Coronavirus
This coverage analyses the impact of coronavirus on the UK retail industry, focusing on operational challenges, government measures, financial pressures, workforce management, and shifts in consumer behaviour. Reporting provides insights into how retailers responded to closures, safety protocols, supply chain disruptions, and evolving customer needs — helping executives and managers assess lessons learned and long-term changes.
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Jun- 2020 -22 JuneClothing & Shoes
JD Sports in talks to appoint administrators for Go Outdoors
Sports fashion retailer JD Sports is reportedly lined up to bring in administrators for its Go Outdoors business. In a statement released this morning, JD Sports said: “The group can confirm that it has considered a number of strategic options for Go and that Go’s directors have lodged the notice…
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19 JuneTips
How the coronavirus lockdown affected Brits’ social shopping
The recent lockdown due to the global pandemic had Brits converge to social platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Google Shopping, to satisfy their “urge to shop.” This is not the first time that the UK economy noticed a spike in social shopping. In 2013, social shopping was up at…
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19 JuneClothing & Shoes
92% of shopworkers oppose longer Sunday working hours, says Usdaw
Some 92% of retail staff in England have opposed large shops opening for more than six hours on a Sunday, as the government considers deregulating Sunday trading. According to a survey by shopworkers trade union Usdaw, 66% of the 11,000 retail staff said they feel they are pressured to work…
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19 JuneCoronavirus
Retail sales bounce back in May, says ONS
The volume of retail sales volumes “partly rebounded” in May, according to the latest statistics from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Sales volumes saw an increase of 12% when compared with the “record falls” experienced the previous month, but sales were still down by 13.1% on February, before the…
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18 JuneCoronavirus
Employers given 30 days to ‘confess’ to furlough abuses
Legislation is currently being fast-tracked to allow HMRC to reclaim any furlough money overpaid to employers, or not spent on wages as intended. Although we do not have the final version of the legislation, employers should start addressing their minds to the claims they have made to date as soon…
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18 JuneClothing & Shoes
Allsaints launches CVA proposal
Clothing retailer Allsaints has revealed the launch of a CVA proposal that aims to restructure both its UK and US store portfolio and move to a turnover-based rent structure due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Allsaints said the move comes despite year-on-year revenue growth for five successive years.…
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17 JuneAdvice
The need for speed – How retailers can respond to consumers’ ‘mobile-first’ behaviour
The retail landscape has been altered beyond all recognition in the light of COVID. The fact that things won’t go back to how they were was recently acknowledged by the CEO of M&S Steve Rowe. He envisaged a future where customers “may never shop the same way again” after the…
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16 JuneClothing & Shoes
Joules predicts £3m loss after pandemic hit
Fashion retailer Joules has predicted an underlying loss for its 2020 financial year of between £2m and £3m attributed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In a pre-closing update ended 31 May 2020, Joules said the impact of the Covid-19 virus between March and May resulted in a “material…
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15 JuneCoronavirus
Matalan seeks £29m HQ sale
Matalan is reportedly seeking a sale of its Liverpool-based headquarters as it looks to inject more cash into the business as the coronavirus pandemic continues. According to the Sunday Times, the retailer is looking to raise around £28.5m from a sale and leaseback of the property. Reports also suggest that…
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15 JuneCoronavirus
Usdaw urges public to ‘respect shopworkers’ as shops are allowed to reopen
Shopworkers union Usdaw has urged customers to respect staff and employers to ensure safety in stores, as shops are allowed to reopen from today (15 June). The news comes as Usdaw released statistics revealing one in six shop workers have suffered abuse on every shift, during the coronavirus pandemic. The…
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