News roundup--Flying Brands sells flowers business to Interflora, more

Flying Brands, which operates Gardening Direct and Garden Bird Supplies is to sell its loss-making gifts division, comprising the business and assets of Flying Flowers and Flowers Direct, to Interflora for £2.4 million. In 2010, Flying Brands paid £2.95 million for Flowers Direct’s website, its relay network of 750 florists, and its customer database of 300,000 records.
The sale marks Flying Brands’ exit from the consumer gifts, cut plants and flowers market. The proceeds of the sale will help pay down debt.

Maplin will air its first TV ad for seven years this Saturday. Broadcast in the London region only, the 10 and 30-second ads will run across ITV1, Channel 4 and Five. Media agency AdConnection planned the campaign.

Furniture retailer Heal’s has launched a mobile-optimised website allowing customers to search, browse and buy on the go. The site also features rich product images with addition views, a store locator, and social integration with Facebook, Twitter and email a friend. The site is built on the Venda platform and powered by Localpoint Storefront software from Digby.

The Independent spotlights Keith Jones, the chief executive of JJB Sports, who announced a dip in like-for-like sales yesterday.

The Financial Times takes a look at the direct selling sector in a piece called: The modern face of door-to-door sales. Mentioned in the article are Avon, Kleeneze and Neal's Yard Remedies.