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- 2025 -29 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-29/1/25
Lord Wolfson, CEO of Next and Conservative peer, has leveraged his House of Lords position to propose amendments phasing in upcoming National Insurance (NI) reforms. The budget measures, effective April, will raise employers’ NI contributions from 13.2% to 15% and lower the secondary threshold to £5,000 annually. Wolfson supports staggered…
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29 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Castore revenues up 16% YOY in December
Castore has revealed that its revenues grew 16% year-on-year in December, a record Christmas period for the brand. The brand put this down to the sportswear market remaining resilient compared with other retail markets. Castore revealed that over 150,000 football shirts were sold in the final weeks before Christmas. The…
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29 JanuaryOnline & Digital
Virgin Wines revenues rise 6.7% over Xmas season
Virgin Wines has reported that revenues rose by 6.7% year-on-year during the six-week period to 27 December 2024, as sales were 9% higher than the Christmas before – the highest level since the pandemic lockdowns. According to the online wine retailer, its performance over Christmas was underpinned by initiatives to…
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28 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-28/1/25
HMV owner Doug Putman is reportedly exploring a bid for WH Smith’s high street arm after the retailer announced plans to sell its 500-store chain. Modella Capital, owner of Hobbycraft, is also in talks regarding a potential acquisition, although the outcome remains unclear. WH Smith’s move comes as its high…
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28 JanuaryEconomy
January sales see shop price deflation hit 0 .7%
January sales helped shop price deflation reach 0.7% in January, above deflation of 1.0% in the previous month, as retailers attempted to attract post-Christmas shoppers, according to the latest figures from the BRC-NilesenIQ Shop Price Index. Shop price annual growth is at its lowest rate since August 2021 as non-food…
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28 JanuaryDIY
Halfords upgrades FY25 guidance but braces for £23m budget hit
Halfords has upgraded its profit before tax guidance to between £32m and £37m for FY25, thanks to recent trading and the retailer’s continued strategic progress. However, the business has noted that the changes coming in April are due to add some £23m to Halfords’ direct labour costs for FY26 alone.…
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28 JanuaryHigh Street
Pets at Home maintains guidance despite stagnant Q3 revenues
Pets at Home has maintained its full-year profit guidance despite the fact that its total group revenue fell 0.2% to £361.6m for the 12 weeks ended 2 January 2025. Its persistence comes as the company saw its consumer revenue increase 2.3% to £468m during the period. Pets at Home stated…
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27 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-27/1/25
WH Smith is exploring the sale of its high street arm to focus on its global Travel business, which now contributes 75% of revenue and 85% of profits. The potential sale, managed by bankers at Greenhill, comes amid a 9% decline in high street profits to £39m, although group revenue…
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27 JanuaryHigh Street
Hotel Chocolat to open 25 stores this year amid record Xmas sales
Hotel Chocolat posted record UK Christmas sales for the 4 weeks to 29 December and has revealed it is set to open 25 new stores in the UK this year. The premium chocolatier saw sales rise 10.4% year-on-year, with 21 and 23 December being the busiest shopping days online and…
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24 JanuaryShopping Centres
Glasgow Fort sees 10% footfall increase in December
Glasgow Fort retail park has ended the year on a high, with December footfall increasing by 10.3% compared to the same period in 2023. The busiest trading day for the centre was Saturday 23 December, when Glasgow Fort welcomed 89,000 visitors, with footfall up 16% compared to the same date…
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