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 -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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15 OctoberEconomy
Grocery sales slow to lowest September growth in two years
Shopping momentum has fallen in September, with grocery sales slowing to +1.7% in the last four weeks. According to new data released by market research data company, Nielsen, this is the lowest growth for UK supermarkets in September in two years. Before the autumnal weather took hold in early October,…
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14 OctoberOnline & Digital
Notonthehighstreet sees operating profits double in full-year results
Online gifts retailer Notonthehighstreet saw its operating EBITDA profits increase to £3.1m in 2019, from £1.7m the previous year. The retailer said this was the result of a “more targeted marketing strategy”, and it reported an improved performance in the second half of the year. It said total sales were…
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10 OctoberDepartment Stores
Debenhams secures £50m cash injection from creditors
Debenhams has revealed it has secured a £50m loan facility with some of its existing lenders to help it through the busy festive period. Following the successful consent solicitation concluded on 6 September 2019, the department store chain said the new cash injection will provide the group with an additional…
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