Articles by Sarah Butler

Technology

Asos turns to AI stylists to win back shoppers after sales slide 12%

Online fashion retailer says action to cut discounts and deter ‘serial returners’ contributed to fall in sales

3 hours ago

Business

Asda to raise £568m in store sell-off as sales continue to fall

Supermarket still losing market share despite effort under Allan Leighton to win over customers with price cuts

23 hours ago

Sports

Zip wires, darts, wild swimming: why shopping centres are trying new ways to bring in customers

Developers are turning to health-related activities as traditional stores hit by online retail continue to close

6 days ago

Business

UK retail sales growth slows as shoppers await Black Friday and budget

Industry body says shoppers are waiting for discount day, as Barclays reports falling consumer confidence

Nov 11, 2025

Business

Sainsbury’s urges Rachel Reeves not to fuel inflation with tax rises on retailers

Boss says shoppers delaying spending in run-up to budget, as supermarket pays extra £250m to shareholders

Nov 6, 2025

Business

M&S boss says Reeves made customers more worried with pre-budget speech

Stuart Machin says shoppers are concerned about rising costs after chancellor failed to rule out manifesto-breaking tax rises

Nov 5, 2025

Business

Marks & Spencer profits more than halve after cyber-attack

Clothing and homeware sales slump after retailer had to halt online orders for more than six weeks

Nov 5, 2025

Business

Primark owner’s boss urges Reeves not to hit shoppers with budget tax rises

George Weston tells chancellor to ‘tax rich folks instead’ as ABF says it could split fashion chain from food arm

Nov 4, 2025

Business

Primark owner ABF could split fashion business from food division

Parent company announces drop in sales and profits as its sugar and agriculture arms face higher costs

Nov 4, 2025

World

John Lewis ad kickstarts Christmas countdown to the tune of 90s club classic

Department store chain banks on nostalgia to get customers into festive mood with Where Love Lives

Nov 4, 2025

Business

The Next wave: how the clothing retailer spread its wings and made sales surge

From snapping up labels to growing its fanbase overseas, Next is dusting off its dull image while increasing profits

Oct 31, 2025

Business

Tinned tuna maker Princes floats at nearly £1.2bn in boost for London

Business secretary calls IPO ‘huge vote of confidence’ but shares are launched at bottom end of target range

Oct 31, 2025

Business

Profit upgrade at Next raises hopes UK shoppers still keen to spend

Sales benefited from warm summer, M&S online shutdown after cyber-attack and supply improvements

Oct 29, 2025

Business

Tesco steps up UK sales as Asda struggles amid rising inflation

Shoppers hunt for deals as grocery prices rise, particularly for chocolate, fresh meat and coffee

Oct 14, 2025

Business

China’s Temu more than doubles EU profits to nearly $120m despite having only eight staff

Online marketplace paid just $18m in corporation tax, leading campaigners to call for government action

Oct 13, 2025

Business

London stock market boost as beauty group lists and tinned fish brand confirms IPO plan

Beauty Tech Group picks London for £300m offering while Princes Group, with £2.1bn turnover, also plans possible £1.5bn listing

Oct 3, 2025

Business

Tesco predicts price war before Christmas amid ‘pressure on household budgets’

Retailer raises full-year profit expectations by £100m after luring shoppers with price cuts over summer

Oct 2, 2025

Business

Marks & Spencer to make staff work Boxing Day for first time in five years

All workers must cover at least one of 26, 27 or 28 December in cost-cutting move condemned as a ‘slap in the face’

Oct 1, 2025