As desperate retailers try to entice shoppers into their stores with great discounts and specials, their efforts may result in bolstered sales, but... 1 Dec 2008
Proving that some retail sectors still have a heartbeat, Incredible Connection this month announced that sales grew by 17,1% in the financial year to August — well above the flat or negative growth reflected by many other retailers. 28 Nov 2008
Retailer Massmart yesterday issued an upbeat trading update, telling shareholders total sales in the first 21 weeks of the 2009 financial year were up by more than 13% and undertaking to keep an eye on costs while expanding its business. 27 Nov 2008
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Shares in one of Britain's best-known high street retailers, Woolworths, were suspended here on Wednesday amid talks to rescue the firm, the company said. 26 Nov 2008
Wholesaler Massmart Holdings today reported total sales growth of 13.3% and comparable sales growth of 12.3% for the first 21 weeks of the 2009 financial year. 26 Nov 2008
African Bank's first move when it got into the driving seat of furniture retail chain Ellerines in January was to slam the credit extension brakes hard. 25 Nov 2008
Times may be tough for retailers, but the Gonubie-based VW Group of Spars believes an economic downturn provides the best opportunity for aggressive expansion. 24 Nov 2008
Swiss-based luxury goods group Richemont today reported a 10% rise in sales for the six months ended September to €2.8 billion. 14 Nov 2008
Just two days after regional consumer electronics chain Circuit City declared bankruptcy, Best Buy has slashed its earnings forecast for the upcoming holiday season and much of 2009. 13 Nov 2008
Retailer Mr Price Group has reported an 11% increase in diluted headline earnings per share to 86 cents for the six months ended September from 77.5 cents a year ago. 12 Nov 2008
Supermarket chain Spar Group has posted a 29.9% increase in headline earnings per share from 312.3 cents to 405.7 cents per share for the 12 months ended September. 12 Nov 2008
Retail sales are likely to remain in the doldrums in the months to come given a challenging economic and financial environment, said Standard Bank group economists in a research note on Friday. 10 Nov 2008
Furniture retailer Lewis has reported a 0.9% decline to 305.7 cents in headline earnings per share for the interim period ended September compared with the same time a year ago. 10 Nov 2008
Analysts are careful not to suggest that Foschini is a bellwether for retail sales - they prefer to look at Truworths or Edcon. 7 Nov 2008
BP Express is Gauteng's most popular forecourt retailer according to the recent Ipsos Markinor Retail Survey commissioned by The Times and Sowetan newspapers. 7 Nov 2008
Apparel retailer Truworths reported today that sales for the 18 weeks of its full year 2009 rose 14% to R2.065 billion, but said the environment remained challenging. 6 Nov 2008
USA: The same credit problems that have hit many a home mortgage holder are also threatening to unplug troubled electronics big-box store Circuit City. The nation's second-largest seller of consumer electronics said Monday it will close 155 stores, lay off up to 17% of its 43,000-employee US workforce, and consider all options to restructure its business. 4 Nov 2008
New Clicks' management team has reached an important milestone in the turnaround of the business: the group's return on equity (ROE) increased from 24.7% to 32.8%, easily above the 30% target set for this year. 31 Oct 2008
USA: Target, facing slower sales and rising delinquencies in its credit card business, last week said it is further tightening terms for its card holders - even those with good standing - and is being more aggressive in collection activity. 28 Oct 2008
Grocer retailer Shoprite said today sales for the three months ended September rose by 25.9%, identical to the rate of growth recorded in the same period last year. 27 Oct 2008