Auto and cycling accessories retailer Halfords
will create up to 1,000 jobs in the year ahead as it invests in
its “key areas of growth”, namely cycling, fitting
services and Autocentres. This strategy, “will accelerate
the evolution of Halfords from a traditional retailer to a
contemporary solutions provider”, said chief executive
David Wild in a statement. Halfords’ group revenue was broadly
flat in the year to 30th March 2012, £863.1 million compared
with £869.7 million last year.
Aurora Fashions, which owns
Coast, Oasis and
Warehouse, is enabling UK customers to use their
smartphones to pay for goods bought in-store using a Paypal app.
The service, which launches today in 230 stores, works by users
opening the Paypal app, selecting “Pay inStore” and
entering a unique barcode and number. The shop assistant then
scans the barcode or enter the number into the till.
US retailer Macy’s is investing $15 million into
Chinese online private-sales club VIPStore. The
deal will see Macy’s sell an assortment of items directly to
Chinese consumers through a dedicated section in
Omei.com, the newly established luxury-goods
eCommerce website operated by VIPStore.
Screwfix grew total sales by 10.2 per cent to
£137 million in the first quarter of the new financial year
thanks to new ranges, the continued rollout of new outlets and
the successful introduction of a mobile “click, pay &
collect” offer. Eight new outlets were opened during the
quarter, taking the total to 223. Retail profit was up 31.7
per cent to £11 million, reflecting the strong sales growth,
more direct sourcing, distribution efficiencies and continued
tight cost control. At sister company B&Q, total
sales declined by 8.9 per cent to £968 million, with the
adverse weather affecting sales of outdoor seasonal products and
building products. Sales of indoor decorative products were up as
customers switched some of their home improvement activities
indoors. Retail profit declined by 13.8 per cent to £65
million with margin and cost initiatives unable to fully offset
the impact of the sharp year on year fall in seasonal sales.
Discount-goods chain Poundworld is branching out
from bricks-and-mortar retail with the launch of a wholesale
website discount-wholesale.co.uk. Officially launching this week,
the discount wholesale website is aimed at market traders,
eBay sellers, independent and small retailers. A
minimum order of £500 is required by customers.
Discount-wholseale.co.uk also has a showroom in Normanton,
Wakefield.
The Guardian reports that
Arcadia, which operates Miss
Selfridge, Topshop and Dorothy
Perkins has sent retrospective payments worth hundreds
of pounds to dozens of its former unpaid interns.
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