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- 2021 -12 JanuaryOnline & Digital
Very records best ever Christmas sales
Very.co.uk has announced a 25.2% year-on-year increase in retail sales in the seven weeks up to and including 25 December 2020, marking the best recorded sales over a Christmas period to date. The increase in sales was predominantly due to Covid-19 pushing retail online, as government lockdown restrictions continued to…
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11 JanuaryFeatures
What’s next for Primark?
Primark’s opening statement for 2021 had a slightly more sombre tone than you would expect from one of the UK’s reigning fast fashion champions. In a brief statement issued by its parent company Associated British Foods, the store revealed how it now expects to lose and additional £220m in sales…
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11 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
JD Sports raises profit forecast to £400m
JD Sports has announced that its headline profit-before-tax for the full year to 30 January 2021 will be “significantly ahead” of the current market expectation of £295m to at least £400m for the full year. The news follows the fashion retailers Christmas trading update which showed that total revenues, on…
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8 JanuaryCoronavirus
Covid restrictions lead to first negative LFL sales in December
Despite a strong start to the month, retailers recorded a disappointing end to the Golden Quarter thanks to heightened Covid restrictions and expanding lockdowns, new figures by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP reveal. According to BDO’s High Street Sales Tracker (HSST), total like-for-like (LFL) sales, combined in-store and…
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8 JanuaryNews
M&S sees clothing sales slip during festive period
Sales at Marks and Spencer’s retail and home department fell by 25.1% over the holiday period. In a post-Christmas trading update the company described its performance as “robust in the face of volatile Covid headwinds”, with total revenue from the second UK lockdown falling by 40.5%. While sales in M&S’s…
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7 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Joules reports online sales boost over Christmas
Joules has reported the group’s online retail channels received a sales boost during the seven-week period to 3 January 2021, with total online retail sales soaring by 66% year-on-year over the Christmas season. The group noted this was primarily driven by traffic growth and improved conversion rates across its digital…
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7 JanuaryNews
Sainsbury’s welcomes Christmas sales surge
Sainsbury’s has reported a “strong Christmas performance”, with like-for-like sales up 9.3% during the holiday period. In a trading statement, the big four grocer revealed that it now expects pre-tax profits to hit at least £330m in the financial year to March 2021. According to the brand, total sales for…
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6 JanuaryAnalysis
The year ahead in retail: An expert panel discussion
It’s been an unusual year to say the least, particularly in the retail sector. Some retailers have struggled as a result of the pandemic, but many have thrived as digital transformation becomes a habit and now preferable choice for consumers. Fast-growing digital marketing agency Modo25 hosted an online discussion with…
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6 JanuaryNews
Online grocery sales double over festive period
The online share of grocery sales at UK supermarkets has doubled to 12.5% in the four weeks ending 26 December 2020, up from 6.7% last year, according to new data released by Nielsen. The rise in sales was predominantly due to a total of 8.5 million households shopping for their…
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5 JanuaryHigh Street
1,500 jobs at risk as Paperchase calls in administrators
Paperchase, the UK-based stationary store chain, has reportedly called in administrators due to a lack of sales caused by Covid-19. A spokesperson confirmed to Retail Sector that a notice has now been filed to appoint administrators from PwC to oversee the administration. It comes as reports show that during November…
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