BLACKS Leisure moved into the red yesterday after problems at its boardwear section offset steady trading from its camping and outdoor clothing shops.

The group – of which Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley owns 29.9 per cent – made losses before exceptional items of £6.8m in the year to February 28, compared with a profit of £300,000 a year earlier.

Blacks said the boardwear arm, comprising Freespirit and O’Neill stores and the UK wholesale operation of O’Neill, continued to underperform after losses widened to £7.8m from £3.3m. Last year, it closed its Sandcity offices and distribution centre in Washington, Tyne and Wear, in an attempt to bolster the division, with the loss of 50 jobs.

FREE WORKSHOPS: Workshops to help businesses increase sales and maximise spend in the current economic climate is being held at Durham County Cricket Club in Chester-le-Street on Thursday. The event, hosted by RMT Accountants, involves two workshops, so businesses can decide to attend at either 9am to 1pm, or 1.30pm to 5pm. Places at the free sessions are available on a first come, first served basis, and can be booked by emailing marketing@r-m-t.co.uk SUITS YOU: Menswear chain Moss Bros yesterday said sales were showing an improved trend after a surge in demand for business suits in the face of job uncertainty. Moss, which has branches across the region, said like-for-like sales were down 3.9 per cent in the 16 weeks to May 23, but this improved to a fall of two per cent in the past ten weeks of the period. While overall sales are down, Moss said the number of suits sold rose by 27 per cent.

NEW DIRECTOR: The Yorkbased housebuilder Persimmon yesterday announced that the chief executive of its Northern division, Jeffrey Fairburn, is to become an executive director of the company from Monday. Mr Fairburn has worked for Persimmon since 1989 in various roles and assumed his current position in 2005.