JoJo sells stake to private equity firm
New Look founder Tom Singh has taken a minority stake in maternity and nursery cataloguer/retailer JoJo Maman Bébé through his investment vehicle Magenta Partners. JoJo recently reported a 50 percent increase in sales from £18 million in 2009 to a projected £27 million in the year to June 2011, and profits of 8 percent--or £2.16 million.     

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Shop Direct, Mobile Fun make international appointments
Following its international expansion into Germany and France, mobile-phone accessories etailer Mobile Fun appointed Richard Moore as head of international to spearhead the company’s continuing growth and sales across Europe. Shop Direct Group, the parent company of Littlewoods and Very, appointed Marcel Apfel as international director. Apfel was previously vice president, international business development at Pentland Brands, with key group responsibility for expansion into Russia, India, South America and South Korea.

Blacks poaches Figleaves chief executive
Julia Reynolds, chief executive of lingerie etailer Figleaves is leaving the business to join outdoor-gear retailer Blacks Leisure as CEO at the end of the summer. 

April Catalogue Log
Although catalogue volume fell 40 percent from 140 catalogues in March to just 83 last month, April’s crop of mailings was no less promotional. We also noted a rise in free gifts being used as incentives to purchase and free delivery teamed up with a next-day promise or free returns to further encourage orders. For more stats and insight from the Catalogue Log, click here.

Lower subscription rate!
This week sees Catalogue e-business relaunch as Direct Commerce.  As part of the revamp, we’ve reviewed our subscription rate—and lowered it! A year’s subscription is now just £65. That’s our best price yet and a £20 saving on the previous annual rate. 

To subscribe and take advantage of our new lower rate, call 01271 866221, or email subs@catalog-biz.com.