Features
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Jun- 2025 -27 June
Has homeware become a fast fashion rite of passage?
This summer marks a bold new chapter in Primark’s retail journey, as the brand opens its first standalone Home store in Great Britain at Trafford Palazzo in Manchester. Following the success of its debut Home concept in Belfast, this 11,900 sq. ft, two-floor space aims to bring the full breadth…
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19 June
The price of stars: what the DMCC Act means for fake reviews
At one point online reviews used to be a grey area, but with the arrival of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, the UK has taken a decisive step into a new enforcement regime. Fake reviews, paid praise, and review hijacking, which have long been brushed off as…
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10 June
Why the mood economy is shaping the retail landscape
Retail therapy is nothing new. For decades, shoppers have found comfort in the act of buying here and there to lift their mood, mark a moment, or simply to reclaim a sense of control. But lately something feels different in Britain’s buying habits, and it runs deeper than the occasional…
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10 June
The nostalgia trend: Why do companies revive old brands?
A cultural institution in the 90s, defunct in the 00s and making a comeback in the 20s. MFI Furniture is set to relaunch on the British high street after owner Victorian Plumbing revealed plans to relaunch the brand in early 2026, promising a refresh without the frustrations of long online…
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2 June
Is kidswear holding fashion retailers back?
Children’s apparel rarely commands the spotlight in retail reporting – but when it underperforms, the drag is felt quietly across the balance sheet. In its latest financial results, Adena Brands – owner of Monsoon and Accessorize – reported a £7.5m pre-tax loss and an 11% decline in group sales. The…
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May- 2025 -30 May
Retailers at a crossroads: what is their role in the growing textile waste crisis?
The UK’s fashion and retail sector is grappling with a mounting textile waste crisis. With an estimated 1.7 million tonnes of textiles consumed in the UK each year – and with around 336,000 tonnes ending up in household residual waste – retailers are increasingly being called upon to rethink how…
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20 May
What’s next for next-day deliveries?
Once the gold standard of eCommerce innovation, next-day delivery was long seen as the pinnacle of convenience – a service so fast, so frictionless, it fundamentally altered consumer expectations across retail categories. It forced grocers, fashion brands, electronics giants, and independent merchants alike to rethink supply chains, last-mile logistics, and…
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14 May
A Lidl bit more: Why is Lidl investing in expansion?
On 28 April Lidl announced that it is going to invest £500m in store expansion, aiming to open more than 40 stores in the process. The budget supermarket has been rapidly gaining market share in the UK hitting a record 8.1% in May 2024, according to data from Kantar. With…
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13 May
What does the new Employment Rights Bill mean for retailers?
The Employment Rights Bill, slated for major implementation in autumn 2026, is being hailed by the government as a bold step forward for workers’ rights. But for the retail sector – a cornerstone of the UK economy that employs over three million people – the swift nature of the proposed…
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12 May
Supermarket chains are betting big on small stores
Asda plans to open 25 new convenience stores between June and December, having only opened 12 last year. As part of its latest turnaround strategy, the retailer is moving faster, cutting deeper, and getting closer to where people live. It looks like other retailers are doing the same. Tesco, Waitrose…
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