Fenn Wright Manson, the troubled womenswear
retailer, has appointed Zolfo Cooper as administrator. The
company will continue to trade via its 17 stores and 62
concessions, while the administrator explores possible options
for the future, including a sale of all or parts of the business.
Gross sales at John Lewis rose 3 per cent to
£3.33 billion in the year ending 28th January. Online sales
at JohnLewis.com were up 26.3 per cent to £680.8 million.
Although operating profit was down 20.4 per cent to £157.9
million, John Lewis Partnership’s chairman Charlie Mayfield said
they were “better than expected”.
As a result, all John Lewis Partnership employees-or
“partners”-will receive a bonus equivalent to more
than seven weeks’ pay.
Online pharmacy Chemist Direct has appointed
former Play.com managing director Stuart Rowe as
chief executive. Local newspaper, the Leicester Mercury, has more on the
news.
Clinton Cards, the greetings-card retailer, has
put its Birthdays chain up for sale, writes the Independent.
As part of developing its “Click, Collect & Go”
service, Screwfix opened 21 new trade counters
in January. The expansion plans will enable customers to check
that products are in stock, using the Screwfix eCommerce website
or mobile site, place their order and collect items just 15
minutes later from their local branch.
George Smith, a former chairman of the Institute of
Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM) has died after a long
struggle with motor neurone disease. He passed away on 2nd
March.
Mamas & Papas is developing a mobile website to
further develop its eCommerce capabilities across new channels
and devices. It has appointed technology specialist One Iota to
create the site as the first step in its multichannel strategy
that will also include the introduction of a tablet-optimised
website, Facebook commerce and iPhone application over the next
few months. In addition, Mamas & Papas is planning to bring free
Wi-Fi to stores and provide customers with richer information,
such as product videos and customer reviews, via QR codes.
Express Gifts has switched from a downstream
access service and awarded Hermes a contract to deliver its 3.5
million parcels and packets. Through Hermes, Express Gifts will
now be able to provide fully trackable next-day and 48-hour
services with a range of proof of delivery options. Hermes will
collect online and catalogue purchases on a daily basis from
three warehouses located in the North West of England in
Accrington, Chadderton and Failsworth. Consignments will then be
transported to Hermes’ distribution hubs in Nuneaton,
Warwickshire, and Warrington, Cheshire, for sorting and onward
delivery to the company’s regional depot network. Parcels will
then be distributed to more than 7,500 lifestyle couriers for
delivery to households across the UK.
Share