News roundup–HearingDirect.com, Past Times, more


Past Times recorded a loss before tax of
£2.68 million for the year to 2 May 2009, reports the
Independent. However, sales were up 23
percent to £37.2 million, largely driven by 27 new store
openings during the year. According to the article, accountancy
firm Hazlewoods said that Past Times’ “total liabilities
exceeded its assets by more than £11 million on 2 May
2009”, raising questions over its ability to keep
trading.

Internet entrepreneur Jamie Murray Wells, who launched
Glasses Direct in 2004, is now challenging
high-street suppliers of hearing aids. The launch of
HearingDirect.com this months sees Murray Wells
selling cut-price hearing aids and offering hearing tests online,
writes The Mail on Sunday.

Online shopping recorded the slowest annual growth in almost a
decade of the IMRG Capgemini index, with sales in January up just
5 percent on the same month last year, reports the Guardian.

Also from the Guardian: Online grocer
Ocado is bullish about its prospects to raise
£1 billion through a stock exchange flotation despite the
fact that after eight years of trading it has yet to show a
profit.

The Financial Times
profiles Orkney-based jewellery firm
Sheila Fleet Jewellery, which recently received
£23,000 from the Highlands and Islands Enterprise
development body to help it create a new website, catalogue and
other promotional materials.

Wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd and its social
media strategies are mentioned in a BBC technology article.

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