- Disappointing February retail figures suggest that the
better-than-anticipated January results “may well have been
a ‘last hurrah’ for many consumers as rising debts and higher
interest rates start to bite,” says MyFinances.co.uk. As
Bloomberg.com reports, the Confederation of
British Industry’s index of UK retail sales hit a 15-month low. - Littlewoods Shop Direct Group doesn’t seem overly
concerned about the effects of the economy, however. The
multititle mailer expects annual profits to double this year,
according to The Guardian, with EBITDA hitting £50
million and online sales £500 million for the year ending
in April. - Then again, Office Depot, whose brands include
cataloguer Viking Direct blamed “continued overall
weakness in the UK business” for much of its 22 per cent
decline in fourth-quarter profits for its international
division. - The Telegraph features a brief profile of
fashion cataloguer/retailer Crew Clothing. To sum it up:
Crew is “an old friend who still comes up trumps on the
basics”… Curious to know how private equity has boosted
Crew’s performance in the past year or so? Then check out
FT.com. - And The Times has an interview with
Boden’s Johnnie Boden. Choice quote: “I am not in
the Ralph Lauren game of selling a perfect lifestyle. I’d
rather vomit in the nearest bucket.”
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