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.
-
Feb- 2018 -21 February
Homebase and Bunnings owner sees profits plummet in 2017
Wesfarmer, which owns DIY stores Homebase and Bunnings, has revealed profits for the second half of 2017 were down by 86.6%. Wesfarmers said that five loss-making Homebase branches were closed between July and December 2017, but it added it was hopeful business would improve during the UK spring and summer.…
Read More » -
21 February
Walmart shares plummet 10% as online sales disappoint
Walmart shares have plummeted by 10%, their biggest fall in more than 30 years, due to disappointing online sales. The retail giant said e-commerce sales growth in the fourth quarter was 23%, down from 50 percent in the third quarter. Online revenues totalled $11.5bn (£8.2bn) last year, however the lack…
Read More » -
21 February
UK retailers ‘self-restricting’ growth due to limited payment options
The UK’s top retailers are limiting online sales potential by up to 30% by not offering a range of payment options. A study, carried out by ecommerce and digital agency Visualsoft, found that almost one in five (19%) of the UK’s top 240 retailers are failing to offer a payment…
Read More » -
21 February
International consumers prepared to pay up to 22% more for British goods
As UK exports continue to thrive, new research by Barclays shows the premium that international consumers are prepared to pay for ‘made in Britain’ labelled goods. An international survey of 8,060 people from eight markets (France, Germany, Republic of Ireland, India, China, UAE, USA, and South Africa) has uncovered the…
Read More » -
20 February
Online retail sales see 13.9% year on year growth
UK online retail sales were up 13.9% year-on-year (YoY) in January, according to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index. With rainfall above average in January, and the lowest January high street footfall recorded in five years, consumers turned to online shopping in the beginning of the…
Read More » -
20 February
UK female recruitment still in the “dark ages”
According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) new statistics have revealed British employers are “living in the dark ages” and have “worrying attitudes” towards recruiting women. The survey of 1,106 senior decision makers in businesses revealed around a third (36%) of private sector employers agreed that it is…
Read More » -
20 February
Philip Green says Arcadia sale rumours are ‘totally false’
Sir Philip Green and board members at the Arcadia Group have denied reports of being in negotiations to sell the company to a Chinese firm. Reports on February 18 claimed that Green was looking to sell parts of, if not all of, his retail conglomerate which owns Topshop, Miss Selfridge,…
Read More » -
20 February
2,500 jobs at risk as Maplin races to avoid administration
Up to 2,500 shop staff jobs are at risk as electrical retailer Maplin tries to avoid administration. Rutland Partners, which took control of Maplin in 2014, is in talks with potential buyers, with pre-pack administration being considered as an option if a sale cannot be completed, according to reports. The…
Read More » -
19 February
Church of England slams Sports Direct over treatment of staff
The Church of England has criticised Sports Direct founder, Mike Ashley, over his company’s “Victorian factory” working conditions. In a series of letters seen by the Press Association, the Church Commissioners – a group which manages the church’s £79bn investment fund – condemned the retail boss amid a series of…
Read More » -
19 February
Third of SME retailers expect Bitcoin on high street in two years
Cryptocurrency will be a regular thing on the UK high street say a third of SME owners.A study conducted by payments provider Paymentsense showed that 35% of SME owners surveyed expected to see Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency on the high street within the next two years. Over a…
Read More »
