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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Jun- 2018 -27 June
City centres ‘must break reliance’ on retail, says think tank
Too many city centres across England and Wales are over-dependent on retail, and must swap shops for offices, housing and public spaces, according to a new report. Research published by the think tank Centre for Cities with support from Capita, examined for the composition of commercial space in UK cities…
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27 June
Costa Coffee sales dip 2% in Q1
Coffee chain Costa has reported a fall in like-for-like sales at the start of the year, blaming a lack of shoppers on the high street. Although total UK sales grew by 5.2% due to new store openings, according to Costa owner Whitbread, the UK’s biggest coffee chain revealed a 2%…
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26 June
Carpetright woes as CVA activity results in £70.5m loss
Carpetright has reported a £70.5m loss before tax as a result of the cost and accounting impacts of the group’s restructuring activity. Total group revenue decreased by 3.0% to £443.8m and like-for-like sales for the full year declined by 3.6%, with the first eight weeks of the new financial year…
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26 June
EXCLUSIVE: Mattressman accounts ‘disaster’
Mattressman has revealed that it entered a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) due to “inaccurate management accounts”, which led the company to believe it was profitable in Q1 and Q2 of 2017, Retail Sector can reveal. However in March this year it was found that it was losing money during that…
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26 June
Clarks CEO resigns following conduct that ‘fell short’ of company expectations
The CEO of family-owned footwear retailer Clarks has resigned after his “conduct, conversations and expressions fell short” of company expectations. Clarks said that it has accepted Mike Shearwood’s resignation “following an investigation into complaints that breached the company’s code of ethics on a number of occasions”. Shearwood joined Clarks as…
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25 June
Goldsmiths jewellers owner appoints banks ahead of IPO listing next year
The parent company of British jewellery retail chain Goldsmiths has appointed two banks to manage its flotation on the stock market next year. Aurum Holdings, which also owns Watches of Switzerland, has appointed Goldman Sachs and Barclays to aid with a public listing that may take place in London next…
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25 June
More than 130 jobs cut as Mattressman enters CVA
Mattressman has announced it is to enter a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) which will see the closure of 14 of its 25 stores. The store closures will see 136 jobs cut as the bed retailer looks to “downsize” and begin a “restructuring process”. Mattressman looked to be in rude health…
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22 June
M&S to introduce artificial intelligence in new ‘strategic partnership’
Microsoft and Marks and Spencer (M&S) have announced the signing of a ‘strategic partnership’ which will test the integration of Microsoft AI technologies into the retailer’s customer experience, stores and wider operations. The partnership will see the two organisations work together to explore how technologies such as artificial intelligence can…
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22 June
Colliers proposes new property leasing approach to target UK retail troubles
A “radical approach” to property leasing is being proposed to help shopping environments throughout the UK by property consultants Colliers International . The five-point plan is aimed at helping retailers access viable trading space while enabling retailers, landlords and investors to find occupiers for the rising amount of empty shops…
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21 June
EXCLUSIVE: Poundworld confusion as staff memo casts doubt on ‘closing down’ sale
Store managers at Poundworld are preparing to promote a ‘closing down’ sale, despite a staff memo circulated yesterday which cast doubt on whether any stores will actually shutter. The memo, which was written by administrators at Deloitte, and which a Poundworld spokesperson told Retail Sector had been circulated as an…
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