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.
-
Nov- 2019 -28 NovemberPeople Moves
M&S hires former Arcadia exec as head of brand creative
Marks and Spencer has appointed Anthony Cassidy as its new head of brand creative. Cassidyy joins from Arcadia, where he is currently creative director across a number of the group’s brands. Marks and Spencer said Cassidy has a “diverse” range of experience including both in-house and agency roles at Portas…
Read More » -
27 NovemberHigh Street
Shop prices fall for sixth consecutive month
Shop prices fell for the sixth consecutive month, according to the November BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index. Overall prices fell by 0.5% year-on-year compared with a 0.4% price decrease in October. Non-food item prices also decreased by 1.6% year-on-year. Meanwhile, food item prices increased 1.4% year-on-year, reflecting an ease in inflation…
Read More » -
21 NovemberOnline & Digital
Naked Wines appoints Nick Devlin as new chief executive officer
Online subscription wine retailer, Naked Wines, has appointed Nick Devlin as chief executive officer. Currently the chief operating officer, Devlin has been confirmed for the position of CEO after Rowan Gormley announced he will depart his position once the Christmas trading season is over. Gormley founded Naked Wines in 2008,…
Read More » -
14 NovemberHigh Street
UK retail sales fall ‘unexpectedly’ in October
UK retail sales “unexpectedly” decreased by 0.1% in October, according to a report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS said that in the three months to October retail sales increased by just 0.2%, compared with the same period last year last year, which is the “weakest” growth…
Read More » -
13 NovemberAdvice
A festive general election: how will retailers survive Christmas 2019?
For retailers, the closer it gets to Christmas, the more political uncertainty there is leading to dwindling consumer confidence and irrefutable anticipation of poor festive sales. After a year of struggle for retailers across the country and more odds against them, how can this festive season be the most profitable…
Read More » -
11 NovemberComment
What implications will the Royal Mail strike have on UK retailers?
Royal Mail workers have voted to strike over job insecurity and employment terms and conditions, raising concerns that there could be walkouts in the run-up to Christmas. The announcement comes as we approach the retail industry’s crucial Q4 period where Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day sales all take…
Read More » -
8 NovemberComment
Why retailers are responsible for customer experience this festive season
As retailers move into an annual festive shopping season that seems to arrive earlier each year, they would be wise to remember one particular lesson from Christmas past: when something goes wrong with their customers’ shopping experience, the retailer will get the blame, no matter who is actually at fault.…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More »
