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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Oct- 2021 -19 OctoberAdvice
Certainty exceeds discounts in 2021 peak trading
Global supply chain disruption could not have come at a worse time for UK retailers desperate to maximise the potential of an ever growing online customer base during peak trading season. But with costs spiralling and many products unlikely to arrive in the country in time for Christmas, let alone…
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19 OctoberEconomy
UK footfall return remains steady
Footfall across UK retail destinations declined marginally by -0.7% last week from the week before, according to Springboard. UK footfall last week was +28.1% higher than in the same week in 2020, which was a strong improvement from +24.5% in the week before. The fact that footfall did not change…
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15 OctoberHigh Street
September online retail sales drop by 12.5% YOY, data warns
Online retail sales fell back 12.5% year-on-year in September, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index, which tracks the online sales performance of over 200 retailers. The drop was driven by poor sales in the first week of the month which typically would have fared better through the…
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14 OctoberHigh Street
Hobbycraft launches second exclusive Joules range
Hobbycraft has announced the launch of its second exclusive fabric collection with lifestyle brand Joules. The new range will include Christmas fabric designs, festive panels, as well as sewing accessories in some of Joules most recognisable heritage patterns. It revealed the new fabric designs are available in a “variety of…
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14 OctoberHigh Street
Poundstretcher prepares for branded price rises
The CEO of Poundstretcher has warned that some of the retailer’s product prices are set to rise in the run-up to Christmas, but has pledged to “absorb some of the potential cost rises” from big brands including Coca Cola, Fox’s, Kellogg’s and Heinz. Aziz Tayub said: “We do not see…
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12 OctoberSupermarkets
Grocery sales dip 1.2% as fuel shortage limits visits
Take-home grocery sales fell by 1.2% over the 12 weeks to 3 October 2021, as the reduced availability of petrol saw shoppers limit the number of trips to supermarkets, according to the latest figures from Kantar. Despite this dip, sales remain 8.1% higher than they were before Covid-19 and every…
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12 OctoberSupermarkets
Tesco to appoint 30,000 Christmas workers
Tesco has announced it will recruit 30,000 temporary workers during the festive period. The grocer said half of those roles have been filled by temporary colleagues who joined Tesco during the pandemic and have had their contracts extended to cover Christmas. The UK-wide roles, in Tesco’s Superstores and Extra stores,…
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11 OctoberEconomy
Christmas footfall predicted to remain 17% below 2019 levels
Footfall across UK retail destinations will average -17% lower than in 2019 over the six week Christmas trading period from November 21 to January 4, continuing the current trajectory seen in September with footfall down -17.4%, according to a forecast by Springboard. It projects Black Friday will be more popular…
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11 OctoberCoronavirus
Consumer confidence hits lowest level this year
Consumer confidence has returned to pre-pandemic levels, but still hit its lowest point in 2021 following “record” highs earlier this year, according to PwC’s latest consumer confidence index. While inflation, ongoing concern over supply chains and empty shelves caused a slight decline in optimism, consumer confidence was +3 on the…
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8 OctoberClothing & Shoes
N Brown Group H1 profits hit £28.2m
Jacamo owner, N Brown Group, saw its pre-tax profits hit £28.2m for the six-months ended 28 August, rising from a profit of £14.1m the previous year, thanks to an ongoing strategic transformation in the period. Group revenue dropped slightly to £346.8m from £347.2m in 2020 as a result of Covid-29…
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