Sir Tom Hunter, owner of Wyevale Garden Centres, has made a “very preliminary approach” to Flying Brands, whose catalogues include Flying Flowers, Gardening Direct and Listen2. Flying Brands recently announced the closure of another of its businesses, Greetings Direct.

As part of its website relaunch, speciality-size women’s fashion merchant Long Tall Sally will create separate sites with pricing in euros and in US dollars. These are expected to go live by October. The company also plans to launch a US version of its print catalogue, although it has yet to announce when.

The economic downturn isn’t preventing Charles Tyrwhitt from expanding its retail footprint. The shirtmaker is opening four stores this year — one in Cambridge, two in London and one in Manchester — bringing its total of UK stores to 10.

Jewellery designer/retailer Ortak is opening two more stores in its native Scotland, bringing its total number of shops to 14. In addition to its stores, Ortak sells via catalogue and the web and to resellers. Its sales rose 10.6 percent last year, to £6.9 million.

Steve Johnson, former chief executive of Focus DIY, is taking the helm of Woolworths. Johnson had also worked at former Argos parent company Gus and at Asda. He replaces Trevor Bish-Jones, who in June agreed to resign from the flagging retailer after six years at the top post and four years of declining same-store sales.

High-street chains Boots Opticians and Specsavers have launched transactional websites that enable customers to order prescription eyewear for in-store pick-up. The relaunched sites follow on the heels of white-label websites launched by online optician Glasses Direct for several Northern & Shell newspapers and magazines, including OK! and Daily Express.

The Primondo mail order division of Arcandor enjoyed what the company called a “pleasing” third quarter. Sales for the division rose by more than 14 percent, to €1.0 billion (£787 million), with sales outside of the company’s home base of Germany up nearly 32 percent. Primondo’s titles include womenswear catalogues Elégance and Peter Hahn and apparel and housewares mailer Afibel.

Multichannel brand Joules Clothing has hired Karen Rowlings as direct-to-consumer marketing manager. She was previously consumer marketing manager at holiday merchant Cosmos.

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