Department Stores
Department Stores focuses on the strategies, performance, and transformation of leading UK department store groups. This section examines trading updates, leadership changes, store formats, and digital innovation among major retail players. Retail Sector’s Department Stores coverage provides insight into how these multi-category retailers are adapting to evolving consumer expectations, online competition, and market pressures — offering retail professionals valuable intelligence on business models, partnerships, and growth strategies shaping the sector’s future.
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Feb- 2018 -23 February
Dominic Chappell fined £87,000 over pension scheme failure
Former BHS owner Dominic Chappell has been ordered to pay a total of £87,170 in fines and court fees after he was found guilty of failing to provide pensions information to The Pensions Regulator (TPR). In January, the one-time BHS owner was found guilty of failing to provide information about…
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23 February
Dominic Chappell faces sentencing over pension investigation
The one-time BHS owner who purchased the ailing chain from Philip Green for a tiny sum before its collapse, Dominic Chappell, is expected to be sentenced in court today. He is accused of failing to provide information about the company’s pension scheme after it went into administration in 2016. Chappell…
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12 February
House of Fraser appoints Rothschild to refinance debt
House of Fraser has appointed independent financial advisory group Rothschild to advise it as the department store chain prepares to refinance its debt package. Rothschild will advise the retailer on the refinancing of £225m of its £390m debt package, which matures in July 2019. Its remaining £165m publicly traded bond…
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Jan- 2018 -30 January
House of Fraser Boss wants Theresa May to give ‘clearer Brexit signal’
The billionaire owner of House of Fraser has called on the Prime Minister to provide a “definite signal” on what type of Brexit deal she wants. Ahead of Theresa May’s visit to China, Yuan Yufai said it was important for the UK government to reassure people. Yufai is the owner…
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17 January
Seasalt reports record breaking Christmas sales
Cornish fashion brand Seasalt has reported a record year for Christmas trading, with overall sales up 52% for the five weeks leading up to 6 January 2018. Strong sales growth was recorded both online and in-store, with 72% online year-on-year growth and store sales up by 40%. Additionally, international sales…
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17 January
Poundland to open 150 Pep&Co ‘shop-in-shop’ fashion stores
Poundland has announced it will be opening over 150 Pep&Co ‘shop-in-shop’ fashion outlets in its stores over the next 12 months. The expansion comes just days after the retailer secured new loan funding to maintain its investment plans. Poundland also confirmed it would open the first of over 30 Republic…
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16 January
Shop Direct posts 6.3% Christmas growth, appoints interim CEO
Shop Direct, which operates Very, Littlewoods and Very Exclusive brands, revealed its total group revenue increased by 6.3% during the seven weeks up to December 2017. The performance was driven by 16.8% growth in the Very brand, in what the group says is its “largest and fastest growing retail brand”.…
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15 January
BHS.com continues online revival with sales increase
BHS.com, the online-only reincarnation of collapsed department store chain BHS, has seen a 43% increase in sales for the final quarter of 2017. The increase was boosted by strong performances in its home accessories, lighting and women’s sleepwear divisions, which saw sales increase by 43%, 57% and 107% respectively. The…
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12 January
GAME reveals first sales growth in two years
Video game retail store Game has posted its first positive sales growth in over two years. The retail group provided a trading update ahead of its annual general meeting, revealing that gross transaction value (GTV) was up 5.2% over the Christmas trading period and up overall by 3.8% for the…
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11 January
John Lewis issues profit warning despite ‘most successful trading day ever’
The John Lewis Partnership has reported an increase in sales for the six-week period ending December 30, but a competitive Christmas season characterised by heavy discounting across the retail industry will hit profits, it said today. Group sales were (which include John Lewis and Waitrose) were up 2.5% year-on-year, totalling…
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