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- 2020 -29 JanuaryEconomy
Retail sales fall flat for third consecutive month, CBI finds
Retail sales volumes were flat for the third consecutive month in the year to January with no growth expected next month, according to the latest monthly CBI Distributive Trends Survey. The figures indicate retail sales volumes posted no growth in the year to January (0%, unchanged from December) and that…
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29 JanuaryHigh Street
SCS CEO to depart following Christmas sales rise
The chief executive of furniture retailer SCS, David Knight, is to step down. Knight joined the business 32 years ago and has decided to leave the group once a successor is in place. He has been given 12 months notice in accordance with his contract, he said he is prepared…
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28 JanuaryHigh Street
Seasalt reports double-digit sales growth over Christmas
Cornish fashion retailer Seasalt has reported a 14% increase in overall sales for the five-week period ending 4 January 2020. The brand said the positive sales growth was recorded across all channels, with online sales up 13% and UK stores seeing a 15% sales increase year-on-year. International sales were also…
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27 JanuaryHigh Street
10,000 retail jobs lost in 2020
Almost 10,000 retail jobs have been lost in 2020 amid a “torrid” start to the new year, according to the Centre for Retail Research. The research group revealed that 9,949 jobs have been lost in the first three weeks of 2020, amid store closures at Debenhams, GAME, HMV, Arcadia and…
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27 JanuaryClothing & Shoes
Reiss reports 21% increase in Christmas sales
Fashion retailer Reiss has reported a 21% growth in sales during the seven-week Christmas trading period ending 18 January 2020. Reiss also reported an 18% increase in like-for-like sales with UK like-for-like sales also up 15% during the period and 19% on a statutory basis. Reiss revealed it now has…
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24 JanuarySupermarkets
Tesco to remove plastic wrapping from multi-pack tins
Supermarket giant Tesco has committed to removing plastic within its multipacks of tinned food. The ‘Big Four’ grocer aims to eliminate 350 tonnes of plastic from the environment from its chains each year. Tesco has teamed up with canned food retailers Heinz and Green Giant to remove the plastic from…
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24 JanuaryHigh Street
Hawkin’s Bazaar enters administration, 177 jobs at risk
Gift and toy retailer Hawkin’s Bazaar has entered administration, placing 177 jobs at risk. Tom Straw and Simon Thomas from Moorfields Advisory Ltd have now been appointed as joint administrators of the toy shop chain. Hawkin’s Bazaar was founded in 1973 and currently operates 20 stores across the UK and…
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23 JanuaryAnalysis
Asos bounces back from tricky period
Back in July last year Retail Sector reported that Asos was having problems. It had issued a profit warning, suggesting profits were likely to be about one-third of what was originally anticipated. It was an interesting moment in the retail world, because the narrative for the whole of the last…
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22 JanuaryComment
The smart grocer: How food retailers can capitalise on AI’s potential
The grocery sector is preparing for a period of unprecedented disruption as food retailers battle to discover new sources of value for consumers. Focusing on the fundamental aims of improving customer service, loyalty and integration of digital and real-life experience, retailers are seeking out ways to better understand shoppers’ buying…
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22 JanuaryHigh Street
WH Smith travel division drives revenue growth
WH Smith has announced it delivered a “good performance” over the Christmas trading period, with total revenue up 7% for the 20 weeks ended 18 January. Total revenue was also up 19% in the group’s travel business, with like-for-like revenue up 3%. The retailer said its UK travel arm saw…
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