Apparel and homewares retailer Laura Ashley
reports a 28 percent increase in interim pretax profit and a UK
like-for-like sales growth of 3.5 percent. The company attributes
the success to its “strong product offering, distinctive
brand and continued focus on providing an attractive retail
experience for customers”.
At Home Retail Group, the parent of Homebase and
Argos, the news was not as positive. Total sales
at Argos slumped 7.1 percent, to £859 million, in the second
quarter. While at Homebase, sales started well, but the quarter
saw an overall decline of 3.8 percent to £382 million.
Group sales at electronic components distributor Premier
Farnell grew 4.8 percent in the first half of the year.
Operating profit was up 7.4 percent during the period. The group
saw double-digit sales growth for the UK in the first half, with
turnover up 11.4 percent, for the period ended 31st July.
Last week we reported that Quelle relaunched
as an online marketplace in Germany. Now US electricals retailer
Best Buy is making a similar move. Best Buy is
allowing third-party retailers to sell their products through the
site as a way to broaden its range. Among the first retailers to
set up shop on Best Buy is general merchandiser
Buy.com.
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