Year: 2019

Nearly three quarters of retail staff feel underpaid, study finds

Nearly three quarters (71.4%) of retail professionals believe they are underpaid, according to new research from the CV-Library. The study surveyed 1,200 working professionals and also found that over a third (37.7%) work one to three hours extra per week, amounting to 96 hours per year and meaning retail professionals…

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Retail sales volumes jump 1.8% despite Brexit uncertainty

In the three months to April 2019, the quantity of goods bought in retail sales increased by 1.8%, when compared with the previous three months. This was supported by a strong growth in non-store retailing, which reached a “record high” of 9.4%. Online retailers selling clothing items were also the…

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Achieving sustainable growth through digital in an unstable time

How much do you use your smartphone? I recently tracked my own personal usage and found that I use my phone for about three hours a day, receiving around 250 notifications and unlocking my phone around 100 times in the process. I’m sure these numbers would be relatable to many…

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Zara owner Inditex to promote Carlos Crespo to CEO

Fashion retailer Zara’s parent company Inditex has said it will promote its current COO, Carlos Crespo, to the role of CEO as it bids to boost its “strategic digital transformation”. The appointment was put forward by Inditex’s chief executive, Pablo Isla, and will take effect following approval by the board…

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Pivoting on experience to revive the UK high-street

It’s no secret that it’s a troubling time for the UK high-street. The recent news that Boots might be considering store closures globally following “its most difficult quarter” since the retailer’s formation is the latest brushstroke of a much larger picture. Global Data, the market research firm, points the reason…

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Mothercare swings to £87.3m loss in 2018

Mothercare has reported losses before tax of £87.3m for the year ending 30 March 2019. UK like-for-like sales declined by 8.9% compared with the prior year, which the retailer said was “exacerbated” in the first half by reduced consumer confidence in the brand following the group’s refinancing, together with “wider…

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Urban Outfitters launches online rental platform

Clothing retailer, Urban Outfitters has announced it is to trial an online rental platform for its products. The trial, which will begin in the retailer’s US stores will be called Nuuly, and will aim to compete with existing rental platforms such as Rent the Runway. Upon its launch, the platform…

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How a data-driven locally optimised digital strategy can save high street retailers

In a challenging environment on the high street, it is vital for retailers to optimise their digital marketing to attract local shoppers. Yet many big-name brands are failing in the attention to detail needed to properly promote their physical stores in online advertising. Some have paid the ultimate price. Recent…

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Arcadia to close 23 stores

Phillip Green’s Arcadia group has announced plans to close 23 stores as part of its restructuring plan, affecting up to 520 employees. The proposal will mean Burton, Dorothy Perkins and Topshop stores will close, in addition to rents being cut at another 194 stores. It added that the remaining 349…

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B&M plans 50 more stores amid profits and sales boost

Discount goods retailer B&M has revealed it is planning on opening another 50 stores this year amid posting an uptick in both sales and profits. For the full-year period ending 30 March B&m said profit before tax increased by 9% to £249.9m and revenues surged 17% to £3.5bn.B&M’s UK stores…

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