smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

A promising venture

Previously, we’ve looked at the reasons why many describe the...
Have your say »

RSS

Easter sales spring into action

Apr 13 2010

Sales for Easter were the strongest in four years

Retail sales were up last month largely due to Easter falling early.

Sales rose by 6.6 per cent compared to March 2009, the highest increase in four years, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Don Williams, head of retail at BDO, says: ‘An early Easter, sunny weather and cleverly targeted promotions have seen retailers report excellent results for March.'

However, Williams adds that the second half of the year is likely to be more of a struggle for retailers.

According to the BRC, internet and mail-order sales were among the strongest, rising by 15.9 per cent compared to March 2009.

Comments

There are currently no comments on this article

Misco Offers for small businesses

At Misco, we understand the constraints faced by small businesses. This is why, we’ve built a team of specialists readily available to share with you their expertise and work with you to find tailored IT solutions fitted to your business requirements. View our offers or call our team of experts today on freephone 0808 181 7582 or by email smallbiz@misco.co.uk.

FREE Legal, Financial, Accountancy & HR Help

Aska Professional understands the challenges faced by small businesses. That’s why we provide instant access to professional advice and legal templates. FREE access to Solicitors, Accountants, Financial Advisors & HR Specialists. Ask our experts a question and get a personal response within 60 minutes. Sign up now to ask a question - FREE.

Barclays Business Start Up Account

Get everything you'd expect from a Barclays Business account…Free business banking for up to 2 years (Ts&Cs apply). Free day-to-day support from our Barclays Business Team by phone 24/7 and Mobile Banking, manage your account quickly and easily from a web-enabled phone. Apply online.

Polls

Latest News

Quarterly manufacturing performance was gloomy

Manufacturing output slumps on the quarter

Sentiment among the UK’s small and medium-sized manufacturers fell for the third quarter running in the three months to January, finds research.

Retailers 'trying to absorb crunch costs'

British retails are "doing their best" to avoid passing on the increased costs due to rising prices, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Manufacturing 'kick-starts back into life'

The UK manufacturing sector started 2012 on a positive footing with a key sector index rising to an eight-month high.

Glimmer of hope for sales in 2012

Consumer confidence in the UK rose in January.

SMEs hit by bad weather

Heavy snowfall has again taken small businesses in the UK by surprise.

UK trade deficit expands

The UK trade deficit in goods and services widened to £2.6 billion in November 2011, from a revised £1.9 billion in October, according to Office of National Statistics figures.

Businesses cold on Olympic legacy

The majority of small companies believe the London 2012 Olympic Games will not benefit their business in the long term, research finds.

Good news for services sector

The UK’s services sector expanded at its fastest rate since July, research finds.

Consumer caution worries businesses

Three quarters of small companies are concerned that cautious consumer spending this Christmas will negatively impact their business.

SMEs expect a productive 2012

More than four fifths of small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK believe that next year will be just as prosperous or even better than 2011.

Retail boost still less than expected

Year on year retail sales volumes are up for the first time in seven months, but sales are considered poor for the time of year, finds the Confederation of British Industry's monthly Distributive Trades Survey.

Guides & Tips

Opening up your business to global trade

Either finding suppliers or selling your products abroad is very important for a successful and thriving company.

Pay per Click Advertising for Small Businesses in 2011

It's been quite awhile since we last looked at Pay per Click (commonly shortened to PPC) advertising on search engines, and while the basics remain the same, there have been some important changes since that last article and there is also a major market-changing event in the pipeline to which you should be alerted.

Taking the business abroad can open up many new opportunities

Doing business abroad

SmallBusiness.co.uk investigates the steps to take when considering expansion into foreign markets.

Don't Miss

Searching for sales

Simon Campbell set up online marketing service The Sandpit less than six months ago, but is projecting £1 million in sales for its first year of trading.

David Strang is flying high with his boomerangs

Big returns

David Strang’s boomerang and toy company Wicked Vision has soared since he first launched it ten years ago.

Keep your customers coming back for more

Retaining customers

Keeping customers coming back for more isn't always easy. Here are ten top tips on how to retain a loyal consumer base.

Store

FT Guide to Personal Tax

The FT Guide to Personal Tax is published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and John Bloxham, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as over 230 tax-saving tips.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

The FT Guide to Business Start Up 2012, published by Pearson Education, is written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc. This unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.