By the end of 2008, Freesat, the subscription free satellite television service, had achieved over 200,000 sales since its launch in May 2008. Total sales of Freesat doubled in the final quarter of 2008 against the backdrop of challenging times on the high street.
As part of a three-year campaign, the BRC has produced a template letter to enable tenants to approach landlords about switching from paying rents quarterly in advance, to monthly in advance. The BRC has also worked with legal advisors to produce a draft deed that provides for a legally binding agreement to introduce changes in payment terms.
A quarter of all British families will have no disposable income in 2009, dealing yet another blow to the beleaguered retail sector. In November ‘08, a survey by Nielsen and the BRC found that 21% of families had no spare cash left after essential living expenses. This is expected to grow to at least 25% by the spring. A PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey last week showed that six in ten people believe they will have less disposable income in 2009 than they had last year.
Over 1,000 retail staff around the UK have learnt how to become better salespeople, participating in a series of ‘Introduction to Sales’ subsidised training sessions run by retra in 2008 throughout the country.
