JJB Sports to celebrate World Cup result

JJB Sports is expected to reveal a World Cup boost in its interim results on Tuesday, after a torrid few years for the business. The group has seen a steady improvement in sales after a management and strategy overhaul, having narrowly staved off administration by agreeing a rescue deal with its landlords last year. In May, the company reported pre-tax losses of 68.6 million for 2009 as sales sank by 42 per cent, but there are signs it has regained its poise since then. The group reported like-for-like sales growth of 22.3 per cent in the six weeks to 4 July, which it put down to World Cup fever. The Wigan-based chain is a major seller of replica kits and has traditionally relied heavily on football tournaments to drive sales. The company's revival plan involves the refurbishment of its store network, as well as investment in its website to reclaim leadership of the 5 billion sportswear market. JJB recently completed a trial refit of its out-of-town Slough store and is rolling out the concept to a further four outlets before the autumn. Slough sales have been above the company average since the changes. Despite the progress, JJB Sports has been outpaced by JD Sports Fashion in recent months, after its rival posted a 36.5 per cent jump in pre-tax profits to 19.4m for the six months to 31 July, on sales up 18.5 per cent to 384m. Interim figures from video games and consoles retailer Game Group on Tuesday mark the first set of results from new chief executive Ian Shepherd since he joined in June to help revive its fortunes. Game turned to the former Vodafone boss following the abrupt departure of former boss Lisa Morgan in April. Shepherd's arrival heralds the start of a concerted turnaround effort at the group, which has seen sales slide in the face of tough market conditions and fierce competition. The group said in June that like-for-like sales plunged 12.3 per cent in the 19 weeks to 12 June and warned sales would stay in the red for the rest of the year. But it put its faith in Shepherd, who previously headed Vodafone's 400-strong retail chain and has a "proven track record" in building brands and customer relationships, according to Game. He will lead an overhaul of the group's UK operations to remove overlapping outlets and launch more "concept stores", which include interactive kiosks for gamers. The moves - including an enhanced online presence - are intended to build on Game's position as a specialist retailer and ward off competition from rivals such as supermarkets, which have waded into the market. Deutsche Bank analysts are forecasting the dire sales performance in the first half will leave Game with losses of around 13.5m against profits of 14.5m a year earlier. But there are hopes the outlook will improve. Retail experts forecast a stronger second half, with easing like-for-like sales declines and a strong line-up of releases in the fourth quarter, while there are also new motion-sensor products on the horizon. Menswear retailer Moss Bros will be questioned over the early performance of its new "bespoke" shop when it reports half-year figures on Wednesday. Moss Bespoke opened as a flagship store near London's Liverpool Street station in June, offering tailor-made suits from 250 to 500. It is tapping into a trend for young men wanting to smarten up, inspired by television presenters such as Dermot O'Leary and Ant and Dec, as well as a buoyant suit market amid workers and jobseekers. Moss is planning bespoke outlets in Manchester and Oxford, hinting that it could become a nationwide venture. The group - which also trades as Savoy Taylors Guild and Cecil Gee - gave a cautious outlook earlier this year as it worried the World Cup would keep men away from shopping centres. Economic and political uncertainty was also a cause for concern. Sales were robust in the first 16 weeks of its financial year, up 12.6 per cent on a like-for-like basis, although it warned comparatives would get tougher in the second half.