks to open first Saudi stores Tech major is reportedly in licensing talks with Riyadh; first Apple store could open in 2019 US tech giant Apple is reportedly in licensing talks with Saudi Arabia with a view to open its first stores in the Gulf kingdom. The maker... Continue Reading →
Poundworld loses CEO
Gerry Gray, who had held the role of chief executive at Poundworld for almost two years following a long career with Tesco, has resigned and left the business. Steve Johnson, executive chairman, is assuming the role until a permanent appointment can be made.
Arket to open third store in London
H&M’s Group newest brand, Arket, is set to open its third store in London next spring as the Swedish retail group continues to roll out its latest store concept. Set to open in spring, 2018, the store will be located in Westfield Stratford City. The third UK Arket store opening comes after the brand’s debut... Continue Reading →
Souq.com launches Amazon Global Store
New store brings over one million global products to the UAE E-commerce giant Souq.com has launched Amazon Global Store, which allows customers in the UAE to choose from over one million products from US-based Amazon.com, in Arabic or English, and pay in AED. Several payment methods including cash on delivery is available, while product categories... Continue Reading →
Azadea to open 11 new stores at $1.2bn UAE mall
Premier lifestyle retail company Azadea Group has joined hands with Kuwait-based Al Farwaniya Property Developments to open 11 new stores at the $1.2-billion Reem Mall, Abu Dhabi’s new entertainment, dining and shopping destination, located on Reem Island. Al Farwaniya Property Developments is a joint venture between Agility, Agility-affiliate United Projects for Aviation Services Company (UPAC),... Continue Reading →
CHANEL to open six new flagship stores in 2018
Dec 11, 2017 “2018 will be the year of flagships, six of them, either brand new stores or major re-openings, which will be very impactful,” says Bruno Pavlovsky, the president of Chanel’s fashion and accessories divisions. And the destinations are all major ones. From New York, a new boutique on 57th street to a new... Continue Reading →
Spinneys to open 18 new UAE stores by 2020
New CEO Matt Frost said Spinneys has invested $48 million in new headquarters that will feature flagship store Spinneys will open 18 new outlets as part of an expansion in UAE by 2020, according to incoming CEO Matt Frost. Frost, who replaces current CEO Jannie Holtzhausen on January 3, said that the 18 stores will... Continue Reading →
Westfield London signs 70,000sq ft Primark store
Primark is set to take a 70,000sq ft store in Westfield London’s new 740,000sq ft expansion that is expected to open next summer. The store will be the second largest in the shopping centre’s £600 million expansion, after John Lewis’s 230,000sq ft anchor. After the new extension is opened to the public, Westfield London is... Continue Reading →
South African Retail Tycoon Loses Billionaire Status Amid Accounting Crisis
Christo Wiese. Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg South African retail tycoon Christo Wiese dropped from the billionaire ranks earlier on Thursday after the stock of Steinhoff International Holdings, the retail conglomerate where Wiese serves as the chairman, fell 80% in the course of two days. The company’s shares plunged after its CEO, Markus Jooste, resigned due to accounting irregularities,... Continue Reading →
Retailers brace as Amazon launches in Australia
The arrival of Amazon in Australia poses a threat to a market already grappling with weak consumer confidence amid tepid wages growth© AFP/File LEON NEAL US internet giant Amazon launched in Australia Tuesday in time for Christmas, with retailers scrambling to cut costs and boost their online offerings as they brace for an expected shake-up... Continue Reading →
Toys ‘R’ Us prepares to shut a quarter of its 105 UK stores
• News comes ahead of the busy Christmas period, a crucial time for high street • Stores will remain open during the Christmas period and into the New Year • In September, the company’s US arm filed for bankruptcy protection Toys R Us is preparing to shut a quarter of its UK stores, with the... Continue Reading →
Thomas Cook to close 50 high street shops
Thomas Cook has announced it plans to close high street branches. PIC: Lewis Stickley/PA Wire Travel giant Thomas Cook is to close 50 high street shops, putting 400 jobs at risk, just weeks before Christmas. The closures will affect Thomas Cook and Co-operative Travel branded stores and will take place between now and March 2018.... Continue Reading →
Joe Browns opens debut store at Meadowhall
Situated on Meadowhall’s High Street, the 4,000 square foot shop was designed by creative agency Dalziel and Pow. Simon Brown, managing director and founder of Joe Browns, said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the store, I think we’ve achieved what we set out to do, which was to create an impressive three- dimensional version of our... Continue Reading →
Mr Price cuts its cloth to suit a higher share price
Credit: Freddy Mavunda The share price jumped 11% to R169.99 after the announcement. The momentum continued for most of the trading session, with the share eventually closing at R192.25. Diluted headline earnings per share are expected to rise between 421.4c and 439c. Portfolio manager at Gryphon Asset managers Casparus Treurnicht said although the company did... Continue Reading →
Fashion chain Hobbs bought by South African firm
The deal saw private equity owner 3i offload the business for an undisclosed sum, although a price tag of £80 million has been mooted. Hobbs has become the latest British retailer to fall into South African hands after it was acquired by The Foschini Group. The deal saw private equity owner 3i offload the fashion... Continue Reading →
In Pictures: Harvey Nichols 2017 Christmas Windows
Premium department store Harvey Nichols has unveiled its Christmas windows for 2017, its largest visual scheme of the year. For this year's festive season, the luxury retailer looked for inspiration from the Autumn/Winter 2017 fashion weeks and pre-spring collections, selecting the most vibrant colours to catch customer's eyes. During the dark winter season, Harvey Nichols... Continue Reading →
Revealed: 23rd Dubai Shopping Festival dates for your diary
Retail festival will run from December 26 to January 27 2018, say organisers The 23rd edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival will start on December 26 and run until January 27, 2018, it was announced on Monday. Organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce... Continue Reading →
Niketown to open at Dubai Mall in 2018 – sources
Image Credit: Atiq-ur-Rahman/Gulf News Dubai: Nike is planning a major overhaul of its retail offering in Dubai, according to four people familiar with the matter, with a huge new store slated for 2018. The world’s biggest sportswear maker will open a Niketown in Dubai Mall sometime next year, said the individuals, who asked not to... Continue Reading →
Storm brews as Shoprite investors challenge pay policy
Mehluli Ncube, representing the Sentinel pension fund, described the invitation to participate in the teleconference as a little hostile. Ncube, who attended the annual general meeting on Monday to express his concerns about the remuneration policy, said the teleconference was in line with the new JSE requirements, which oblige companies to engage with shareholders if... Continue Reading →
Truworths’ share price falls after disappointing sales report
The clothing chain said this was partly because it reported in weeks, and the decline would have been only 2% if the previous 53-week financial year had not shifted the comparative periods by a week. Truworths said half of its total sales were "account" and half were cash. Both declined by 3%. The group’s trade... Continue Reading →
Oxford Street may become ‘the world’s best outdoor shopping experience’
If plans to transform Oxford into a pedestrianised area go through, the Western section of Oxford Street may well become the 'world's best outdoor shopping experience.' Ambitious plans for the transformation of the shopping district where unveiled today by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and Deputy Leader of Westminster City Council, Cllr Robert Davis.... Continue Reading →
Galeries Lafayette to open stores in Istanbul, Kuwait
Galeries Lafayette plans to open a second store in Istanbul and its first in Kuwait City in 2019, tapping into high-spending shoppers in the Middle East. “These two projects give further substance to our goals of consolidating our positions in the Middle East where we will have a network of eight stores,” Nicolas Houze, chief... Continue Reading →
Asda hires former Carrefour exec Jesús Lorente as new merchandising boss
Asda has hired Carrefour’s former chief merchandising officer Jesús Lorente for a similar role as the Big 4 grocer undergoes a leadership overhaul. The news comes a week after Asda announced that deputy chief executive Roger Burnley will replace current chief executive Sean Clarke from January 1. Lorente will succeed Andrew Moore, who is stepping from... Continue Reading →
Cashier-less shop set to open in Cork
A brand new, cashier-free shop is set to open in Cork early next year, in what looks to be a world’s first. The Irish Examiner reports retail technology agency Everseen is developing the store on French Church Street, which uses mobile technology, beacons, and other highly advanced techniques to allow customers to walk in, pick... Continue Reading →
Argos launches Christmas advertising campaign
The 60 second TV commercial is set in a magical Argos distribution centre where a troupe of Argos elves are helping Santa to deliver gifts across the country. Created by CHI & Partners and directed by Gary Freedman, the advert aims to highlight Argos’s commitment to speedy delivery and its Fast Track same-day delivery service.... Continue Reading →
MySidekick shopping app launches across SA
South African startup MySidekick has launched its free Android-based shopping app across the country, offering users special deals from retailers such as Clicks, Dis-Chem and Volpes. Incubated at the Nedbank Stellenbosch University LaunchLab business incubator, MySidekick has developed an application that provides users with relevant shopping deals and in 2015 secured a R4 million (US$280,000)... Continue Reading →
Lloydspharmacy chief Cormac Tobin resigns
Cormac Tobin had been with the Celesio group for more than 10 years Cormac Tobin, managing director of Lloydspharmacy's parent company Celesio UK, has left the company “with immediate effect”, the multiple has announced. His departure comes just one week after Mr Tobin – who had been with the Celesio group for more than 10 years... Continue Reading →
Galeries Lafayette opens new Paris store
Galeries Lafayette has unveiled a new flagship store at the heart of the new extension to the Carré Sénart shopping centre in Paris. The opening marks the first significant addition to the Galeries Lafayette network of 56 stores in France in the past few years, and the new store concept is intended to be experience-led,... Continue Reading →
Work starts on new $380m super mall in Abu Dhabi
Retail giant Majid Al Futtaim says City Centre Al Jazira will be its first in the UAE capital Construction work has started on a new AED1.4 billion ($380 million) lifestyle destination in Abu Dhabi, with an opening slated for 2021. An official greound-breaking ceremony has taken place for City Centre Al Jazira which will include... Continue Reading →
Next’s full price sales improve
by The Retail Bulletin In the three months to 29 October online sales climbed by 13.2% but sales in the retailer’s stores were down 7.7%. In a statement, Next said the lower clearance rates seen in its summer end-of-season sale this year had continued into the third quarter, both in the mid-season sale and its... Continue Reading →
Uniqlo founder to retire
The chief of Uniqlo’s parent company Fast Retailing is to retire from the company he founded when he turns 70 in 2019. Tadashi Yanai told the Japanese financial publication The Nikkei on Friday he is due to retire, but will continue as chairman of the company, stating “there is no such thing as retirement for... Continue Reading →
Hugo Boss launches first digital showroom
Hugo Boss has launched its first digital showroom in Berlin, Germany, marking a shift in the company's strategy. The German fashion brand presented its Hugo pre-fall collection for 2018 at a pop-up space in Berlin to showcase its digital showroom last week. Via a 65 inch touchscreen, which resembles a table, viewers were able to... Continue Reading →
First BENTLEY standalone boutique opens in Dubai
The Al Habtoor Group is proud to bring together two world-class brands under one roof, Bentley, and St. Regis Dubai Polo, the world’s first ever equestrian resort located at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club. The brainchild of Mr. Mohammed Al Habtoor, Vice-Chairman and CEO of Al Habtoor Group, the idea of building the... Continue Reading →
Clicks targets 900 stores after ace results
On Thursday the retail-led healthcare group posted a 15.4% rise in operating profit to R1.8bn driven by strong health and beauty sales that grew 14.7%. Opening 111 stores, including 80 through the outsourcing agreement with the Netcare Group, bumped up its store footprint to 622. Its pharmacy network was increased to 473. During the 2017... Continue Reading →
Christopher Bailey to leave Burberry by the end of 2018
London - The man who has been credited with transforming Burberry into the UK's leading luxury fashion house is set to leave his role. President and Chief Creative Officer at Burberry, Christopher Bailey, is set to leave the company by the end of 2018, marking the end of his 17-year tenure. The heritage fashion house... Continue Reading →
Asda appoints Roger Burnley as new president and CEO
by The Retail Bulletin He will succeed current chief executive Sean Clarke who has held the position since July 2016. In a statement, the company said Clarke will be “taking some time out” but will “remain engaged” with Walmart. Burnley returned to Asda as chief operating officer and deputy chief executive in October 2016 and... Continue Reading →