Business Rates
This coverage examines business rates policy and its implications for the UK retail sector. Reporting focuses on government decisions, reforms, rate relief measures, and their impact on store operations, profitability, and investment decisions. Tailored for retail executives and managers, it provides analysis to help navigate costs, advocate for change, and plan effectively in response to fiscal pressures.
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Jan- 2020 -29 JanuaryEconomy
Retail sales fall flat for third consecutive month, CBI finds
Retail sales volumes were flat for the third consecutive month in the year to January with no growth expected next month, according to the latest monthly CBI Distributive Trends Survey. The figures indicate retail sales volumes posted no growth in the year to January (0%, unchanged from December) and that…
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28 JanuaryComment
How ‘Ostrich Shops’ are blighting the high street
The state of the high street isn’t to blame for the closure of shops and growing number of UK retailers entering into Company Voluntary Administration (CVA) schemes. It’s a trend of ‘Ostrich Shops’ which is killing high street retail. It’s all too easy to read about struggling high street shops.…
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17 JanuaryHigh Street
Paphitis delivers ‘resilient’ full year and Christmas performance
The Paphitis retail group has reported a ‘resilient’ performance amid ‘challenging’ conditions in both its full year and Christmas results. Total revenue for Ryman increased by 1.4% to £129.9m in the full financial year, while EBITDA increased 6.5% to £8.2m. This reflected “new categories, development of related services and customer…
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9 JanuaryAnalysis
Who would have thought skinny jeans could be anyone’s undoing?
It’s not often that the business pages give you a good belly laugh. But today we have the spectacle of Marks & Spencer blaming its poor Christmas trading results partly on an oversupply of skinny jeans for men. Apparently customer surveys revealed that the high street bellwether’s ranges were “too…
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8 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Shoe Zone profits slip due to ‘government imposed’ cost increases
Shoe Zone has reported a decrease in profits before tax to £9.6m, down from £11.3m the previous year, attributed to “government imposed increases” in its operating costs, primarily through the impact of increasing business rates. For the year ended 5 October 2019, the shoe retailer reported a 0.9% increase in…
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6 JanuaryEntertainment
HMV to close three stores and warns of more if rent negotiations fail
HMV has confirmed that three of its stores will close this month and has warned that a further 10 could close if rent negotiations with landlords fail to secure improved terms. In a statement released over the weekend the music retailer revealed it will be closing its Bury St Edmunds,…
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Dec- 2019 -20 DecemberAnalysis
Finally, a government addressing the business rates fiasco
Regardless of your political colours, small businesses up and down the land will be pleased to hear of at least one policy which looks set to survive the transition from manifesto wish lists to actual policy and legislation, and that is a business rates overhaul. The prime minister, Boris Johnson,…
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17 DecemberClothing & Shoes
Mike Ashley warns of more House of Fraser closures
Despite experiencing the first “green shoots of recovery” further House of Fraser store closures are to be expected, Mike Ashley has warned. Commenting on the company’s latest half-year results, Ashley said Sports Direct is doing “as much as we can” to save as many jobs and stores as possible however…
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16 DecemberBusiness Bites
The latest business data is bad news, but the reasons given spell a good omen
This morning there was some bad news for business, but which definitely comes with a silver lining. So, the bad news first: the ‘Flash UK Composite Output Index’ from data firm, Markit, which tracks private sector business activity, found that it shrunk during the month of December. It has dropped…
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13 DecemberBusiness Bites
The election is over – time for the Tories to deliver for small businesses
It now looks as though political stasis and all the damage that does to business will be lifted in 2020. Boris Johnson’s victory in the election is the Tories’ strongest since the Thatcher era, and gives him great scope to implement bold policies. At this juncture it’s worth taking a…
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