High Street
The latest news, updates and analysis on the the British High Street and UK retail industry. Sign up to the Daily Briefing and let Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Jan- 2019 -25 January
L’occitane launches same day delivery across UK
French beauty retailer L’occitane has partnered with retail delivery startup On The Dot to launch its same day delivery service proposition ‘Ship From Store’ across the UK. The service has launched in London and there are plans to it extend across the remaining 86 UK stores in early 2019. On…
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24 January
Man charged after digger smashes through Spar shop front
A Scottish man has been charged after a digger was driven through the shop front of a Spar convenience store in the town of Keith, in Moray. The incident took place at 03:35 last Saturday morning (19 January), throwing debris across the town’s Regent Street. Police said “significant damage” had…
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22 January
Poundland sparks controversy over Valentine’s ‘Gift of Nothing’
Poundland has sparked controversy over the sale of its new ‘Gift of Nothing’ product, which is effectively an empty heart shaped package with the words “exactly what you asked for”. The product has been released as part of Poundland’s Valentine’s Day line and is on sale for the retailer’s trademark…
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22 January
Pets at Home sees ‘strong’ festive sales
Pets at Home had its “biggest trading day” the Saturday before Christmas, as the retailer reported an increase in sales over the festive period. In the 12 week period from 12 October 2018 to 3 January 2019, the chain saw its group revenue increase by 6.3% to £237.2m while its…
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21 January
Chapelle enters administration
Jewellery and watch retailer Chapelle has entered into administration, four years after it was sold to HMV owners Hilco UK. Philip Duffy and Sarah Bell of accountancy firm Duff & Phelps have been appointed as administrators of both Mortimer Management Group and The Jewellery Outlet, which makes up Chapelle. The…
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21 January
ONS reports retail growth ‘slowdown’
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced a “slowdown” in retail growth for the whole of 2018 which it said increased by 2.7% in the quantity bought, 2% less than the peak of 4.7% experienced in 2016. For the three months to December 2018 estimates in quantity bought declined…
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21 January
Mike Ashley among bidders eyeing HMV
According to reports, Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley is among bidders seeking to purchase HMV, which recently announced its second administration in six years. The music and film retailer officially fell into administration during the festive period, and was denied a £3.35m government tax cut before it entered administration according…
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21 January
Retail job losses to increase by 27,000, analysis suggests
Online retailers are having a “profound effect” on the commercial property market as the value in retail property is set to fall by 15.9% this year, new research has predicted. Furthermore, job losses and store closures have been forecasted to increase by 26,918 and 3,764 respectively compared with 2018 across…
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17 January
Game reports Christmas sales growth amid ‘challenging trading climate’
Video game retailer Game has reported a 2% increase in life-for-like sales (LFL) for the seven week Christmas trading period ending 5 January 2019. LFL sales in the UK also increased by 1.1% for the 23 weeks to 5 January, and remained broadly flat over the Christmas period at -0.3%.…
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16 January
Jack Wills drafts in advisers
Fashion retailer Jack Wills has reportedly appointed accountancy firm EY to scrutinise and advise on its financial position. According to Sky News, EY – who are led by HSBC – have been brought in to assess its finances and help negotiate revisions to its borrowing covenants. The news comes just…
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