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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Jan- 2018 -19 JanuaryEconomy
December 2017 sees retail sales slump
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that December 2017 had the weakest retail sales in over four years. The quantity of items bought in December decreased by 1.5% when compared with the stronger sales in November 2017. Although retail sales increased by 1.3% in December compared with the…
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19 JanuaryEconomy
Carpetright shares crash 41.9% amid profit warning
Specialist carpet retailer Carpetright has issued another profit warning prompting shares to fall by 41.9%, at the time of writing. Analysts expected profit figures of £15.6m for the year, but the firm revised its full-year profit guidance to between £2m to £6m. Sales for the post-Christmas period were significantly behind…
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17 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Seasalt reports record breaking Christmas sales
Cornish fashion brand Seasalt has reported a record year for Christmas trading, with overall sales up 52% for the five weeks leading up to 6 January 2018. Strong sales growth was recorded both online and in-store, with 72% online year-on-year growth and store sales up by 40%. Additionally, international sales…
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17 JanuaryEntertainment
The Works posts record Christmas sales
Discount retailer The Works has announced its strongest ever Christmas trading performance, delivering 15% total year-on-year sales growth over the 12 weeks ending 24 December 2017. The company, which sells gifts, arts and crafts and books recorded increased growth both in-store and online for a seventh consecutive year. Total like-for-like…
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17 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Poundland to open 150 Pep&Co ‘shop-in-shop’ fashion stores
Poundland has announced it will be opening over 150 Pep&Co ‘shop-in-shop’ fashion outlets in its stores over the next 12 months. The expansion comes just days after the retailer secured new loan funding to maintain its investment plans. Poundland also confirmed it would open the first of over 30 Republic…
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16 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Shop Direct posts 6.3% Christmas growth, appoints interim CEO
Shop Direct, which operates Very, Littlewoods and Very Exclusive brands, revealed its total group revenue increased by 6.3% during the seven weeks up to December 2017. The performance was driven by 16.8% growth in the Very brand, in what the group says is its “largest and fastest growing retail brand”.…
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16 JanuarySport & Leisure
JD Sports raises profit forecast after strong Christmas
Sportswear and outdoor retailer, JD Sports, has raised its annual profit forecast after continuing a strong performance through the second half of 2017 with an “encouraging” Christmas period. Group profit before tax for the year to February 3 is expected to reach £300m, ahead of analyst expectations of £270m –…
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15 JanuaryEconomy
High street sees sharpest footfall decline in four years
New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard show footfall in the month of December suffered its sharpest decline since March 2013. Total UK retail footfall fell by 3.5% compared with December 2016, while the high street saw a sharper drop, down by 4.6%. Shopping centres suffered a…
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12 JanuaryDepartment Stores
GAME reveals first sales growth in two years
Video game retail store Game has posted its first positive sales growth in over two years. The retail group provided a trading update ahead of its annual general meeting, revealing that gross transaction value (GTV) was up 5.2% over the Christmas trading period and up overall by 3.8% for the…
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12 JanuaryEconomy
B&M reports sales increase of 22%
Discount retailer B&M has reported an increase in total sales of 22.7% on a constant currency basis, which were boosted by record Christmas trading. On an actual currency basis, total sales climbed by 22.9% to £969.8 million. UK sales revenue for the B&M store estate in the 13-week period…
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