Next Directory lifts performance
Sales at Next’s direct division were much better than expected, delivering a rise of 7.8 percent in the 26 weeks to 31st July. Total retail sales in the first half at the apparel and homewares merchant rose just 1.7 percent. Next expects consumer spending to slow down in the second half but believes that its online offer will continue to draw customers, predicting a growth of 4 to 8 percent in the next six months. For the full year, Next aims to reach a maximum pretax profit of £560 million—a rise of 11 percent on last year.

Joules posts record profits
Apparel retailer/cataloguer Joules Clothing reported record financial results for the year ending 30th April. Turnover was up 46 percent to £51.1 million, compared with £35 million in 2008/9. Net profit tripled to £3.6 million, from £1.2 million the previous year. The key driver for growth was the launch of the Baby Joule range in February this year and the introduction of the women’s premium “boutique” range in 2009.
Joules also expanded internationally during the past year and now sells into Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA.

New managing director at Firebox
Christian Robinson is to step down from his role as managing director of gifts and gadgets etailer Firebox. He will be succeeded by Paul Zimmerman, former head of business development at Play.com who joins the company on 6th September. Robinson moves to join maternity fashion label Tiffany Rose, founded by his wife Tiffany London. He will also remain on the Firebox board in an advisory capacity.

The Hut promotes Jasper
Sarah Jasper, who joined general merchandiser and online services provider The Hut Group in 2009 as product marketing manager, games, is promoted to head of business development. Jasper's new role broadens her remit to cover the company’s entire product portfolio. Among her first tasks is recruiting two new product marketers.

Argos trials same-day delivery
Argos is testing a new delivery option that offers same-day delivery to customers living in the London area. It is using Shutl, a new company that combines the services of multiple same-day couriers with the aim of delivering parcels within a 90-minute window.

Roman Originals invests in online promotion
Apparel retailer/cataloguer Roman Originals is building on its online presence and has appointed ClickThrough Marketing to optimise its website and drive more traffic through natural search listings.

BibliophileBooks chooses Collect+
Mail order bookseller BibliophileBooks is using Collect+ to enable customers to pick up parcels at convenience stores local to them. The parcels will be delivered by Yodel, with which Bibliophile has had an eight-year relationship.

Frugi moving on up
Frugi, an organic and eco-friendly childrenswear brand based in Cornwall, has moved from its office in a converted barn into bigger premises that can accommodate more stock and a bigger team.

July Catalogue Log
Sixty-four percent of all catalogues landing at Catablogue e-business HQ in July 2010 featured some sort of offer or promotion on the cover. Nearly half of all the catalogues we tracked featured a sale or discount. This is the fourth consecutive rise in catalogues touting a special-price promotion on their front cover and marks the highest percentage ever for catalogues promoting sales and discounts since we started the Catalogue Log in January 2009. For more stats and insights into catalogue trends visit catalog-biz.com