News roundup--Findel, Watchfinder, Toys R Us, more

Strong sales at Express Gifts have helped Findel achieve an 8 percent rise in group sales in the 16 weeks to 25th July. There was good news too from Kitbag, which has recovered to deliver comparable year-on-year sales with growth in cash margin. The turnaround in the company’s Education Supplies business continues to progress well also, said the company, with its curricular and specialist brands achieving a sales improvement since the launch of new catalogues in late April. Sales at Kleeneze, however, which relies on distributors to collect orders from customers, were hampered by the bad weather.

Preowned specialist Watchfinder has reported a strong start to 2012, with sales for the first quarter up 21 percent on the same period last year, reaching £3.3 million. The company plans to further grow the business by opening a retail outlet and taking the business overseas, says director Matthew Bowling.

The Manchester Evening News tips Sir Terry Leahy, the former chief executive of Tesco, to be The Hut Group’s next chairman. Sir Terry is already a shareholder in the business and, according to the piece, “is understood to be in negotiations with a view to finalising his appointment as chairman within weeks”.

Retail giant Toys R Us has launched a mobile platform enabling customers to browse, shop, check store stock availability based on the user’s location, as well as use QR code-driven purchasing. The site was built in partnership with ecommerce consultancy Neoworks, multichannel software provider Hybris and digital agency Red Ant.

Christmas has come early at Harrods, notes the Guardian. The London store has already unveiled its yuletide depatment—a month earlier than usual—to take advantage of an influx of tourists this summer. According to the piece, Harrods has been opening “Christmas World” in the summer since 1998, but “changing consumer trends means it has gradually made it even earlier. This year the opening date is the earliest ever for the retailer”.