Hard times for luxury Swiss watches as sales drop 10%
Swiss watch federation reports huge drop in exports to China as official crackdown on bribery makes it worst year for industry since 2009
Retail industry
Gucci owner gets teeth into snakeskin market with python farm
Luxury group Kering says snakes will be raised in the ‘best conditions’ before they are turned into shoes, bags and belts
Burberry sales leap 40% as weak pound draws overseas shoppers
Shoppers travel from all regions of the world to stock up on luxury goods as sterling’s fall makes money go further
Heston goes the whole hog this Christmas with bacon and banana trifle
Gastronomic gamble from chef Blumenthal to hit Waitrose shelves as British food stores unleash twists on festive classics
Selfridges goes bigger on bags as £300m London revamp begins
Oxford Street store to have biggest ‘handbag hall’ in the world designed with architect David Chipperfield
The upper brand: Alexa Chung at M&S takes on Kenzo for H&M
Both fashion collaborations have been hyped to fever pitch as they go head to head in final sales push before Christmas