News roundup--Isabella Oliver, Argos

The Financial Times picks up on something reported in the July issue of Direct Commerce—that Isabella Oliver is eyeing up more international expansion and will open a US office and distribution centre towards the end of the year. The FT also adds that Brazil is the maternity and womenswear retailer’s next likely destination.

Argos unveiled its autumn/winter 2012 range on Saturday with the launch of its latest catalogue—its 78th edition—featuring 9,000 new products. For the first time, the catalogue will feature products from Habitat, the home furnishings brand acquired out of administration by Argos's Home Retail Group last year.

Following legislation passed in May this year, Sunday trading legislation will be relaxed during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, allowing retailers to remain open for longer than six hours on a Sunday. The suspension will only be for eight Sundays, from 22 July to the end of the Paralympic Games on 9 September. After this period the current Sunday trading restrictions will apply again.