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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Sep- 2018 -7 September
August high street sales one of ‘worst on record’ as shoppers steer clear
August high street sales have been described as “one of the worst on record” by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO. According to the firm’s High Street Sales Tracker (HSST) for August, UK high street sales declined 2.7% year-on-year – making it the worst August decline for three years. BDO…
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7 September
Wilko appoints Neil Feakins as customer insight and data director
Homeware retailer Wilko has appointed Neil Feakins as as its new customer insight and data director. Feakins has expertise in both insight and data analytics from independent global marketing and media consultancy Ebiquity and industry experience in enabling propositions for customers. This new role is expected to “rally existing Wilko…
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7 September
Booksellers Association tells Amazon to ‘pay a proper share of taxation’
The Booksellers Association (BA) has called for Amazon and other online retailers to be given a taxation overhaul, after it claimed “bookshops have closed because of Amazon”. MPs were warned by the association that Amazon was “putting numerous competitors out of business” and demanded “large scale internet retailers pay a…
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7 September
Argos launches UK-first Google voice shopping service
Argos has become the first company in the UK to offer a voice shopping service for customers that use Google Home devices. The catalogue retailer said the technology will allow around 20,000 to reserve Argos products using voice technology across 850 of its stores. As well as placing reservations with…
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6 September
Retailers get more sales with early Black Friday campaigns
Consumers who receive promotional messages in September are three times more likely to make purchases during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, new research has revealed. According to the study, marketers and advertisers who start their campaigns earlier treble their sales conversion rates compared to those who leave it until November.…
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6 September
Amazon will account for 5% of global retail, say analysts
Analysts have said they expect Amazon to account for 5% of the global retail market in the near future. The online retailer currently has a market capitalisation of 1.5% however it is nearing a $1bn valuation. Amazon’s importance in the global retail market has led to the Office for National…
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6 September
Burberry ends practice of destroying unsaleable products
Burberry has announced it will stop the practice of destroying unsaleable products, with immediate effect. The news comes following the details revealed in July through an earnings report that the luxury fashion house destroyed unsold clothes, accessories and perfume worth £28.6m in 2017 to protect its brand. Burberry said the…
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5 September
Quiz to take £400,000 hit from House of Fraser collapse
House of Fraser is expected to receive a £400,000 cash injection from fashion retailer Quiz. Ahead of its AGM the retailer, which has concessions in the department store, said it would provide the money in relation to “outstanding debtor balances and other potential costs”. Quiz will provide a trading update…
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5 September
85% of interviewers admit asking candidates ‘off limits’ questions
Some 85% of interviewers have admitted to asking questions which can be seen to be “off limits” or potentially illegal during the interview process, research by UK science and technology recruitment specialists, Hyper Recruitment Solutions (HRS) has revealed. The research also unveiled confusion among hiring managers over what can and…
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5 September
Electric bikes speed up Halfords sales
Halfords has announced that increased demand for electric bikes has helped the company to achieve a like-for-like sales increase of 2.8% over the 20 weeks leading up to 17 August. Shares rose by 7% this morning following the announcement, bringing the car part retailer’s total value up £653m. The figures…
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