News roundup--Bettys, Amazon, TTS Group, more

Harrogate-based Bettys & Taylors, which owns the Bettys mail order catalogue and website, delivered a sales rise of 14 percent to £117.3 million in the year ended 31st October 2011. Profit declined 17 percent to £7.8 million, as a result of investment in advertising and infrastructure, writes the Yorkshire Press.

Luxury fashion etailer My-wardrobe.com, has appointment former Harrods Direct director David Worby as its global chief executive officer, effective July 2012.  Founder Sarah Curran, currently chief executive officer moves to the newly created role of chief creative officer working alongside Worby to oversee the creative consumer touchpoints of the brand.

Amazon is reportedly launching its own publishing arm and is planning to buy the rights of archive titles as well as new books in a bid to boost its margins and cut out publishing houses, writes the Telegraph.

The Financial Times interviews Cath Jeffrey, deputy managing director of educational supplies marketer TTS Group and explains how TTS is planning to further expand the business into Brazil and India.

UK losses at Japanese retailer Uniqlo widened in 2011, from £1 million to £9.7 million on flat sales of £63 million, writes the Mail on Sunday. Despite the decline, Uniqlo said it would continue to invest in its expansion programme in Britain.

Managers at DIY chain B&Q are sharing a £9 million windfall today, as an incentive scheme vests. The sum amounts to £45,000 each, writes the Sunday Times.

Following a review of the company’s financial position, the administrators at Aquascutum have decided to close the brands manufacturing plant in Corby with the immediate loss of all 115 staff based at the site.

General George, a group of companies that is part of the Floors-2-Go Group has purchased the business and certain assets of Allied Carpets’ parent company Allied Floors Ltd from administrators at Duff & Phelps. Nine UK stores were included in the transaction.