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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Dec- 2022 -2 DecemberAdvice
Tips for making a success of festive trading in a cost-of-living crisis
The most important trading season of the year has arrived, and in an intensely competitive market, retailers can’t afford to fail. With mounting costs eroding margins, and a cost-of-living crisis dissuading customers from indulging too heavily this season, retailers know they have to work harder and smarter to turn a…
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1 DecemberHigh Street
Hotel Chocolat falls to £9.2m loss in FY22
Hotel Chocolat has fallen to a pre-tax loss of £9.2m in its latest full-year results, down from a profit of £3.7m the prior year, with results in part affected by the restructuring of its joint venture in Japan. The group noted that without impairments from its business operations in Japan…
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1 DecemberHigh Street
Footfall gap to 2019 widens to -11.1% in Nov despite Black Friday boost
The gap in footfall from 2019 widened in November to -11.1% from -9.8% in October and -12.6% in September; -12.4% in high streets, -17.3% in shopping centres and -3% in retail parks, according to the latest figures from Springboard. Springboard added that in the absence of Black Friday the gap…
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Nov- 2022 -30 NovemberNews
‘Bleak’ winter ahead as shop price inflation hits 7.4%, says BRC
The BRC has warned of a “bleak” winter ahead after shop price annual inflation accelerated to 7.4% in November, up from 6.6% in October. This 7.4% is above the three-month average rate of 6.5% and marks another record for shop price inflation since the index started in 2005. Food inflation…
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29 NovemberHigh Street
Black Friday boosts footfall +9.3% YOY
Footfall was up +9.3% compared with 2021 across all UK retail destinations on Black Friday, according to the latest figures from Springboard. Shopping centres were the clear winner on Black Friday with a rise in footfall of +16.8%, followed by high streets (+11.3%) and then retail parks (+7.1%). However, despite…
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24 NovemberSupermarkets
54% of consumers plan to stick to spending this Christmas, study finds
Some 54% of UK consumers are Christmas “enthusiasts” and will not change their Christmas plans despite economic challenges, according to Nielsen’s Unwrapping Europeans’ Holiday Outlook’ report. The survey of more than 1,000 people in the UK found that while increased food and energy prices as well as possible supply bottlenecks…
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23 NovemberAdvice
Black Friday: How can algorithmic retailing ensure a successful event?
Worldwide activity surrounding Black Friday has never been stronger. In the US, over 53% of consumers plan to make a purchase on Black Friday ; in the UK consumers are expected to spend £8.71 billion over the course of the 2022 Black Friday weekend. It’s an event which represents a…
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22 NovemberNews
Leon to more than double self-serve coffee kiosks
Fast-food brand Leon has announced plans to more than double the number of its self-serve coffee kiosks in the UK to over 200 before the end of January. It is mainly planning to do this expansion in EG Group convenience stores and with a large rollout in Asda supermarkets. Four…
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22 NovemberDepartment Stores
John Lewis chair warns inflation is ‘hitting top line’ as spending falls
The chair of John Lewis has warned that inflation is “hitting the top line”, with the group witnessing a notable shift in consumer habits amid the cost of living crisis, as more people are budgeting and deferring big purchases. Speaking at the CBI’s annual conference, Dame Sharon White said: “This…
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21 NovemberHigh Street
Wilko in talks for £30m lifeline
Wilko is in talks to secure a £30m cash injection as cost pressures intensify in the run-up to Christmas, according to the Sunday Times. The news comes as the chain retailer was unable to agree to an extension of its revolving credit facility due to interest rate hikes. It employs…
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