Month: March 2025
What is reservation squatting and why is it killing restaurants?
Some of London’s top restaurants are now asking for sizeable deposits from customers when they book to stop reservation squatting which can play havoc with cash flow forecasting and costing some businesses money in lost covers. This is why some of the capital’s top names have decided to take action. But should all hospitality businesses be…
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Journeys’ Business Continues to Improve as Genesco Closes Out 2024 With ‘Strong Finish’
Genesco president, chief executive officer and board chair Mimi Vaughn said on Friday that the company delivered a strong finish to the year with fourth quarter sales and gross margins exceeding expectations. According to the Nashville-based footwear company, total net sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 increased 1 percent to $746 million compared…
Read MoreIs PrettyLittleThing at the point of no return?
The last time online fashion brand, PrettyLittleThing, opted to change its return policy, there was a backlash and a reversal, but the company has announced it has made changes yet again. The reaction from customers is a lesson to all businesses. The fast-fashion brand had a 28-day return policy – in line with competitors including…
Read MoreArt Market Changes – Why Smaller Firms Should Be Vigilant
Arcarta, a leading art market due-diligence platform, warns smaller art firms in particular to keep abreast of major regulatory changes. Market volatility is something that various sectors of business continue to contend with – and the global art market is no exception. For all things art, the European Union’s new regulation on cultural goods, due…
Read MoreThese annoying office habits are making people work from home
Office culture isn’t what it used to be. Gone are the days of being expected to wear an uncomfortable suit and tie. Organisational culture is much more relaxed, with casual dress codes and a bigger focus on work-life balance and flexible working. However, that doesn’t mean it’s become frustration-free. While bad-smelling lunches and noisy keyboard…
Read MoreZero-hour agency workers to be protected under Employment Rights Bill
Weeding out “exploitative” zero-hour contracts has been a pledge under the government’s Employment Rights Bill since it was first announced last summer. This means that it will no longer be lawful for employers to only pay staff when they’re needed. Moreover, they will also be required to give “reasonable notice” and compensation if an employee’s…
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Foot Locker Says Its Lace Up Plan Is Working as It Closes Fiscal 2024 Above Its Revised Expectations
Foot Locker Inc. said on Wednesday that it delivered fourth quarter results above its previously revised expectations, as the company noted that investments and execution drove positive comparable sales and “meaningful” gross margin improvement compared to the prior year. According to the sneaker retailer, total sales in the fourth quarter of 2024 were $2.24 billion,…
Read MoreThe human touch: is AI killing recruitment etiquette?
By now, everyone knows that recruiters are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to take on the legwork that comes with the hiring process. But while it might lighten up the admin and make hiring less of a headache, job seekers argue that the increased use of AI has led to worsening job descriptions, generic responses…
Read More“Right To Switch Off” scrapped, but is this good for business?
Right to ignore your boss’s phone calls after work? Not so anymore. The “Right To Switch Off” was introduced in October as part of the government’s Employment Rights Bill, which would give employees legal rights to disconnect from any work-related activities, such as phone calls and emails, outside their regular working hours. However, the government…
Read MoreGoogle’s 60-hour workweek: the secret to success or a recipe for burnout?
Is it all work and no play for Google employees? As the competition in artificial intelligence (AI) heats up, Google’s leadership is making it clear that hard work – and lots of it – is the key to staying ahead. But with co-founder Sergey Brin pushing for longer workweeks in the office, the tech giant’s…
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