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Tobar acquired out of administration by management
Tobar, the multichannel supplier and development centre for toys, gifts and gadgets, has been bought out of administration in a management buyout supported by current investor Primary Capital. The deal includes the eight remaining Hawkin’s Bazaar stores, all the stock, trading names, wholesale and online businesses. 

Bonmarché rescued, Peacocks in administration 
Apparel chain Bonmarché has been bought out of administration by Sun European Partners for an undisclosed sum. The buyout saves some 230 Bonmarché stores and more than 2,300 jobs. Group company Peacocks, which operates 611 stores and 49 concessions and employs approximately 9,600 people, is still in administration. KPMG is seeking a buyer for the business as a going concern. 

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Other News...

QVC and Ideal Shopping Direct to speak at TV Shopping 2012
Richard Burrell, director for European market development at QVC and Ideal Shopping Direct’s head of TV Marc Allen have been confirmed as speakers in the TV Shopping 2012 Conference, held at the Lancaster London hotel on 27th March 2012. Ask about our special “buy two get one free” ticket deal, saving you £295 + vat. For more information contact +44 (0) 1271 866112 or email info@ecmod.com.  

Pumpkin Patch and ShoeDazzle leave the UK
New Zealand-based childrenswear retailer Pumpkin Patch has put its lossmaking UK division into administration following a review of its operations. Administrators at Deloitte have already closed five of Pumpkin Patch’s 36 UK stores, resulting in 60 job losses. After only launching in the UK in September 2011, fashion website ShoeDazzle, which was cofounded by celebrity Kim Kardashian, is also closing down its UK business to focus on the core operation in the US.

Sales fall at Flying Brands
Overall sales at Flying Brands were down 24.9 percent in the fourth quarter compared with the same period in 2010. The group, which owns mail order brands Gardening Direct and Flying Flowers, saw sales drop to £4.83 million compared to £6.43 million the previous year.

DHL Global Mail UK, Sanderson divest businesses
Secured Mail, the independent postal operator, has acquired the Downstream Access (DSA) division of DHL Global Mail UK Ltd. The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, includes a mail depot in Crick, Northamptonshire, and 55 staff. Software and IT services firm Sanderson Group has finalised the sale of its EPoS services division Sanderson RBS to Torex Retail Holdings for £11.5 million, with an additional consideration of £150,000 paid in April and a further £100,000 to be paid on meeting certain conditions.

Win two tickets to the ECMOD Awards
Direct Commerce magazine has once again partnered with the ECMOD Awards to produce the Direct Commerce Reader’s Award category for the most inspirational business in the catalogue and online retail sector. The award invites executives who work within the sector to nominate the catalogue, online or cross-channel commerce business they admire the most, with individuals having the ability to vote for up to three companies they feel are most deserving of winning the Readers’ Award. Click here to vote for your favourite. As a special thank-you for voting, all those making a nomination will be entered into a prize draw to win two tickets to the ECMOD Awards Evening on 27th March at the Lancaster London.

Asda to create 5,000 new jobs
Supermarket Asda has revealed that it plans to spend £500 million in 2012 by opening new stores and depots and developing its existing chain, potentially creating up to 5,000 new jobs across the UK.




Ocado reshuffle
Ocado’s chief financial officer Andrew Bracey is leaving the online grocer to join recruitment firm Michael Page International, effective April 2012. As a result, Ocado cofounder Jason Gissing becomes commercial director; current director of legal and business affairs Neill Abrams takes on Gissing’s HR responsibilities, while Mark Richardson is promoted from head of technology to operations director. 

Asos Christmas sales surge 
Fashion retailer Asos has seen UK retail sales rise 10 percent to £62.1 million in the three months ended 31st December, while international sales soared 93 percent to £84.5 million. Bucking the current trend of squeezed margins, Asos saw retail gross margins up 300 basis points on the previous year.
 
Sainsbury’s appoints new marketing director
Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has appointed former Heineken UK marketing director Sarah Warby as marketing director. Her responsibilities include brand communications, non-food marketing, customer insights and loyalty.
 
£68 billion spent online in the UK in 2011
A total of £68 billion was spent online in 2011 in the UK, of which more than 11 percent was spent in December alone. According to figures from the IMRG and Capgemini report, British consumers spent £7.9 billion online in December 2011, a 16.5 percent year-on-year growth.
 
Wyndeham and Masterpiece merge
Wyndeham Pre-Press has merged with its sister company Masterpiece to form combined pre-media business Rhapsody. The new company’s clients include consumer magazine publisher IPC and retailer/cataloguer Boden.





Seven tactics to make email more personal
Research reveals that 78 percent of the top 50 online retailers in the UK do not personalise emails and struggle to engage customers with dynamic and relevant content. However, in today’s digital age and with a wealth of customer data available, marketers are expected to understand their consumers’ preferences and target them across interactive power channels with personal, relevant and timely communications. To help make the most of email in 2012, click here for seven tactics to consider...