News
The latest news, updates and analysis on the the UK retail industry. Covering every segment of the market, Retail Sector’s business journalists keep you in the picture.
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Oct- 2018 -4 October
Ebay accuses Amazon of ‘unlawfully’ poaching sellers
Online marketplace Ebay has accused rival website Amazon of attempting to poach independent sellers from its site using “unlawful and troubling” methods. Over a number of years in numerous countries, including the UK, Ebay alleges that 50 Amazon employees have been using eBay’s seller messaging platform to encourage sellers to…
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4 October
Lightinthebox reprimanded by ASA for ‘misleading’ prices
British online clothing retailer Lightinthebox has been reprimanded by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over an advert for men’s shoes. The advert for ‘Men’s Shoes Patent Leather Spring/Fall Comfort Oxfords Gray/Blue Burgundy’ text on the advert stated “GBP £34.11(crossed through) £19.74 (43% off)”. Lower down on the page text stated…
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3 October
Tesco reports a ‘good start to the year’ as HY sales increase 12.5%
Tesco has reported a 12.5% increase in group revenue the first six months of the year to 25 August, as it records its eleventh consecutive quarter of sales growth in the UK and Ireland. Group revenue at the ‘big four’ supermarket totalled £28.3bn as statutory group pre-tax profits increased by…
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3 October
Amazon bows to pressure, boosts wages for US and UK staff
Amazon has increased the minimum wage for US staff to $15, after founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said he had “listened to our critics” and “thought hard” about his firm’s response to sustained criticism about its pay levels. Bezos’ announcement means more than 250,000 US and 17,000 UK staff, as…
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3 October
Toys R’ Us to rise from the dead
Toys R’ Us is rumoured to be revived after an auction for its brand and rights was cancelled with a group of investors which originally ended the toy retailer’s reorganisation in April. According to documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal, the group has plans for “a new, operating Toys…
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3 October
Shop prices rise for second month in row
Shop prices increased for two consecutive months – the first consecutive growth in five years – according to the latest British Retail Consortium and Nielsen Shop Price Index. Inflation increased by 0.2% from the previous month with food being the main driver for the hike in prices. Food showed a…
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2 October
Debenhams merchandising director leaves amid trouble with insurers
Debenhams merchandising director Adele Calderwood has reportedly stepped down following yesterday’s news that the company’s insurers had pulled out. Calderwood, who joined the company from Arcadia in 2004 and worked for the retailer for 14 years, will now depart according to reports by Drapers. Debenhams told Retail Sector it had…
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2 October
M&S launches checkout free ‘Mobile, Pay, Go’ service
Marks and Spencer has launched a new “checkout free” service called ‘Mobile, Pay, Go’ at six London stores ahead of Christmas, allowing customers to pick up lunch in “under 40 seconds”. The retailer will roll out the service, previously trialled in its Edgware Road and Waterside stores to West Hampstead,…
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2 October
Sports Direct ousts entire House of Fraser management team
Sports Direct has announced it has dismissed the entire management and executive team of House of Fraser following the department store’s collapse and subsequent takeover by Mike Ashley. In a short statement released to the London Stock Exchange, the company said this was due to “calls for an investigation” regarding…
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2 October
Government invests £15m into reducing retail food waste
The government has announced a new scheme to reduce the amount of food waste generated in the UK, which is being supported by £15m of additional funding. Set to launch in 2019/20, the scheme will specifically address the issue of surplus food from retail and food manufacturing, as food waste…
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