Boots sees improved profits thanks to sales of anti-ageing creams.

The company said half-year figures for its health and beauty division has seen profits rise by 2% thanks to the Protect and Perfect creams.

Despite revenue for the company as a whole rising by 6% to £8.9bn, Boots has announced its plans to cut 900 non-store UK jobs in order to cut costs.

With plans to save £56m per year by 2013-14, Boots has announced the majority of cuts will take place in Nottingham, the headquarters of Alliance Boots in the United Kingdom.

Chief executive, Alex Gourlay said the move would allow the company to “have a stronger and more agile support infrastructure fit for the long-term future.”

http://www.plimsoll.co.uk/industry-report.aspx?Industry=beauty-products

More bad news for UK Retailers - 1 in 4 are already in dire financial trouble

Plimsoll's latest analysis of the UK Retail sector echoes the sentiment of accountants BDO recent assessment that thousands of UK shops will close by 2015. Such is the dire state of many UK Retailers, we would even contest that it needs to happen sooner.

Our research shows that 1 in 4 major British Retailers are in already in a precarious financial state and with demand predicted to fall as consumers make drastic cuts in spending, things can only get worse.

Our latest research shows:

- A third of Retailers are already making a loss
- 1 in 4 are are already in dire financial trouble
- Half are struggling to improve their position
- Consolidation is long overdue with most exposed to takeover

However, for those Retailers that come through the other side, the difficulties of the next few years could actually turn out to be a good thing. The specialist niches that most retailers serve means that the failure of a close competitor often means they have something a monopoly on the High Street.

Click here for more information on Plimsoll's latest assessment of UK Retailers

Retail sales in the UK see first drop since January this year.

While John Lewis may have seen some positive figures as their profits rise by 28%, threats to the retail market are still looming. Chariman of the John Lewis Partnership, Charlie Mayfield warned there may be trouble ahead in the retail sector as public spending cuts and tax rises are still to come.

This comes just as the retail sector as a whole sees a surprise fall in sales after six months of growth within high street growth. Despite the difficult economic climate, UK shoppers have been surprisingly resilient in terms of high street spending until now.

Top economist at HIS Global Insight, Howard Archer, told Sky News: “The unexpected 0.5% fall in retail sales in August is a nasty shock and deals a significant blow to growth hopes.” It is thought that a combination of job loss worries and the intended VAT hike in January are causing shoppers to be more conscious of their spending.

The latest Plimsoll Analysis - Retailers, analysing the performance of the UK's top 500 Retailers shows that 139 are already in financial difficulty and likely to be the next High Street failure. Click here to find out who they are