TO THE MOONPIG AND BACK
Moonpig had its best week ever in the run up to Valentine’s Day – and demand is so strong it expects its full-year revenues to double.
In its first trading update to the City since it floated on the London Stock Exchange this month, Moonpig said the demand it enjoyed due to the pandemic had continued. The online greetings card firm predicted its revenues for the 12 months to the end of April would be £346million, double the total achieved in 2019/20. The value of the orders it received had also risen as more customers were buying gifts to go with cards. It has hired more temporary staff to cope and is spending more on marketing.
JAPANESE athlete-turnedpolitician Seiko Hashimoto has been chosen as president of the Tokyo 2020 Organising committee.
She replaces Yoshiro Mori who resigned after setting off a furore with sexist remarks.
Hashimoto (right), who competed in seven Summer and Winter Olympics as a cyclist and a skater, faces a raft of tough issues at the helm of one of the world’s biggest sporting events with less than half a year before its delayed start. She must ensure athletes and officials are kept safe from the coronavirus, while also facing strong public opposition to the Games being held amid the pandemic. “As someone with an athletic background, I will carry out a safe Games for both athletes and citizens,” said Hashimoto.
PHILIP PRINCE yesterday received a six-month cocaine ban as plans for jockeys to face raceday saliva tests for banned substances were unveiled.
Prince, who was found to be 56 times over the permitted limit for a metabolite of cocaine, said: “I am finally back in a positive frame of mind and looking forward to the future.”
The oral swab test trial will start in the spring and British Horseracing Authority chief regulatory officer Brant Dunshea said: “We hope on-the-day screening will provide greater deterrent to potential offenders.”