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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Oct- 2020 -23 October
Liverpool leaders call on public to support local retailers
Liverpool’s business leaders have called on everyone across the region to “unite and support local”, in a bid to help businesses survive the latest set of Tier 3 restrictions. Led by Liverpool ONE, Liverpool BID, Visit Liverpool and Marketing Liverpool, the ‘Help Campaign’ is urging businesses and local people to…
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23 October
Gap considers closure of all European stores
Gap has launched a strategic review for its European business that may result in the possible closures of company-operated stores in the UK, France, Ireland and Italy at the end of Q2 2021. In addition, it is reviewing its warehouse and distribution model, as well as its Gap and Banana…
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23 October
UK retail sales grow for fifth month in a row
Retail sales in the UK have risen for the fifth consecutive month, despite the introduction of the tiered lockdown system, according to the latest figures released by the ONS. Last month, overall growth in sales volume was up 5.5% compared with February’s pre-pandemic levels. In the three months to the…
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22 October
Sunak extends Covid scheme to pay up to half of wages
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced increases to the Job Support Scheme, which will now see the government pay up to half of employees wages. As part of the updated scheme, employers will pay less and employees will work fewer hours to qualify, with the taxpayer subsidy now doubled. The increase…
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22 October
Travis Perkins like-for-like group sales decline 3.4%
Travis Perkins has reported its total like-for-like group sales declined 3.4% in Q3 compared with the same period last year, according to the company’s latest financial statement. The trading company said the fall in sales was a reflection of the branch closures in June as a result of Covid-19. The…
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22 October
TM Lewin owner eyes Jaeger bid
The owner of menswear retailer TM Lewin is reportedly considering a bid for Phillip Day’s embattled retail brand Jaeger. According to Sky News, Torque Brands, the investment vehicle formed by businessman James Cox, is one of a small number of businesses which have expressed interest in acquiring the brand. Jaeger…
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22 October
Sky set to open first retail stores
Sky has announced it is launching its first ever bricks-and-mortar retail shops across the UK, in a bid to “bring Sky’s leading customer service and innovative pay TV, mobile and broadband products to the UK high street, under one roof”. Its first shops are set to open later this year,…
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22 October
Gear4music full-year results to be ‘ahead of expectations’
Gear4music has revealed its full year results will likely be ahead of expectations after it experienced strong sales growth in its first and second quarters. The online musical instrument retailer saw its total sales rise 42% to £70.2m in the six months to 30 September, after UK sales increased by…
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21 October
UK inflation rises to 0.5% after EOTHO ends
UK inflation for the month of September increased to 0.5% after the end of the Government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme pushed up prices, according to the latest figures from the ONS. The figure is up from 0.2% in August where prices were driven down by the discount scheme.…
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21 October
Retailers pay £1.1bn to accept customer payments
The cost to retailers of accepting payments reached £1.1bn in 2019, of which £950m was from card payments. It comes as the BRC launched its latest Payment Survey, that reveals card use has continued to rise steadily, from 54% of transactions in 2016 to 61% in 2019. This trend has…
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