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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Jan- 2019 -23 January
Sports Direct saves House of Fraser Intu stores
Four House of Fraser stores in Intu shopping centres have been saved from closure, avoiding the loss of more than 1,000 jobs. The Lakeside, Metrocentre, Norwich, and Nottingham stores were at risk of closing after Sports Direct was unable to reach an agreement with Intu Properties landlords. In November, Sports…
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23 January
Hotel Chocolat posts 15% festive retail revenue rise
Hotel Chocolat has announced it has seen strong festive retail figures, amid a disappointing period for many on the high street. The luxury chocolatier said it had seen a 15% revenue rise year-on-year over the 13 weeks to 30 December. Despite Hotel Chocolat’s positive figures, British consumers cut back on…
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23 January
Burberry like-for-like sales marginally up over December
Luxury fashion house Burberry has announced a marginal like-for-like sales increase over December as it “continued to build brand heat” around its new creative direction. Burberry said that same store sales increase by 1% during the 13 weeks ending 29 December. This is despite total retail revenues having dropped by…
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22 January
Poundland sparks controversy over Valentine’s ‘Gift of Nothing’
Poundland has sparked controversy over the sale of its new ‘Gift of Nothing’ product, which is effectively an empty heart shaped package with the words “exactly what you asked for”. The product has been released as part of Poundland’s Valentine’s Day line and is on sale for the retailer’s trademark…
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22 January
Ousted Deciem founder Brandon Truaxe dies
The founder of beauty brand Deciem has died, the company announced in a statement on Monday (21 January). Brandon Truaxe, 40, launched the brand back in 2013 in Toronto and it is now best known for its skincare line The Ordinary. The news comes after Truaxe was recently ousted from…
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22 January
Dixons Carphone sees Christmas sales boost
Electronics retailer Dixons Carphone has reported a 2% increase in like-for-like sales for the 10 weeks ending 5 January 2019. Group like-for-like revenue increased by 1% during the festive period, with share gains across all categories online and in-store, offsetting market decline. However, UK and Ireland mobile like-for-like sales were…
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22 January
Pets at Home sees ‘strong’ festive sales
Pets at Home had its “biggest trading day” the Saturday before Christmas, as the retailer reported an increase in sales over the festive period. In the 12 week period from 12 October 2018 to 3 January 2019, the chain saw its group revenue increase by 6.3% to £237.2m while its…
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21 January
Chapelle enters administration
Jewellery and watch retailer Chapelle has entered into administration, four years after it was sold to HMV owners Hilco UK. Philip Duffy and Sarah Bell of accountancy firm Duff & Phelps have been appointed as administrators of both Mortimer Management Group and The Jewellery Outlet, which makes up Chapelle. The…
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21 January
ONS reports retail growth ‘slowdown’
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced a “slowdown” in retail growth for the whole of 2018 which it said increased by 2.7% in the quantity bought, 2% less than the peak of 4.7% experienced in 2016. For the three months to December 2018 estimates in quantity bought declined…
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21 January
Mike Ashley among bidders eyeing HMV
According to reports, Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley is among bidders seeking to purchase HMV, which recently announced its second administration in six years. The music and film retailer officially fell into administration during the festive period, and was denied a £3.35m government tax cut before it entered administration according…
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