more store closures and job cuts ahead in uk?

Some excellent news from John Lewis.As those who shop their know they are good on customer service and generally their products are excellent quality and never any problems if you have to return things.
They have some kind of profit share scheme with the staff who are to be rewarded with a bonus of 9 weeks pay.
It is no coincidence that they are doing well as they have kept in pace with changes and have a very good on line shop,so it shows what can be done with a well run organisation that looks after its staff.

Lioned wrote:Some excellent news from John Lewis.As those who shop their know they are good on customer service and generally their products are excellent quality and never any problems if you have to return things.
They have some kind of profit share scheme with the staff who are to be rewarded with a bonus of 9 weeks pay.
It is no coincidence that they are doing well as they have kept in pace with changes and have a very good on line shop,so it shows what can be done with a well run organisation that looks after its staff.

9 weeks pay Lioned? that's very generous. They opened a John Lewis store where i live, I found it quite expensive and what I didn't like about them was the way they behaved during the Olympics. Apparently some of their windows on the first Floor overlooked the Olympic Stadium and a lot of people wne to the Store just to look through the window. John Lewis said it was affecting their sales and charged £2 to anyone who just wanted to view the Games from their Window. They would have been better remembered if for 2 weeks they just put a charity collection box by the window for the 2 weeks.

84000 staff will benefit from these bumper profits including all the staff at Waitrose.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2289980/Booming-John-Lewis-hands-staff-17-bonus-84-000-share-410m-profit-store-defies-recession.html


That is really great news for the ordinary hard working staff for a change.

Well done to them.

Lioned wrote:84000 staff will benefit from these bumper profits including all the staff at Waitrose.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2289980/Booming-John-Lewis-hands-staff-17-bonus-84-000-share-410m-profit-store-defies-recession.html


That is really great news for the ordinary hard working staff for a change.

Well done to them.

THE BONUSES HAVE POTENTIAL TO BOOST LOCAL ECONOMIES.

jlp profits wrre over 8 billion,almest as much as marks/sparks

BARCLAYS MIGHT SACK AS MANY AS 40,000.

ASTRAZENECA TO SACK 700 WORKERS,HAS OFFICES IN CHESHIRE,LEICS ETC

It's good news day, la de da de da de da......
====================================
British Jobs Saved As Blockbuster Is Bought




Last Updated: 3:14PM 23/03/2013



The troubled DVD and games rental chain Blockbuster has been bought, saving 2,000 jobs and 264 UK stores.

Administrators from Deloitte, the accountancy firm, announced that the restructuring specialists Gordon Brothers Europe had purchased the company for an undisclosed sum.
Blockbuster collapsed in January amid competition from internet firms and the digital streaming of movies and games.
Joint Administrator Lee Manning, said: "Having identified a profitable core portfolio of stores we are pleased to have achieved this sale for creditors.
"Together with the previously announced store sales more than half of the original estate has been secured for ongoing use.
"This transaction provides Blockbuster a future in the UK and we owe a special vote of thanks to all the Company's employees, suppliers and customers for helping us rescue the business."
The Blockbuster brand will be licensed from the US-based Blockbuster LLC.
Commenting on the acquisition, Frank Morton, the CEO of Gordon Brothers Europe, said: "We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Blockbuster.
"We acknowledge the industry is in transition; we know that we have a challenge ahead but there is still a market to be served.
"Blockbuster has a strong brand affinity and we believe that with the right mix of new product offering, new technologies, strategic management and marketing, we can bring new life to this high street staple.
"We look forward to working with employees, suppliers, landlords and other stakeholders to make this happen."
Blockbuster had struggled to adapt to the changing market amid rivalry from internet retailers including Netflix, Amazon's LoveFilm and iTunes, which now offers a movie rental service.
The devastating impact of the internet on Britain's high street had already been laid bare by the demise of camera chain Jessops and electricals group Comet, which also cited competition from online players as a major reason for their downfall.

This is the downside of the internet, so many city centres laid waste by online shopping , something must be done NOW to curb this .

Noticed yesterday that Dreams Beds are closing down in one of my nearest towns.
They have been reducing prices lately so wonder is they are in trouble.

Krisy22 wrote:

Noticed yesterday that Dreams Beds are closing down in one of my nearest towns.
They have been reducing prices lately so wonder is they are in trouble.

,

Hi Krisy 22, yes, I read that and how can stores compete with internet shopping which does not have to pay for a Building, Store Staff, lighting etc such unfair advantage given to a new kid on the block destroying Businesses which have been going for many years.Not to mention the increase in the jobless and the social unrest this involves. When is the Government going to do something about this.....amazon is a prime example, operating from Ireland to pay lower taxes.

Morrisons wanted blockbuster stores....now a European co. Have bought them...


They won't stay as a DVD rental store as didn't work before...so why do they want these stores I wonder.


Dreams went into admin a few months ago and the last i heard they were saved....so why have they gone back into admin.

RBS TO SACK INVESTMENT STAFF

Ortak Jewellery have gone into administration. They have shed 28 jobs so far, some in Orkney where there's very little alternative employment. They also sell in the Buckingham Palace gift shop, seems that even that couldn't save them.

Iris wrote:Ortak Jewellery have gone into administration. They have shed 28 jobs so far, some in Orkney where there's very little alternative employment. They also sell in the Buckingham Palace gift shop, seems that even that couldn't save them.

never head of them

Badboy wrote:

Iris wrote:Ortak Jewellery have gone into administration. They have shed 28 jobs so far, some in Orkney where there's very little alternative employment. They also sell in the Buckingham Palace gift shop, seems that even that couldn't save them.

never head of them

They are quite well known here in Scotland. They design and make very high quality silver jewellery with stones and enamel. Their chain of shops also has expensive ornaments and clocks.

morrisons to sack 700 workers.

Badboy wrote:morrisons to sack 700 workers.

It's because they are going for online shopping , responsible for so many redundancies and ghost town city centres.

Panda wrote:

Badboy wrote:morrisons to sack 700 workers.

It's because they are going for online shopping , responsible for so many redundancies and ghost town city centres.

There are shops closing in our town centre but plenty more opening on the out of town retail parks. I've just stopped off at the new Morrison's store. It's bloomin' enormous! It's round the corner from Lidl, 5 minutes walk from Sainsbury's, round the corner from where a new Aldi is being built and a few minutes drive from both Asda and Tesco superstores. So, the supermarkets, in this area anyway, are not suffering too much from online shopping.

AnnaEsse wrote:

Panda wrote:

Badboy wrote:morrisons to sack 700 workers.

It's because they are going for online shopping , responsible for so many redundancies and ghost town city centres.

There are shops closing in our town centre but plenty more opening on the out of town retail parks. I've just stopped off at the new Morrison's store. It's bloomin' enormous! It's round the corner from Lidl, 5 minutes walk from Sainsbury's, round the corner from where a new Aldi is being built and a few minutes drive from both Asda and Tesco superstores. So, the supermarkets, in this area anyway, are not suffering too much from online shopping.

Where I live Tesco have =
One large Supermarket walking distance from where I live
Tesco Extra two bus stops away
A huge 24 hr shopping outlet with ample parking about 1 mile away
Another large Supermarket about 2 miles from where I live.
All on the same route.
Now they too are feeling the effect of online shopping and Iceland is doing quite well because they have managed to keep their prices low, as have Aldi and Farmfoods.
I seldom go into Town, but the other day I was walking through one of the Arcades and was struck by the number of empty outlets . I commented on this to a Man checking on the merchandise in his window. He has been trading in Jewellery there for 25 years but very doubtful that he will survive another year, I'ts all so sad.

I AM WONDERING ABOUT TESCO IF THEY COULD HAVE PROBLEMS,BECAUSE THEIR FRESH AND EASY VENTURE IN USA HAS FAILED,COSTED £1BILLION,SPEND ANOTHER £1BILLION TRYING TO IMPROVE STORES.

Badboy wrote:I AM WONDERING ABOUT TESCO IF THEY COULD HAVE PROBLEMS,BECAUSE THEIR FRESH AND EASY VENTURE IN USA HAS FAILED,COSTED £1BILLION,SPEND ANOTHER £1BILLION TRYING TO IMPROVE STORES.

Tesco got too greedy Badboy Terence Leahy, in charge at the time opened up Tesco everywhere , even Foreign Countries. They weren't very generous to their Staff and when the cheaper supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl, both German firms ,opened up that was the start of Tescos decline.

Some Good News HMV is open for business. I was a regular customer because there were lots of bargains , old films for £3 a time delivered free within 48 hrs as well as new films which could be ordered before they were released.

I

good news about hmv

You are receiving this email as at some time you have either subscribed to hmv, purchased from hmv or joined Pure, hmv's rewards program and so we wanted to let you know what is happening with the company and thank you for your custom and continued support. As you are no doubt aware, HMV went into administration on 15 January 2013, however we are pleased to inform you that the company is officially out of administration and we're moving forward with the business. you don't need to do anything As an existing customer we'd like to keep in touch and let you know what's happening with hmv. Of course we respect your privacy and if you don't wish to receive emails from us please click here and your details will be removed from our database. If you have friends or family who you think would like to be kept up-to-date with what's happening, please tell them they can register at hmv.com. Once again, we'd like to thank you for your continued support. Kind

just received this e-mail so if anyone wants to register they just have to click on .

Badboy wrote:I AM WONDERING ABOUT TESCO IF THEY COULD HAVE PROBLEMS,BECAUSE THEIR FRESH AND EASY VENTURE IN USA HAS FAILED,COSTED £1BILLION,SPEND ANOTHER £1BILLION TRYING TO IMPROVE STORES.

Don't think they'll be loosing too much sleep as they turn over around £60billion a year.They still have the biggest market share and made over £3bill pre tax profit last year so loosing a billion will probably just reduce their tax bill.
They plan to move into China next !

Tesco profits fall 52pc as supermarket group confirms US exit


Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, has reported its first fall in profits
since the early 1990s after its decision to pull out of the US cost more than
£1bn and a slowdown in sales in the UK also hit the company.








Tesco's decision to exit the US
has wiped £1.2bn from profits Photo:
AFP






By Graham Ruddick

7:29AM BST 17 Apr 2013

10 Comments




Philip Clarke, chief executive, said the results "are natural consequences of
the strategic changes we first began over a year ago and which conclude today".



Mr Clarke launched a strategic review of Tesco's US venture Fresh & Easy
last year and has now confirmed that the company will exit the business.



Sir Terry Leahy, Mr Clarke's predecessor, launched Fresh & Easy in 2007
but it is yet to make a profit.


In order to exit Fresh & Easy, Mr Clarke has been forced to book a £1bn
writedown on the value of Tesco's assets in the US. On top of £169m of trading
losses in the last year, this means the US venture has wiped £1.2bn from
profits.


In the UK, Tesco has also written off £804m after deciding not to build
stores on more than 100 sites that it controls.



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The company said: "We have reviewed all of the schemes included in the
pipeline individually, assessing their viability and potential to deliver an
appropriate level of return on capital employed if built out.

"As a result, we have identified more than 100 sites - the majority of which
were bought between five and ten years ago, at a higher point in the property
cycle - which we no longer plan to develop and have therefore written their
values down."

Last year, Mr Clarke launched a £1bn investment plan to revitalise Tesco in
the UK after it was forced to warn that profits would be lower than expected.


This plan included hiring more staff, revamping stores, and relaunching food
ranges, such as converting Tesco Value into Everyday Value.

Mr Clarke said Tesco is making "real progress" in the UK.

However, trading profits in the 52 weeks to February 23 fell 8.3pc to £2.3bn.


In total, Tesco reported pre-tax profits of £1.96bn, a 52pc drop on last
year. Sales rose 1.3pc to £72.4bn.

The company held its final dividend at 10.13p.

Mr Clarke said: "The announcements made today are natural consequences of the
strategic changes we first began over a year ago and which conclude today.

"With profound and rapid change in the way consumers live their lives, our
objective is to be the best multichannel retailer for customers.

"Our plan to 'Build a Better Tesco' is on track and I am pleased with the
real progress in the UK. We have already made substantial improvements to our
customers' shopping experience, which are starting to be reflected in a better
performance.

"We have set the business on the right track to deliver realistic,
sustainable and attractive returns and long-term growth for shareholders. The
consequences are non-cash write-offs relating to the United States, from which
we today confirm our decision to exit, and for UK property investments which we
will not pursue because of our fundamentally different approach to space.

"We have also faced external challenges which have affected our performance,
notably in Europe and Korea.

"Our focus now is on disciplined and targeted investment in those markets
with significant growth potential and the opportunity to deliver strong
returns."