News
News is Retail Sector’s central hub for breaking stories, market developments and company updates from across the UK retail industry. This category delivers authoritative, timely coverage on everything from trading performance and executive changes to store openings, brand activity and supply chain developments.
Retail Sector’s news coverage focuses on the business realities behind the headlines — providing retail professionals with context on how each development impacts operations, strategy and market confidence. Readers can expect clear, accurate reporting designed to keep decision-makers informed and competitive in a fast-moving retail landscape.
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Jan- 2019 -18 January
John Lewis & Partners announce management shake-up
John Lewis & Partners has announced that Dino Rocos, partner and operations director, will retire at the end of May 2019 after 43 years with the business, According to the group, from the end of January until he retires Rocos will report directly to Patrick Lewis, group finance director for…
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18 January
New Look’s Belgium outfit files for insolvency
The board of New Look Retail Group has announced its Belgium arm (NLB) has filed for insolvency following a review of its financial and trading position. NLB, which currently operates six stores in Belgium, said its board concluded it is “unable to continue trading”, and has decided to therefore wind…
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17 January
StubHub reprimanded over rescheduling refunds
Online ticket retailer, StubHub has been reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), after it had advertised that “every order is 100% guaranteed” with its ‘FanProtect’ scheme, however the ASA found that “refunds did not apply to rescheduled events”. The issue was raised when a complainant challenged whether the fact…
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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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17 January
Primark store expansion boosts festive sales
Fashion retailer Primark recorded a 4% increase in sales over the festive period buoyed by the continued expansion of store space. In a trading update for the 16 weeks ending 5 January 2019, its parent company Associated British Foods (AB Foods) said sales growth was driven by increased retail selling…
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17 January
Smartphone shopping to reach record usage in 2019
In 2019, and for the first time ever, consumers will be as likely to shop on their smartphones as they would a laptop or desktop, according to research by price comparison and switching service, uSwitch.com. Shoppers plan to spend £25bn using their smartphones this year, a £10bn rise on 2018.…
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16 January
Build-A-Bear lowers UK trading expectations due to ‘significant’ Brexit challenges
Build-A-Bear has announced it has lowered its trading expectations for the UK due to “significant” challenges posed by uncertainty around Brexit. The retailer identified the EU’s GDPR laws as some of the factors causing uncertainty in its UK business. A statement by Build-A-Bear said its “sales decline will be largely…
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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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16 January
The Works upbeat after strong Christmas revenue growth
Arts and crafts retailer The Works has reported a 15% increase in revenue in its half-year trade update, with like-for-like (LFL) sales also up 3.8%. The company said it continued its sales momentum into the Christmas trading period, delivering a “record sales performance despite tough comparatives”, and achieved LFL sales…
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16 January
Consumer spending drops further in December with 1% decline
Consumer spending continued to fall in the month of December with a 1% decline, according to Visa’s UK Consumer Spending Index. The index compiled by IHS Markit, showed that overall expenditure continued to decline at the end of 2018. The 1% year-on-year reduction seen in December was the fastest seen…
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