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 -24 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
White Stuff sales soar by 20% over Christmas period
White Stuff has reported that sales soared by more than 20% over the Christmas period, with trading underpinned by strong knitwear demand and “record” new customer growth.In the 10 weeks to 4 January, total sales increased 21.8% year-on -year, bolstered by strong e-commerce sales which were up by 32.5%, while…
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23 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-23/1/25
Primark has revised its sales forecast for 2025 downwards following a challenging autumn trading period in the UK and Ireland. The company reported a 6% decline in like-for-like sales in these regions, largely attributed to cautious consumer sentiment and mild weather affecting seasonal clothing purchases. Despite a modest recovery during…
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23 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Primark lowers FY guidance amid weak UK autumn trading
Primark has lowered its sales outlook for 2025 after the UK reported weak sales amid a “challenging retail environment” over the autumn period. In the UK and Ireland, which accounted for 45% of trading, like-for-like sales fell by 6% in the 16 weeks to 4 January 2025. In the UK…
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22 JanuaryPeople Moves
Asda appoints David Lepley as new chief supply chain officer
Asda has announced that David Lepley will join its executive team as chief supply chain officer, to lead its food and general merchandise supply operations. Lepley joins from Morrison’s where he was the executive group operations director. The move is a return ‘home’ for Lepley, having previously spent 15 years…
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20 JanuaryHigh Street
Quiz eyes store closures as costs mount
Quiz is reportedly considering closing up to a third of its 60-location portfolio as a way to cut costs and stabilise the business, according to The Telegraph. It comes as Quiz is also due to delist from the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market and return to private ownership, following a…
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17 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-17/1/25
Retail sales in the UK fell by 0.3% in December, disappointing analysts who anticipated a 0.4% rise during the Christmas season. The decline, attributed to the poorest supermarket sales since 2013, was partly offset by a 4.4% rise in clothing sales. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that food…
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17 JanuaryFeatures
The dynamic duo behind Charity Super.Mkt
When Wayne Hemingway and Maria Chenoweth unveiled Charity Super.Mkt, the UK’s first multi-charity shop, it was more than just a retail experiment. It was a testament to innovation, sustainability, and the power of collaboration in a rapidly evolving industry. “We wanted to create something bigger,” explains Wayne Hemingway, co-founder of…
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17 JanuaryEconomy
Retail sales unexpectedly fall amid ‘poor’ supermarket sales
Retail sales fell 0.3% in December according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. It follows a 0.1% increase in November, revised down from a previous estimate of a 0.2% rise. Analysts had been expecting sales to rise by 0.4% in the run up to Christmas as…
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16 JanuaryNews-In-Brief
Today’s news in brief-16/1/25
The UK economy experienced modest growth in November 2024, with GDP rising by 0.1% following two months of decline. This upturn was driven by a 0.1% increase in services output, primarily bolstered by a 2% rise in accommodation and food services. Consumer-facing services grew by 0.5%, while wholesale and retail…
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16 JanuaryNews
Tesco hires Deliveroo’s head of strategy to lead Whoosh
Tesco has hired Deliveroo’s global head of strategy Francesca Jones to lead its Whoosh delivery service. Jones joined Deliveroo in 2022 first as a global training and operational excellence manager before being promoted to head of strategy in 2023. Prior to that, she worked at Aldi as an area manager…
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