What’s happening in retail & with brands – trends for week ending 20th January 2012

Company Results

• Alliance Boots have reported a 14.1% increase in group sales for the 3 months to 31 December 2011. UK sales increased by 4.1% for the 5 weeks to 31 December 2011. (Source: Reuters)
• Associated British Foods have reported a 12% increase in group sales for the 16 weeks to 7 January 2012.
• ASOS Plc have reported a 46% increase in group retail sales to £146.5m from £100.0m for the 3 months to 31 December 2011. UK sales increased by 10% to £62.1m from £56.3m for the same period.

• Burberry Group have reported a 21.0% increase in sales to £574m from £470m for the 3 months to 31 December 2011. Retail sales and like-for-like sales increased by 23% and 13% respectively for the same period.
• Dixons Retail have reported a 3% decrease in group sales for the 12 weeks to 07 January 2012. UK and Ireland sales and like-for-like sales decreased by 6% and 7% respectively for the same period.
• Findel Plc have reported a 4.5% increase in group sales for the 15 weeks to 17 January 2012.
• Jaeger have reported a 10% increase in sales to £93.9m for the year to 28 February 2011. Pre-tax profit decreased to £772,000 from £2.22m for the same period. (Source: Retail Week)

• John Lewis have reported a 14.4% increase in sales (including VAT) for the week to 14 January 2012. Fashion, Home and Electricals & Home Technology sales increased by 5.1% and 9.5% and 31.3% respectively. Sales at johnlewis.com increased by 50.4%.
• Kesa Electricals have reported a 0.3% increase in group sales for the period 01 November 2011 to 08 January 2012. Like-for-like sales decreased by 1.3% for the same period. Comet’s sales and their like-for-like sales decreased by 15% and 14.5% respectively for the same period.
• McArthurGlen Group have reported a 11.6% increase in sales for the 8 weeks to 31 December 2011. (Source: Retail Bulletin)
• Matalan have reported a 3.5% increase in sales for the 13 weeks to 26 November 2011. Like-for-like sales increased to 1.3% for the same period. (Source: Retail Week)
• Mulberry Group have reported a 30% increase in sales for the 16 weeks to 14 January 2012. Like-for-like sales increased by 25% for the same period.
• Pets at Home have reported a 6.5% increase in sales for the 41 weeks to 12 January 2012. Like-for-like sales increased by 1.5% for the same period.
• Select have reported a 40.2% increase in sales for the 6 weeks to 07 January 2012. Like-for-like sales increased by 17.1% for the same period.
• Superdrug have reported a 2.5% increase in like-for-like sales for the 5 weeks to 31 December 2011. (Source: Retail Week)
• QD Stores have reported a 5.7% increase in sales for the 5 weeks to 24 December 2011.
• Waitrose have reported a 7.1% increase in sales (including petrol) for the week to 14 January 2012.
• White Stuff have reported a 20% increase in sales to £100.8m for the year to April 2011. Pre-tax profit increased by 2% to £14.9m for the same period. (Source: Drapers)

Some heavy late season markdowns helped stimulate demand across homewares with bigger ticket areas outperforming. Although this was offset by negative demand elsewhere, overall sales were positive. Sales made through non-store channels continued its strong run with impressive gains made in most areas.

Clothing, Footwear & Accessories

• It is reported that My-Wardrobe.com is to re-launch their website in February 2012, in order to expand internationally.

• Michael Ziff has acquired 89 Barratts Priceless stores for an undisclosed amount, securing 1,184 jobs. (Source: Financial Times)
• Cocosa have plans to launch full price website in 2013 in order to increase the members. (Source: Drapers)
• Peacocks have entered into administration. (Source: Retail Week)

• Peak Performance have appointed Henrik Bunge as their new Chief Executive, effective 1 May 2012. (Source: Retail Bulletin)
• Select have plans to increase their number of stores to 300 over the next 3-5 years, with 30 stores to be opened by the end of 2012,. (Source: Retail Week)
• Tesco have launched their new clothing label, F&F through a franchise deal with Fawaz Abadulaziz in Saudi Arabia in order to enter international markets. (Source: Retail Bulletin)
• It is reported that Sports Direct is to acquire Hot Tuna for £950,000. (Source: Evening Standard)

Electrical & Entertainment

• Clinton Cards have appointed Punch Communications to manage their social media profiles on both Facebook and Twitter. (Source: Market Watch)
• Halfords have appointed Clive West as their new Group Digital Director. (Source: Retail Week)
• It is reported that Past Times have entered into administration, resulting in a loss of 574 jobs. (Source: The Independent)
• Play.com have plans to introduce a ‘payment-on-delivery’ offer in order to enhance their customer service. (Source: Retail Week)

• Waitrose have plans to launch ‘contactless payments’ in all their stores by the end of 2012 in order to help customers to pay using their mobile phone and to decrease transaction times. (Source: Retail Week)

Food & Drink

• It is reported that Tesco have launched a ‘loyalty voucher initiative’ campaign in order to attract more customers and increase sales. (Source: Marketing Week)
• It is reported that The Co-operative Group have launched a ‘suggest-a-site’ scheme for their members in order to help them find potential new sites.
• Tesco have acquired Stourbridge shopping centre, resulting in 400 new jobs.

Household

• It is reported that AS Watson have appointed Joey Wat as their new Managing Director for Superdrug and Savers retail brands.
• B&Q have invested £12m in gardening products in order to boost their sales over the Easter trading period. (Source: Retail Week)
• It is reported that Pumpkin Patch have entered into administration, resulting in a loss of 60 jobs. (Source: Retail Week)

• Boots have plans to reramp their multichannel offering during 2012 in order to keep up with the competition.
• It is reported that Hobbycraft have appointed Mike Giffin and Dominic Jordan as their new Chief Financial Officer and Retail Operations Director respectively.
• Mayborn have appointed Paul Mason as their new Chairman. (Source: Retail Week)
• Morrisons have appointed Alison Lancaster as Chief Marketing Officer for their Kiddicare brand, effective 23 January 2012. (Source: Retail Week)

Courtesy of ‘The Thinker‘