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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Nov- 2019 -8 NovemberSupply Chain
Royal Mail seeks injunction to block Christmas postal strike
Royal Mail has confirmed it is seeking a High Court injunction to stop the Communications Workers Union’s (CWU) planned postal strike in December, claiming it believes there are “potential irregularities” in the ballot. Last month, 97% of the workers union voted in favour of a nationwide strike claiming the postal…
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4 NovemberHigh Street
Sir Philip Green in talks with lenders to raise £300m before Christmas
Arcadia owner Sir Philip Green is reportedly in talks with specialist lenders about acquiring a £300m loan before Chritsmas in order to pay off the loan secured against Arcadia’s flagship Oxford Street Topshop store. According to the Sunday Times, to meet the repayment deadline next month Green is in talks…
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4 NovemberHigh Street
Clintons in talks over possible CVA
Card and gift retailer Clintons could be eyeing up a potential CVA, after the retailer wrote to landlords last week inviting them to a “series of town-hall meetings” to discuss “possible closures and rent cuts”. According to Sky News, talks are set to start this week on what will happen…
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1 NovemberAdvice
How personalised strategies transform one-off festive buyers into loyal customers
News reports about post-Christmas sales slumps are becoming as traditional as turkey and stuffing. Whether it’s gifts for the kids or the dogs, everyone has a reason to shop during the festive season and any resulting casualties show just how competitive the retail landscape really is. With new customer acquisition…
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Oct- 2019 -30 OctoberEconomy
Shop prices decrease again in October
Shop price deflation decelerated to 0.4% in October from -0.6% in September, according to new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The results are below the 12- and six-month average price changes of 0.2% and -0.2%, respectively. Additionally, non-Food deflation decelerated to 1.5% in October, from -1.7% in September,…
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29 OctoberEconomy
Retailers report ‘record high’ stock levels in October
Retailers’ stock levels in relation to expected sales were at their highest on record in October, according to the latest monthly CBI Distributive Trends Survey. The news comes against the backdrop of a continuing decline in sales on the high street, and the latest spike in stock adequacy (the highest…
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24 OctoberPeople Moves
Debenhams poised to name Mark Gifford as new chairman
Debenhams is reportedly about to name Mark Gifford, former chief financial officer at House of Fraser, as its new chairman. According to Sky News, Gifford’s appointment as chairman of Debenhams holding company, Celine Holdings, could be revealed by the end of this week. His career included being the chief financial…
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23 OctoberSupply Chain
Royal Mail strikes could cost retailers £8m
A possible Black Friday Royal Mail strike could force retailers to attempt to pass on 8.5 million parcels, or 105,000 van loads of parcels to other carriers – which could cost them around £8m in higher postal costs. That is according to management consulting company Bearingpoint, who revealed that if…
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22 OctoberComment
How retailers can guarantee success this festive season
Whether it’s Aldi’s Kevin the Carrot, or John Lewis’ The Bear and The Hare, Christmas adverts are often the ones that stick in our minds as consumers, with an influence that lingers long after the trees have been taken down and the turkey sandwiches devoured. For retailers, the festive period…
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17 OctoberSupermarkets
Asda denies claims that it will fire staff for not signing new contract
‘Big Four’ grocer Asda has hit back at claims that it will lay off staff for failing to sign a new contract. Asda said comments from the GMB’s national officers, Gary Carter, around Asda colleagues being sacked due to commitments outside work are “untrue”, after Carter said the contract changes…
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