Posts made in July, 2016

on Jul 20, 2016

By Sarah Murphy Marks & Spencer recently announced that like-for-like sales at its fashion arm fell by 8.9 per cent in the first quarter. This is its biggest fall in clothes sales for a decade. In recent years the brand has tried various strategies to bolster this stuttering part of its business, with one of its most recent incarnations featuring a fashion line from model Alexa Chung. Various causes have been put forward to explain away the results. One blamed poor weather denting demand for summer clothes, as well as wider retail trading trends that are squeezing the market. To try and Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jul 20, 2016

By John Glenday Children’s network Nickelodeon is set to acknowledge changing social standards in its latest cartoon, The Loud House, by featuring its first ever biracial, same-sex married couple. Harold and Howard McBride (voiced by Wayne Brady and Michael McDonald) will take centre stage on the children’s channel as they prepare their son Clyde for a sleepover at the home of series figurehead Lincoln Loud later this week. Titled Overnight Success, the landmark episode introduces the couple on the doorstep of Loud’s home, presenting them in the fashion of a loving family unit. Time to make history indeed! First married gay couple Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jul 20, 2016

By Tony Connelly Uber is embroiled in a legal challenge which has been described as “the case of the year in UK employment law” as drivers call for workers’ rights and demand to be recognised as employees. The tribunal hearing brought against the ride-hailing company, which recently celebrated its 2 billion ride milestone, by a group of its drivers is of a similar nature to a string of US lawsuits in that it argues drivers are not technically self-employed and should be entitled to a range of employee benefits. The case, which begins today (20 July) and has been launched by Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jul 20, 2016

By Charlotte McEleny Manchester United and commercial partner Gulf Oil International have issued a joint statement to declare commitment to China. Manchester United is currently in China on its ‘Tour 2016′, presented by AON. At an event in Shanghai it announced that both the football club and the fuel brand have similar growth plans for one of the world’s biggest and growing economies. Manchester United claims it has over 100 million fans in the country. Gulf Oil International will be looking to align itself with this scale after it signed as the football team’s first Official Global Lubricant Oil and Fuel Retail Partner last year. Manchester Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jul 20, 2016

By John Glenday Breitbart technology editor Milo Yiannopoulos has been banned from Twitter for life after inciting his followers to direct a wave of racist abuse toward Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones. This followed a personal intervention by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey after Jones suffered days of online abuse amidst complaints that the social network was failing to protect its members. In a statement released following the suspension Twitter said: “People should be able to express diverse opinions and beliefs on Twitter. But no one deserves to be subjected to targeted abuse online, and our rules prohibit inciting or engaging in the targeted abuse Read full story › Source: The Drum...