Department store group House of Fraser has said it enjoyed its "best ever" Christmas sales period.

BBC: House of Fraser's Christmas sales jump

He is creating massive advertisements for the new JC Penney, altering perceptions of the previously staid department store group.

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At the same time, the Times newspaper reported that department store group John Lewis was considering raising its staff retirement age from 60 to 65.

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The department store group is keen to develop sites in the north west of the UK, with the nearest currently over 100 miles away in Nottinghamshire.

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Last week, department store group John Lewis reported a 13% rise in total sales for the five weeks to the end of December, with internet sales up 44%.

BBC: House of Fraser's Christmas sales jump

The department store group described market conditions as "difficult" and said the economic weakness in the UK could hit its performance in the second half of the financial year.

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Penney set the pace, surging 9.6% after an analyst at ISI Group suggested the department store chain could convert several hundred of its best locations into a real estate investment trust.

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Since the fine fragrance industry as a whole has taken a beating during the recession (the NPD Group says American department store sales have been down 15% from 2007 to 2009), some companies are even playing with their distribution models.

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His Bromeliad series follows the adventures of a group of "nomes" who live in a department store until it gets demolished.

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