Christmas
This coverage explores the critical Christmas trading period in the UK retail sector, focusing on sales performance, promotional strategies, consumer trends, supply chain planning, and operational challenges. Reporting highlights how retailers prepare for and execute peak season campaigns to maximise revenue and manage demand. Designed for executives and managers, it provides insights into effective planning and competitive positioning during the festive season.
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Aug- 2018 -3 AugustDepartment Stores
Selfridges open ‘Christmas Shop’ four months before the festive period
Selfridges has opened its ‘Christmas Shop’ four months before the festive period, with the department store claiming the decision was made to appease overseas visitors with whom the range is popular. The shop is expected to be fully stocked by September with over 4,000 items, including souvenir pencils priced at…
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Jul- 2018 -24 JulySupermarkets
Warm weather and football fever boosts supermarket sales
The UK groceries’ market share has increased at its fastest rate this year as a result of football fever and sunny weather, new figures show. A report from consultancy Kantar Worldpanel revealed supermarket sales grew 3.6%, with sales of firelighters (47%) and fresh burgers (30%) increasing as well. The data…
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23 JulyAdvice
Why Poundworld’s failure to differentiate from other discounters led to high street demise
Poundworld, which is set to disappear from the UK high street by early August 2018, must look to its own failures and in particular its failure to stand out from other discounters. It is easy to assume that the higher supply costs stemming from Brexit, ferocious competition amongst discounters and…
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20 JulyHigh Street
Poundworld to shutter all remaining stores
Poundworld will close all 190 remaining stores by 10 August after administrators Deloitte failed to find a buyer for the business at a price which satisfied them. A total of 2,339 staff will be affected in this final wave of store closures, and the firm announced yesterday that all distribution…
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18 JulyHigh Street
Hotel Chocolat reports another strong year of growth
Chocolate retailer Hotel Chocolat has a reported a 12% increase in revenue for the financial year ending July 1 2018. The business opened 15 stores in the year, which contributed 6% to the retailer’s year-on-year sales, added 200,000 new online buyers and has developed a number of new products for…
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11 JulyOnline & Digital
UK retailers ‘hijack’ Amazon Prime Day
UK retailers have attempted to ‘hijack’ Amazon Prime Day by offering discounts in the run up to the sale event. According to retail sales aggregator LovetheSales.com, 30% more discounted products are currently available to consumers than usual at this time of year. The company has suggested that this “unusual discounting”…
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3 JulyHigh Street
Deloitte hits back at Poundworld founder over rescue bid row
Deloitte has hit back at accusations made by Poundworld founder Chris Edwards over the handling of the company’s administration. A statement circulated by Edwards yesterday said “the whole administration process has been handled badly” and he added if something doesn’t happen in the next few days, “the business will go…
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Jun- 2018 -21 JuneHigh Street
EXCLUSIVE: Poundworld confusion as staff memo casts doubt on ‘closing down’ sale
Store managers at Poundworld are preparing to promote a ‘closing down’ sale, despite a staff memo circulated yesterday which cast doubt on whether any stores will actually shutter. The memo, which was written by administrators at Deloitte, and which a Poundworld spokesperson told Retail Sector had been circulated as an…
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20 JuneEconomy
Hornby announces £10.1m loss
Hornby has announced a pre-tax loss of £10.1m and “lower than expected sales” leading to shares plummeting by 20% this morning. Revenue at the toy manufacturer has also dropped 20% to £37.5m and losses after tax rose to £9.9m. A Hornby spokesperson told Retail Sector a key factor in the…
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19 JuneDepartment Stores
Debenhams issues profit warning
Debenhams has issued a warning saying it now expects pre-profits to be “in the range of £35m-£40m” significantly lower than City forecasts of £50m. The company blamed poor conditions on the high street and said that it doesn’t expect improvement anytime soon. The warning is Debenhams third of the year…
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