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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May- 2020 -11 MayCoronavirus
Retail footfall plummets 80%
Footfall across the UK plummeted 80.1% during the month of April, in light of the nation obeying government-induced lockdown measures. According to Springboard, this figure marks a decline of “unprecedented magnitude”, though retail parks fared better with a 68.1% drop in footfall due to the “presence of essential food stores”. …
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7 MayCoronavirus
White Stuff to cut jobs as it prepares for post-lockdown retail
Fashion retailer White Stuff is reportedly set to cut both sales and head office jobs as it prepares for like after lockdown. According to Sky News, the retailer is set to make “significant” redundancies as it anticipates a reduced demand and shorter opening hours once lockdown restrictions are lifted. It…
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7 MayClothing & Shoes
Superdry sales slide as stores are shuttered
Superdry has announced that its fourth quarter performance was “substantially impacted” by the outbreak of Covid-19, with year-on-year revenue tumbling 36.9% to £118.5m. Following the closure of all owned stores and most franchise locations, group revenue for the full-year was down 19.1% to £705.5m against the year prior. Store revenue…
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6 MayCoronavirus
Business rates revaluation postponed until 2022
A revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021 in line with the government’s latest efforts to “reduce uncertainty” for firms affected by the ongoing pandemic. Communities Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP confirmed that legislation has now been introduced to bring the next revaluation forward by…
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6 MayOnline & Digital
Card Factory online sales soar over 250% amid UK lockdown
Cards and gifts retailer Card Factory has reported a 267.5% increase in online sales since the UK lock-down began in March. During the period the retailer said it recorded “significant growth” in visitors, conversion and sales. In response to this increased demand, and to support social distancing, the company has…
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6 MayCoronavirus
Waitrose to open new distribution centre to double deliveries in London
Waitrose this week will open a new six-acre Customer Fulfilment Centre in Enfield, North London, to double its online grocery orders in the capital by September. The upmarket grocer said the site will create 370 new jobs, building to 850 when at full capacity, by which time it will be…
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6 MayClothing & Shoes
CMA blocks JD Sport merger
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced its decision to block JD Sports’ purchase of Footasylum after finding it would “leave shoppers worse off”. Following an in-depth investigation, the regulator concluded that this transaction would lead to a “substantial lessening” of competition, which would in turn leave shoppers with…
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5 MayCoronavirus
Furlough errors could cost small firms
SMEs are making errors on their applications for the Government’s furlough scheme, meaning they will have to repay thousands of pounds back to HMRC later, accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young has said. The firm explained it has seen many small business applications for the furlough grant that includes the cost…
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5 MayCoronavirus
Chancellor promises no ‘cliff-edge’ end to furlough scheme
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has promised there will not be a “cliff-edge” end to the Government’s furlough scheme. Speaking to ITV News, Sunak attempted to reassure a number of business groups who warned of the potential of mass redundancies if the scheme was to suddenly end and not be extended in…
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5 MayComment
Retail tenants – how to work with your landlord during the lockdown and beyond
Retail tenants were relieved to hear that the Coronavirus Act 2020 (“CA 2020”) prevented landlords from forfeiting a business tenancy on the basis of unpaid rent between 25 March and 30 June 2020, or possibly later if the government extends the period. Further restrictions are due to come into…
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