| Amica develops distribution network
Portway Domestic Appliances appointed to expand sales for the “determined” Amica brand
Polish manufacturer of major domestic appliances Amica has developed its distribution network with the appointment of Portway Domestic Appliances. The Hampshire-based distributor will sell the full complement of Amica’s products to UK mainland independent retailers. read more...
21 Nov |
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| “In the UK, Philips may not be the biggest, but it will be the best”
Philips commits to driving value back into the marketplace
Philips Consumer Lifestyle is to draw on the strength and recognition of the Philips brand as a global leader in healthcare to help reinforce its overall position in the UK market. The company, which last year embarked upon “Vision 2010” – a strategic plan to simplify its organisational structure – has spent time innovating and consolidating its businesses, and yesterday in London, the Surrey-based Consumer Lifestyle team presented Philips’ future plans for the UK market. read more...
21 Nov |
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| What's your thought for the day?
Life's little moments
Fun, fantasy, philosophy, farrago... read more...
20 Nov |
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| October retail sales figures less bad than expected
Trend still down, but not so steep
Office for National Statistics figures published today show a less-than-expected decline of just 0.1% in high street sales in October. This follows a 0.4% fall in September, and is considerably better than the 0.9% that analysts were predicting. read more...
20 Nov |
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| Calling all indies… Get out your stockings and cotton wool
No. It’s not a fancy dress party – it’s an enticement to cheer up the passing public with a Roberts Radio Christmas window display
Independent retailers are invited to enter the Roberts Radio Christmas Window Display Competition, which commences Friday 21st November and runs through to 19th December. The selected winner will gain a Red Letter Day experience of their choice. So if you fancy ringing the changes in the New Year by attacking a new pursuit, be that hot-air ballooning or Ferrari driving, it’s time for some “creative” Christmas spirit. read more...
20 Nov |
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| BSkyB looks to raise $600 million
Talk Talk is not a BSkyB target, according to financial sources
BSkyB plans to raise $600 million in a bond issue to refinance existing debt and acquire new businesses. The news, which broke yesterday (Tuesday 18th November), brought about speculation that the satellite broadcaster and Internet service provider had its sights set on Talk Talk, the company owned by The Carphone Warehouse (see earlier stories on this website for further information). However, according to financial sources intent on doing their homework, neither BSkyB nor Vodafone, which has also been named as a Talk Talk pursuer, are interested in buying Carphone Warehouse's TalkTalk operation, which, only yesterday, was confirmed as being a possible spin-off for the Group. read more...
19 Nov |
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| Here today, gone tomorrow
Global economic crisis forces Zoombak to pull out of UK market just seven weeks after its “official” launch
Zoombak LLP, which entered the UK in February 2008 in search of distribution partners for its Advanced GPS personal locator, and held an official launch for the product in London on 2nd October (see GCM October issue), announced today that is to pull out of the market due to the impact the current economic crisis was having on projected sales and future return on investment in the UK business. read more...
19 Nov |
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| Demerger for Carphone’s Talk Talk business confirmed possible
Dunstone’s Best Buy Europe arm trades well “in a difficult market”
Carphone Warehouse CEO Charles Dunstone today confirmed speculation (see this website November 17th) that the Group’s Internet and landline telephone business Talk Talk may be demerged. The news was released as part of a statement of the company’s Interim Results for the 26 weeks to 27th September 2008. “I believe we have reached a watershed in the evolution of the Group, with two discrete and focused businesses with strong market positions and solid financial foundations,” Dunstone said. He went on to announce a formal review of the Group’s corporate structure, as initiated by the Board, and acknowledged this may lead to a separation of the businesses. read more...
18 Nov |
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| Falling inflation sparks fears of deflation
Further interest rates cuts expected in December
Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics showed that UK inflation fell in October to 4.5%. The news was said to have taken economists by surprise – a City straw poll had returned a drop of 4.8% – and is thought to prompt further interest rate cuts. read more...
18 Nov |
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| Carphone Warehouse to cash out of TalkTalk?
Demerger announcement “expected this week”
There is strong speculation in the financial and communications worlds that Carphone Warehouse is looking at ways to refocus on the core business activities of selling mobile phones, accessories and services by demerging the TalkTalk telephony and broadband business. read more...
17 Nov |
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