A French edition of Italian-born menswear magazine ICON was released last Friday. Meant for younger men, the magazine boasts an impressive editorial team and seeks to prove that print media isn't a thing of the past.

​H&M Group released its first set of results under the leadership of CEO Daniel Ervér on Wednesday and he seems to have got off to a good start because while Q1 saw net sales down, profit rose. 

​Positive news for gift card retailers. Their purchase encourages shoppers to spend more than their face value and upgrade their presents, according to the Gift Card & Voucher Association (GCVA) and Global Data.

One in four shoppers avoids buying from international retailers due to returns concerns, according to new research, and few UK consumers would be prepared to pay a membership fee for free returns.

M&S will be launching a TV programme early this autumn, searching nationwide for its next in-house fashion designer.

The Milanese label has opened its first Palazzo Versace in Asia in Macao, on the south-east coast of China. A luxury hotel with 271 rooms across 12 floors located within the casino resort managed by SJM in Cotai.

French malls giant Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has announced the second edition of the Westfield Good Festival taking place at its two London shopping centres in May.

​UK retail sales have “stabilised” this month after 10 months of decline. That’s the core message of the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey that showed sales being “broadly flat”.

Department store group Selfridges is searching for a second new finance chief in just four months. Preetha McCann quit the job earlier this month after taking on the CFO post in early November.

It’s likely to be a busy Easter trading period, especially for retail parks. UK-wide footfall across the seven days (25 March-1 April) is expected to rise  6.6% week on week, according to tracking specialist MRI.

French Connection’s expansion strategy continues with the fashion and lifestyle retailer opening a new store in the heart of Guildford.

​Stockmann Group has been talking about it for some time and now it’s finally happened. The company originally named after its famous Scandinavian department stores business has become Lindex Group.

In early March, Elite World Group, the network of modeling agencies, welcomed Flavio Facincani, previously associated with Swinger and Blufin, to the position of director of brand, licensing, and partnerships.

​April and May will see omnichannel retailer Lone Design Club (LDC) launching what it’s calling its Conscious Creatives immersive pop-ups at Borough Yards in London.

​Online shopping giant The Very Group is reportedly in talks for former Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zahawi to become its chairman.

​UK property giant British Land Co has appointed a big hitter to its board. Amanda James, who’s currently the long-time CFO of UK fashion/lifestyle retail giant Next, becomes a Non-Executive Director on 1 July.