Retail

  Bloomberg A Hermes handbag fetched a record price for a Sotheby’s auction, latest evidence that rare luxury items are increasingly seen as stores of value by investors and wealthy buyers. The Himalaya Retourne Kelly 25 bag sold for €352,800 ($346,802) in a Paris auction, Sotheby’s said. The crocodile-skin handbag in mother-of-pearl white, reminiscent of a snowy mountain landscape, sold …

  Bloomberg The crash in the value of sterling has put Rolex and other luxury watches at discounts of as much as 19% for US visitors lucky enough to get their hands on the coveted timepieces. Promised policy changes by the new UK government including a plan to reintroduce Value Added Tax rebates on goods bought by tourists could even …

  Bloomberg Apple Inc. is backing off plans to increase production of its new iPhones this year after an anticipated surge in demand failed to materialise, according to people familiar with the matter. The Cupertino, California-based electronics maker has told suppliers to pull back from efforts to increase assembly of the iPhone 14 product family by as many as 6 …

  Bloomberg Just Eat Takeaway.com NV’s shares soared after the company announced it expects to turn profitable this year, earlier than expected, after cutting expenses on delivery costs and operations. Just Eat expects to generate positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the second half of this year, an improvement compared with an adjusted Ebitda loss of …

  Bloomberg The risk of debt defaults for British supermarkets surged on Monday as investors reacted to the wild market swings sparked by tax cuts that many fear will fuel inflation. Insurance on bonds of UK supermarkets Asda Group Ltd. and Iceland Foods Ltd. — used to protect investors against non-payment — jumped to signal a 52% and 76% chance …

Bloomberg Household spending trends ahead of India’s main festive season are flashing warning signs of a widening chasm in demand recovery as inflation hovers around 7% and unemployment keeps on rising. Consumer-goods makers are reporting robust demand for items priced nearly $2,000 in a nation where per-capita income is just a tad above that level, while industry data on sales …

  Bloomberg Burberry Group Plc appointed former Bottega Veneta creative head Daniel Lee to succeed chief designer Riccardo Tisci, who is leaving the British fashion brand after five years. Tisci’s departure completes a changing of the guard atop the luxury retailer and comes less than a week after Chief Financial Officer Julie Brown announced she was leaving to join drugmaker …

  Bloomberg Amazon.com Inc. will hold a second Prime Day sale on October 11 and October 12 to boost sales among cost-conscious consumers who are expected to start their holiday shopping even earlier this year. This marks the first time the e-commerce giant has hosted the event twice in the same year. Retailers are bracing for a lackluster holiday that …

  Bloomberg Walmart Inc. is making its first move into the metaverse. The retailer will unveil two immersive experiences on Roblox Corp.’s virtual platform. Walmart Land will feature fashion, beauty and entertainment items, while Walmart’s Universe of Play will showcase toys, the company announced. Walmart follows companies from Nike Inc. to VF Corp. in a bid to get consumers’ attention …

  Bloomberg Aldi said that more British customers are visiting the discount grocery chain as their first and only supermarket as the higher cost of living weighs on shoppers in the UK. The grocer attracted 1.5 million extra customers over the past 12 weeks and sales of its gourmet Specially Selected range rose 29% as shoppers switched from more expensive …