Year: 2019

Scs appoints new non-exec director

Upholstered furniture and flooring retailer Scs Group has appointed Angela Luger as its new non-executive director, with effect from 16 May 2019. Luger was previously CEO of retail businesses N Brown and The Original Factory Shop and has held senior executive positions at Debenhams, Asda and Mars. She is also…

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Sainsbury’s launches UK’s first till-free grocery store

Sainsbury’s has launched the UK’s first till-free grocery store at Holborn Circus. The store has been refurbished to remove the checkout area and tills with customer feedback from the experiment helping Sainsbury’s further develop its SmartShop Scan, Pay and Go app before being rolled out more widely. All customers will…

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Clubcard holders to get 50% discount for Tesco’s 100th birthday

Tesco Clubcard holders are set to get a 50% discount on their shopping as part of the supermarket’s 100th birthday. According to reports by Money Saving Expert (MSE) shoppers will be able to use their discount online and in-store, on items such as “coffee to cat food, as well as…

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Consumer confidence remains negative in April

Consumer confidence remained at its level of -13 in April according to GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index. Two measures increased and three saw a decrease during the month. The index measuring changes in personal finances during the last 12 months has decreased this month to -1; this is the same as…

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Kurt Geiger owner mulls £450m sale to US fashion giants

The private equity firm which owns Kurt Geiger is reportedly mulling over a sale of footwear and accessories retailer to some of America’s fashion giants for around £450m. According to The Telegraph, Cinven has reportedly held “fireside chats” with potential buyers including Steve Madden, Michael Kors and Coach. If a…

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Loewe opens flagship store in London

Spanish fashion retailer, Loewe, has announced it has opened a new flagship store on New Bond Street in London after a year-long refurbishment project at the premises. The new three-floor Casa Loewe store will replace the luxury retailer’s Mount Street premises as Loewe’s only London store. The retailer will showcase…

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The subscription economy

Global spending on subscription-based services and products is booming, powered by an ever-growing range of brands offering everything from media content, to specialist food and drink, apparel, and cosmetics. Initially these existed in the realm of pioneering startups offering niche services and products. Now global retail giants are scrambling to…

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Arcadia secures help from HSBC

Arcadia, which is owned by Phillip Green, has secured help from HSBC in order to reassure suppliers as the retailer seeks out a rescue deal. According to a report by The Times, HSBC agreed to stand behind Arcadia’s debts to suppliers, which have asked for advance payments since credit insurers…

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Retail rents fall as pressure on sector continues

High street shop prime rents fell by 1% in the first quarter of the year, according to real estate company CBRE’s latest Prime Rent and Yield Monitor. This indicated an acceleration of the falls reported in Q3 (0.4%) and Q4 (0.4%) of 2018. Shopping centre prime rents fell 1.3% over…

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Beating the retail downturn: three lessons from Dunelm

We are clearly amidst challenging times for high street retailers at the moment, with Brexit uncertainty coupled with increased competition from online pureplays putting substantial pressure on the UK’s retail businesses. Recent figures from the British Retail Consortium and KPMG revealed that sales growth dropped to 0.5% in the year…

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