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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Nov- 2018 -1 November
600 jobs at risk as Crawshaws enters administration
Meat retailer Crawshaws has announced it has entered administration, putting 600 jobs at risk across its 42 stores. A Crawshaws spokesperson told Retail Sector that the company blamed its financial woes on “increasing competitor pressures on the high street”, namely “discount activity from the likes of Aldi and Lidl”. According…
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Oct- 2018 -31 October
‘Brexit anxieties’ lead to decrease in consumer confidence in October
Growth from Knowledge’s (GfK) long-running consumer confidence index decreased by one point to -10 in October 2018, amid consumer anxieties over Brexit. The market research institute said the lack of confidence from shoppers will “concern retailers” in the run-up to Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the key Christmas trading period,…
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31 October
Argos and John Lewis Christmas toy lists create surge in interest
A new study has found interest in this year’s “must-have” Christmas toys surged by almost eight times, following the publication of the Argos and John Lewis top Christmas toys lists. The research by digital marketing agency, Everest Media, analysed the volume of Google searches that each toy on the list…
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30 October
Sports Direct to rescue Evans Cycles with half of its stores to shutter
Sports Direct is to rescue Evans Cycles after it fell into administration on 7 September, with owner Mike Ashley saying the retailer will have to shutter half of its stores to save the business. The closures would result in hundreds of job losses with Evans Cycles, which has been running…
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30 October
Seasalt bucks high street woes with sales and profits increase
Cornish fashion brand, Seasalt, has recorded record turnover and improved margins, signalling the “continuing growth momentum in the business”. Turnover was up 23% on the previous year, at £51m, and is the ninth consecutive year of 20% increases in year-on-year sales growth, reflecting “continued rising demand” for the brand across…
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30 October
Selfridges opens in-store skate park
Selfridges has opened an indoor skate park in its London flagship store as part of refurbishment work in its menswear section. ‘The Bowl’ has become the UK’s only free wooden indoor skate bowl with skate lessons offered for £20 per hour. Selfridges has also added The Designer Street Room to…
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29 October
HMV tops Amazon on physical music sales
HMV has overtaken Amazon for physical music sales, the entertainment retailer increased its market share to 28% during the 12 weeks to 23 September. According to research published by Kantar Worldpanel, the release of the 100th edition of Now That’s What I Call Music which sold almost double its predecessor,…
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29 October
Chancellor to propose £900m rates relief plan for smaller retailers
Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to announce a rates relief for retail SMEs and relax town planning rules on the high street. The budget announcement will be made today (29 October) and Hammond is expected to cut business rates by 33% for 496,000 small retailers, saving £900m. It is also…
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29 October
Oxford Street Strategy approved for public consultation
Westminster City Council’s Cabinet has has approved a new draft Oxford Street District Strategy to be taken forward for public consultation in November. The Council’s fresh Place Strategy and Delivery Plan has identified 96 projects across 87 streets and spaces in nine zones, including proposals for major improvements at Oxford…
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26 October
Schuh profits fall 9.6% following ‘lack-lustre festive sales period’
Footwear retailer Schuh has announced a pre-tax profit fall of 9.6% down to £15m for the previous financial year. The retailer blamed a “lacklustre” festive period on an “overtly promotional retail market” in the footwear industry. Despite the profit fall the retailer announced a revenue rise in the year to…
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