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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Aug- 2019 -22 AugustHigh Street
Tobar places Hawkins Bazaar up for sale
Toy and gift retailer Hawkins Bazaar has been brought to the market by its owner Tobar International. The retailer, which began life as a mail order sales business in the 1970s, has grown over the years to include an online retail platform and national portfolio of 23 stores, most of…
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21 AugustAnalysis
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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9 AugustComment
Halting the demise of the ‘not my department’ store
Be it House of Fraser, retail bellwether John Lewis or in-the-wars Debenhams, department stores are in the news for all the wrong reasons – whether for profit warnings, sales dips or being sued by Sports Direct. The pace of change in the retail industry is ever accelerating, and department stores…
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Jul- 2019 -23 JulyHigh Street
Lego Group to open two new stores this year
The Lego Group is bringing two new stores to Birmingham’s Bull Ring and Southampton West Quay Shopping Centre. The two stores are planned to open just before the Christmas season, and the retailer claims the stores will have the “widest selection” of the latest Lego sets and a host of…
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9 JulyEconomy
‘Worst June on record’ for retail sales, says BRC
On a total basis, sales decreased by 1.3% in June, against an increase of 2.3% in June 2018, according to new data from the BRC. The group said the decline dragged the three-month average into a decline of 0.1% and the 12-month average to an increase of 0.6%, the lowest…
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4 JulyHigh Street
The Works FY19 revenues jump 13.2%
Stationery retailer The Works has reported a 13.2% increase in revenues in its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 28 April 2019. The retailer posted positive like-for-like growth of 3% during the period, driven by growth both in stores and online, and adjusted EBITDA increased by 4.2% to £13.8m.…
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1 JulyClothing & Shoes
Poor trading leaves Jack Wills facing ‘cash crunch’
Fashion retailer Jack Wills is reportedly facing a “cash crunch” after a period of poor trading this spring. According to The Times, Jack Wills is rapidly going through the £28m of cash injections arranged by its equity firm owner BlueGem, with sources saying trading has “fell off a cliff”. BlueGem,…
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Jun- 2019 -13 JuneHigh Street
Majestic Wine records loss as focus switches to online
Wine retailer Majestic Wine, has recorded an £8.5m loss for the financial year up 2 April, in spite of a 6.3% increase in reported revenue to £506.1m. Alongside the stores impairment charge, the retailer also invested extra funds into its online company Naked Wines. The extra investment saw, revenue at…
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May- 2019 -22 MayEconomy
Online retail sales see subdued growth in April
Online retail sales saw sales growth of just 5.2% year-on-year (YoY) in April, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini eRetail Sales Index. The group said this compares “poorly” to the strong performance seen in April of last year (+12.5%), but continued an ongoing trend of subdued growth seen since the…
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21 MayDIY
Halfords sees FY profits drop 17.9%
Halfords has reported a 17.9% drop in annual profits and has warned that “fragile” consumer confidence means it expects a flat outcome in its new financial year. The car parts and bicycle retailer announced its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 29 March 2019 that profit before tax was…
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