Features
-
Jun- 2025 -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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
9 May
Why is Rachel Reeves reviewing the Low Value Import Scheme?
The global economy is currently experiencing turbulent times as a result of Donald Trump’s trade war. Currys CEO Alex Baldock, alongside a number of other retail CEOs, recently warned that more Chinese products could “flood” the UK and Europe market through platforms like Temu, Shein and Amazon, as a result.…
Read More » -
8 May
What do supermarkets stand to gain from hosting parcel lockers?
Parcel lockers are everywhere now – outside supermarkets, in petrol stations, by train lines – and the numbers back this up. According to recent data from Statista, in 2023, 40% of UK adults used them. The year before, it was 30%. A decade ago, it was barely half of that.…
Read More » -
7 May
Retailers at risk: how cyber threats are shaping the future of commerce
In recent weeks two major UK retailers – Marks and Spencer and Co-op – have fallen victim to high-profile cyber attacks that sent ripples through the entire retail sector. These breaches were a stark reminder that no company, no matter how established or trusted, is immune from cyber threats. As…
Read More »
