The new report from Kelkoo calculates that spending on counterfeit England World Cup items will cost the UK retail industry a staggering £51million by the end of round two and should England reach the final this figure would almost double to £92.4million.

The report, commissioned by Kelkoo and co-authored by the Centre for Retail Research, estimates that overall, at least one in five (20.3%) World Cup related items sold in the UK are expected to have counterfeit origins.

The problem is already rife in South Africa, where FIFA lawyers have handled over 100 counterfeit cases since the beginning of the year. The largest counterfeit category is expected to be sports clothing or replica kits, with sales predicted to total £27 million by the end of the second round, and up to £49 million if England reaches the final.

Next, are souvenirs and memorabilia which could generate sales worth up to £27.6 million by the final round of the competition.

While 11% of respondents declared that they would never buy a fake, spotting a counterfeit shirt from an official item is not as straightforward as it seems, with 60% claiming that they would have difficulty telling the two apart.

While 65% of British adults say they have never bought any counterfeit goods, almost a quarter (24%) admit they have been tricked into buying bogus merchandise in the past, and one in nine (11%) confess to having knowingly bought fake goods.

However, almost one in four admitted that they would choose to buy a counterfeit over official merchandise to save money.

Visit the Kelkoo World Cup Buying Guide

Top tips so you don’t get caught ‘offside’ when it comes to buying World Cup England football shirts:

• Buy from a legitimate High Street or Online Retailer – retailers supplied directly by Umbro include JD Sports, JJB and Sports Direct among others.
• The quality of the fabric is often a giveaway and many fake shirts are not as well cut as the official ones, giving an ‘asymmetric’ effect.
• Check the stitching on the logos, seams, badges and buttons – counterfeit shirts are often more flimsy.
• Check the badge – often counterfeits carry a slightly different, simplified design.
• Although some legitimate retailers such as Asda are selling shirts for significantly less than the RRP of £49.99, a ridiculously low price is often a giveaway – remember if a deal seems too good to be true, it often is!

The report suggests that should England make it through to the World Cup final, consumer spending could rise by as much as £2.01 billion, boosting total retail sales for June and July by 4% from £50.14bn to £52.15bn.

Just by reaching the group stages of the finals it is estimated that UK retailers will benefit to the tune of £168 million, spent on sportswear and official football kits.

A further £190 million will be spent on upgrading television sets to HD or the latest 3D technology, while garden furniture and barbeque’s will rake in another £22 million.

Should England progress to the final, it is predicted that English fans will continue to spend throughout, resulting in £360 million on sportswear, £620 million in electrical stores and £62 million spent on garden furniture.

The Kelkoo figures have been compiled from analysis of the impact of the 2006 World Cup, trade estimates and past research reports.

UK retail sales are projected to rise by £987 million if England survives the second round of the competition, with a further £110 million expected to be spent in pubs, clubs and cafes. England’s participation in the quarter finals would bump up sales by an additional £332 million, and if the team reaches the final, total retail sales would increase by £692 million – a potential £2.01 billion in incremental spend if England won the World Cup.

With football fans flocking to watch the matches in public venues, a place in the final would also see pubs, clubs and cafes benefit to the tune of £305 million. Finally, betting companies are tipped to receive a boost of £1.2 billion in additional revenues.

The biggest single area of World Cup expenditure for consumers will be on food and drink. Shoppers will spend £250 million on drinks (including non-alcoholic ones) and £209 million on food by the end of round two, together accounting for 46.5% or £459 million of all retail spending. However, if England get through to the final this figure could rise to total £874 million.

Bruce Fair, Managing Director of Kelkoo UK, comments:

“The World Cup is the largest sporting event in the world, second only to the Olympic Games. As a result of its mass appeal and viewership figures, it has natural implications for consumer spending and retail businesses. The last final was viewed by 715 million people worldwide and it is estimated that the 2006 World Cup increased UK retail sales by £1.25bn. In addition, experts argue that success in the World Cup affects more than a country’s retail and leisure sales; it can also increase the country’s rate of economic growth, have a positive impact on consumer confidence, and ultimately winning the World Cup could result in 0.7% GDP growth.

The World Cup is not just a lucrative event for pubs and bars, online and high street retailers will reap the benefits as well. The event will provide a welcome boost to retailers with the UK’s passion for football prompting a rapid rise in spectator and sports-related purchases. England’s progress through the tournament is therefore likely to reinvigorate sales in the retail sector, stimulate consumer confidence and ultimately drive economic growth.”

So with all that spending to do why not visit Kelkoo’s World Cup Buying Guide

bhf

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) are promoting their range of gifts for Father’s Day, gifts to make your Dad feel special while supporting a very worthy cause.

There are many items available in the BHF gift range, something to suit all pockets, here are some suggestions for that perfect Father’s Day present:

Gifts under £30
A wine lovers dream! Be different this Father’s Day by adopting your dad his very own vine. He’ll get some tasty perks to go with it including a wine sampling day and a vine yard tour. £30

Gifts under £20
Every penny counts! Help your dad save a fortune this year with this smart money jar. It even keeps track of your savings for you – a great addition to any man’s life! £15.50

Get your dad using his green fingers this Father’s Day with this chilli plant kit, enabling him to grow five different types of chilli! £13.30

Bring out the explorer this Father’s Day with this River Thames map, taking you on a tour down Britain’s best loved waterway. £18.99

A great distraction when there’s nothing on the telly, this brain fitness training kit includes over 120 of the best logic and lateral thinking puzzle questions. £10.25

Set your dad a challenge with this fun Merc and Bugatti wooden puzzle. £26

This tec vacuum is perfect for cleaning PC keyboards, stereos, cameras and other sensitive equipment. A brilliant gift for all those tech-savvy dads! £10.25

The ideal gift for all golfing fanatics, this golf club pen set comprises of 3 ballpoint pens and will add that unique touch to your dad’s workplace! £12.25

Gifts under £10
Throw some luck your dad’s way this Father’s Day with these daily ‘Get Rich Quick’ tips. You never know, luck might be on his side throughout his special day. £8

This camper van mug is guaranteed to brighten up your dad’s kitchen whilst bringing out his trendy side. £8.00

The perfect accessory for all car-crazy dad’s, this computer screen wipe is a must have this Father’s Day! £7.99

This daily desk pad sets your dad a new Sudoku challenge everyday! £8.00

The BHF Alternative gift range enables you to invest in the future of heart research while treating your dad to a quirky present. Prices start from just £10

Most people know someone affected by heart disease and all purchases this Father’s Day will help the BHF continue its lifesaving work. Visit the BHF website for the full range of gifts and donation opportunities.

The research revealed that while 31% of adults are worried about how they will get through Christmas financially, only 15% have made an effort to spread the cost throughout the year.

Credit cards (14%) and savings (10%) will be used to fund festivities for some this year, but 71% say that they will use ‘money available at the time’ to purchase their share of the nations estimated £11bn Christmas spend.

Money.co.uk warn that reliance on paying at the last minute could see many families stretched to their financial limit, as current trends show that each household will spend an estimated £500 on food and presents, even though the average disposable income stands at £164 per week.

As a result many households will start the New Year feeling the pinch more than usual and face a grim start to 2010 with a long wait for pay day.

Here are some tips from Money.co.uk that could help you enjoy this Christmas and not have to worry too much about finances:

1. Take control of your finances: Have a look at your finances and work out what you have coming in and going out over the next three months.
2. Set a sensible Budget: From that work out what budget you need to allocate.  Be realistic, don’t set a budget you can’t stick to and plan for any last minute unexpected items.
3. Shop Around: The key to success at Christmas is being canny and keeping an eye out for the best deals.  Some sales are already on, so start ticking off those presents now by picking up a sales bargain.
4. Be card smart: If you’re planning to pay for Christmas on a credit card this year, there are some sensible measures you can take to reduce the pain later:

• Cashback Credit Cards: most cashback credit cards pay between 0.5% and 5% of any purchases you make, e.g. if you spend £500 on your credit card over the course of a month you get £25 cashback at the same rate.  These cards tend to suit people who can pay their balance off in full each month as interest rates may be higher than standard credit cards.
• 0% Purchase Credit Cards: Some providers offer 0% on purchases as an introductory offer. For example, Tesco is currently offering 0% on all purchases for 12 months.  As an added bonus you’ll also earn Clubcard points as you spend, which will help when January comes.  However, it is important that these cards are not used simply to delay a problem for a year.  The balance should be paid off before the interest free period expires, either through monthly payments, or by regularly putting money aside in an interest bearing account so the card balance can be cleared in one go before interest is charged.

And finally a list of do’s and dont’s:

• Don’t be tempted by store cards, which often charge very high interest
• Don’t be tempted to get a loan to pay for the additional expense of Christmas. Be realistic about what you can afford.
• Do agree a present budget with friends and family, so everyone is clear what to spend and there is no pressure to spend more than anyone can afford.
• Do start thinking about next year, by looking into regular saver accounts that can offer a really attractive rate of interest.

christmas price war

The major UK supermarkets are preparing themselves for what some are expecting to be the biggest cut price Christmas period in years, adding pressure on specialist retailers and fighting for a share of the former Woolworths market, following the collapse of the retailer after last Christmas.

The UK’s top three supermarkets are all expanding non-food ranges, which tend to attract higher profit margins than groceries, stepping up the pressure on specialist retailers.

Tesco said it would be cutting prices on fifty household technology products during the run up to the holidays, they include a Philips Blu-Ray DVD player, an Intempo iPod Dock and Fuji 10 Mega Pixel camera. This follows similar reductions on items such as music, games, toys and clothing.

“This year will be the most aggressive on price in a decade,” said Asda as they unveiled their own list of cut price deals in the lead up to Christmas, while Sainsbury’s expect the market to be ‘fiesty’ if not an all out price war.

making ends meet

The findings of a survey conducted by Broker Execution Ltd has revealed that Britons expect to spend less on presents this Christmas than they did last year, with fears of unemployment, higher taxes and utilities and recovery from the recession among the many worries high on the agenda for the general public.

The survey which was conducted at the end of October says that on average consumers will pay out £358 on presents alone this Christmas, showing a fall of 4% on figures from this time last year.

Around half of those surveyed expected to spend much the same as last year, 40% said they would spend less than last year and 10% say they will be spending a lot less.

The survey concludes that while the fears of extra taxes and unemployment continue to be a real risk, more of us are concerned with cutting back spending, increasing savings and reducing debt during these hard times.

There are still many families struggling in the UK with a mountain of debt and Christmas for them will be a time of further hardship. There are now plenty of companies offering credit counselling which could reduce the heartache and help get back on track financially.

Source: Reuters

250kg gold bar!

The flagship store of London’s Knightsbridge borough, Harrods have this week started selling gold bars and coins, over the counter. While the commodities are obviously not on display, the discreet private investor is able to conduct business in the Harrods Bank.

Situated on the lower ground floor the gold including a 12.5kg bar will be displayed behind a wall of reinforced glass. The current estimated value of a 12.5kg bar is around £285,000.

Harrods say that they are responding to customer demand as more investors are seeking the security of gold in the current financial situation. The store will stock coins including the British gold sovereign and US gold eagle as well as smaller bars of gold from 1 gram.

Mehdi Bakhordar, managing director of Swiss-based PAMP, said: “Harrods stock our full range and are now the only location in London where investors can purchase a 12.5kg gold bar ‘off the shelf’.”

The recession and decent weather in the UK for the first six months of the year have been attributed to the increase in turnover at the discount clothing store. But there has also been an underlying shift towards buying cheaper clothes says AB Foods Finance Director John Bason;

“There’s a real change in people’s shopping habits, and certainly among 20 to 30 year old females, it’s a change for good.”

Primark accounts for almost a third of AB Foods profit, as well as branches across the UK there are currently Primark stores in Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Holland.

There are plans to increase the groups foothold in Europe with at least ten stores planned to open in the next year, giving the retailer over 200 outlets in the UK and Europe.

Tesco

The supermarket has already  spent £150million re-launching the Clubcard in May this year, but rival stores in the top four UK supermarkets, Asda, Sainsbury and Morrisons have all shown better growth than Tesco in recent quarterly accounts.

The extension of the Clubcard loyalty scheme is seen as one way to win back business from rival supermarkets and should help Tesco re-assert itself as the top player, particularly with the back to school business and then the long run up to the Christmas period.

In June Tesco reported it’s best quarterly performance for two years, showing an increase in sales of 4.3%. However Asda, Sainsbury and Morrisons put the Tesco figures in the shade when recording their own sales growth of  7.2%, 7.8% and 8.2% respectively.

There is little doubt that Tesco will cause a stir amongst the traditional banking system in place in the UK and the high street banks will need to be on the ball to keep up with developments in the industry if they are not to lose out to Tesco’s planned financial dominance.

The latest offering from the supermarket bank is the Tesco Club Credit Card, a credit card that offers 0% interest on purchases for the first twelve months. This is double the interest free period offered by many rivals.

As with all credit cards it is worth checking out the ‘real deal’ with the provider to see if this product is the best for you.